CARDIFF, WALES — The devastating impact of tsunamis could be reduced in future thanks to the power of sound.

Giant sound waves known as acoustic gravity-waves could be used to lessen the force of a tsunami before it hits land, according to applied mathematician Usama Kadri of Cardiff University.

Kadri’s theory, published in the journal Heliyon on Jan. 23, states that two acoustic gravity-waves would be released from a mitigation station in the ocean toward the tsunami.

The acoustic gravity-waves would exchange energy with the tsunami, spreading it out and reducing its maximum height.

Kadri said acoustic gravity-waves could have reduced the height of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami by 5 meters, which may have saved lives and property.

Any system based on the theory would require the installation of early tsunami detection systems, which Kadri said is relatively straightforward.

However, scientists have not worked out how to create acoustic gravity-waves yet, and this presents a challenging engineering problem.