ScienceDaily: Tsunami News

GPS solution provides three-minute tsunami alerts

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:58:58 EDT

Researchers have shown that, by using global positioning systems (GPS) to measure ground deformation caused by a large underwater earthquake, they can provide accurate warning of the resulting tsunami in just a few minutes after the earthquake onset. For the devastating Japan 2011 event the analysis of the GPS data and issue of a detailed tsunami alert would have taken no more than three minutes.

How should geophysics contribute to disaster planning?

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:20:20 EDT

Earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters often showcase the worst in human suffering – especially when those disasters strike populations who live in rapidly growing communities in the developing world with poorly enforced or non-existent building codes. Scientists now illustrate how nearly identical natural disasters can play out very differently depending on where they strike.

Research helps paint finer picture of massive 1700 earthquake

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:06:06 EDT

In 1700, a massive earthquake struck the west coast of North America, but a lack of local documentation has made studying this historic event challenging. Now, researchers have helped unlock this geological mystery using a fossil-based technique. Their work provides a finer-grained portrait of this earthquake and the changes in coastal land level it produced, enabling modelers to better prepare for future events.

Western Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami hazard potential greater than previously thought

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:37:37 EDT

Earthquakes similar in magnitude to the 2004 Sumatra earthquake could occur in an area beneath the Arabian Sea at the Makran subduction zone, according to recent research.

Hearing the Russian meteor, in America: Sound arrived in 10 hours, lasted 10 more

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:50:50 EDT

How powerful was February's meteor that crashed into Russia? Strong enough that its explosive entry into our atmosphere was detected almost 6,000 miles away in Lilburn, Ga., by infrasound sensors -- a full 10 hours after the meteor's explosion. A researcher has modified the signals and made them audible, allowing audiences to "hear" what the meteor's waves sounded like as they moved around the globe on February 15.

Scientists retrieve temperature data from Japan Trench observatory

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:13:13 EDT

With the successful retrieval of a string of instruments from deep beneath the seafloor, an international team of scientists has completed an unprecedented series of operations to obtain crucial temperature measurements of the fault that caused the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

Finding a sensible balance for natural hazard mitigation with mathematical models

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:16:16 EDT

Uncertainty issues are paramount in assessing risks posed by natural hazards and in developing strategies to alleviate their consequences. A new model estimates the balance between costs and benefits of mitigation following natural disasters, as well as rebuilding defenses in their aftermath.

Calculating tsunami risk for the US East Coast

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:07:07 EDT

The greatest threat of a tsunami for the US East Coast from a nearby offshore earthquake stretches from the coast of New England to New Jersey, according to researchers.

After major earthquake: A global murmur, then unusual silence

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

In the global aftershock zone that followed the major April 2012 Indian Ocean earthquake, seismologists noticed an unusual pattern -- period of quiet, without a large quake. Why did this period of quiet occur?

Measuring the hazards of global aftershock

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

The entire world becomes an aftershock zone after a massive magnitude (M) 7 or larger earthquake -- but what hazard does this pose around the planet?

The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident: Two years on, the fallout continues

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:48:48 EDT

More than two years after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan, scientists are still trying to quantify the extent of the damage.

The resilience of the Chilean coast after the earthquake of 2010

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:44:44 EDT

In February 2010, a violent earthquake struck Chile, causing a tsunami 10 m in height. Affecting millions of people, the earthquake and giant wave also transformed the appearance of the coastline: the dunes and sandbars were flattened, and the coast subsided in places by up to 1 m. But although the inhabitants are still affected for the long term, the shore system quickly rebuilt itself.

Sea floor earthquake zones can act like a 'magnifying lens' strengthening tsunamis beyond what was through possible

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:48:48 EST

Until now, it was largely believed that the maximum tsunami height onshore could not exceed the depth of the seafloor. But new research shows that when focusing occurs, that scaling relationship breaks down and flooding can be up to 50 percent deeper with waves that do not lose height as they get closer to shore.

Stress change during the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake illuminated

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:14:14 EST

The March 11, 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake produced the largest slip ever recorded in an earthquake, over 50 meters. Such huge fault movement on the shallow portion of the megathrust boundary came as a surprise to seismologists because this portion of the subduction zone was not thought to be accumulating stress prior to the earthquake. In a recently published study, scientists shed light on the stress state on the fault that controls the very large slip.

Cargo container research to improve buildings' ability to withstand tsunamis

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:21:21 EST

A research team has determined just what the impact of cargo containers could be and will present findings at an international conference in June. The goal is to supply structural engineers with information to design buildings in areas vulnerable to tsunamis.

More serious earthquakes predicted in the Himalayas

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 08:40:40 EST

Scientists have discovered that massive earthquakes in the range of 8 to 8.5 magnitudes on the Richter scale have left clear ground scars in the central Himalayas. This ground-breaking discovery has huge implications for the area along the front of the Himalayan Mountains, given that the region has a population density similar to that of New York City.

Ancient tsunami caused long-term ecosystem change in the Caribbean

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:28:28 EST

Overwash deposits point to major wave event more than 3,000 years ago. A detailed analysis of sediments from the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean presents convincing evidence for an extraordinary wave impact dating back some 3,300 years, even though no historical records of tsunamis exist for this island. Of particular interest are the consequences this large wave impact had on the island's ecosystem. The sediments studied by the scientists suggested that this tsunami entirely changed the coastal ecosystem and sedimentation patterns in the area.

Pacific Northwest and Himalayas could experience major earthquakes, geophysicists say

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:22:22 EST

Recent research by scientists focused on geologic features and activity in the Himalayas and Pacific Northwest that could mean those areas are primed for major earthquakes.

Russian Far East holds seismic hazards: Potential to trigger tsunamis that pose risk to Pacific Basin

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:58:58 EST

Research shows that the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands, long shrouded in secrecy by the Soviet government, are a seismic and volcanic hotbed with a potential to trigger tsunamis that pose a risk to the rest of the Pacific Basin.

Seeing the world through the eyes of an orangutan

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:01:01 EST

A captive bred Sumatran orangutan and a neuroscientist in Malaysia are hoping to explain some of the mysteries of the visual brain and improve the lives of captive bred animals.

Government, industry can better manage risks of very rare catastrophic events, experts say

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:23:23 EST

The mindset that uses the extreme unlikelihood of a catastrophic event as a rationale for not taking measures before a disaster happens, factored into the risk management failures of the Fukushima Tsunami, 9/11 and other such events, but a better approach is available, experts say.

Fishing for answers off Fukushima

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:03:03 EDT

Japan's "triple disaster," as it has become known, began on March 11, 2011, and remains unprecedented in its scope and complexity. To understand the lingering effects and potential public health implications of that chain of events, scientists are turning to a diverse and widespread sentinel in the world's ocean: fish.

Self-powered sensors to monitor nuclear fuel rod status

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:39:39 EDT

Japan's Fukushima Dai'ichi nuclear disaster that occurred in 2011 -- a result of the strongest earthquake on record in the country and the powerful tsunami waves it triggered -- underscored the need for a method to monitor the status of nuclear fuel rods that doesn't rely on electrical power.

Large 2012 earthquake triggered temblors worldwide for nearly a week

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:31:31 EDT

This year's largest earthquake, a magnitude 8.6 temblor on April 11 centered in the East Indian Ocean off Sumatra, did little damage, but it triggered quakes around the world for at least a week, according to a new analysis by seismologists.

Study reveals complex rupture process in surprising 2012 Sumatra quake

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:31:31 EDT

The massive earthquake that struck under the Indian Ocean southwest of Sumatra on April 11, 2012, came as a surprise to seismologists and left them scrambling to figure out exactly what had happened. Analysis of the seismic waves generated during the event has now revealed a complicated faulting process unlike anything seen before.

Magnitude-8.7 quake was part of crustal plate breakup

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:26:26 EDT

Seismologists have known for years that the Indo-Australian plate of Earth's crust is slowly breaking apart, but they saw it in action last April when at least four faults broke in a magnitude-8.7 earthquake that may be the largest of its type ever recorded.

Twenty-three nuclear power plants found to be in tsunami risk areas

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 08:32:32 EDT

Tsunamis are synonymous with the destruction of cities, and homes and since the Japanese coast was devastated in March 2011 we now know that they cause nuclear disaster, endanger the safety of the population and pollute the environment. As such phenomena are still difficult to predict, a team of scientists has assessed "potentially dangerous" areas that are home to completed nuclear plants or those under construction.

Did a 'forgotten' meteor have a deadly, icy double-punch?

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:36:36 EDT

When a huge meteor collided with Earth about 2.5 million years ago and fell into the southern Pacific Ocean it not only could have generated a massive tsunami but also may have plunged the world into the Ice Ages, a new study suggests.

Mathematicians show how shallow water may help explain tsunami power

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:57:57 EDT

While wave watching is a favorite pastime of beach-goers, few notice what is happening in the shallowest water. A closer look by two applied mathematicians has led to the discovery of interacting X- and Y-shaped ocean waves that may help explain why some tsunamis are able to wreak so much havoc.

Exploration drilling to monitor earthquakes in the Istanbul area

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 09:57:57 EDT

Today the drilling starts for a seismic monitoring network on the Marmara Sea near Istanbul. Specially designed seismic sensors in eight boreholes on the outskirts of Istanbul and around the eastern Marmara Sea will monitor the seismic activity of the region with high precision. In each of the respective 300 meter deep holes several borehole seismometers will be permanently installed at various depths. These detect even barely perceptible earthquakes with very small magnitudes at a high resolution and can thus provide information about the earthquake rupture processes associated with these.

Smoking and natural disasters: Christchurch residents increase tobacco consumption post-earthquake

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:08:08 EDT

The prevalence of smoking in Christchurch, New Zealand, increased following the 2010 earthquake, according to a new study.

Earthquake hazards map study finds deadly flaws

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:52:52 EDT

Three of the largest and deadliest earthquakes in recent history occurred where earthquake hazard maps didn't predict massive quakes. Scientists have recently studied the reasons for the maps' failure to forecast these quakes. They also explored ways to improve the maps. Developing better hazard maps and alerting people to their limitations could potentially save lives and money in areas such as the New Madrid, Missouri fault zone.

Short- and mid-term cardiovascular effects of Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami: Incidence rises with the seismic peak

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:21:21 EDT

The Japanese earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, which hit the north-east coast of Japan with a magnitude of 9.0 on the Richter scale, was one of the largest ocean-trench earthquakes ever recorded in Japan. The tsunami caused huge damage, including 15,861 dead and 3018 missing persons, and, as of June 6, 2012, 388,783 destroyed homes.

Earthquake risk in Europe detailed

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:31:31 EDT

For the first time, scientists have succeeded in setting up a harmonized catalog of earthquakes for Europe and the Mediterranean for the last thousand years. This catalog consists of about 45000 earthquakes.

Homing in on a potential pre-quake signal

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:25:25 EDT

In a new analysis of the 2004 magnitude 6.0 Parkfield earthquake in California, David Schaff suggests some limits on how changes measured by ambient seismic noise could be used as a pre-earthquake signal.

Northwest earthquake risk in U.S. looms large: 40% chance of major earthquake within 50 years

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:27:27 EDT

A comprehensive analysis of the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Pacific Northwest coast confirms that the region has had numerous earthquakes over the past 10,000 years, and suggests that the southern Oregon coast may be most vulnerable based on recurrence frequency.

Potential for tsunamis in northwestern California documented

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:25:25 EDT

Using studies that span the last three decades, scientists have compiled the first evidence-based comprehensive study of the potential for tsunamis in Northwestern California.

Sumatra faces yet another risk: Major volcanic eruptions

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:01:01 EDT

The early April earthquake of magnitude 8.6 that shook Sumatra was a grim reminder of the devastating earthquakes and tsunami that killed tens of thousands of people in 2004 and 2005. Now a new study shows that the residents of that region are at risk from yet another potentially deadly natural phenomenon -- major volcanic eruptions.

First-of-its-kind study reveals surprising ecological effects of earthquake and tsunami

Wed, 02 May 2012 18:47:47 EDT

The reappearance of long-forgotten habitats and the resurgence of species unseen for years may not be among the expected effects of a natural disaster. Yet that's exactly what researchers have found on the sandy beaches of south central Chile, after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake and devastating tsunami in 2010. Their study also revealed a preview of the problems wrought by sea level rise -- a major symptom of climate change.

Ireland's Aran Islands: Old maps and dead clams help solve coastal boulder mystery

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:43:43 EDT

Perched atop the sheer coastal cliffs of Ireland's Aran Islands, ridges of giant boulders have puzzled geologists for years. What forces could have torn these rocks from the cliff edges high above sea level and deposited them far inland? While some researchers contend that only a tsunami could push these stones, new research finds that plain old ocean waves, with the help of some strong storms, did the job.

NASA tests GPS monitoring system for big U.S. quakes

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:47:47 EDT

The space-based technology that lets GPS-equipped motorists constantly update their precise location will undergo a major test of its ability to rapidly pinpoint the location and magnitude of strong earthquakes across the western United States. Results from the new Real-time Earthquake Analysis for Disaster (READI) Mitigation Network soon could be used to assist prompt disaster response and more accurate tsunami warnings.

Warning signs from ancient Greek tsunami

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:39:39 EDT

In the winter of 479 B.C., a tsunami was the savior of Potidaea, drowning hundreds of Persian invaders as they lay siege to the ancient Greek village. New geological evidence suggests that the region may still be vulnerable to tsunami events.

Tsunami risk reduction in the age of Twitter

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:51:51 EDT

In theory, national governments should issue tsunami watches and warnings. For sure, they should be the only ones issuing evacuation orders. But social media are much quicker to inform.

New light shed on wandering continents

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:19:19 EDT

A layer of partially molten rock about 22 to 75 miles underground can't be the only mechanism that allows continents to gradually shift their position over millions of years, according to a new research. The result gives insight into what allows plate tectonics -- the movement of the Earth's crustal plates -- to occur.

Fukushima one year on: Poor planning hampered Fukushima response

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:30:30 EST

One year after an earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on March 11, 2011, an independent investigation panel has highlighted the country’s failures in disaster planning and crisis management for the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The article shows that agencies were thoroughly unprepared for the cascading nuclear disaster, following a tsunami that should have been anticipated.

For disaster debris arriving from Japan, radiation least of the concerns

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:37:37 EST

Later this year debris from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan should begin to wash up on US shores -- and one question many have asked is whether that will pose a radiation risk. The simple answer is, no.

Tohoku grim reminder of potential for Pacific Northwest North American megaquake

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:54:54 EST

The March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake is a grim reminder of the potential for another strong-motion mega-earthquake along the Pacific Northwest coast, geophysicists say.

Fukushima at increased earthquake risk, scientists report

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:08:08 EST

Seismic risk at the Fukushima nuclear plant increased after the magnitude 9 earthquake that hit Japan last March, scientists report. The new study, which uses data from over 6,000 earthquakes, shows the 11 March tremor caused a seismic fault close to the nuclear plant to reactivate. The research suggests authorities should strengthen the security of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to withstand large earthquakes that are likely to directly disturb the region.

Human cognitive performance suffers following natural disasters

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:53:53 EST

Not surprisingly, victims of a natural disaster can experience stress and anxiety, but a new study indicates that it might also cause them to make more errors - some serious - in their daily lives. Researchers have explored how cognitive performance can decline after earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Chronic poverty stalks Haitian earthquake victims still living in camps

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:24:24 EST

A new study of aid to Haiti finds that 36 percent of households in the directly affected area -- and 54 percent of those living in camps -- still have not recovered to their pre-earthquake levels almost two years after the disaster.

Debris scatters in the Pacific Ocean, possibly heading to US

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:20:20 EST

Debris from the tsunami that devastated Japan in March could reach the United States as early as this winter, according to new predictions. However, they warn there is still a large amount of uncertainty over exactly what is still floating, where it's located, where it will go, and when it will arrive. Responders now have a challenging, if not impossible situation on their hands: How do you deal with debris that could now impact US shores, but is difficult to find?

'Double tsunami' doubled Japan destruction

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:19:19 EST

Researchers discovered that the destructive tsunami generated by the March 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake was a long-hypothesized "merging tsunami" that doubled in intensity over rugged ocean ridges, amplifying its destructive power before reaching shore. Satellites captured not just one wave front that day, but at least two, which merged to form a single double-high wave far out at sea -- one capable of traveling long distances without losing its power.

Russian ship finds tsunami debris where scientists predicted

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:23:23 EDT

Ever since the Japan tsunami on March 11, 2011 washed millions of tons of debris into the Pacific, scientists in Hawaii have been looking for evidence to validate their computer model of the trajectory of these debris that are endangering small ships and coastlines. On its voyage from Honolulu to Vladivostok, a Russian ship found unmistakable tsunami debris in regions the model had predicted.

New program to expand, enhance use of LIDAR sensing technology

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:29:29 EDT

Researchers have developed a new system that will enable highway construction engineers in the field to immediately analyze soil movements caused by active landslides and erosion and use the powerful tool of LIDAR to better assess and deal with them. The advance is just the latest innovation with this laser technology, the use of which has mushroomed in recent years in the study of everything from earthquakes and tsunamis to beach erosion and road construction.

Observations of fallout from the Fukushima reactor accident in San Francisco Bay area rainwater

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:28:28 EDT

Researchers report that Japan's power plant accident fallout extended as far as the San Francisco Bay area, resulting in elevated levels of radioactive material that were nonetheless very low and posed no health risk to the public.

Fukushima: Reflections six months on

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:41:41 EDT

When the Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on March 11, 2011, the world witnessed the largest nuclear incident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. In a special Fukushima issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, published today by SAGE, experts examine the current and future impact of Fukushima, what might have been done to lessen the scale of the accident, and the steps we need to take both in Japan and worldwide to prevent another nuclear tragedy.

Tsunami observed by radar, may lead to better early warning systems

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:40:40 EDT

The tsunami that devastated Japan on March 11 was picked up by high-frequency radar in California and Japan as it swept toward their coasts, according to US and Japanese scientists. This is the first time that a tsunami has been observed by radar, raising the possibility of new early warning systems.

Japan's Tohoku tsunami created icebergs in Antarctica

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:25:25 EDT

A NASA scientist and her colleagues were able to observe for the first time the power of an earthquake and tsunami to break off large icebergs a hemisphere away. The researchers were able to link the calving of icebergs from the Sulzberger Ice Shelf in Antarctica following the Tohoku Tsunami, which originated with an earthquake off the coast of Japan in March 2011. The finding marks the first direct observation of such a connection between tsunamis and icebergs.

Tsunami airglow signature could lead to early detection system

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:19:19 EDT

Researchers have recorded an airglow signature in the upper atmosphere produced by a tsunami using a camera system based in Maui, Hawaii. Coupling of the ocean surface to the upper atmosphere enables tsunami imaging. The first ionospheric signature precedes the modeled ocean tsunami by one hour.

Olympia hypothesis: Tsunamis buried the cult site on the Peloponnese

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:42:42 EDT

Olympia, site of the famous Temple of Zeus and original venue of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, was presumably destroyed by repeated tsunamis that traveled considerable distances inland, and not by earthquake and river floods as has been assumed to date. Evidence in support of this new theory on the virtual disappearance of the ancient cult site on the Peloponnesian peninsula comes from a researcher in Germany.