Japan - Tsunami warning issued after 8.3 magnitude earthquake

AP News Alert | January 12, 2007

[Global2010]

This is a case of the pingees' pinging the pinger. : )

[Lijahsbubbe]

That is a gorgeous picture!

[bd476]

Chode wrote: " question(that may already been asked/answered)

isn't it more a function of the degree of seafloor displacement that causes the wave and not shaking???"

The simple answer is that water has to be displaced, and/or shoreline eroded for there to be a tsunami.

A major quake on a bad shoreline has the potential of causing the shoreline to slough off enough material that it changes the slope of the shoreline, displaces water and greatly increases the risk of a local tsunami.

Seafloor shifting from a major quake on a seafloor fault has the potential to create a tsunami, depending upon the location of the fault, the type of slippage, how far the plates shifted, the magnitude of the quake, etc.

Here's a very simplified graphic showing a tsunami, Chode.

[Sacajaweau]

My son finally came back from Japan but I know he was up North. Thinking of you w/ prayers.

[Global2010]

Excellant example of what displaced water of a tsunami does.

Sure helped me grasp it even after all the education posted on tsunami events.

[bd476]

Global2010 wrote: "This is a case of the pingees' pinging the pinger. : )"

ROFLOL! Can you quickly say that 100 times?

One ping only.

[Godzilla]

Not me, clearly photoshopped, not my fault.......

[bd476]

Thanks!

[Doc Savage]

It lloks like N. Korea may be affected! Quick, call all FAGS! Arex Barwinnn where are you!!!!

[BubbaHeel]

The event caused a Pacific wide tsunami which was expected to reach Japan in 64 minutes and California in 8 hours and 20 minutes.

Say what?!?

I just went to United Airlines, and calculated a trip from San Francisco International SFO to Osaka Kansai International KIX, and "Show Flight Details" says that the trip is 5413 "miles" [I assume that's standard miles, not nautical miles].

So if this "wave" is crossing the Pacific in about 8 hours, then it's travelling at something close to the speed of sound [600+ miles per hour].

I guess the speed of vibration in water must be pretty close to the speed of vibration in air - but man, I wonder what would that shock wave would look like if you could witness it?

Can you imagine a 16" ripple moving through the water at 600+ miles per hour?

I think I may start a new thread about this.

[rjp2005]

That IS fast!

Because this was minimal, I think this was a "warning" Tsunami for the Pacific.

[BubbaHeel]

Note that the link that Fitzcarraldo posted was for a different earthquake, back in November, of 2006.

Still, the same general calculations ought to apply - roughly 5000 miles in roughly 8 hours?

[ASOC]

Most of Anchorage sits well above sea level, my house by the air base, for example, is 233 ASL

The port unfortunatly, has the tank farm with almost all fuel for the city - that is worrisome.

[Global2010]

Interesting if your figures are correct.

So a 1ft wave traveling at 600mph would make BD476s' graphs (up about 10 posts from here) more understandable of what misplaced water would do.
Add that to the force of hitting in our case up in the PNW water logged and sliding eroded cliffs from an already rough winter/seas more likely to slide into the ocean if hit thus possibly creating a reverse tsunami from the landslide. Oh the possiblities!

OTOH Your post reminded me of those dreaded math problems I never grasped "if tommy leaves on a train in New York, and lucy leaves on a train from Florida......ack.

[Sword_Svalbardt]

Bust out the surf boards, we are going to surf to the top of Mt. Fuji.

[SevenofNine]

SOO GODZILLA you weren't in your hood OKAY ROFL

[Chode]

thx...

[monkapotamus]

[SevenofNine]

Damn it snowing in Japan I didn't know that

Boy talking about Global warming ROFL

I see Global warming is all Godzilla's fault

OHHH does Al Gore know this

[Marysecretary]

I called my son at 2:00 a.m., yes, I was still up. He was home and said nothing had happened yet. I see it passed by Japan so I assume all's well?