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Aug 31, 2012

Why Philippines Earthquake Tsunami Warning Was Cancelled

The large earthquake that struck off the eastern coast of the Philippines today (Aug. 31) at 8:47 p.m. local time sparked tsunami warnings across a large swath of the neighboring Pacific region, yet those warnings were canceled not long after. The magnitude-7.6 earthquake hit about 58 miles (63 kilometers) from...

Sep 13, 2012

How Wave Shapes Could Explain Deadly Tsunamis

X- and Y-shaped ocean waves that are often seen at beaches may help explain why tsunamis can be so devastating, researchers say. Ocean waves can sometimes interact to yield ripples that are much taller than the simply added combined heights of their originating waves, a sign of what researchers call...

Sep 21, 2012

23 Nuclear Plants in Tsunami Risk Zones, Study Finds

In March 2011, a devastating earthquake and tsunami set off a partial meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant on Japan's coast. A recent study led by European researchers found Fukushima is not alone, as 22 other plants around the world may be similarly susceptible to destructive tsunami waves, with most...

Oct 28, 2012

Tsunami Threat to Hawaii After Canadian Earthquake Canceled

A tsunami warning and advisory have been canceled for Hawaii after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off the west coast of Canada Saturday night local time sent small tsunamis to southeast Alaska, coastal British Columbia and off Haida Gwaii, formerly called the Queen Charlotte Islands. The National Weather Service had...

Oct 28, 2012

Ancient Tsunami Swept Through Swiss Lake

An ancient tsunami in a Swiss lake triggered by an Alpine landslide suggests that cities now on the lake's shore may face dangers more commonly associated with large oceans, researchers say. Tsunamis are monster waves reaching more than 100 feet (30 meters) high. Earthquakes often generate them, but landslides can...

Nov 15, 2012

US East Coast Faces Variety of Tsunami Threats

Although the risk is small, tsunamis are possible on the East Coast of the United States from a variety of sources, according to new research. And as Hurricane Sandy showed, the region is completely unprepared for a major influx of water, said U.S. Geological Survey researcher Uri ten Brink. The...

Nov 27, 2012

Fake Tsunami Tests Atlantic Warning Systems

A faux tsunami will strike shorelines throughout the northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea today (Nov. 27) and tomorrow. The simulation is a test of a new early warning system for the region being run by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO). The exercise, called...

Dec 4, 2012

Tsunami Waves Amplified by Buildings

SAN FRANCISCO – Scientists have re-created an entire city in miniature to model the way a tsunami crashes onshore, and have found that buildings can exacerbate the oncoming rush of water. The findings, presented yesterday (Dec. 3) at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, show that even if...

Dec 6, 2012

Tsunamis, Earthquakes Overdue in Lake Tahoe

SAN FRANCISCO — A tsunami-producing fault in Lake Tahoe is overdue for another earthquake, scientists said here yesterday (Dec. 4) at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union. The West Tahoe Fault is capable of producing a magnitude-7.3 earthquake and tsunamis up to 30 feet (10 meters) high in...

Dec 6, 2012

Landslide-Driven Megatsunamis Threaten Hawaii

SAN FRANCISCO — It's almost unimaginable: a tsunami more than 1,000 feet (300 meters) high bearing down on the island of Hawaii. But scientists have new evidence of these monster waves, called megatsunamis, doing just that. The findings were presented here yesterday (Dec. 5) at the annual meeting of the...

Dec 11, 2012

Deadly Caribbean Tsunami Risk Overlooked

SAN FRANCISCO — Deadly tsunamis threaten Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the rest of the Caribbean and are an overlooked hazard in the region, geologists reported at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union here last week. The Caribbean's beautiful tropical islands and coral reefs are strung along...

Dec 12, 2012

Freak 'Meteotsunamis' Can Strike On a Sunny Day

SAN FRANCISCO — A freak wave killed seven people in Chicago on a sunny day on the shore of Lake Michigan nearly 60 years ago. At the time, no one knew what set off the monster wave. Researchers now know the wave was a pressure-driven tsunami, stirred up by storms...

Jan 17, 2013

Japan Tsunami Left Behind Huge Underwater Dunes

The giant earthquake that devastated Japan in 2011 reshaped the seafloor, forming unexpectedly large underwater dunes and possibly dramatically influencing Japan's marine ecosystem, researchers have found. The new findings, detailed online Jan. 1 in the journal Marine Geology, hint that clues about past tsunamis could be found on the sea...

Jan 17, 2013

Photos: Tsunami Debris & Trash on Hawaii's Beaches

Plastic trash (Image credit: Nicholas Mallos)Plastic trash marred by bite marks from birds, turtles and sharks collected from a beach on the island of Maui in Hawaii. A joint survey by the Ocean Conservancy, the Japan Environmental Action Network (JEAN), the Oceanic Wildlife Society and the Japan Ministry of Environment...

Jan 17, 2013

Fridge & Other Tsunami Debris Wash Ashore in Hawaii

Oyster buoys and refrigerator parts set adrift by the 2011 Japan tsunami are now rolling in with the tide on Hawaii's beaches, a new field survey reveals. Black oyster buoys and refrigerator parts — and even a full refrigerator — that trace back to Japan have shown up on the...