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....
Sure - but it would take a few hundred nukes...
It would take kilotons of explosives - and I think someone would notice such activity sooner or later.
Michael Crichton's new book "State of Fear" addresses this very issue. Good read.
The BBC - Need we say more... What's that saying about candy and nuts, a wonderful Christmas?
Short answer: Even if it´s possible, there are cheaper ways to cause more destruction.
In theory, but I'll wager that even with a weakened structure it would take a tremendous amount of explosives to loosen the entire mountain. It's the steady pressure of gravity along the entire slope that's the risk.
Well now that you've posted the idea...I guess we'll see where it takes them.
There would be warning before the tsunami hit, enough time to get inland. Thousands would be caught, but most would get away. Structures on the coast would be eliminated which would be expensive but replaceable.
The power of the Indian Ocean earthquake is estimated at
1 MILLION atom bombs. No chance at all that the cowardly,
hide in the ground, send the kids as suicide bombers, have
the capability of exploding even 1 atom bomb. Therefore this
is as far fetched an idea as it gets.
Sh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-hhhhhh... you'll give them ideas.
Michael Crichton's recent novel, "State of Fear", describes an attempt by environmental terrorists to initiate a tsunami
by underwater explosions off the coast of the Solomon Islands. Their motive was the production of a massive tsunami that would inundate California's Pacific coast and would demonstrate the effects of human initiated dramatic climate change.
In this case,unfortunately, reality has copied fiction.
When it happens we'll all be looking for you as the one who gave them the idea.
Also have a look at Jack DuBrul's "Deep Fire Rising" from about a year ago.
I understand the power of the Indian Ocean quake, but that was under wthe ocean and "lifted" innumerable tons of water
to create the tsunami. My thinking is it would take much less to start a landslide where the rock is already loosened and poised to fall....BIG difference.
Hopefully you are correct, though.
One plate wedges itself under the next and the pressure builds for a long time; suddenly the Fixodent let's go and the dentures fall out.
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