Bernard Zetler, Tsunamis Expert, Dies

Bernard David Zetler, an expert on seismically caused sea waves known as tsunamis and a longtime faculty member at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, died of cancer Wednesday at his home in La Jolla. He was 76.

Most recently, Zetler’s work centered on scientific predictions of high tides in California until the year 2000. But his research on tsunamis, caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanoes, and the devastating effect they can have on islands and coastal areas, was considered his most important.

Zetler’s career began in 1938, when he became a mathematician and oceanographer with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, now known as the National Ocean Survey.

Among his first assignments was the placement of an operational tsunami warning system in coastal areas of the Aleutian Islands, Kamchatka, Japan, Chile and Hawaii. UCSD officials said Thursday that Zetler’s innovation is credited with having saved hundreds of lives over the years in regions plagued by tsunamis.

During World War II, Zetler was “involved with a group of people who did tide and surf forecasting for the military in connection with Pacific Fleet landings,” said Chuck Colgan, a spokesman for the institution.

“Many people here at Scripps knew Bernard Zetler as ‘Mr. Tides,’ because of his broad expertise in understanding the physical dynamics of tides,” Colgan said. “Even though he was no longer active on the faculty, he’ll be missed by his many colleagues.”

Zetler joined the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at Scripps Institution in 1972. He retired from full-time employment at UC San Diego in 1985 but remained a research associate on the Scripps faculty.

In addition to his work with tsunamis, he was considered an expert on tides and near-shore currents and served on numerous international committees.

Zetler was awarded the U.S. Department of Commerce Silver Medal in 1966 for his research, and, in 1977, his portrait was added to the permanent display of distinguished oceanographers at the headquarters of the National Ocean Survey in Rockville, Md.

Zetler was born and grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Brooklyn College in 1936. He was a member of the American Geophysical Union and the American Assn. for the Advancement of Science.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Zetler of La Jolla; a son, Mark Zetler of San Diego; a daughter, Celia Bowen of San Diego; two grandchildren and a sister, Mildred Gadol of New Jersey.

A memorial service is planned for 4 p.m. Monday on the north lawn of the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, 8602 La Jolla Shores Drive. At his request, Zetler’s body will be cremated by the Neptune Society and his ashes scattered at sea.

The family requests that any remembrances be made to the San Diego Hospice, 4311 3rd Ave., San Diego 92103.