The old sow develops when the rapid incoming tide runs alongside the rapidly retreating tide (and vice versa), specifically in the constricted waterways near Maine, New Brunswick, and the nearby islands. This is the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, and tides are regularly 25 ft-plus.
When I saw the images from Japan, I've assumed the same; advancing and retreating currents developing a vortex. Steve Crowley -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Inigo Howlett Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2011 12:12 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] vortex question-Tsunami Japan Google "old sow" which is a regularly occurring one off New Brunswick. it relates to the shape of the bottom when water drains out of an area quickly. On Sat, Mar 12, 2011 at 10:49 PM, malcolm McCallum < [email protected]> wrote: > 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. >
