The tsunami generated by the magnitude 8.9 earthquake off the coast of Sendai, Japan has had a far reach across the entire Pacific Ocean. NOAA has released images and animations of computer models showing the waves propagating as far east as North and South America.
The earthquake was the fifth largest globally since 1900 and the largest to hit Japan in at least 120 years. In the immediate vicinity of the quake on Japan’s east coast, the tsunami reached a height of 23 feet sweeping away entire structures, vehicles and an unknown number of people.
Some of the wave heights seen across the Pacific include 4.2 feet at Midway Island and 5.7 feet at Kahului, Maui, Hawaii. On the other side of the ocean, Crescent City, California measured the waves at 6.6 feet and Port San Luis, California saw a 6.2 foot rise.
Using computer models and data received from buoys across the ocean, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been able to estimate the far-reaching effects of the tsunami. Using this information, NOAA and its agencies like the National Weather Service and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center have provided critical information to governments and agencies across the globe in the wake of the disaster.
The animation and images to the left released by NOAA show the propagation of the tsunami from the time the quake occurred.
For all the latest on all types of natural disasters, click the 'Subscribe' button at the top to receive an email whenever a new story is posted. You can also follow us on Twitter or on Google Buzz and 'like' us on Facebook to stay up to date.
Comments