8.9 earthquake and tsunami in Japan!

[Jennasis]

The live video shows a whole lot of "nothing" right now, but they say that the first wave is not the destructive one. Fingers crossed that the damage from subsequent waves is minimal.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Japan has asked the US for help---amazing that when countries are in trouble they immediately rush to ask the US for help but other times we are the evil nation

Perhaps you should do some research on which countries have sent volunteers to the US during wildfires in California, ice storms in the northern States, and hurricanes in Louisiana. Perhaps you should also research the contributions many other countries have made (particularly per capita) during other international disasters. Most first-world countries have rushed to offer aid to Japan. This is what good global citizens do for their neighbours.

This non-American would like to thank the US for their world-wide contributions in times of crisis. But, attitudes like yours, Golfgal, make it a little less heart-felt.

 

[Jennasis]

Japan evac'ing a 3-mile radius around the ***ushima reactor (CNN).

ETA...REALLY Dis filter??

 

[happygirl]

Japan evac'ing a 3-mile radius around the ***ushima reactor (CNN).

ETA...REALLY Dis filter??

Crazy filter lol

 

[golfgal]

Perhaps you should do some research on which countries have sent volunteers to the US during wildfires in California, ice storms in the northern States, and hurricanes in Louisiana. Perhaps you should also research the contributions many other countries have made (particularly per capita) during other international disasters. Most first-world countries have rushed to offer aid to Japan. This is what good global citizens do for their neighbours.

This non-American would like to thank the US for their world-wide contributions in times of crisis. But, attitudes like yours, Golfgal, make it a little less heart-felt.

I am not saying we should help, I am saying that other countries that treat us like the "UGLY AMERICANS" in times when they are not in trouble should think twice about doing that. The US is usually the first country to step up to help in times like these because we have a lot of resources TO help. It's a lot like relative that ONLY calls when they need money.

 

[happygirl]

Pearl Harbor just got a small wave

 

[happygirl]

There was just chemical plant explosion

 

[Rora]

There was just chemical plant explosion

 

[SaraJayne]

Perhaps you should do some research on which countries have sent volunteers to the US during wildfires in California, ice storms in the northern States, and hurricanes in Louisiana. Perhaps you should also research the contributions many other countries have made (particularly per capita) during other international disasters. Most first-world countries have rushed to offer aid to Japan. This is what good global citizens do for their neighbours.

This non-American would like to thank the US for their world-wide contributions in times of crisis. But, attitudes like yours, Golfgal, make it a little less heart-felt.

As an American citizen ~ .

Right now, I don't give a rat's behind how much aid Japan has given us or how many other countries have asked us for help.

Their country and people have been devastated by an earthquake. If we can help, we should! And we will, as will many other countries.

We step up to the plate when bad things happen. Now is not the time to worry about tit for tat BS.

Whew! I feel better now!

We also woke up to this terrible news and I have a friend that lives in Hawaii. I immediately was worried about her and her family's safety. She has assured everyone via Facebook they are OK.

Thoughts going out to everyone affected by the quake and the millions of people that may be affected by the tsunami.

 

[Jennasis]

There was just chemical plant explosion

Where?

 

[happygirl]

Where?

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/11/utility-company-reports-nuclear-power-plant-northern-japan/

 

[Jennasis]

200-300 bodies found in Sendai (sp?).

 

[bgirldeb]

300 ft recession of shoreline at diamondhead beach reported on CNN

 

[SaraJayne]

CNN just said the water off the beaches in Hawaii has receded up to 300 feet, which is indicative of a larger wave building.

I haven't heard anything about a chemical plant explosion, yet.

 

[Tiggeriffic79]

It was a petrochemical explosion in Sendai japan

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

it was actually an 8.9 not an 8.8.

 

[jen0610]

One of my best friends just left March 4th to move to Hawaii. And for the life of me - in the crazyness of what all is going on - I can't remember where exactly. Her cell phone is just going to voicemail. Her parents know nothing, they haven't heard from her.

What a welcome to Hawaii greeting she's getting.

 

[golfgal]

Does anyone know the physics of these things? Yes, I can look it up but DIS is just as good as google. Does traveling longer distances increase the size of the waves? If the waves were 10 feet in Japan, will they be 20 feet in Hawaii and 50 in California or is there more to the size of the waves? I remember talking about this in school but don't remember specifics.

 

[rszdtrvl]

School is 2 hours late about 30 miles from the Washington Coast.

We are on a Tsunami Advisory, which means that the strength of the waves is unknown. Our house is only about 1/4 mile from a river, but nothing huge is expected in my city.

Our city has a good emergency alert system. If there was a huge issue, we would have received multiple phone calls, the Tsunami Siren would go off, and we would have people banging on our door - none of which have happened.

My thoughts go out to all affected in this disaster.

edited to add : They said estimated waves would be 1-3 feet higher than normal. This is only an estimate, and it varies from beach to beach.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Does anyone know the physics of these things? Yes, I can look it up but DIS is just as good as google. Does traveling longer distances increase the size of the waves? If the waves were 10 feet in Japan, will they be 20 feet in Hawaii and 50 in California or is there more to the size of the waves? I remember talking about this in school but don't remember specifics.

No, some of the energy dissipates as the wave travels.

However, the height of the wave as it hits a particular shoreline is dependent on the topography of the shoreline (depth, shape, and orientation vs. direction of the wave, etc.). The surge damage is also dependent on the tide level at the time the tsunami hits (obviously it's better if the surge occurs during low tide rather than high). Historically, many devastating tsunamis have occurred long distances from the original earthquake, and there's no way to be sure of its effects until it hits a particular location.