Devastating tsunami bomb viable, say experts 13 August, 2011 12:00 pm By Eugene Bingham
Tsunami experts believe a bomb secretly tested off the coast of Auckland 50 years ago could be developed to devastating effect.
University of Waikato researchers believe a modern approach to the wartime idea tested off Whangaparaoa could produce waves up to 30m high.
Dr Willem de Lange, of the Department of Earth Sciences, said studies proved that while a single explosion was not necessarily effective, a series of explosions could have a significant impact.
"It's a bit like sliding backwards and forwards in a bath - the waves grow higher," Dr de Lange said yesterday.