8.9 earthquake in Japan: tsunami warnings

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan, leading to tsunami warnings and significant damage. Participants share live updates, personal reactions, and concerns regarding the impact of the earthquake and tsunami on Japan and surrounding regions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express shock and concern over the scale of the disaster, noting reports of a 10-meter wave hitting Sendai and significant destruction.
  • There are multiple accounts of casualties, with varying numbers reported, including 8 confirmed dead and later reports suggesting hundreds of bodies found in Sendai.
  • Some participants discuss the effectiveness of Japan's tsunami warning systems, comparing it to past tsunamis, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential impact of the tsunami on other regions, including Hawaii and the western coast of the United States, with predictions of wave arrivals and evacuation orders mentioned.
  • Participants share links to live coverage and videos depicting the disaster, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
  • There are discussions about the geological context of the earthquake, including references to the Pacific Ring of Fire and the potential for future seismic events.
  • Some participants mention the status of nuclear power plants in the region, with reports of evacuations and concerns about cooling systems, though there are conflicting reports about radiation leaks.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express concern and shock over the events, but there is no consensus on the exact number of casualties or the effectiveness of the response systems. Multiple competing views exist regarding the implications for nuclear safety and future seismic risks.

Contextual Notes

Limitations in information include the evolving nature of casualty reports and the ongoing assessment of damage and safety measures. The discussion reflects a range of personal reactions and interpretations of the events as they unfold.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in current events, disaster response, geological phenomena, and the implications of natural disasters on infrastructure and safety may find this discussion relevant.

Lacy33
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8.9 earthquake in Japan: tsunami warnings
 
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
Sorry you have to go there next week Greg.
Good Luck.
And to all people and PFers in the path of tsunamis on the way to other countries right now.
 

MAP 8.9 2011/03/11 05:46:24 38.322 142.369 24.4 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN


http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php
 
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wow, cars washing up like driftwood. that makes katrina look pretty small.
 
  • #12
does it have anyhting to do iwth the moon's closest approach ?
 
  • #13
Thank God Japan is prepared for events like this.
 
  • #14
Shocking video, a lot of damage. I hope the aftershocks lesson. So grateful for Facebook, my nephew at Atsugi base is ok.
 
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  • #15
I hope that casualties are as minimal as possible.

http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/"

Lots of large aftershocks:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/10/140_40.php [PLAIN]http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/10/140_40.gif
The image above is the current one from USGS, so it will eventually go out of date. Red is the last hour, Blue is the last day and Yellow is the last week.
 
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  • #18
Scary, the worst earthquake in Japanese history, 10 meter tsunami, 40+ killed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lIFEDFYIw
 
  • #19
Wow, I woke up to this this morning, MSNBC seems to have the most pictures (at the moment) I attached this thumbnail of a 4 story building in the hook of a wave about to be swept... Those poor people...

Rhody... :bugeye:
 
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  • #20
Terrible news. My nephew got transferred to Hawaii when he was commissioned as a warrant officer. I'm not worried for him, since he is normally deployed and at sea, however his wife and daughter are back in Honolulu.
 
  • #21
The most 'powerful' part of the tsunami hits Hawaii in approx 10 min... and southern California in 4 hr from now...
 
  • #22
Waves are predicted to hit the western coast of the United States between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. EST Friday. People near the beach and in low-lying coastal areas of Point Conception in Santa Barbara County were told to move immediately inland to higher ground.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_re_us/us_japan_earthquake_pacific

For those living along the west coast of Canada, US and Mexico and Central and South America, including inlets near the sea - stay away from beaches and low lying areas!
 
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  • #23
http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/"

[PLAIN]http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/images/nglobal_map.jpg
 
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  • #24
This looks quite ugly but I hope there aren't many casualties
 
  • #25
Oh stercore on a cart with... OK I really want to swear right now.

I have a friend on the 'big island' in Hawaii, but worse, I have a friend (had?) in Honshu!

******@*@*@$^*@!+
 
  • #26
Police said 200 to 300 bodies were found in the northeastern coastal city of Sendai. Another 88 were confirmed killed and at least 349 were missing. The death toll was likely to continue climbing given the scale of the disaster.

. . . .
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110311/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_earthquake

They certainly weren't prepared!

Along the western Pacifici, people should anticipate a mag 9+ earthquake, which might be rare, but is really inevitable. When events don't happen for one or two generations, people become complacent, and then are surprised when a catastrophic event does occur.

The swarm off Sendai was preceded by a mag 7.2 on March 9. Following the mag 8.9, there was a mag 7.1 and many between mag 6 and 7. There have been three mag 6.5 along the northern edge of the Australia plate. a lot of energy is being released at the moment, but other areas are loading up.

7.2 2011/03/09 02:45:20 38.424 142.836 32.0
8.9 2011/03/11 05:46:23 38.322 142.369 24.4

Any populated area along the Pacific coast is susceptible to such an event based on the proximity to the Pacific Ring of Fire (techtonic plate intersections).

The tsunami off the coast of Sendai will move toward Japan's coast and out across the Pacific Ocean. Australia is more or less protected by New Guinea and the Phillipines, and New Zealand partly by the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga.
 
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  • #27
Terrible news. More and more deaths are being discovered.

Nuclear plants are being shut down also.
 
  • #28
dlgoff said:
Terrible news. More and more deaths are being discovered.

Nuclear plants are being shut down also.

Japan ordered thousands of residents near a northeastern nuclear power plant to evacuate on Friday following a massive earthquake that caused a problem in the plant's cooling system.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the Fukushima No. 1 power plant was not leaking radiation.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2011%2F03%2F11%2Finternational%2Fi050530S54.DTL
 
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  • #29
Astronuc said:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110311/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_earthquake

They certainly weren't prepared!

Along the western Pacifici, people should anticipate a mag 9+ earthquake, which might be rare, but is really inevitable. When events don't happen for one or two generations, people become complacent, and then are surprised when a catastrophic event does occur.

The swarm off Sendai was preceded by a mag 7.2 on March 9. Following the mag 8.9, there was a mag 7.1 and many between mag 6 and 7. There have been three mag 6.5 along the northern edge of the Australia plate. a lot of energy is being released at the moment, but other areas are loading up.

7.2 2011/03/09 02:45:20 38.424 142.836 32.0
8.9 2011/03/11 05:46:23 38.322 142.369 24.4

Any populated area along the Pacific coast is susceptible to such an event based on the proximity to the Pacific Ring of Fire (techtonic plate intersections).

The tsunami off the coast of Sendai will move toward Japan's coast and out across the Pacific Ocean. Australia is more or less protected by New Guinea and the Phillipines, and New Zealand partly by the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga.

Thanks for the good info Astronuc... happy info, but good.

@dlgoff: They seem to be concerned about one plant in particular, but... and I think Astronuc is best suited to answer this... would even a serious flood prevent a SCRAM?
 
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