Bill Karens, you're exactly the person I want to talk to. First of all, this is an earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia, yet the tsunami warnings were threatening the west coast of the US. How is that possible.Well, it was scary because people didn't know what was coming. And when the geologists and the tsunami experts are the ones that are saying we just don't know yet, that's when it really got everyone's attention. And that's when even the government officials and like the governor of Hawaii, t ...

Tsunami Causes and Characteristics - Tsunamis are triggered by sudden, large-scale ocean displacement, often from earthquakes [2] - Tsunami waves can travel at speeds exceeding 500 mph (approximately 805 km/h) in the open ocean [2] - Wave height can increase dramatically in shallower waters, potentially surpassing 100 ft (approximately 30 meters) [3] Impact and Consequences - Tsunamis can cause devastating flooding in coastal areas, destroying infrastructure [3] - Floodwaters can persist for days, posing drowning risks and pulling victims out to sea [4] - The 2004 Indonesian tsunami resulted in approximately 230,000 fatalities [4] - The 2011 Tohoku tsunami, triggered by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, caused nearly 20,000 deaths and a nuclear disaster [5] Detection and Warning Systems - NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) operates DART, a high-tech system for tsunami tracking and warning [6] - DART utilizes tsunameters on the ocean floor and surface buoys to monitor water pressure changes [6] - NOAA issues four levels of alerts, with the highest level (warning) indicating imminent or ongoing impact, requiring immediate evacuation to higher ground [7] Safety Measures - During a tsunami warning, individuals should immediately evacuate to higher ground [7][8]