Mega-Tsunamis

[Patronus]

As we all well know, the tsunami that hit southeastern (I think) Asia was very devastating. It destroyed more homes then we can count, and killed even more humans.

But that tsunami was not the worst. Not at all.

In spirt of recent events, Discovery Channel has been airing shows about the natural disaster and topics related to it. So, I tuned into the show titled "Mega-Tsunamis."

About twenty or thirty years ago, scientists began to study this area of forest on an island off of Europe or Africa (I think... not sure, I'll look it up to make sure). The trees showed significant damage from what appeared to be a tsunami. But there was one problem; no earthquake could have done so much damage, or have caused a tsunami so large.

So they leave, baffled, and return years later after the incident happened again. They eventually found out that what had caused the tsunami was a large avanlanche. An avalanche so large and moving so fast, that it caused a 430 ft. wave to crash onto the island.

And the scientists called this tsunami the mega-tsunami.

Mega-tsunamis occur when a large chunk of land drops into the sea, not by earthquakes. Regular tsunamis are usually only large enough to reach the fifth floor of a skyscraper. But mega-tsunamis can topple the entire skyscraper.

Scientists have found that on a volcanic island off the shore of west Africa that will cause potential death to millions within the next century. A chunk of the island will break off into the ocean, creating a mega-tsunami, which will then head towards the east coast of America and arrive within eight hours, which isn't nearly enough time for everyone to evacuate.

So, besides me, is anyone terribly afraid of these things?

[Gravy Train]

Not if you live in the Midwest..huzzah. Finally, living in this boring dump might finally pay off, as there are no mega-tornadoes.

But yeah, that does sound pretty bad. Scientists also predict hurricanes could end up reaching the upper-east coast of the U.S. soon. And with California falling into the ocean, it looks like the only safe place is the middle of the U.S.

[Angelus_Necare]

[quote name='Patronus']So, besides me, is anyone terribly afraid of these things?[/quote]

[color=deepskyblue][size=1]Well I am now...

Funny I didn't catch this episode but I find the subject slightly creepy yet deeply fascinating. The fact that something of that magnitude could, for the most part, destroy parts the east coast is frankly scary.

But when you say a "chunk of island" how big are we talking? And would you suppose parts of the ice caps falling into the ocean could also take an effect? I mean, chunks of ice have been breaking off for years, perhaps they don't have the same effect as a massive land slide would...

Regardless, I'd like to hear more information on the subject. It's good to be well informed on the "things that scare the crap outta me" list.[/color][/size]

[W00t,iM uNbAnNd]

damn, i live in atlanta.....oh well, i hope im dead before it happens...

Yes, I really would like to know more about this too, please elaborate on the subject.

[Tigervx]

[FONT=Arial][COLOR=Teal]Hah! Take that you east coast showboats! Where?s your White Castle Burgers now!

Okay, enough joking around. If their research is shown to be accurate, this major natural disaster should be a top priority on the government?s threat list. I mean a mega tsunami that could take out parts of the east coast? And we thought tornados were bad. But time and time again, people don't take natural disasters or nature itself seriously yet one Tsunami has already killed more people then every single terrorist act in the past two centuries combined. People in America don?t seem to care about stuff as much as if it was actually in America. And if you tell someone there?ll be a Mega Tsunami in Africa some time, they probably won?t ever think it could reach the USA.
[/COLOR][/FONT]

[Zeta]

[QUOTE=Angelus_Necare][color=deepskyblue][size=1]Well I am now...

Funny I didn't catch this episode but I find the subject slightly creepy yet deeply fascinating. The fact that something of that magnitude could, for the most part, destroy parts the east coast is frankly scary.

But when you say a "chunk of island" how big are we talking? And would you suppose parts of the ice caps falling into the ocean could also take an effect? I mean, chunks of ice have been breaking off for years, perhaps they don't have the same effect as a massive land slide would...

Regardless, I'd like to hear more information on the subject. It's good to be well informed on the "things that scare the crap outta me" list.[/color][/size][/QUOTE]


It is quite a large chunk. I saw the island he is talking about on a History channel show concerning Armageddon.

I myself would be worried, but I highly doubt it will occur in my lifetime. But I do feel bad for those who will have to experience it.

There was also this other tsunami that had an epicenter off the western coast of the United States in 1700 I believe, which caused tidal waves that reached all the way to Japan and caused a good deal of damage. Just read that in a Time magazine, heh.

[Panda]

I am not afraid of tsunamis since I live in eastern Washington state. There is a nice little mountain range called the Cascades that is a nice barrier from the ocean. Of course that is not to say I am not afraid of volcanoes. In 1980 when Mt. St. Helens erupted my hometown got a ton of ash dumped on it. I guess that is why I have always been interested in Pompeii and Mt.Vesuvius. I worry that could happen to me. If you walk out into the field behind my house you can still find piles of ash from the St. Helens eruption.

Now back on the topic of tsunamis, does anyone know how far inland those mega-tsunamis could reach? Can they go over mountain ranges like the Cascades? Not that it would change my way of life, I am just a bit curious. As if tsunamis aren't bad, now we have to worry about mega-tsunamis!

[ukoku]

I live in southeast Asia so I would currently be dead, but thankfully, Singapore is blocked by Malaysia
Speaking of Tsunamis, some days after my English teacher told us that before the Tsunami, the animals of that area would go crazy and try to get to higher ground, I had this drem where my dog went crazy and I thought a Tsunami was coming, so I tried to drag my family up a big hill but they wouldn't listen to me, so I ran up the hill myself and watched everyone else get washed away

I don't think worrying about mega-Tsunamis will do me any good, so I'll just be the heck care person I really am and live life the way it comes and goes, my lifeline has always been very short anyway(no really, it's only about 5-6 cm long and theres another line that crosses pass it, meaning a tragic disaster that will end my life)

[Loving_Senpai]

Yeah, I seen that and I didn't believe it at first (kinda still don't) but who knows. Nature has done some pretty strange things so I guess it could be true. It's scary when you think about it, I mean that large of a landslide would hit so hard, the father who survived said it sounded and looked like a nuclear bomb had hit. Now thats pretty scary if you ask me.

[Patronus]

[quote name='Loving_Senpai']Yeah, I seen that and I didn't believe it at first (kinda still don't) but who knows. Nature has done some pretty strange things so I guess it could be true. It's scary when you think about it, I mean that large of a landslide would hit so hard, the father who survived said it sounded and looked like a nuclear bomb had hit. Now thats pretty scary if you ask me.[/quote]

Well, there's no speculation on whether it's going to happen or not --- it is going to happen. It's inevitable, unless someone glues the island back together along the fault line.

[Loving_Senpai]

True, but a wave of the magnitude....taller that the Empire state building. Now that seems a little far fetched. I guess I would have to see it to believe.