Whether
It’s Weather or Seismic It’s a Force of Nature!
What
happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? It leaves a seiche
in the water. Well, sorta.
seiche (sāsh) n. – a natural,
standing wave in the water of a lake, bay, etc., caused by changes in atmospheric
pressure, seismic disturbances, winds, waves, tides, etc.; it continues after
the generating force stops [I know some people like that! (WW #60)]
Actually, according to those in the know, it’s
more of a seesaw action … who knew that as children, we formed a seiche
as we bounced up and down, hitting our bottoms on the ground?! (Ouch. Maybe
that was just me.)
More pertinent to its causes, however, is the shock
and awe news at the National Ocean Service site, “Lake
Erie is known for seiches, especially when strong winds blow from southwest to
northeast. In 1844, a 22-foot seiche breached a 14-foot-high sea
wall killing 78 people and damming the ice to the extent that Niagara Falls
temporarily stopped flowing. As recently as 2008, strong winds created waves 12
to 16 feet high in Lake Erie, leading to flooding near Buffalo, New York.” 
Again – I know some people who are especially strong winds blowing ill
will. So whether it’s weather or a seismic blowhard, it can still generate an
unstoppable force. Grab your slicks and hang on …
Word of the Week: SEICHE. Can you fit it into your next conversation?
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