Waves dangerous, domesticated, and diagnostic

Abstract

This paper, based on a keynote presented at the MARE People and the Sea Conference 2023 as well as on material from A Book of Waves, examines how oceanographers and coastal engineers in the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, and Bangladesh study and represent waves. Waves, seen as both chaotic and ordered, ephemeral and enduring, offer insights into how science engages with environmental, national, and planetary futures. The discussion begins in the Netherlands, where centuries-old efforts to resist waves in a nation below sea level have evolved into “building-with-nature” strategies, reframing waves as collaborators in environmental resilience. Historical contexts, from wave folklore to physical scale models, underpin this shift in Dutch wave science. Next, I explore the wave simulation laboratory at Oregon State University, where researchers model tsunami risks from the Cascadia fault line. These experiments connect the Pacific Northwest with Japan’s tsunami research, highlighting challenges in adapting wave knowledge across regions. Finally, I turn to Bangladesh’s Ganges Delta, where Dutch hydrological expertise was applied in mid-20th-century development projects, often with uneven results. This case illustrates the complexities of transposing wave science into diverse settings. I conclude by reflecting on how these scientific practices contribute to understanding the Anthropocene, particularly from the perspective of the Global South’s oceans.