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Posts Tagged ‘Pacific Ocean’

Strong Earthquakes Strike New Caledonia Region

Posted by feww on October 16, 2018

EQR – 101602

M6.4 earthquake, preceded by M6.3, followed by significant aftershocks, occur E of Tadine, New Caledonia 

Tsunami Evaluation: The earthquakes did not generate a destructive Tsunami.

Earthquake Details

M 6.4 – 167km E of Tadine, New Caledonia
Location: 21.726°S 169.487°E
Depth: 10.0 km
Time: 2018-10-16 01:03:43 (UTC)

M 6.3 – 170km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia
Location: 21.936°S 169.476°E
Depth: 10.0 km
Time: 2018-10-16 00:28:12 (UTC)

Aftershocks: .A cluster  of at least 14 significant aftershocks measuring between M4.7 and M5.8 have followed the events as of posting.

Plate-Tectonics Diagnostics

  • FIRE-EARTH Science Plate-Tectonics Diagnostics is available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

FIRE-EARTH EARTHQUAKE FORECAST

Detailed FIRE-EARTH Forecast for the region, including nearby seismicity and volcanism, available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

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Tsunami Warning – Gulf of Alaska

Posted by feww on January 23, 2018

KMPH – 012302
Copy: FSCT

M 7.9 earthquake strikes 280km SE of Kodiak, Alaska —USGS

Magnitude (uncertainty):  7.9 mww (± 0.1)
Location: 56.046°N ,149.073°W (± 5.9 km)
Depth 25.0 km (± 1.8)
Origin Time: 2018-01-23 09:31:42.940 UTC
Region: GULF OF ALASKA
Source: USGS

 

Canada:

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How to Tear through the Fabric of Life and Everything

Posted by feww on March 16, 2017

“How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” – US detonated more than 210 nuclear bombs in 17 years

Between 1945 and 1962, the United States detonated more than 210 atomic bombs, releasing massive amounts of radioactive particles into the atmosphere.

A team from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has declassified and preserved several hundred samples from an estimated 10,000 films showing the atmospheric nuclear detonation testing in the Pacific during the so-called Cold War.

Some of the declassified films are posted on the LLNL’s YouTube playlist.


Operation Hardtack-1 – Nutmeg 51538


Operation Plumbbob – Diablo 41549


Operation Teapot – Tesla 28616


Operation Teapot – Turk 28112


Operation Castle – Koon 24608


Operation Dominic – Housatonic 120256

Operation Dominic – Housatonic 120251

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5.25 trillion plastic particles currently floating in world’s oceans

Posted by feww on March 15, 2017

Plastic threat increasing in world’s oceans

Researchers estimate at least 5.25 trillion plastic particles weighing 268,940 tons are currently floating in world’s oceans (December 2014).

Model results for the total particle count and weight of plastic floating in the world’s oceans.

“Our estimates suggest that the two Northern Hemisphere ocean regions contain 55.6% of particles and 56.8% of plastic mass compared to the Southern Hemisphere, with the North Pacific containing 37.9% and 35.8% by particle count and mass, respectively. In the Southern Hemisphere the Indian Ocean appears to have a greater particle count and weight than the South Atlantic and South Pacific oceans combined.”

‘Extraordinary’ levels of pollutants found in 10km deep Mariana trench, in the Pacific Ocean, shows nowhere is safe from human impact, say researches.

“Small crustaceans that live in the pitch-black waters of the trench, captured by a robotic submarine, were contaminated with 50 times more toxic chemicals than crabs that survive in heavily polluted rivers in China,” said a report citing researchers.

Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111913

Annual global production of plastics has increased from 5 million tons in the 1950s to well over 230 million tons today. However, because of their disposable nature substantial quantities of plastic items have been discarded to the environment and so the abundance of microplastic is likely to increase over the next few decade.

Related Links

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What Happened in Latin America Last May?

Posted by feww on January 15, 2016

“Unusual phenomenon” produces destructive waves, storm surge

An unusual phenomenon between 2 and 4 May 2015 produced two-meter-high waves on the Pacific Ocean side of Latin America, killing a number of people, forcing scores of people to flee their homes and destroying or damaging buildings,  roads and infrastructure.

The El Salvadoran coast was among the hardest hit, with damage across the entire coastal line in the departments of Ahuachapán, Sonsonate, La Libertad, La Paz, San Vicente, Usulután and La Union. More than 1,300 people were evacuated: 514 were in shelters and 1,270 were providing their own shelter. Another segment of the population had migrated to areas where they had access to family shelters and to the Chapina Garita area. (IFRC, 16 May 2015).

Strong winds generated high waves and swells in coastal areas of several countries in the region, affecting the populations and infrastructure.

Several people were killed or reported as missing in coastal areas of Chile, Panama and El Salvador. hundreds of others were forced to evacuate house and hotels on the Pacific coast.

In Guatemala, about 500 people were evacuated due to the damage caused by the storm surge that traveled more than one kilometer inland.

The phenomenon also affected other countries including Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and Honduras, among others, causing damage to houses, hotels and roads. (OCHA, 4 May 2015).

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M7.0 Earthquake Strikes Solomon Islands

Posted by feww on November 19, 2015

Powerful quake occurs 118km SW of Dadali, Solomon Islands

Centered at 8.929°S, 158.410°E the quake occurred at a depth of 13.4km (8.3 mi), reported USGS/EHP.

EQ Details

Magnitude: M7.0
Location: 8.929°S 158.410°E depth=13.4 km (8.3 mi)
Time: 2015-11-18 18:31:04 (UTC)
Nearby Cities

  • 118km (73mi) SW of Dadali, Solomon Islands
  • 178km (111mi) WNW of Honiara, Solomon Islands
  • 36km (271mi) SE of Arawa, Papua New Guinea

Tsunami Evaluation

This earthquake did not generate a pacific-wide destructive tsunami.

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events – May 20, 2015

Posted by feww on May 20, 2015

Another ruptured pipeline in California spills 21,000 gallons of oil into ocean, onto beaches

On May 19, 2015 the NOAA was notified of a 24-inch pipeline rupture that occurred earlier today near Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, CA [34°27.74′N, 120° 5.21′W.] An estimated 500 barrels (21,000 gallons, or 79,500 liters) of crude oil was released on the shoreside of Hwy 101 which then flowed into the Pacific Ocean. The source has since been secured. USCG personnel estimated the size of the sheen to be 3.5 NM [6.5km] along the beach and 50-100 yards into the water. Oil Spill Recovery Organizations are on-scene to conduct cleanup operations. California Department of Fish and Wildlife has ordered beach closures. [NOAA]

Japan’s Takata Recalls 33.8 Million Vehicles Worldwide Over Deadly Air Bags

More than 33.8 million cars and trucks have been recalled by Takata Corp., the largest recall in history, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday.

“This is probably the most complex consumer safety recall in U.S. history,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

The Japanese air bag manufacturer had previously refused to admit its air bag inflaters are defective and the air bags can explode violently, sending lethal metal fragments flying into the passenger compartment.

At least 10 major automakers—BMW, Fiat, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota—have already issued recalls for about 17 million vehicles in the U.S. and more than 36 million globally.

The defect has reportedly caused at least six deaths and more than 100 injuries, including loss of sight.

Continued…

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Powerful Quake Strikes Nicaragua Coast

Posted by feww on October 14, 2014

HEIGHTENED GLOBAL SEISMICITY
SEISMIC HAZARD
SCENARIOS 09, 08, 07, 02
.

M7.3 Strikes 67km WSW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua

Centered at 12.576°N, 88.046°W the quake occurred at a depth of about 40.0km close to the Middle America Trench, reported USGS/EHP.

The quake was followed by at least one significant aftershock, measuring  5.0Mw, as of posting.

Tsunami Evaluation

NO Pacific-wide Tsunami was generated.

Fatalities

“Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. Some casualties and damage are possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Past yellow alerts have required a local or regional level response,” according to USGS model.

Estimated economic losses are expected to be less than 1% of GDP of Nicaragua.

Earthquake Details

Magnitude: 7.3Mw
Event Time: 2014-10-14 03:51:35 UTC
Location: 12.576°N 88.046°W depth=40.0km (24.9mi)
Nearby Cities

  • 67km (42mi) WSW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua
  • 86km (53mi) SSW of La Union, El Salvador
  • 95km (59mi) W of Corinto, Nicaragua
  • 95km (59mi) SSE of San Rafael Oriente, El Salvador
  • 174km (108mi) SE of San Salvador, El Salvador

Other Significant Seismicity

M6.1 – South of the Kermadec Islands

Event Time: 2014-10-14 04:12:30 UTC
Location: 34.917°S, 179.970°E depth=31.5km (19.6mi)
Nearby Cities

  • 400km (249mi) SSW of L’Esperance Rock
  • 430km (267mi) NE of Whakatane, NZ
  • 450km (280mi) NNE of Gisborne, NZ
  • 459km (285mi) NE of Tauranga, NZ
  • 840km (522mi) NE of Wellington, NZ

Posted in Earthquake news, earthquake report, Global Disaster watch, significant events | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

PHANFONE Meanders Toward Japan

Posted by feww on October 3, 2014

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
POWERFUL TYPHOON
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
MAJOR STORM SURGE
COASTAL FLOODING
MASS EVACUATIONS
SCENARIOS  444, 111, 088, 070, 066, 033, 024, 023
.

Typhoon PHANFONE  (18W) to Impact Coastal Japan

Typhoon PHANFONE (TY 18W) was positioned near 26.0N 133.0E at 14:00UTC on October 3, 2014 packing sustained winds of about 225km/hr with maximum wind gusts of up to 270km/hr, according to FIRE-EARTH models.

Typhoon 18W
Typhoon PHANFONE. VIS-SWIR [FIRE-EARTH Enhancement] Satellite Image at 13:32UTC, Ocober 3,2014. Source of original image: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC

Related Links

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Chaparrastique Spews More Ash, Volcanic Gases

Posted by feww on December 31, 2013

Chaparrastique Volcano in Eastern El Salvador is Still Spewing Ash and Volcanic Gases

Up to 5,000 people live near the volcano, and the authorities have so far evacuated more than 1,600 to emergency shelters, but many have refused to leave their homes on the volcano slopes.

“The Chaparrastique volcano is still producing gases combined with small emissions of ash, which is normal after an eruption,” said  El Salvador’s environment ministry.

The 2,130-m high volcano,  El Salvador’s third highest, ejected columns of smoke and ash up to 5km above the summit on Sunday

Chaparrastique, aka San Miguel volcano, located about 15km SW of San Miguel city (population: 180,000), and about 140 km east of San Salvador, the capital, showed signs of increased activity on December 13.

The eruption has so far deposited more than 10cm of ash in the nearby areas within the coffee-producing region, according to reports.

chaparistique - Elsalvador-dotcom
Latest image of Chaparistique Eruption. Source: El-Salvador.com

ash from san migul eruption on coffee plants
 Chaparistique eruption deposits volcanic ash on coffee plants. Source: El-Salvador.com

El Salvador

El Salvador sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, close to Middle America Trench, and is subject to significant tectonic movement, causing frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The tiny country (population: 6.3 million) is home to at least 23 volcanoes.

Middle America Trench

A major subduction zone known for many large earthquakes, the Middle America Trench is a 2,800-km long oceanic trench in the eastern Pacific Ocean, extending from central Mexico to Costa Rica. The trench is the boundary between five tectonic plates, including the Caribbean, Cocos (and Rivera), Nazca, the North American and the South American plates.

Related Links

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Volcano Erupts in Ogasawara Islands

Posted by feww on November 21, 2013

Warning issued to Pacific shipping after volcano erupts, forming a new Island

Authorities have warned shipping in the Pacific Ocean to maintain vigilance for airborne volcanic material after a volcano erupted near one of the Ogasawara Islands, some 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo, NHK reported Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) as saying.

Japan Coast Guard has confirmed black smoke spewing out of a new land mass about 500 meters southeast of Nishinoshima island, JMA said

Video footage shows a plume of black and white smoke and steam  rising to a height of more than 600 meters above a new landmass measuring about 200 meters across.

Ogasawara - new island formed from volcanic eruption
Black and white smoke and steam rising to a height of more than 600 meters above a new 200-m long landmass created by volcanic eruption near Nishino shima, Bonin Islands, south of Japan. Screenshot from NHK news video clip.

new volcanic island
Screenshot  from NHK news video clip.

“The agency says multiple clusters of white smoke overhead suggest intermittent explosions,” said the report.

Volcanic activity created a new island which was fused to the uninhabited Nishinoshima between 1973 and 1974, the last time when eruptions occurred near the island.


Location Map of Volcano Islands, Ogasawara Islands, Japan region. Image credit: Lim Tor


Bonin Islands (aka, Ogasawara Group, in Japan).  Click Image to Enlarge.

In 2010, one of the volcanoes in the region erupted, spewing smoke and ash to a height of about about 100 meters above the sea level. The surrounding sea area changed to a greenish-yellow color with nearby areas turning cloudy.

JMA said the volcano, called Fukutokuokanoba, had erupted seven times since 1904, forming ephemeral islands (temporary land masses) on three occasions, all of which later sank below the ocean surface.

The first known ephemeral island called Shin-Iwo-jima (New Sulfur Island) was formed in 1904, and the most recent in 1986.

What the Volcano Islands Look Like


North Iwo Jima Island (Official Japanese name Kita-iōtō, but commonly known as Kita-iōjima, meaning “north sulfur island”) is the northernmost island of the Volcano Islands cluster of the Ogasawara Islands, about 1175 km south of Tokyo. Image Credit: Chisatos

Related Links:

Posted in significant events, volcanic activity, Volcanic Activity Report, volcanic eruption, volcanic event, volcanic hazard, volcanism, volcanism report, volcano, volcano alert, volcano eruption, Volcano Hazard, Volcano News | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

TEPCO Continues to Contaminate the World

Posted by feww on October 3, 2013

What would it take for the Asian countries most at risk from Fukushima nuclear disaster to team up and declare the Japaneses government ‘Legally Incompetent,’ on grounds of their inability to deal with an ongoing major nuclear disaster that would likely pose an existential threat to other nations in the region and beyond, and then appoint an international team of guardians and conservators to oversee the day-to-day running of the country?

.

Another tank leaking toxic water at Fukushima nuclear plant: Operator

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of Japan’s nuked Fukushima nuclear power plant, said another tank holding highly radioactive coolant is leaking, and that some of the toxic liquid likely entered the Pacific Ocean.

The leaked fluid contained 200,000 becquerels per liter of beta-emitting radioactive isotopes including strontium 90, according to the company. The legal limit for strontium 90 is reportedly 30 becquerels per liter.

In August, at least 300 tons of highly toxic water escaped from one of the hastily built holding tanks. TEPCO has been pumping hundreds of tons of water a day to keep the reactors cool. The tanks are used to store the highly toxic wastewater.

On October 1,  TEPCO admitted it had found yet another leak at the plant, which caused 4 tons of radioactive water to enter the sea.

The criminally negligent government of Japan and TEPCO apparently won’t rest until the entire region, the country, the sea and all of its content, is contaminated with radiation.

This is now a matter of urgent global security, but the government in Japan has not taken any steps to address the worsening disaster.

Japan’s False Bravado

Hubris can only stem from ignorance, and it usually results in major downfalls and death. And no one could possibly know this better than the Japanese.

Yoshinoya Holdings, a Japanese fast-food chain, announced yesterday plans to grow rice and vegetables on a farm in Shirakawa, located less than 100 km (60 miles) from the nuked Fukushima power plant.

Up to quarter of a million people living nearest to Fukushima nuke plant were ordered to move out after the March 2011 mega earthquake and tsunami caused triple reactor meltdowns, contaminating the ground, water air and everything.

The government reluctantly established a 20-km compulsory evacuation zone and various voluntary evacuation zones have since been set us from site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

FIRE-EARTH experts have advised all of their colleagues and friends who live anywhere in Japan to obtain a Geiger counter and to NOT leave home without it.

What would it take for the Asian countries most at risk from Fukushima nuclear disaster to team up and declare the Japaneses government ‘Legally Incompetent,’ on grounds of their inability to deal with an ongoing major nuclear disaster that would likely pose an existential threat to other nations in the region and beyond, and then appoint an international team of guardians and conservators to oversee the day-to-day running of the country?

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NPS Prompt Report

Posted in environment, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2013, radioactive leak | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

UPDATE: Tropical Cyclone MAN-YI

Posted by feww on September 15, 2013

Cyclone Man-YI Intensifies

FIRE-EARTH models show Man-Yi could strengthen into a typhoon-force storm [probability ~ 55%] before making its first landfall on Japan’s Honshu Island.

man-yi tc
Tropical Cyclone MAN-YI. Visible/Shorwave IR Image. 2013-09-15 @12:32:00UTC. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

MAN-YI projected track
MAN-YI Projected track. Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

STS 1318 (MAN-YI)
Issued at 13:45 UTC, 15 September 2013
Scale: Large
Center position: N31°35′(31.6°), E135°00′(135.0°)
Direction and speed of movement: NNE 30km/h (15kt)
Central pressure: 975hPa
Maximum wind speed near the center: 108 km/s
Maximum wind gust speed: 144 km/h
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

Related Links

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MAN-YI Eying Tokyo, Fukushima

Posted by feww on September 15, 2013

Tropical Cyclone MAN-YI pounding S. Japan with heavy rain, tracking toward Tokyo, Fukushima

MAN-YI is currently tracking NNw at a forward speed of about 30km/h with maximum sustained wind of about 90km/h and wind gusts exceeding 125km/h.

MAN-YI -FEWW Enhancement
Tropical Cyclone MAN-YI. Visible/Shorwave IR Image. 2013-09-15/04:32:00UTC Source: CIMSS/ SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

The cyclone is expected to hit Tokyo Metropolitan Area at about 06:00UTC on Monday, September 16, 2013.

MAN-YI
STS 1318 (MAN-YI)
Issued at 03:40 UTC, 15 September 2013
Scale: Large
Center position: N29°05′(29.1°), E134°10′(134.2°)
Direction and speed of movement: NNW 30km/h(15kt)
Central pressure: 980hPa
Maximum wind speed near the center: 25m/s(50kt)
Maximum wind gust speed: 35m/s(70kt)
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

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TEMBIN Could Hit Taiwan Multiple Times

Posted by feww on August 24, 2012

Typhoon TEMBIN moves into Taiwan Strait after making first landfall

TEMBIN made landfall in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, early Friday, having dumped 500 mm of rain on parts of  southern and southeastern Taiwan over a 10-hour period, before moving out to sea shortly after.


TY TEMBIN – Vis/IR satellite image @ 03:32UTC – August 24, 2012. Source: UW/CIMSS

The storm could turn toward Taiwan again and dump more rain this weekend, according to the country’s Central Weather Bureau.

TEMBIN could interact with the approaching Typhoon BOLAVEN, by which time the latter, now a category 3 typhoon, could have intensified to a super storm.


Typhoon TEMBIN track and projected path. Source: UW/CIMSS


Typhoon BOLAVEN track and projected path. Source: UW/CIMSS

Related Links

Posted in global delta flooding, global deluge, Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global Precipitation | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Your Worst Fears About El Niño

Posted by feww on March 21, 2010

Worst fears about El Niño may come true

The El Niño, formally known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or “ENSO” for short, is the most significant cause of large-scale climate variability in the tropics. El Niño episodes bring warmer than normal waters to the central and eastern Pacific Ocean from Indonesia in the western end to South America in the eastern end of the  ocean, helping to maintain the above-normal sea surface temperatures.

Figure below shows one of these Kelvin Waves progressing across the Pacific in February 2010.

Kelvin Wave Renews El Niño

The globes show sea surface height anomalies, which means places where the water surface is higher (red) or lower (blue) than average. A higher-than-average sea surface height at a given location indicates that there is a deeper-than-normal layer of warm water. Lower-than-average sea surface height indicates a shallower layer of warm water. The globes are based on 10 days of data centered on January 15, January 30, and February 15.

In January (left-hand globe), sea surface heights across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific were elevated (red), but not extremely so, potentially a sign that El Niño was weakening. But in early February, a strong sea level anomaly appeared northeast of Australia (center globe). This swell of deep, warm water is the start of the Kelvin wave, and by late February, it had spread eastward into the central Pacific (right-hand globe) and re-invigorated the current El Niño.

Where do Kelvin waves come from? Under normal conditions, the tropics’ prevailing easterly winds push Sun-warmed surface waters across the Pacific from the Americas toward Indonesia, creating a deep pool of warm water in the western Pacific. During an El Niño, the trade winds falter, and sometimes even reverse, for months. When the winds that maintain the warm pool falter, a large pulse of warm water from the western Pacific slides back toward the east. NASA Earth Observatory images by Jesse Allen, Kevin Ward, and Robert Simmon. Caption by Rebecca Lindsey, based on interpretation provided by Josh Willis and Bill Patzert, NASA JPL.

Related Links

  • El Niño [Main Page, Links to Weekly Updates Archive]

Posted in El Niño episode, ENSO, Equatorial Pacific, Kelvin Waves, Trade winds | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Chile Quake Moved Cities by 3m

Posted by feww on March 10, 2010

Concepcion: The Roving City Moved by 305cm

The M8.8 megaquake that struck the coast of Chile on February 27, moved the city of Concepcion at least 3 meters (10 feet) to the west, shifting other parts of South America, and places as far apart as the Falkland Islands and Fortaleza, Brazil, researchers say.

Initial measurements, produced from data collected by researchers from four universities and earthquake monitoring centers, as well as geophysicists on the ground in Chile, who depicted the power behind the Chilean megaquake, listed as the fifth-most-powerful instrumentally-recorded earthquake ever.

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina  moved west by about 2.5cm (1 inch). And Santiago, the Chilean capital, moved about 28cm (11 inches) to the west-southwest. The cities of Mendoza and Valparaiso, located northeast of Concepcion, also moved by more than 13cm, and 27cm respectively.


This partial map of South America shows how far principal cities in Chile moved as a result of the February megaquake. Credit: University of Hawaii. Click Image to enlarge.


This map of South America shows movement of points on the continent as a result of the February megaquake. Credit: University of Hawaii. Click Image to enlarge

The megaquake occurred in a region of the Pacific Ocean which is known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” an area of major seismic activity. Major seismic stresses are caused because tectonic plates move press against each other at various fault zones, resulting in earthquakes which release built-up geologic stresses along these convergence zones.

The Chilean megaquake occurred where the Nazca tectonic plate subducted [plunged beneath] the neighboring South American plate.

Related Links:

Posted in Buenos Aires, Chile Quake, earthquake, Santiago moved | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Destructive Tsunami Generated by Chile Quake

Posted by feww on February 27, 2010

A WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 005
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 1045UTC 27 FEB 2010

THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS, EXCEPT ALASKA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. [SEE below for other bulletins with those areas included ]


Chile Tsunami preliminary forecast model energy map (WCATWC/NOAA). Click image to enlarge.


Source: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center. Click image to enlarge.

* A WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT *

A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR

CHILE / PERU / ECUADOR / COLOMBIA / ANTARCTICA / PANAMA / COSTA RICA / NICARAGUA / PITCAIRN / HONDURAS / EL SALVADOR / GUATEMALA / FR. POLYNESIA / MEXICO / COOK ISLANDS / KIRIBATI / KERMADEC IS / NIUE / NEW ZEALAND / TONGA / AMERICAN SAMOA / SAMOA / JARVIS IS. / WALLIS-FUTUNA / TOKELAU / FIJI / AUSTRALIA / HAWAII / PALMYRA IS. / TUVALU / VANUATU / HOWLAND-BAKER / NEW CALEDONIA / JOHNSTON IS. / SOLOMON IS. / NAURU / MARSHALL IS. / MIDWAY IS. / KOSRAE / PAPUA NEW GUINEA / POHNPEI / WAKE IS. / CHUUK / RUSSIA / MARCUS IS. / INDONESIA / N. MARIANAS / GUAM / YAP / BELAU / JAPAN / PHILIPPINES / CHINESE TAIPEI

THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE
DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME – 0634Z 27 FEB 2010
COORDINATES – 36.1 SOUTH 72.6 WEST
DEPTH – 55 KM
LOCATION – NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL CHILE
MAGNITUDE – 8.8

MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY

GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL PER
——————- —– —— —– ————— —–
IQUIQUE CL 20.2S 70.1W 0906Z 0.27M / 0.9FT 72MIN
ANTOFAGASTA CL 23.2S 70.4W 0941Z 0.49M / 1.6FT 52MIN
ARICA CL 18.5S 70.3W 1007Z 0.94M / 3.1FT 44MIN
DART LIMA 32412 18.0S 86.4W 0941Z 0.24M / 0.8FT 36MIN
CALDERA CL 27.1S 70.8W 0843Z 0.45M / 1.5FT 20MIN
TALCAHUANO CL 36.7S 73.4W 0653Z 2.34M / 7.7FT 88MIN
COQUIMBO CL 30.0S 71.3W 0852Z 1.32M / 4.3FT 30MIN
CORRAL CL 39.9S 73.4W 0739Z 0.90M / 2.9FT 16MIN
SAN FELIX CL 26.3S 80.1W 0815Z 0.53M / 1.7FT 08MIN
VALPARAISO CL 33.0S 71.6W 0708Z 1.29M / 4.2FT 20MIN

LAT – LATITUDE (N-NORTH, S-SOUTH)
LON – LONGITUDE (E-EAST, W-WEST)
TIME – TIME OF THE MEASUREMENT (Z IS UTC IS GREENWICH TIME)
AMPL – TSUNAMI AMPLITUDE MEASURED RELATIVE TO NORMAL SEA LEVEL.
IT IS …NOT… CREST-TO-TROUGH WAVE HEIGHT.
VALUES ARE GIVEN IN BOTH METERS(M) AND FEET(FT).
PER – PERIOD OF TIME IN MINUTES(MIN) FROM ONE WAVE TO THE NEXT.

EVALUATION

SEA LEVEL READINGS CONFIRM THAT A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED WHICH COULD CAUSE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. AUTHORITIES SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS THREAT. THIS CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR SEA LEVEL DATA TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT AND SEVERITY OF THE THREAT.

A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE FIRST WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST. TSUNAMI WAVE HEIGHTS CANNOT BE PREDICTED AND CAN VARY SIGNIFICANTLY ALONG A COAST DUE TO LOCAL EFFECTS. THE TIME FROM ONE TSUNAMI WAVE TO THE NEXT CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO AN HOUR, AND THE THREAT CAN CONTINUE FOR MANY HOURS AS MULTIPLE WAVES ARRIVE.

FOR ALL AREAS – WHEN NO MAJOR WAVES ARE OBSERVED FOR TWO HOURS AFTER THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL OR DAMAGING WAVES HAVE NOT OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS THEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN ASSUME THE THREAT IS PASSED. DANGER TO BOATS AND COASTAL STRUCTURES CAN CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS DUE TO RAPID CURRENTS. AS LOCAL CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A WIDE VARIATION IN TSUNAMI WAVE ACTION THE ALL CLEAR DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.

LOCATION FORECAST POINT COORDINATES ARRIVAL TIME
——————————– ———— ————
CHILE TALCAHUANO 36.7S 73.1W 0729Z 27 FEB
VALPARAISO 33.0S 71.6W 0739Z 27 FEB
COQUIMBO 29.9S 71.3W 0801Z 27 FEB
CORRAL 39.8S 73.5W 0810Z 27 FEB
CALDERA 27.1S 70.8W 0821Z 27 FEB
ANTOFAGASTA 23.3S 70.4W 0844Z 27 FEB
IQUIQUE 20.2S 70.1W 0911Z 27 FEB
ARICA 18.5S 70.3W 0929Z 27 FEB
GOLFO DE PENAS 47.1S 74.9W 0934Z 27 FEB
PUERTO MONTT 41.5S 73.0W 1052Z 27 FEB
EASTER IS. 27.1S 109.4W 1205Z 27 FEB
PUNTA ARENAS 53.2S 70.9W 1213Z 27 FEB
PUERTO WILLIAMS 54.8S 68.2W 1404Z 27 FEB
PERU MOLLENDO 17.1S 72.0W 0936Z 27 FEB
SAN JUAN 15.3S 75.2W 0952Z 27 FEB
LA PUNTA 12.1S 77.2W 1045Z 27 FEB
PIMENTAL 6.9S 80.0W 1114Z 27 FEB
TALARA 4.6S 81.5W 1127Z 27 FEB
CHIMBOTE 9.0S 78.8W 1132Z 27 FEB
ECUADOR LA LIBERTAD 2.2S 81.2W 1202Z 27 FEB
ESMERELDAS 1.2N 79.8W 1234Z 27 FEB
BALTRA IS. 0.5S 90.3W 1313Z 27 FEB
COLOMBIA TUMACO 1.8N 78.9W 1253Z 27 FEB
BAHIA SOLANO 6.3N 77.4W 1327Z 27 FEB
BUENAVENTURA 3.8N 77.2W 1340Z 27 FEB
ANTARCTICA THURSTON IS. 72.0S 100.0W 1312Z 27 FEB
CAPE ADARE 71.0S 170.0E 1650Z 27 FEB
PANAMA PUERTO PINA 7.4N 78.1W 1331Z 27 FEB
PUNTA MALA 7.5N 79.9W 1334Z 27 FEB
PUNTA BURICA 8.0N 82.8W 1340Z 27 FEB
BALBOA HTS. 9.0N 79.6W 1457Z 27 FEB
COSTA RICA CABO MATAPALO 8.4N 83.3W 1344Z 27 FEB
PUERTO QUEPOS 9.4N 84.2W 1417Z 27 FEB
CABO SAN ELENA 10.9N 86.0W 1452Z 27 FEB
NICARAGUA SAN JUAN DL SUR 11.2N 85.9W 1452Z 27 FEB
PUERTO SANDINO 12.2N 86.8W 1512Z 27 FEB
CORINTO 12.5N 87.2W 1520Z 27 FEB
PITCAIRN PITCAIRN IS. 25.1S 130.1W 1455Z 27 FEB
HONDURAS AMAPALA 13.2N 87.6W 1520Z 27 FEB
EL SALVADOR ACAJUTLA 13.6N 89.8W 1531Z 27 FEB
GUATEMALA SIPICATE 13.9N 91.2W 1539Z 27 FEB
FR. POLYNESIA RIKITEA 23.1S 135.0W 1542Z 27 FEB
HIVA OA 10.0S 139.0W 1723Z 27 FEB
PAPEETE 17.5S 149.6W 1748Z 27 FEB
MEXICO PUERTO MADERO 14.8N 92.5W 1552Z 27 FEB
ACAPULCO 16.9N 99.9W 1615Z 27 FEB
MANZANILLO 19.1N 104.3W 1709Z 27 FEB
SOCORRO 18.8N 111.0W 1719Z 27 FEB
CABO SAN LUCAS 22.8N 110.0W 1749Z 27 FEB
MAZATLAN 23.2N 106.4W 1753Z 27 FEB
PUNTA ABREOJOS 26.7N 113.6W 1856Z 27 FEB
ENSENADA 31.8N 116.8W 2016Z 27 FEB
COOK ISLANDS RAROTONGA 21.2S 159.8W 1814Z 27 FEB
PENRYN IS. 8.9S 157.8W 1925Z 27 FEB
PUKAPUKA IS. 10.8S 165.9W 1950Z 27 FEB
KIRIBATI FLINT IS. 11.4S 151.8W 1836Z 27 FEB
MALDEN IS. 3.9S 154.9W 1934Z 27 FEB
CHRISTMAS IS. 2.0N 157.5W 2028Z 27 FEB
KANTON IS. 2.8S 171.7W 2112Z 27 FEB
TARAWA IS. 1.5N 173.0E 2258Z 27 FEB
KERMADEC IS RAOUL IS. 29.2S 177.9W 1912Z 27 FEB
NIUE NIUE IS. 19.0S 170.0W 1918Z 27 FEB
NEW ZEALAND EAST CAPE 37.7S 178.5E 1918Z 27 FEB
GISBORNE 38.7S 178.0E 1922Z 27 FEB
DUNEDIN 45.9S 170.5E 1952Z 27 FEB
NAPIER 39.5S 176.9E 1954Z 27 FEB
WELLINGTON 41.3S 174.8E 1955Z 27 FEB
MILFORD SOUND 44.6S 167.9E 2005Z 27 FEB
NORTH CAPE 34.4S 173.3E 2010Z 27 FEB
BLUFF 46.6S 168.3E 2030Z 27 FEB
LYTTELTON 43.6S 172.7E 2040Z 27 FEB
AUCKLAND(E) 36.7S 175.0E 2056Z 27 FEB
NELSON 41.3S 173.3E 2127Z 27 FEB
WESTPORT 41.8S 171.6E 2129Z 27 FEB
AUCKLAND(W) 37.1S 174.2E 2140Z 27 FEB
NEW PLYMOUTH 39.1S 174.1E 2219Z 27 FEB
TONGA NUKUALOFA 21.0S 175.2W 1940Z 27 FEB
AMERICAN SAMOA PAGO PAGO 14.3S 170.7W 1951Z 27 FEB
SAMOA APIA 13.8S 171.8W 2006Z 27 FEB
JARVIS IS. JARVIS IS. 0.4S 160.1W 2026Z 27 FEB
WALLIS-FUTUNA WALLIS IS. 13.2S 176.2W 2028Z 27 FEB
TOKELAU NUKUNONU IS. 9.2S 171.8W 2030Z 27 FEB
FIJI SUVA 18.1S 178.4E 2104Z 27 FEB
AUSTRALIA HOBART 43.3S 147.6E 2105Z 27 FEB
SYDNEY 33.9S 151.4E 2146Z 27 FEB
BRISBANE 27.2S 153.3E 2310Z 27 FEB
GLADSTONE 23.8S 151.4E 0101Z 28 FEB
CAIRNS 16.7S 145.8E 0159Z 28 FEB
MACKAY 21.1S 149.3E 0251Z 28 FEB
HAWAII HILO 19.7N 155.1W 2119Z 27 FEB
HONOLULU 21.3N 157.9W 2152Z 27 FEB
NAWILIWILI 22.0N 159.4W 2158Z 27 FEB
PALMYRA IS. PALMYRA IS. 6.3N 162.4W 2124Z 27 FEB
TUVALU FUNAFUTI IS. 7.9S 178.5E 2125Z 27 FEB
VANUATU ANATOM IS. 20.2S 169.9E 2137Z 27 FEB
ESPERITU SANTO 15.1S 167.3E 2235Z 27 FEB
HOWLAND-BAKER HOWLAND IS. 0.6N 176.6W 2154Z 27 FEB
NEW CALEDONIA NOUMEA 22.3S 166.5E 2218Z 27 FEB
JOHNSTON IS. JOHNSTON IS. 16.7N 169.5W 2245Z 27 FEB
SOLOMON IS. KIRAKIRA 10.4S 161.9E 2321Z 27 FEB
MUNDA 8.4S 157.2E 0001Z 28 FEB
GHATERE 7.8S 159.2E 0001Z 28 FEB
AUKI 8.8S 160.6E 0004Z 28 FEB
HONIARA 9.3S 160.0E 0004Z 28 FEB
FALAMAE 7.4S 155.6E 0017Z 28 FEB
PANGGOE 6.9S 157.2E 0020Z 28 FEB
NAURU NAURU 0.5S 166.9E 2331Z 27 FEB
MARSHALL IS. MAJURO 7.1N 171.4E 2339Z 27 FEB
KWAJALEIN 8.7N 167.7E 0013Z 28 FEB
ENIWETOK 11.4N 162.3E 0102Z 28 FEB
MIDWAY IS. MIDWAY IS. 28.2N 177.4W 0022Z 28 FEB
KOSRAE KOSRAE IS. 5.5N 163.0E 0026Z 28 FEB
PAPUA NEW GUINE AMUN 6.0S 154.7E 0036Z 28 FEB
KIETA 6.1S 155.6E 0038Z 28 FEB
RABAUL 4.2S 152.3E 0102Z 28 FEB
PORT MORESBY 9.3S 146.9E 0123Z 28 FEB
LAE 6.8S 147.0E 0128Z 28 FEB
KAVIENG 2.5S 150.7E 0135Z 28 FEB
MADANG 5.2S 145.8E 0154Z 28 FEB
MANUS IS. 2.0S 147.5E 0214Z 28 FEB
WEWAK 3.5S 143.6E 0237Z 28 FEB
VANIMO 2.6S 141.3E 0258Z 28 FEB
POHNPEI POHNPEI IS. 7.0N 158.2E 0111Z 28 FEB
WAKE IS. WAKE IS. 19.3N 166.6E 0112Z 28 FEB
CHUUK CHUUK IS. 7.4N 151.8E 0213Z 28 FEB
RUSSIA MEDNNY IS 54.7N 167.4E 0236Z 28 FEB
UST KAMCHATSK 56.1N 162.6E 0302Z 28 FEB
PETROPAVLOVSK K 53.2N 159.6E 0333Z 28 FEB
URUP IS 46.1N 150.5E 0354Z 28 FEB
SEVERO KURILSK 50.8N 156.1E 0410Z 28 FEB
MARCUS IS. MARCUS IS. 24.3N 154.0E 0248Z 28 FEB
INDONESIA JAYAPURA 2.4S 140.8E 0302Z 28 FEB
WARSA 0.6S 135.8E 0345Z 28 FEB
MANOKWARI 0.8S 134.2E 0405Z 28 FEB
SORONG 0.8S 131.1E 0433Z 28 FEB
BEREBERE 2.5N 128.7E 0452Z 28 FEB
PATANI 0.4N 128.8E 0505Z 28 FEB
GEME 4.6N 126.8E 0512Z 28 FEB
N. MARIANAS SAIPAN 15.3N 145.8E 0303Z 28 FEB
GUAM GUAM 13.4N 144.7E 0311Z 28 FEB
YAP YAP IS. 9.5N 138.1E 0352Z 28 FEB
BELAU MALAKAL 7.3N 134.5E 0413Z 28 FEB
JAPAN KUSHIRO 42.9N 144.3E 0435Z 28 FEB
KATSUURA 35.1N 140.3E 0453Z 28 FEB
HACHINOHE 40.5N 141.5E 0509Z 28 FEB
SHIMIZU 32.8N 133.0E 0557Z 28 FEB
OKINAWA 26.2N 127.8E 0610Z 28 FEB
PHILIPPINES DAVAO 6.8N 125.7E 0527Z 28 FEB
PALANAN 17.1N 122.6E 0559Z 28 FEB
LEGASPI 13.2N 123.8E 0604Z 28 FEB
CHINESE TAIPEI HUALIEN 24.0N 121.6E 0626Z 28 FEB
HUALIEN 24.0N 121.7E 0626Z 28 FEB
CHILUNG 25.2N 121.8E 0654Z 28 FEB
TAITUNG 22.7N 121.2E 0655Z 28 FEB

BULLETINS WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.
THE TSUNAMI WARNING WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

WEPA41 PAAQ 271403
TSUWCA

BULLETIN
TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 8
NWS WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER PALMER AK
552 AM PST SAT FEB 27 2010

…A TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT WHICH INCLUDES THE COASTAL AREAS OF CALIFORNIA FROM THE CALIFORNIA-MEXICO BORDER TO THE OREGON-CALIFORNIA BORDER…

…A TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT WHICH INCLUDES THE COASTAL AREAS OF OREGON – WASHINGTON – BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA FROM THE OREGON-CALIFORNIA BORDER TO KODIAK ALASKA…

…A TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT WHICH INCLUDES THE COASTAL AREAS OF ALASKA FROM KODIAK ALASKA TO ATTU ALASKA…

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED WHICH COULD IMPACT THE ADVISORY REGIONS LISTED IN THE HEADLINE. PERSONS IN LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT TO INSTRUCTIONS FROM THEIR LOCAL EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. EVACUATIONS ARE ONLY ORDERED BY EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES.
– PERSONS IN TSUNAMI ADVISORY AREAS SHOULD MOVE OUT OF THE WATER… OFF THE BEACH AND OUT OF HARBORS AND MARINAS.

THIS MESSAGE IS BASED ON EARTHQUAKE DATA… OBSERVED TSUNAMI AMPLITUDES… HISTORICAL INFORMATION AND FORECAST MODELS.

A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN OBSERVED AT THE FOLLOWING SITES

LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL
———————— —– —— ——- ———–
74MIN TALCAHUANO C 36.7S 73.1W 0657UTC 1.84M/6.1FT
40MIN SAN FELIX CH 26.3S 80.1W 0832UTC 0.81M/2.7FT
57MIN CALDERA CHIL 27.1S 70.8W 0746UTC 0.52M/1.7FT
47MIN COQUIMBO CHI 29.9S 71.3W 0902UTC 1.27M/4.2FT
78MIN IQUIQUE CHIL 20.2S 70.2W 0851UTC 0.30M/1.0FT
57MIN ANTOFAGASTA 23.3S 70.4W 0956UTC 0.46M/1.5FT
84MIN ANCUD CHILE 41.9S 74.3W 0943UTC 0.34M/1.1FT
30MIN CORRAL CHILE 39.9S 73.4W 1012UTC 1.54M/5.1FT
56MIN CALLAO LA PUN 12.1S 77.2W 1029UTC 0.66M/2.2FT
52MIN BALTRA ECUAD 0.4S 90.3W 1251UTC 0.35M/1.2FT

TIME – TIME OF MEASUREMENT
AMPL – TSUNAMI AMPLITUDES ARE MEASURED RELATIVE TO NORMAL SEA LEVEL.
IT IS …NOT… CREST-TO-TROUGH WAVE HEIGHT.
VALUES ARE GIVEN IN BOTH METERS(M) AND FEET(FT).

PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
MAGNITUDE – 8.8
TIME – 2134 AKST FEB 26 2010
2234 PST FEB 26 2010
0634 UTC FEB 27 2010
LOCATION – 36.1 SOUTH 72.6 WEST
– NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL CHILE
DEPTH – 19 MILES/31 KM

THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER IN EWA BEACH HAWAII WILL ISSUE MESSAGES FOR HAWAII AND OTHER AREAS OF THE PACIFIC OUTSIDE THE STATES AND PROVINCES PREVIOUSLY LISTED.

TSUNAMI ADVISORIES MEAN THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR THE WATER IS IMMINENT OR EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS UNDER AN ADVISORY. CURRENTS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO SWIMMERS… BOATS… AND COASTAL STRUCTURES AND MAY CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL.

THIS MESSAGE WILL BE UPDATED IN 60 MINUTES OR SOONER IF THE SITUATION WARRANTS. THE TSUNAMI MESSAGE WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. REFER TO THE INTERNET SITE WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION.

PZZ650-655-673-750-775-565-670-530-535-545-560-455-540-450-
CAZ039>043-087-034-035-530-006-506-508-509-529-002-505-001-
271522-
/O.CON.PAAQ.TS.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
COASTAL AREAS BETWEEN AND INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA-MEXICO BORDER TO THE OREGON-CALIFORNIA BORDER
552 AM PST SAT FEB 27 2010

…A TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT WHICH INCLUDES THE COASTAL AREAS OF CALIFORNIA FROM THE CALIFORNIA-MEXICO BORDER TO THE OREGON-CALIFORNIA BORDER…

PERSONS IN TSUNAMI ADVISORY AREAS SHOULD MOVE OUT OF THE WATER… OFF THE BEACH AND OUT OF HARBORS AND MARINAS.

TSUNAMI ADVISORIES MEAN THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR WATER IS IMMINENT OF EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS IN AN ADVISORY. TSUNAMIS ARE A SERIES OF WAVES POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SEVERAL HOURS AFTER INITIAL ARRIVAL TIME. ESTIMATED TIMES OF INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL FOR SELECTED SITES IN THE ADVISORY ARE PROVIDED BELOW.

LA JOLLA-CA 1202 PST FEB 27 SAN FRANCISCO-CA 1326 PST FEB 27
SANTA BARBARA-CA 1231 PST FEB 27 CRESCENT CITY-CA 1346 PST FEB 27
FOR ARRIVAL TIMES AT ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS SEE
WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV

$$

PZZ356-255-310-350-210-250-110-130>135-150-153-156-170-PKZ310-
031>036-041-042-011>013-021-022-043-051-052-053-120-121-125>129-
130-140-141-ORZ022-002-021-001-WAZ001-021-503-506>511-514>517-
AKZ023-024-026>029-018>022-025-017-131-135-121-125-145-271522-
/O.EXA.PAAQ.TS.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
COASTAL AREAS BETWEEN AND INCLUDING THE OREGON-CALIFORNIA BORDER TO KODIAK ALASKA
552 AM PST SAT FEB 27 2010

…A TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT WHICH INCLUDES THE COASTAL AREAS OF OREGON – WASHINGTON – BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA FROM THE OREGON-CALIFORNIA BORDER TO KODIAK ALASKA…

PERSONS IN TSUNAMI ADVISORY AREAS SHOULD MOVE OUT OF THE WATER… OFF THE BEACH AND OUT OF HARBORS AND MARINAS.

TSUNAMI ADVISORIES MEAN THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR WATER IS IMMINENT OF EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS IN AN ADVISORY. TSUNAMIS ARE A SERIES OF WAVES POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SEVERAL HOURS AFTER INITIAL ARRIVAL TIME. ESTIMATED TIMES OF INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL FOR SELECTED SITES IN THE ADVISORY ARE PROVIDED BELOW.

CHARLESTON-OR 1402 PST FEB 27 YAKUTAT-AK 1619 AKST FEB 27
SEASIDE-OR 1446 PST FEB 27 KODIAK-AK 1628 AKST FEB 27
WESTPORT-WA 1457 PST FEB 27 JUNEAU-AK 1635 AKST FEB 27
NEAH BAY-WA 1507 PST FEB 27 SEWARD-AK 1639 AKST FEB 27
TOFINO-BC 1515 PST FEB 27 VALDEZ-AK 1657 AKST FEB 27
LANGARA-BC 1551 PST FEB 27 CORDOVA-AK 1706 AKST FEB 27
SITKA-AK 1529 AKST FEB 27 HOMER-AK 1739 AKST FEB 27
KETCHIKAN-AK 1549 AKST FEB 27
FOR ARRIVAL TIMES AT ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS SEE
WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV

Z = UTC

Related Links:

Posted in chile earthquake, concepcion chile, map of chile, pacific tsunami warning center, tsunami | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 4 (14 Feb)

Posted by feww on February 14, 2010

RENE Headed Toward Tonga

At its current intensity and forecast track, Cyclone RENE could cause major damage to Tonga Isls.

Cyclone RENE could strike Hunga Island, the smaller islands to its SSW, and cause major damage to Tongatapu and Eua Islands.

An archipelago in the S. Pacific Ocean, Tonga is located south of Western Samoa. Its 176 islands (only 36 of them inhabited) are divided into three main groups: Vava’u, Ha’apai, and Tongatapu). The largest island, Tongatapu, covers about 258 sq. km (~ 100  sq. mi) and is home to the capital city of Nukuʻalofa.

The island of Niue must already be experiencing some of the peripheral forces of RENE, as it passes by.


Tropical Cyclone RENE – IR-WV Difference Satellite Image – Source: UW-CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.


Map of Tonga Island Groups. Source: USGovt. Click image to enlarge.

Background:

Tropical Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Details

  • Date/Time: 14 February 2010 –  01:00 UTC
  • Position:  Near 16.5ºS, 171.0ºW
  • Sustained Movement: 215  degrees
  • Forward speed: 22 km/hr (~ 12 kt)
  • Tropical Cyclone RENE has been tracking  SOUTHWEST over the past 6 hours.

Current Wind Distribution:

  • Maximum Sustained winds: ~ 175km (~ 95 kt)
  • Maximum Gusts:  ~ 230 km/hr (~ 125 kt)
  • RENE is now a Cat 2B Hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale and could further strengthen to  Cat 3B on the scale in the next 24 hours.

Wave Height and Location:

  • Maximum significant wave height: ~ 9m (27 ft)
  • Location: TC RENE was located about 240 km (~ 130 NM) SSW of Pago-Pago
  • Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

Additional Satellite Imagery

NOAA East Pacific Floater 1 GOES Satellite ImageryCyclone FIFTEEN (TC 15P)

See also: UW- CIMSS Cyclone Portal

Related Links:

Posted in Cyclone RENE, Cyclone RENE Update 4, RENE Update feb 14, South Pacific, TC 15P | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Cyclone PAT Revving Up in S Pacific

Posted by feww on February 9, 2010

Tropical Cyclone PAT (14P) Intensifies


Tropical Cyclone PAT (14P) – satellite image.
Source: CIMSS – Date/time – Feb 9, 2010 at 06:00UTC. Click image to enter CIMSS portal.

TC PAT Details

  • Time/Date: 9 February 2010 –  09:00 UTC
  • Position:  Near 15.1ºS, 159.0ºW
  • Sustained Movement: 145  degrees
  • Forward speed: 13 km/hr (~ 7 kt)
  • Tropical Cyclone PAT has been tracking  southeastward over the past 6 hours.
  • PAT is a compact cyclone with a diameter of about 445 km (240 NM)

Current Wind Distribution:

  • Maximum Sustained winds: 120 km (~ 65 kt)
  • Maximum Gusts:  ~ 150 km/hr (~ 80 kt)
  • Cyclone PAT is currently a Category 1 Hurricane

Wave Height and Location:

  • Maximum significant wave height: ~ 5m (15 ft)
  • Location: PAT was located about about 1,260 km (~ 680 NM) east of Pago-Pago
  • Sources: JTWC and Others

Posted in cyclone PAT, hurricane, pago-pago, storm, tropical cyclone | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »

Hurricane OLI Update 3 – February 5

Posted by feww on February 5, 2010

TC Oli Hits French Polynesia

Tropical Cyclone OLI (P12) Strengthens to a Cat 4B Hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Background:

Oli Strikes

OLI struck French Polynesia a few hours ago.  On the main island of Tahiti, hundreds of people abandoned their homes to escape the full wrath of the strengthening cyclone.  Roads harbors and airports were closed throughout the popular holiday island resorts, according to various reports.

Hurricane OLI Details

  • Time/Date: 5 February 2010 –  00:01 UTC
  • Position:  Near 20.4ºS, 151.4ºW
  • Sustained Movement: 155  degrees
  • Forward speed: 22 km/hr (~ 12 kt)
  • Tropical Cyclone OLI has been tracking South-Southeast over the past 6 hours.

Current Wind Distribution:

  • Maximum Sustained winds: 227 Km (122.4 kt)
  • Maximum Gusts:  ~ 280km/hr (~ 150 kt)

Wave Height and Location:

  • Maximum significant wave height: 8.5 m (26 ft)
  • Location: OLI was located about about 350 km (~ 190 NM) SW of Tahiti
  • Sources: CIMSS and Others


Cat 4B Hurricane OLI – Visible IR image. Date as inset. Source: UW-CIMSS. Click image to enter CIMSS Tropical Cyclone portal.

Related Links:


Posted in cyclone, Cyclone OLI, hurricane, storm, tropical cyclone | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Hurricane OLI Update 2 – February 4

Posted by feww on February 4, 2010

OLI a Cat 4A Hurricane, Still Intensifying

Cyclone OLI Could Strengthen to a Monster Category 5 Hurricane in 24 Hours


Hurricane OLI. Credit: CIMSS. Click image to enter UW-CIMSS weather portal.

Background:

Hurricane OLI Details

  • Time/Date: 4 February 2010 –  15:01 UTC
  • Position:  Near 19.0ºS, 152.1ºW
  • Sustained Movement: 150  degrees
  • Forward speed: 17 km/hr (~ 9 kt)
  • Tropical Cyclone OLI has been tracking South-Southeast over the past 6 hours.

Current Wind Distribution:

  • Maximum Sustained winds: 217 Km (117 kt)
  • Maximum Gusts:  ~ 260km/hr (140 kt)

Wave Height and Location:

  • Maximum significant wave height: 8m (24 ft)
  • Location: OLI was located about about 250 km (135 NM) SSW of Bora Bora
  • Sources: JTWC and Others

Tropical Cyclone OLI is currently a dangerous Cat 4A hurricane on the FEWW New Hurricane Scale and expected to further intensify in the warm Pacific waters (SST ~ 26ºdegrees C) during the next  12 to 24 hours, possibly to a Category 5 monster storm.

Related Links:

Posted in cyclone, Cyclone OLI, hurricane, Leeward Islands, storm | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Hurricane OLI Update 1 – February 4

Posted by feww on February 4, 2010

Hurricane OLI Continues to Power Up!

OLI is still organizing and expected to further intensify

Background:  Cyclone OLI May Target Tourist Spots

TC OLI Details

  • Time/Date: 4 February 2010 –  00:01 UTC
  • Position:  Near 16.6ºS, 153.9ºW
  • Sustained Movement: 95  degrees
  • Forward speed: 22 km/hr (~ 12 kt)
  • Tropical Cyclone OLI has been tracking EAST over the past 6 hours.

Current wind distribution:

  • Maximum Sustained winds: 130 km/hr (~ 70 kt)
  • Maximum Gusts:  ~ 160 km/hr (~ 85 kt)
  • Maximum significant wave height: 6.7 m (20 ft)
  • OLI was located about 370 km (200nm) WNW of Bora Bora [Feb 03, 15:00UTC]
  • Sources: JTWC and Others

Tropical Cyclone OLI is currently a Cat 1 hurricane on the FEWW New Hurricane Scale and expected to further intensify.

FIRE-EARTH MODERATORS BELIEVE HURRICANE OLI COULD CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE SOCIETY ISLANDS, ESPECIALLY TAHITI, IF THE CYCLONE CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY, AS IT’S EXPECTED TO DO, AND REMAINS APPROXIMATELY ON ITS CURRENT PATH (ACTUAL PATH NOT THE PREDICTED ONE).


Hurricane OLI. IR WV Difference. Source: UW-CIMSS.  Click images to enter CIMSS interactive maps.


Hurricane OLI. Visible IR. Source: CIMSS


Hurricane OLI’s Projected Path. Source: UW-CIMSS.


TC OLI. Morphed Integrated Microwave Imagery at CIMSS, with Infrared (MIMIC-IR) Version 1.


Tropical Cyclone OLI. Infrared  – South East Pacific – GOES-West. Source: UW-CIMSS.


Map of Tahiti and Bora x 2 . Credit
: karta Societeisl FP, Holger Behr.

Related Links:

Posted in Bora Bora, Cyclone OLI, hurricane, SOCIETY ISLANDS, storm, Tropical Cyclone 12P | Tagged: , , , , , | 12 Comments »

Cyclone OLI May Target Tourist Spots

Posted by feww on February 3, 2010

Tropical Cyclone OLI (12P) May be Heading Towards Bora Bora and other Tourist Spots in S Pacific

TC OLI Details

  • Time/Date: 3 February 2010 –  03:00UTC
  • Position: 15.7ºS, 157.3ºW
  • Sustained Movement: 120 degrees
  • Forward speed: 15 km/hr (~ 8 kt)
  • Tropical Cyclone OLI has been tracking ESE over the past 6 hours.

Current wind distribution:

  • Maximum Sustained winds: 100 km/hr (~ 55 kt)
  • Maximum Gusts:  130 km/hr (~ 70 kt)
  • Maximum significant wave height: 6 m (18 ft)
  • OLI is about 650 km (350nm) west of Bora Bora.
  • Sources: JTWC and Others

Tropical Cyclone OLI is expected to intensify under favorable environmental conditions.


TC OLI – IR NHC Enhancement – Date and Time as Inset. Credit: UW-CIMSS. Click image to enlarge and update.


Tropical Cyclone OLI. Infrared Color Background  – South East Pacific – GOES-West. Credit: UW-CIMSS. Click image to enlarge and update.

  • 2-Day Movie:   JAVA


OLI’s Projected Path. CIMSS Estimation. Click image to enlarge and update.


TC OLI. Morphed Integrated Microwave Imagery at CIMSS, with Infrared (MIMIC-IR)
Version 1.


Tropical Cyclone OLI. Infrared  – South East Pacific – GOES-West. Credit UW-CIMSS. Click image to enlarge and update.


Tropical Cyclone OLI Position Map. Original map by Google. Information added by Fire-Earth.


Posted in cyclone, French Polynesia, storm, TC 12P, TC OLI | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

El Niño Update [23 Nov 2009]

Posted by feww on November 24, 2009

ENSO Cycle: Recent Evolution, Current Status and Predictions

The following UPDATE is prepared by

Climate Prediction Center / NCEP –  23 November 2009

The latest weekly SST departures are:

  • Niño 4   ~  1.5ºC
  • Niño 3.4  ~  1.7ºC
  • Niño 3 ~ 1.2ºC
  • Niño 1+2 ~ 0.5ºC


El Niño Map. [SOURCE: NOAA/ Climate Prediction Center / NCEP]

SST Departures (°C) in the Tropical Pacific During the Last 4 Weeks
During the last 4-weeks, SSTs were at least 1.0°C above average across much of the equatorial Pacific and more than 2.0°C above average between 180°and 140°W. [Expanding across the Tropical Pacific. FEWW ]


[SOURCE: NOAA/ Climate Prediction Center / NCEP]

Global SST Departures (°C)
During the last four weeks, equatorial SSTs were above-average across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Also, above-average SSTs covered large areas of the Northern Hemisphere subtropics.


[SOURCE: NOAA/ Climate Prediction Center / NCEP]

Weekly SST Departures (°C) for the Last Four Weeks

  • During the last four weeks, positive equatorial SST anomalies persisted across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
  • During the last 30 days, equatorial SST anomalies increased in some regions across the eastern half of the Pacific.

Upper-Ocean Conditions in the Eq. Pacific

  • The basin-wide equatorial upper ocean (0-300 m) heat content is greatestprior to and during the early stages of a Pacific warm (El Niño) episode (compare top 2 panels) and leastprior to and during the early stages of a cold(La Niña) episode.
  • The slope of the oceanic thermocline is least (greatest) during warm (cold) episodes.
  • Recent values of the upper-ocean heat anomalies (positive) and the thermocline slope index (negative) reflect El Niño.

Sub-Surface Temperature Departures (°C) in the Equatorial Pacific

  • During late September –mid November 2009, temperature anomalies at thermocline depth increased and expanded eastward across the central and east-central equatorial Pacific, in response to the downwelling phase of an oceanic Kelvin wave.
  • The most recent period shows a continued eastward expansion of positive anomalies in the equatorial Pacific near 50 -150m depth.

Tropical OLR and Wind Anomalies During the Last 30 Days

Atmospheric Circulation over the North Pacific & North America During the Last 60 Day

Click image to enlarge.

Intraseasonal Variability

  • Intraseasonal variability in the atmosphere (wind and pressure), which is often related to the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), can significantly impact surface and subsurface conditions across the Pacific Ocean.
  • Related to this activity
    • significant weakening of the low-level easterly winds usually initiates an eastward-propagating oceanic Kelvin wave.
    • Several Kelvin waves have occurred during the last year (see next slide).

Summary

  • El Niño is present across the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
  • Sea surface temperatures (SST) are at least 1.0ºC-2.0ºC above-average across much of the central and east-central equatorial Pacific.
  • Based on current observations and dynamical model forecasts, El Niño is expected to continue to strengthen and last through at least the Northern Hemisphere winter 2009-10.

Information and images on this page are sourced from Climate Prediction Center/NCEP/NOAA. Edited by FEWW

Related Links:

El Niño Updates:

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