Posted on 12/27/2004 2:15:27 AM PST by kattracks
AT 7:58 P.M. New York time Saturday, a 600-mile stretch of the Earth's crust ruptured off the coast of Indonesia - and the race was on.Within 20 minutes, shock waves from the most powerful quake in 40 years set off seismic sensors around the world - including one in Central Park.
American researchers realized the potential for tsunamis and tried to get the word out, calling embassies, U.S. naval bases and the State Department.
"We tried to do what we could," said Charles McCreery, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration center in Honolulu. "We don't have contacts in our address book for anybody in that part of the world."
The giant surge of water was slower-moving than the subterranean shock waves, but far more deadly. The swells hit Indonesia within an hour; India was swamped within 21/2 hours. Most people had no warning.
The quake - in part of a vast volcanic region known as the "Ring of Fire" - was caused by a violent shift of the India and Burma tectonic plates 6 miles below the ocean floor. The result was a bulge in the seabed estimated at 600miles long and 10 yards high, a ridge that roiled the Indian Ocean.
Enzo Boschi, head of Italy's National Geophysics Institute, likened its power to a million atomic bombs dropped on Japan during World War II, and said the shaking even disturbed Earth's rotation. "All the planet is vibrating," he said.
The rupture displaced a huge amount of water, said Won-Young Kim, a Columbia University earthquake researcher.
Those in ships would notice only a rocking sensation from swells of a yard or so, he said. But as the displaced water approaches coastal areas, the sea level drops. "So these high sea waves just bounce together," becoming higher and higher, Kim said. "And then it hits these coastal towns."
A Columbia University sensor buried in ground near the 96th St. transverse in Central Park registered the quake, as did other seismographs in the area.With News Wire Services
Originally published on December 27, 2004
Nonsense. Bush caused it.
Check out this report.
I say IMPEACH BUSH, NOW!
The election was a fraudulent election. His wife is a whore, and he was in dereliction of duty when he served in a non-entitiy of the United States Air National Guard. He should be hanged for being AWOL. The man is a menace to society. /sarcasm
As Ronnie would say, "There ya go again" to the democrats hating America.
I love W and Laura.
Now I feel better feeling beter in goofing on my FReepers who thought I was an irrational .. well you know the A-word. Gotcha! Merry CHISTMAS and enjoy a New Year in 05! Karen and I love FReeperville!
HALIBURTON
Speaking of Haliburton..have we heard from Diego Garcia..Just hope our fleet of B2 and B1 Bombers were not on the ground and now saturated with salt water..
I blame Al Gore for this. He wants us to belive that the Day After Tomorrow is real. Watch, the snow storm in Indiana is part of the plot.
Thanks for the ping.
I saw Won Young Kim on TV. Unimpressive, frankly.
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