Cumbre Vieja volcano, Canary Islands

[Brad Johnson]

It's erupting. Has geologists and taunami experts in a twist over a potential mega-tsunami event.

https://youtu.be/CmQVquojJfo

Lots of long-standing concern as the western flank of Cumbre Vieja is unstable. If it decides to peel off, effects will span multiple continents, including the US eastern seaboard.

Brad

[RoadKingLarry]

I blame Trump and the NRA, as well as globular warmulating.

[lee n. field]

Been nice knowing you, K-frame.

[HankB]

It's erupting. Has geologists and taunami experts in a twist over a potential mega-tsunami event . . .

How far up the Potomac can we count on it to reach?

[Hawkmoon]

Can the tsunami inundate Manhattan?

[K Frame]

Been nice knowing you, K-frame.

I can tread water.

[MechAg94]

So why are they worried about a sunami?

[Brad Johnson]

So why are they worried about a sunami?

The island is very steep sided and geologically unstable. A big chunk of the island shifted down several meters during a previous eruption. If the section destabilizes enough to detach and slide into the sea, the resulting displacement is capable of producing major tsunamis all along western Europe and eastern America. Worst-case models show waves potentially high as 30ft along the eastern US.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6utAunBKXV4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb4T8a1K5tw

Brad

[JTHunter]

I can tread water.

That ain't water in a tsunami.  It's more like a slightly wetter version of what comes out of a concrete mixer.

[just Warren]

I remember reading about this years ago.

Still don't know what I'm supposed to do with this information.

I don't live on that coast and I don't have anyone close to me who does.

It's like the super-volcano or a meteor strike or the planet shifting it's poles or some super nova taking out our electronics and the like. Out of my hands.

So I just throw it on the pile of "what-can-I-do-about-it?" items.

Sure, there might be a huge economic impact from an avalanche there; but I live in an agricultural area that grows abundant foodstuffs, usually has plenty of water, generates more hydro-power than we can use, and has numerous folks who know how and can do to keep things at least limping along.

So we'll mostly be fine.

[WLJ]

Watch it head straight for Haiti 

[sumpnz]

The island is very steep sided and geologically unstable. A big chunk of the island shifted down several meters during a previous eruption. If the section destabilizes enough to detach and slide into the sea, the resulting displacement is capable of producing major tsunamis all along western Europe and eastern America. Worst-case models show waves potentially high as 30ft along the eastern US.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6utAunBKXV4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb4T8a1K5tw

Brad

I thought it was 30m.  So more like 100ft.

[JTHunter]

I thought it was 30m.  So more like 100ft.

The height of a tsunami depends on how shallow the water becomes.  Its height may be 30 feet when in deep water but as the continental shelf makes the water more shallow, the wave both slows down and increases in height.

[HankB]

Watch it head straight for Haiti 

Haiti is on the western side of Hispaniola - it looks like only it's northern shore would be vulnerable to a tsunami. (Unless - do tsunamis wrap around islands?) Dominican Republic on the eastern side of the island looks potentially more exposed. I guess the vulnerability would depend on how fast the land rises on those shores.