Tsunami in the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico

bbA2 · 12-31-2004

With the tremendously horrific tragedy that has so recently made headlines the dense cogs in my brain started churning at a modest rate and my curiosity, perhaps a bit morbid, has been sparked. Many may not know that tsunamis can be of a widely varying size and duration, some hardly larger than the standard surf on a given beach while others can cause the incomprehensible devastation we have witnessed via the evening news. When I lived in western <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Washington</st1:State></st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> many years ago I vaguely remember hearing about a tsunami as a result of an earthquake off the coast of A<ST1:p<st1:State w:st="on">laska </st1:State></ST1:pbut it was very small and caused no significant damage that I can recall. Fortunately disasters of such biblical proportions are seldom and rare.

My question posed to the long timers of the region, have there been any such events impacting the PDC area in recent memory, large or small?

bba2

For the paranoid among us: are there any planned

and btw what will the weather be like when I am there next year, which day should I plan my catamaran trip for and does a pale pasty white guy from the north really need sunscreen, the sun isnt that fierce is it?

Nerak936 · 12-31-2004

Given the fact that over 120,000 people have lost their lives in this disaster, I find this attempt at humor on the subject to be in very poor taste. Do us all a favor and remove this thread, James. Please.

BobbiJ · 12-31-2004

Wow, I guessed I missed something ....I did not find that the post by bbA2
was ment to humorous.it seemed like ..just a question....I think the West Coast, California, Oregon and Washinton State have a Much Much higher chance of a tsunami than PDC does. I feel for all the people affected by this terrible tragedy

and did not find the origanal post offensive

Jan&Chas · 01-01-2005

I didn't see anything wrong with the post either.

CaroleLB · 01-01-2005

Ditto.

Don't ruin your trip use sunscreen.

Nerak936 · 01-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbA2

For the paranoid among us: are there any planned

and btw what will the weather be like when I am there next year, which day should I plan my catamaran trip for and does a pale pasty white guy from the north really need sunscreen, the sun isnt that fierce is it?

While the majority of the post was within reason, I found bba2's question with the accompanying winking smiley (together with the subsequent obvious joking questions about weather and sunscreen) about any "planned" tsunamis to indeed be an attempt at humor, and it hit me the wrong way. I just don't think it's a topic to make jokes about.

Perhaps my response seems a bit harsh to some, and I doubt that this thread will be deleted (especially since it appears I may be alone in my reaction to it), but I stand by it just the same.

Playaround · 01-01-2005

Scattered across the world’s oceans are a handful of rare geological time-bombs. Once unleashed they create an extraordinary phenomenon, a gigantic tidal wave, far bigger than any normal tsunami, able to cross oceans and ravage countries on the other side of the world. Only recently have scientists realised the next episode is likely to begin at the Canary Islands, off North Africa, where a wall of water will one day be created which will race across the entire Atlantic ocean at the speed of a jet airliner to devastate the east coast of the United States. America will have been struck by a mega-tsunami.

Back in 1953 two geologists travelled to a remote bay in Alaska looking for oil. They gradually realised that in the past the bay had been struck by huge waves, and wondered what could have possibly caused them. Five years later, they got their answer. In 1958 there was a landslide, in which a towering cliff collapsed into the bay, creating a wave half a kilometre high, higher than any skyscraper on Earth. The true destructive potential of landslide-generated tsunami, which scientists named "Mega-tsunami", suddenly began to be appreciated. If a modest-sized landslide in Alaska could create a wave of this size, what havoc could a really huge landslide cause?

Scientists now realise that the greatest danger comes from large volcanic islands, which are particularly prone to these massive landslides. Geologists began to look for evidence of past landslides on the sea bed, and what they saw astonished them. The sea floor around Hawaii, for instance, was covered with the remains of millions of years’ worth of ancient landslides, colossal in size.

But huge landslides and the mega-tsunami that they cause are extremely rare - the last one happened 4,000 years ago on the island of Réunion. The growing concern is that the ideal conditions for just such a landslide - and consequent mega-tsunami - now exist on the island of La Palma in the Canaries. In 1949 the southern volcano on the island erupted. During the eruption an enormous crack appeared across one side of the volcano, as the western half slipped a few metres towards the Atlantic before stopping in its tracks. Although the volcano presents no danger while it is quiescent, scientists believe the western flank will give way completely during some future eruption on the summit of the volcano. In other words, any time in the next few thousand years a huge section of southern La Palma, weighing 500 thousand million tonnes, will fall into the Atlantic ocean.

What will happen when the volcano on La Palma collapses? Scientists predict that it will generate a wave that will be almost inconceivably destructive, far bigger than anything ever witnessed in modern times. It will surge across the entire Atlantic in a matter of hours, engulfing the whole US east coast, sweeping away everything in its path up to 20km inland. Boston would be hit first, followed by New York, then all the way down the coast to Miami and the Caribbean.

jobob · 01-01-2005

bbA2 - the earthquake you're thinking of was Mar 28/64 and rated 9.2 on the richter scale. The tsunami (or tidal wave which I think they called them then) it put out did hit the west coast of Vancouver Island and did significant damage in a place called Port Alberni. Don't know if there were any deaths. It was nothing though in comparison to what just happened in the Bay of Bengal.
And Karen, I agree with you - everything was fine until the last paragraph.
Bob

Nerak936 · 01-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jobob

And Karen, I agree with you - everything was fine until the last paragraph.
Bob

Thanks, Bob. I was starting to wonder if it were just me....

Andiline · 01-01-2005

Karen, although I had read the post I didn't think about it much. But I tend to agree with you that tsunamis are not a good topic for jokes.

Steve33 · 01-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbA2

For the paranoid among us: are there any planned

and btw what will the weather be like when I am there next year, which day should I plan my catamaran trip for and does a pale pasty white guy from the north really need sunscreen, the sun isnt that fierce is it?

bbA2, I think you hit a nerve with the paranoid among us

Great post!!

CalifGuy · 01-01-2005

In 1964 there was an earthquake in the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone. It was a magnitude 9.2 quake, and was so close to shore that the tidal wave arrived at the coast within an hour. More than 90 percent of the deaths from this earthquake were a result of these local tidal waves. Four hours later the first waves arrived in Crescent City, California. Within six hours even bigger waves arrived. Property damage was estimated at more than $7 million, and twelve people were killed. There was damage to all the ports along the California coast. The waves flowed inside the Golden Gate, and caused damage in Sausalito.

birdman · 01-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jobob

bbA2 - the earthquake you're thinking of was Mar 28/64 and rated 9.2 on the richter scale. The tsunami (or tidal wave which I think they called them then) it put out did hit the west coast of Vancouver Island and did significant damage in a place called Port Alberni. Don't know if there were any deaths. It was nothing though in comparison to what just happened in the Bay of Bengal.
And Karen, I agree with you - everything was fine until the last paragraph.
Bob

Many people in Ore. & Wa. flocked to the beaches to witness the tidal wave rolling in, not a good idea, 6 people were lost at Beverly beach near Newport Ore. & I believe a couple in wa were lost also. I couldn't imagine the devistation caused by the last one, my heart goes out to those who were affected by it

**james** · 01-01-2005

thread closed by request of author

12-31-2004	#1 (permalink)
bbA2 way into it Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: ann arbor, michigan Posts: 166	Tsunami in the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico With the tremendously horrific tragedy that has so recently made headlines the dense cogs in my brain started churning at a modest rate and my curiosity, perhaps a bit morbid, has been sparked. Many may not know that tsunamis can be of a widely varying size and duration, some hardly larger than the standard surf on a given beach while others can cause the incomprehensible devastation we have witnessed via the evening news. When I lived in western <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Washington</st1:State></st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> many years ago I vaguely remember hearing about a tsunami as a result of an earthquake off the coast of A<ST1:p<st1:State w:st="on">laska </st1:State></ST1:pbut it was very small and caused no significant damage that I can recall. Fortunately disasters of such biblical proportions are seldom and rare. My question posed to the long timers of the region, have there been any such events impacting the PDC area in recent memory, large or small? bba2 For the paranoid among us: are there any planned and btw what will the weather be like when I am there next year, which day should I plan my catamaran trip for and does a pale pasty white guy from the north really need sunscreen, the sun isnt that fierce is it? Last edited by bbA2 : 12-31-2004 at 10:06 PM.

01-01-2005	#7 (permalink)
Playaround very sparkly Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 28	Mega Tsunami Scattered across the world’s oceans are a handful of rare geological time-bombs. Once unleashed they create an extraordinary phenomenon, a gigantic tidal wave, far bigger than any normal tsunami, able to cross oceans and ravage countries on the other side of the world. Only recently have scientists realised the next episode is likely to begin at the Canary Islands, off North Africa, where a wall of water will one day be created which will race across the entire Atlantic ocean at the speed of a jet airliner to devastate the east coast of the United States. America will have been struck by a mega-tsunami. Back in 1953 two geologists travelled to a remote bay in Alaska looking for oil. They gradually realised that in the past the bay had been struck by huge waves, and wondered what could have possibly caused them. Five years later, they got their answer. In 1958 there was a landslide, in which a towering cliff collapsed into the bay, creating a wave half a kilometre high, higher than any skyscraper on Earth. The true destructive potential of landslide-generated tsunami, which scientists named "Mega-tsunami", suddenly began to be appreciated. If a modest-sized landslide in Alaska could create a wave of this size, what havoc could a really huge landslide cause? Scientists now realise that the greatest danger comes from large volcanic islands, which are particularly prone to these massive landslides. Geologists began to look for evidence of past landslides on the sea bed, and what they saw astonished them. The sea floor around Hawaii, for instance, was covered with the remains of millions of years’ worth of ancient landslides, colossal in size. But huge landslides and the mega-tsunami that they cause are extremely rare - the last one happened 4,000 years ago on the island of Réunion. The growing concern is that the ideal conditions for just such a landslide - and consequent mega-tsunami - now exist on the island of La Palma in the Canaries. In 1949 the southern volcano on the island erupted. During the eruption an enormous crack appeared across one side of the volcano, as the western half slipped a few metres towards the Atlantic before stopping in its tracks. Although the volcano presents no danger while it is quiescent, scientists believe the western flank will give way completely during some future eruption on the summit of the volcano. In other words, any time in the next few thousand years a huge section of southern La Palma, weighing 500 thousand million tonnes, will fall into the Atlantic ocean. What will happen when the volcano on La Palma collapses? Scientists predict that it will generate a wave that will be almost inconceivably destructive, far bigger than anything ever witnessed in modern times. It will surge across the entire Atlantic in a matter of hours, engulfing the whole US east coast, sweeping away everything in its path up to 20km inland. Boston would be hit first, followed by New York, then all the way down the coast to Miami and the Caribbean.

01-01-2005	#12 (permalink)
CalifGuy beachaholic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 269	Pacific Ocean Tsunami kills 12 in California In 1964 there was an earthquake in the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone. It was a magnitude 9.2 quake, and was so close to shore that the tidal wave arrived at the coast within an hour. More than 90 percent of the deaths from this earthquake were a result of these local tidal waves. Four hours later the first waves arrived in Crescent City, California. Within six hours even bigger waves arrived. Property damage was estimated at more than $7 million, and twelve people were killed. There was damage to all the ports along the California coast. The waves flowed inside the Golden Gate, and caused damage in Sausalito.

01-01-2005	#14 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,613	thread closed by request of author __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image! Thanks for taking the time to read the announcement!

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12-31-2004	#2 (permalink)
Nerak936 =^. " .^= Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 18,500	Given the fact that over 120,000 people have lost their lives in this disaster, I find this attempt at humor on the subject to be in very poor taste. Do us all a favor and remove this thread, James. Please.

12-31-2004	#3 (permalink)
BobbiJ way into it Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 135	Wow, I guessed I missed something ....I did not find that the post by bbA2 was ment to humorous.it seemed like ..just a question....I think the West Coast, California, Oregon and Washinton State have a Much Much higher chance of a tsunami than PDC does. I feel for all the people affected by this terrible tragedy and did not find the origanal post offensive

01-01-2005	#4 (permalink)
Jan&Chas añejo Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 1,609	I didn't see anything wrong with the post either.

01-01-2005	#5 (permalink)
CaroleLB Go Cougars! Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,945	Ditto. Don't ruin your trip use sunscreen.

01-01-2005	#8 (permalink)
jobob life=playa Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: B.C., Canada EH! Posts: 574	bbA2 - the earthquake you're thinking of was Mar 28/64 and rated 9.2 on the richter scale. The tsunami (or tidal wave which I think they called them then) it put out did hit the west coast of Vancouver Island and did significant damage in a place called Port Alberni. Don't know if there were any deaths. It was nothing though in comparison to what just happened in the Bay of Bengal. And Karen, I agree with you - everything was fine until the last paragraph. Bob

01-01-2005	#10 (permalink)
Andiline añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 7,427	Karen, although I had read the post I didn't think about it much. But I tend to agree with you that tsunamis are not a good topic for jokes.

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