A group of scientists are conducting a study under the sea in an attempt to better understand the nature of tsunamis.
Robert Ballard, the man who found the Titanic in 1985, is leading a deep-sea team examining the Kick’em Jenny volcano. The volcano is considered “active and dangerous” sitting about 6,000 feet below the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Grenada.
The volcano has been releasing hot and cold gasses since a 2003 event. Scientists say that based on the volcano’s pattern during the last century another eruption is likely to happen within the next 40 years with a significant tsunami.
The reason the volcano is being studied for tsunamis is that the one side of the volcano collapsed during the last eruption and the sliding of the earth caused a tsunami. The scientists believe that by tracking the results of any upcoming eruption by the undersea volcano, they will be able to detect movement of the land and thus predict size and strength of the tsunami.
The information could then be used to extrapolate tsunami chances and strength with other major underwater eruptions and create an advanced warning system.
Submarine volcanoes are also considered dangerous because they can suddenly erupt from underwater near shorelines and cause massive death and devastation from lava or the release of toxic gas.
Another day, another massive quake and tsunami warning for Chile and parts of Peru.
A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck in almost the same location as Tuesday’s 8.2 magnitude quake. The second quake is considered officially an aftershock of the Tuesday quake but it still provides a significant shock on its own.
The quake was so strong in neighboring Peru that residents of Tacna and Arequipa fled homes out of fear they would collapse.
The tsunami alert and precautionary evacuation of low-lying areas meant the residents spent a second night away from their homes.
Even the president of the country was forced to evacuate because of the tsunami warning. President Michelle Bachelet posted on Twitter: “I was evacuated like all citizens. One can see that the people are prepared.”
Authorities say at least six deaths have been confirmed but that because so many older structures have collapsed from the two quakes and it’s possible there are victims trapped inside those buildings.
Despite no tsunami warnings being issued for California, the West Coast has been experiencing unusual water movements since the 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck Chile’s northern coast.
Tide fluctuations, abnormal wave heights, and current changes have been reported and no tsunami warnings have been issued.
Tsunami waves hit the southern town of La Jolla, California and progressed north according to Bill Knight, an oceanographer with the National Tsunami Warning Center.
It is unlikely the tides will damage boats in the harbor, but boat owners could experience problems if they are returning to dock. California harbors have experienced three-to-four knot fluctuations that can push boaters and their vessels into the dock.
Knight added that the fluctuations could last a full day, but called the situation “pretty typical.”
“I think there’s nothing to worry about here, but we want to do our due diligence,” he said. “We haven’t seen anything yet to make us worry. And we don’t expect to.”
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake off the coast of northern Chile left at least six people dead and injured hundreds.
The quake was significant enough that government and local officials forced an evacuation of the coastline in anticipation of a tsunami. The waves peaked out about 7 feet above normal before officials allowed residents to return 10 hours after the quake.
The only major damage from tsunami waves struck Iquique by flooding city streets and washing away fishing boats. The city was also hosting several military units after the quake caused the collapse of a wall in the city’s women’s prison resulting the escape of all 300 prisoners.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had 20 aftershocks including one that registered magnitude 6.2. The initial quake was so large that the USGS reports the capital of neighboring Bolivia reported a 4.5 magnitude earthquake.
Mike Simons, a seismologist with the USGS, said that despite the intensity of the current quake, scientists are expecting a more massive quake to strike Chile.
“Could be tomorrow, could be in 50 years; we do not know when it’s going to occur. But the key point here is that this magnitude-8.2 is not the large earthquake that we were expecting for this area,” Simons said.
A floating island of debris at least three times the size of Great Britain is aimed for the California coastline.
The debris, all from the 2011 tsunami in Japan, is composed of destroyed homes and businesses, cars and boats. While some pieces of debris have washed up on the California shore starting in 2012, scientists expect this giant wave of debris to hit the coastline at the same time.
In addition to the debris, the giant island is bringing potentially destructive non-native ocean life and radioactive water.
Oceanographers say that marine life non-native to the U.S. west coast usually dies as it crosses the Pacific Ocean because of most shipping routes. However, the path of the debris has kept to water temperatures that would allow some species to survive. If the marine life is able to adapt to the California coast, scientists are concerned it could be devastating to the native life.
NOAA says that so far 1,600 debris reports have been conclusively linked to the tsunami.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the Fukushima region of Japan, according to the U.S. Geological Service.
The epicenter was located 231 miles east of Japan’s Honshu Island. The tremor was felt 300 miles away in Tokyo.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning at 1:14 p.m. EST for Fukushima Prefecture.
Source: USA Today – USA Today: 7.3 magnitude quake strikes east of Japan
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a statement confirming a tsunami struck the East Coast of the United States on June 13.
More than 30 tide gauges along the East Coast plus Bermuda and Puerto Rico reported tsunami incidents. The highest peak of the waves were recorded in Newport, Rhode Island where the ocean rose one foot over sea level. Continue reading →
The Indian government has launched a massive rescue operation to save survivors in Uttarakhand state where at least 150 are now confirmed dead.
State Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna called the flooding a “Himalayan tsunami”. Officials estimated the number of dead could be well over 1,000 but it will be impossible to get a total until after they can survey the entire region. Continue reading →
Five people are dead after a major earthquake off the Solomon Islands created a tsunami. The 8.0 magnitude quake happened around 12:30 p.m. local time.
The five dead are four elderly people and one child. However, the director of nursing for Lata hospital said the death toll could very likely rise after assessing the final impact. Continue reading →
A 7.5 earthquake off the Alaskan coast generated a small tsunami late Friday night.
The quake centered 60 miles west of Craig, Alaska according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Alaska Tsunami Center said that a small tsunami was created by the quake but it was not significant enough to be a serious threat to property. Continue reading →