Posted on 12/28/2004 6:19:53 PM PST by FormerACLUmember
Scattered across the world’s oceans are a handful of rare geological time-bombs. Once unleashed they create an extraordinary phenomenon, a gigantic tidal wave, far bigger than any normal tsunami, able to cross oceans and ravage countries on the other side of the world. Only recently have scientists realised the next episode is likely to begin at the Canary Islands, off North Africa, where a wall of water will one day be created which will race across the entire Atlantic ocean at the speed of a jet airliner to devastate the east coast of the United States. America will have been struck by a mega-tsunami.
Back in 1953 two geologists travelled to a remote bay in Alaska looking for oil. They gradually realised that in the past the bay had been struck by huge waves, and wondered what could have possibly caused them. Five years later, they got their answer. In 1958 there was a landslide, in which a towering cliff collapsed into the bay, creating a wave half a kilometre high, higher than any skyscraper on Earth. The true destructive potential of landslide-generated tsunami, which scientists named "Mega-tsunami", suddenly began to be appreciated. If a modest-sized landslide in Alaska could create a wave of this size, what havoc could a really huge landslide cause?
Scientists now realise that the greatest danger comes from large volcanic islands, which are particularly prone to these massive landslides. Geologists began to look for evidence of past landslides on the sea bed, and what they saw astonished them. The sea floor around Hawaii, for instance, was covered with the remains of millions of years’ worth of ancient landslides, colossal in size.
But huge landslides and the mega-tsunami that they cause are extremely rare - the last one happened 4,000 years ago on the island of Réunion. The growing concern is that the ideal conditions for just such a landslide - and consequent mega-tsunami - now exist on the island of La Palma in the Canaries. In 1949 the southern volcano on the island erupted. During the eruption an enormous crack appeared across one side of the volcano, as the western half slipped a few metres towards the Atlantic before stopping in its tracks. Although the volcano presents no danger while it is quiescent, scientists believe the western flank will give way completely during some future eruption on the summit of the volcano. In other words, any time in the next few thousand years a huge section of southern La Palma, weighing 500 thousand million tonnes, will fall into the Atlantic ocean.
What will happen when the volcano on La Palma collapses? Scientists predict that it will generate a wave that will be almost inconceivably destructive, far bigger than anything ever witnessed in modern times. It will surge across the entire Atlantic in a matter of hours, engulfing the whole US east coast, sweeping away everything in its path up to 20km inland. Boston would be hit first, followed by New York, then all the way down the coast to Miami and the Caribbean.
That's harsh, man. LOL!
Beachfront property with lake effect snow? Hmmmm. I'll pass.
Once again, you have all FAILED to stipulate that women and minorities will be hardest hit!!
What's the matter with all you guys... You're slipping!!
The problem with the Canary Islands is too many canaries. If they were properly hunted, this entire catastrophe could be averted.
But in the Canaries, when they all dropped dead you'd have been warned in advance.
Too bad good folks are moving out instead of fighting to save California. But I can understand their decision.
And Mexicans pouring over the border to populate the newly 'cleansed' blue states once they clean up the debris I would imagine! :)
ROFLMAO!
I think I'm more worried of being txaxed to death.
While I was trying to make an off colored joke .... you got the real meaning of my post. It will be interesting to see if this awakens Toba .... if they don't have an accurate map of the lake's bottom they better get one ASAP!
Everyone relax. You'll go when your time comes whether it be by tsunamis, earthquakes, tonadoes, hurricanes, or on a plane, train, car, bus whatever. Kick back in the meantime and enjoy the ride.
Quite possible.
If I recall correctly there was a MAJOR subsea earthquake close to Antartica just a few days before this one.
Reason it didnt attract much attention was the fact the area was mostly unpopulated.
From what I understand this latest one really "rattled the earth"
There could very easily be more, and soon.
I think I will just have another cold beer......
LOL
I'm now glad I'm on the west side of the Casades :).
This is probably the most tragic event of my lifetime (post WWII) -- shocking, staggering. I hope the nations of the world, once over the shock, respond with all possible effort and speed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.