Blatman Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 I was having a look at the USGS web site to view the scientific analysis that has gone on. One of the links took me to a page which attempted to describe the best way to avoid tsunami, and what to do if you saw one. The advice was that, if you can see it, it's too late... By coincidence (or by design) there was a programme on UKTV People last night about Tsunami's, but focusing on the effect of what will happen *when* the southern half of La Palma in the Canaries falls in to the sea. If it goes in one chunk (half a trillion tonnes of earth), the resulting Tsunami will be 650 metres high, 30-40 kilometres from front to back, and travel across to America at something approaching 700Km's and hour. 8 hours after the land slide it will make land fall in the US, probably at Miami first. Predictions (conservative ones, according to the Swiss team doing the calculations) say it will wipe out the American eastern sea board from Miami to New York... and this is not a "what if", it's a "when". The only variables are if La Palma goes in one go or several chunks, and precicely when it will happen. The scientist on the ground in La Palma reckons they have a significant seismic/volcanic event of this nature in the Canaries every 200 years. The last one was 50 years ago... Quote
scott beeland Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 That gives us 150 yrs then..........Panic over Quote
Blatman Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 Not if the expected eruption happens early it doesn't. And that's the scary thing. Even though the scientists have access to the extinct volcano that makes up the northern part of La Palma so they can closely analyse what's going on (they have a tunnel several K's long, and 2K's beneath the surface in the extinct volcano), they still can't say for sure that it won't happen tomorrow... Quote
scott beeland Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 If it's gonna happen tomorrow its gonna happen....I'm going to sleep now Quote
scott beeland Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 Nice blatting weather too.....but i need sleep....And my car is not a goer at the mo anyway. Don't be worrying 'bout that eruption now....Do some work Quote
Blatman Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 Thanks mate. I'll try... *Looks nervously round the room* Quote
scott beeland Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 . *Looks nervously round the room* If you can see a wave in your room.....Your fugged Quote
Blatman Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 You don't know how true that is. I don't even have a fire exit nearby, and there are no windows either... Quote
Blatman Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 No, all the plugs were done by a sparky... Actually, the HSE wander round here ALL the time... the last time, their biggest concern was the girls who do make up needed to be trained in the use of aerosol hair spray so that they were aware of the potential hazards invovled in applying it to the hair of the guests/talent, and gow to properly use such products in a confined space. I s**t you not... Quote
scott beeland Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 Girls; makeup; hairspray.........Getting worried about you blatters Quote
Blatman Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 Hey, I just work here. I'm not wearing any of it... Quote
Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 650 metres! Jesus H, that's over 2000 feet! I'm no surfer but that would be a roller. Did they say what would happen to Blighty? Or are we sheltered by somewhere philanthropic; like, say, France? Quote
Blatman Posted January 6, 2005 Posted January 6, 2005 The models on the programme had the wave fan out but travel only in a westerly direction. As La Palma is a bit further west than most of the British Isles, I think we're safe. Besides which, two of the scientists involved in the research were English. If there were going to be any issues for the UK, I'm sure they'd have mentioned it... And yes, it was the sheer size and scale of the wave that had me reeling. According to the USGS, the Indonesian Tsunami had the energy equivalent to 23,000 Hiroshima type bombs, and it's a baby compared to what they're predicting for La Palma... I'm no surfer but that would be a roller. Yiou'd have a job paddling back out though. Chances are it's gonna break in Wyoming... Quote
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