Recent articles on the power of the tsunami that recently struck Japan say a lot about  both the power of the tsunami waves and the challenges of trying to cope with a constant threat from the ocean.   Japan’s first line of defense against tsunamis has been its extensive investment in seawalls.  As reported by the New York Times:  At least 40 percent of Japan’s 22,000-mile coastline is lined with concrete seawalls, breakwaters or other structures meant to protect the country against high waves, typhoons or even tsunamis. They are as much a part of Japan’s coastal scenery as beaches or fishing boats, especially in areas where the government estimates the possibility of a major earthquake occurring in the next three decades at more than 90 percent, like the northern stretch that was devastated by Friday’s earthquake and tsunami.

The headline of the article says all that need be said: Seawalls Offered Little Protection Against Tsunami’s Crushing Waves .   A follow-up article touches on the downside of relying on a fixed defense against the power of the sea.

In Japan, Seawall Offered a False Sense of Security
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