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Could terrorists use explosives to start Mega-Tsunami?
BBC.co.uk ^

Posted on 12/28/2004 11:44:00 AM PST by crush-the-left

I just had a scary (though possibly naive) thought.

I've read quite a bit about the La Palma volcano in the Canary Islands triggering a "mega-tsunami". From what I've read this is a virtually certainty in the next 2000 years. Apparently an eruption 60+ years ago "loosened" a massive piece of rock from the side of the mountain creating a 6 foot "crack" as it moved towards the Atlantic ocean. If and when this 20+ mile piece of rock collapses into the ocean, a maga-tsunami would be generated that could be up to to 1000 feet high, moving across the Atlantic at 500 mph and bringing destruction to the entire east coast of the US, as well as Cuba, the Bahamas and the entire Atlantic Ovean region. This would absolutely dwarf the Indonesia tsunami, and millions could be killed.

With this in mind, wouldn't this be an easy target for terrorists? Maybe I'm mistaken but couldn't several tons of strategically placed explosives throughout this 6 foot "crack" set the landslide in motion....kind of like a skier starting an avalanche with a kick?

Hopefully I am incorrect. Opinions are certainly welcome....


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; War on Terror; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: canaryislands; catastrophism; cumbrevieja; earthquake; godsgravesglyphs; lapalma; megatsunami; terrorism; terrorist; tsunami; tsunamis; volcano
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To: crush-the-left

I dunno, but it provokes an interesting thought. In alpine regions, they deliberately trigger small avalanches to prevent bigger ones later. I wonder if there is a civil engineering solution? To start to cleave off threatening overhangs *carefully* before they become major catastrophes.


21 posted on 12/28/2004 11:52:12 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (Deadcheck the embeds first.)
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To: crush-the-left

No. These tidal waves work when cubic miles of water are displaced by raising of the sea floor. We don't have enough explosives on earth to cause anything like what just happened.

John

PS No expert just guessing.


22 posted on 12/28/2004 11:53:11 AM PST by jrfaug06
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To: crush-the-left

The quake in indonesia was described as the power of a million atomic bombs. It would take a similar amount of power to trigger a tsunami.

If terrorists had access to sufficient explosives, it would be easier to just use them conventionally.


23 posted on 12/28/2004 11:53:27 AM PST by MediaMole
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To: conservativehistorian

the cheaper method would be taking Michael Moore up in a chopper and pushing him out over the ocean-same effect.


24 posted on 12/28/2004 11:56:01 AM PST by Rakkasan1 (Justice of the Piece: Hope IS on the way...)
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To: crush-the-left
With this in mind, wouldn't this be an easy target for terrorists? Maybe I'm mistaken but couldn't several tons of strategically placed explosives throughout this 6 foot "crack" set the landslide in motion....kind of like a skier starting an avalanche with a kick? Hopefully I am incorrect. Opinions are certainly welcome....

You must consider the scale! How big of a blast would have been needed to duplicate the explosion of Mt. St. Helens? Very big - too big for conventional explosives. That leaves us with nuclear options. You are still dealing with miles of rock that although may appear to be on the virge of falling into the sea, may also be more stable than appears.

25 posted on 12/28/2004 11:56:26 AM PST by Godzilla (You're jealous because the voices speak only to me.)
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To: crush-the-left

About a month ago I read a book (fiction) about how a terrorist could cause an earthquake to happen which would result in a tsunami. Wish I could remember the name of it.


26 posted on 12/28/2004 11:57:09 AM PST by Peach
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

Good point. My thinking exactly.

And to the people who posted replies concerned about "giving them ideas", with all the publicity about the Indian ocean tsunami disaster, we NEED to think like the terrorists do to prevent their attacks, correct?

If this explosives idea is at all plausible maybe the US could "monitor" the volcano to ensure the safety of the east coast, and eliminate one more terrorist threat.

Just an idea...


27 posted on 12/28/2004 11:57:33 AM PST by crush-the-left
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To: crush-the-left

It wouldn't be all bad..., if it gets New York the UN is gone.


28 posted on 12/28/2004 11:57:52 AM PST by Aeronaut (Merry CHRISTmas. (Member of Christians for inclusion in Christmas))
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To: crush-the-left
Could terrorists use explosives to start Mega-Tsunami?

Ummm... No.

Well maybe after Superman flies around the Earth backward, causing the Earth to reverse it's rotation, having time go backward for a while. Yeah... then it could happen.

29 posted on 12/28/2004 11:59:19 AM PST by 69ConvertibleFirebird (Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.)
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Comment #30 Removed by Moderator

To: crush-the-left

The whole idea of La Palma mega-tsunamis has been roundly debunked by many tsunami experts. The problem is the media hasn't bothered to give any pub to the debunkers, because the original story is so exciting.

As has been noted, terrorists with enough explosive power to actually detach part of La Palma would likely be better served simply using it directly somewhere.


31 posted on 12/28/2004 12:01:36 PM PST by Strategerist
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To: conservativehistorian
In this case,unfortunately, reality has copied fiction.

Hardly. Has anyone even suggested that the force released the other day was even nearly equivalent to that released in the explosion of Krackatoa, off the coast of Java, in the 1880s. I believe the tidal wave that crossed the Pacific was much higher, and debris was in the atmosphere for the next two years.

All that aside, I think folk here are fancifully looking at the wrong enemy. Obviously, the modern species of international anarchists--"terrorists"--do not have a prayer of developing the technology to try anything so ambitious. However, some sort of Hydrogen Bomb devise, from a more formidable enemy--say a Russo-Chinese alliance, with no exposure to an Atlantic based disaster--might someday be feasible.

Patriots need to understand that it is not necessary to over-dramatize the capability of our enemies to deal with them effectively. Over-dramatizing their capability and the extent of the threat only helps them recruit. The reality is that they are not capable of ever being the threat of a major technological power.

A better job of guarding our own borders and coast line would go a long way towards reducing the real threat that they do pose.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

32 posted on 12/28/2004 12:02:00 PM PST by Ohioan
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To: conservativehistorian
In this case,unfortunately, reality has copied fiction.

Hardly. Has anyone even suggested that the force released the other day was even nearly equivalent to that released in the explosion of Krackatoa, off the coast of Java, in the 1880s. I believe the tidal wave that crossed the Pacific was much higher, and debris was in the atmosphere for the next two years.

All that aside, I think folk here are fancifully looking at the wrong enemy. Obviously, the modern species of international anarchists--"terrorists"--do not have a prayer of developing the technology to try anything so ambitious. However, some sort of Hydrogen Bomb devise, from a more formidable enemy--say a Russo-Chinese alliance, with no exposure to an Atlantic based disaster--might someday be feasible.

Patriots need to understand that it is not necessary to over-dramatize the capability of our enemies to deal with them effectively. Over-dramatizing their capability and the extent of the threat only helps them recruit. The reality is that they are not capable of ever being the threat of a major technological power.

A better job of guarding our own borders and coast line would go a long way towards reducing the real threat that they do pose.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

33 posted on 12/28/2004 12:02:48 PM PST by Ohioan
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To: Rebelbase

Well if I thought of this in my "spare time", I assure you that terrorists who live and breathe our destruction will have thought of it long ago.

Discussing possible ways for terrorists to attack us simply allows us to better prepare, don't you agree?


34 posted on 12/28/2004 12:03:01 PM PST by crush-the-left
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To: dirtboy
It would take kilotons of explosives - and I think someone would notice such activity sooner or later.

I can just see that...."Hey, you there, what are you doing?"

Who, me?

Nothing.

LVM

35 posted on 12/28/2004 12:03:07 PM PST by LasVegasMac (Santa's sleigh is powered by an RYR motor.)
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To: crush-the-left
"And to the people who posted replies concerned about "giving them ideas", with all the publicity about the Indian ocean tsunami disaster, we NEED to think like the terrorists do to prevent their attacks, correct?"

Correct and exactly why the Bush Admin contacted Hollywood people after 9/11 to get even their wildest ideas about how the terrorists could attack us next.

Also, anything we can think of is either possible or will be possible in the future.

36 posted on 12/28/2004 12:04:39 PM PST by Freedom Dignity n Honor
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To: crush-the-left

I think it would take a whole bunch of explosives


37 posted on 12/28/2004 12:04:50 PM PST by Conspiracy Guy (Pray for the millions of lives disrupted by tsunami.)
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To: Aeronaut


38 posted on 12/28/2004 12:05:25 PM PST by Rebelbase (Who is General Chat?)
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To: crush-the-left

In my opinion, the only crack open for discussion here, is the one in your head.


39 posted on 12/28/2004 12:07:58 PM PST by LibWrangler
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To: Strategerist

Hopefully, you are correct. I've also read articles supposedly debunking the La Palma theory.

The purpose of my post was to alert people to a possible threat, and if none existed, no harm done....


40 posted on 12/28/2004 12:08:15 PM PST by crush-the-left
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