How does a warning system for a tsunami work?
The logic behind the new tsunami-warning system that was installed in Thailand after last year’s tsunami is a bit of a paradox. My friend’s dad works in Southern Thailand is doing reconstruction work and he was there when they did a test of the warning system. 20 people died while fleeing the coast during “the warning” and one worker was paralysed in a car accident from people driving recklessly trying to get away!
Here is how the basic tsunami warning system works in the Pacific Northwest area. First, a key concept -there are two sources of tsunami for Washington coastal waters – a distant source and a local source. T Tsunami Terminology A local source – if you feel violent shaking for several minutes, head for higher ground. The earthquake is your warning. The most likely source for a violent earthquake of this magnitude is from the Cascadia Subduction Zone just off our coast. The last associated earthquake was estimated to be 9.0 in magnitude on Jan 26, 1700, and was similar to the Dec 26, 2004 Sumatra 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent Indian Ocean Basin tsunami. What To Do? – Simulations show the initial tsunami wave from the 1700 event reached the coast in 20 to 30 minutes – so time is limited. Geologic history showed waves with this event were as high as 30 feet. So you must get at least that high above sea level. To top it off, the earthquake will also result in the coastal area subs
