[JimSEA]

This article relates directly to a danger affecting the East Coast of America. The Doomsday Scenario Instability due to dike intrusion and pressurization of superheated groundwater from a reawakened Cumbre Vieja volcano destabilizes the western flank of La Palma and sends it into the Atlantic. This is the worst case scenario for La Palma or any other active volcano in the Canary Islands. Numerical modeling by Ward and Day (2001) quantifies the effects of the large scale, rapid failure of the La Palma along the inferred detachment zone on the west flank. The model of the landslide and subsequent tsunami provides a valuable glimpse at the Atlantic wide impact of such an initially localized event.

The displacement of the landslide material generates a 900 m high dome of water above the descending slide block after 2 minutes. From 10 to 20 minutes the neighboring Canary Islands have been inundated to several hundred meters height. The waves approach the Western Sahara over the next hour as waves 50-100 m stack together and sweep ashore (Ward and Day, 2001).

The brunt of the tsunami traverses the Atlantic Ocean basin, growing in width over the next 5 hours. The coast of western Europe receives 5-7 m waves. Meanwhile, 15-20 m waves strike northern South America while 10 m waves buffet Newfoundland. Along the shallow passive margin of Eastern North America, the tsunami builds to 20-25 m just prior to landfall around 8 hours. Within 11 hours, the Caribbean, North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Central America have been impacted by direct or diffracted tsunami waves (Ward and Day, 2001).

The effects of such a sudden event would be devastating, with the populations of the Canary Islands and the coastal areas of Africa decimated. In Europe and South America, warning time would be greater but likely still insufficient to evacuate the coastal areas. The most publicized effect of such a wave would be that on the Eastern seaboard of the United States. The tsunami would impact most coastal areas within 8 hours of La Palma�s collapse. Even with the maximum warning time, it is highly unlikely that all areas at risk for inundation could be sufficiently evacuated. In some cases, the best escape may be vertical, with high rises in New York, Boston, and other port cities used to escape the rising waters.

[Hieronymus]

I have heard the suggestion that people in these areas might want to keep a hot air balloon stored in the garage. Probably even better than a high rise. Or you take your chances.

[blam]

Another view:

Killing Off The Canary Islands Landslide Megatsunami Scare

[Yulee]

Just to say:

“La Palma volcano: Canary Islands hit by 40 tremors in 48 hours. La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, was hit by a series of mini-earthquakes at the weekend, measuring between 1.5 and 2.7 on the Richter scale.Oct 11, 2017”

And from yesterday, October 17th:

“Canary island La Palma experiences 352 earthquakes in ten days as scientists continue to monitor its active volcano

“Canary-island-La-Palma-sees-352-earthquakes-ten-days.
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Should the East Coast be worried?