Temple's Boufadel explains science behind tsunami's deadly effects

The devastating tsunami that ripped through Japan following an 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the Japanese coast can be compared to a cartoon truck screeching to a stop. There's a lot of pressure in that water that builds up, so a six-foot tsunami carries a lot of force behind it, says Temple environmental engineer Michel Boufadel. "The effects could be devastating, of course, from a physical point of view, from erosion and mechanical destruction of properties," Boufadel said. "There's also a long-term effect because it alters the natural or the traditional pathways of water."
March 11, 2011 | KYW News Radio