I believe that Mythbusters had an episode where they calculated that, in order to suck a floating man down into water, the rate of spin had to be as fast as the fastest whirlpool ever recorded. However, a boat has much greater buoyancy and would be impossible to suck down using anything near known records. As you can see, the actual rate of spin in the video is slow and any boat with a working engine should be able to move away. If they were unable to move away, they would probably bob and spin about uncomfortably until rescued. Regards, Aaftab Jain
****************** [email protected] ******************* > Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:49:36 -0600 > From: [email protected] > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] vortex question-Tsunami Japan > To: [email protected] > > Hi, > Anyone out there in Ecologland able to explain the vortex off the coast of > Japan after the Tsunami. > I am not familiar with the phenomenon and I thought someone with knowledge > in this area might > know how this was created and if it was likely to be a dangerous thing or > just a spectacle. > Thanks for the info. > > If you don't know what I am speaking of, here is footage! > http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8375719/Japanese-tsunami-creates-whirlpool.html > > -- > Malcolm L. McCallum > Managing Editor, > Herpetological Conservation and Biology > > "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan > Nation > > 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert > 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, > and pollution. > 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction > MAY help restore populations. > 2022: Soylent Green is People! > > Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any > attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may > contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized > review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not > the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and > destroy all copies of the original message.
