8.9 Quake hits Japan [Mar 2011]

[Bingo]

8.9 Quake hits Japan, Tidal Wave Warnings for West Coast
see map;
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/as...ex.html?hpt=T1

[Bingo]

Nuclear power plant on fire

Tidal wave about to hit west coast

[Bingo]

Nuke power plant overheating, but not on fire.
Four reactors have been shut down.
Stock markets take a hit.
Wave heights can vary depending on shoreline configuration.

[Bingo]

Ranked as the 5th largest quake in the world since 1900

Thousands feared dead

see images
http://us.cnn.com/interactive/2011/0...ex.html?hpt=T1

[Mike K.]

This is nuts. We managed to avoid the waves forecast, but I noticed that Google's search engine has a warning for us west coasters to be on alert for tsunamis.

According to CTV waves over 30 feet high swept over some Japanese towns.

[yodsaker]

Big and bad!
We are lucky so far but that can't last forever.

[Van]

It was crazy seeing some of the footage last night. Massive wave of debris sweeping over farmland with boats and burning houses in it, all the while people are trying to outrun it, is definitely an image I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by yodsaker

Big and bad!
We are lucky so far but that can't last forever.

True, but we'll likely never see one like this in our lifetimes here. Or your grandchildrens' lifetime, or their grandchildrens' lifetime.

We are not "due", as some are saying.

[sebberry]

Originally Posted by VicHockeyFan

We are not "due", as some are saying.

Positive thinking always works

[Bernard]

The current estimate is that we have slightly less than a 0.6% chance per year, though rising each year, of a major earthquake in this region. The odds of a 1700 event are running at about 0.1% per year, that sort of event would place us close to the top of the list for major earthquakes.

It is inevitable there will be a major earthquake in this region and huge/massive earthquake as well. Each year there is not an earthquake, the odds of the next years rise slightly.

If you are under age 20, the odds are that you will be alive for a major earthquake in this region. If you are older than 65 you have already lived through one.

[sebberry]

Some pretty shocking photos here

Bad time to mention the JSB, but by god it's the least of our worries.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by sebberry

Some pretty shocking photos here

Bad time to mention the JSB, but by god it's the least of our worries.

At some point in the future the people of the region will look back and revisit order of priorities the bureaucrats of the day took to secure the seismic safety of Victoria.

[phx]

Originally Posted by Bingo

At some point in the future the people of the region will look back and revisit order of priorities the bureaucrats of the day took to secure the seismic safety of Victoria.

Our governments have produced a map of the region showing the areas that are particularly prone to earthquake damage. They've also published research on how well different types of structures perform in an earthquake.

Do you live or work in a high risk area?

Do you live or work in an at-risk structure? These would include:

• brick or stone construction
• older concrete construction that hasn't been upgraded
• older wood-frame construction that hasn't been bolted down

If so, don't blame the government for your risky behaviour.

[sebberry]

Most of Victora lives in 30-60 year old homes and there are only a few areas that are at low risk.

[Bingo]

How quake prediction works (or not)
By Alan Boyle

Japan has spent well more than $1 billion on earthquake prediction systems, including a network of more than 1,000 GPS-based sensors scattered around the country — and the payoff came today when Tokyo's residents were given up to a minute's warning that a Big one was on its way.That may not sound like much, but it's enough time for people to switch off their gas lines and get beneath a table or a door frame.

The system capitalizes on the fact that a seismic event sends out two types of shock waves: primary or P-waves, which move up and down; and secondary or S-waves, which shake from side to side. The P-waves travel faster but are weaker, while the S-waves are slower but do more damage. When Japan's system picks up the P-waves, it calculates how far away the source of the shaking is and issues an alarm while the S-waves are still en route. A warning can be broadcast via TV, radio, cell phones and home alarms less than 10 seconds after the P-waves are detected.

With no way to prevent earthquakes and scant hope scientists will be able to reliably forecast earthquake activity beyond probabilities parsed in decades, the best steps people can take today is to prepare for the big one and then get on with life. That means making sure buildings and bridges and pipelines are built to code to withstand the violent shaking from a worst-case scenario earthquake.

Many experts say cities have lots of preparation left to do.

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news...n-works-or-not

[Bingo]

Rescuers scramble to save lives as aftershocks jolt Japan

From Kyung Lah, CNN

In the town of Minamisanriku, 9.500 people are unaccounted for, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported, citing local officials. That figure is about half the population of the town, which is located on the Pacific, the news agency said.

The quake also disrupted rail service and affected air travel, but limited rail service was back Saturday. Flight cancellations left at least 23,000 people stranded in two Tokyo airports, Kyodo News Agency said. Departing and arriving flights resumed Saturday.
Six million households, more than 10% of the total in Japan, were without electricity, said Ichiro Fujisaki, the nation's ambassador to the United States.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/as...ex.html?hpt=T2

[Sparky]

One man was found hanging onto the roof of his house 15 kilometers out at sea.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapc...ex.html?hpt=T1

[Rob Randall]

Yomiuri, via Associated Press
NYTimes.com

[Sparky]

Here is a link through ABC to a google satellite comparison of before and after shots.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/ja...eforeafter.htm

[Baro]

The above pic looks like swans with the clipper on top...

[sebberry]

Originally Posted by Rob Randall

That's impressive structural engineering there.

[phx]

Is it bad taste to make a joke at this time about the risks of a mega yacht marina in the harbour?

[MarkCB]

earthquakes aside, I just want to point out the extremely low elevation of the area most affected by the tsunami. Sendai airport is located only 6 feet above mean sea level according to its wikipedia page. I can't think of anywhere on the region that would be as vulnerable to a same-size tsunami.

[rjag]

Originally Posted by MarkCB

earthquakes aside, I just want to point out the extremely low elevation of the area most affected by the tsunami. Sendai airport is located only 6 feet above mean sea level according to its wikipedia page. I can't think of anywhere on the region that would be as vulnerable to a same-size tsunami.

Richmond on the mainland is close to that, but it doesnt matter because most of Richmond will liquify in the earthquake so wont be there for a tsunami.

We wont experience a big wave but more along the lines of a huge tidal surge.

McNeil Bay, Willows Beach, Cadboro Bay, the Inner Harbour are all in the threat zone.

[Holden West]

Someone once told me the Gorge experienced a very mild surge after the '64 Alberni quake.