Visualize hundreds of miles per hour as a wall of water, up to a third of a mile high, roars across the ocean. It is nearly hopeless to understand the magnitude of a mega-tsunami’s destructive power.
Mega-tsunamis, as opposed to ordinary tsunamis is caused by earthquakes, are often brought on by massive landslides or erupting volcanoes.
Because of their closeness to landslide-prone areas, earthquake zones, and unstable volcanoes, three US regions—Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast—are at risk of mega-tsunamis.
Scientists carry on analyse the traces left by a mile-high mega-tsunami that was caused by an asteroid strike millions of years ago during the dinosaur era.
According to their analysis, this wave might harm coastal communities by starting at 2,000 feet high close to the volcano and reaching up to 150 feet when it strikes the Americas.
The US has much greater imminent mega-tsunami dangers in three areas: Alaska, Hawaii, and along the West Coast. However, other experts say that this Cumbre Vieja scenario is unlikely because the volcano has exploded without producing such a tsunami.
Alaska
It is rated that the massive granite mass, which measured roughly 2,400 feet by 3,000 feet, weighed up to 90 million tonnes. According to NASA, that was the same as dumping eight million dump truck loads into the ocean.
The outcome was a 1,719-foot mega-tsunami that swept across the bay, the biggest wave ever recorded.
Alaska is still a landslip hotspot because of its untamed landscape and regular earthquakes.
The director of Alaska’s Division of Geological Surveys, Steve Masterman, predicted that as temperatures rise, the likelihood of these occurrences increases. In order to estimate and prepare for future calamities, scientists are currently keeping an eye on slopes and glaciers.
Hawaii
Mega-tsunamis caused by collapsed volcanoes have a history of occurring on Hawaii’s volcanic islands.
Similar to the Cumbre Vieja scenario, researchers think this was created by a major volcanic landslip.
Layers of lava are collected by Hawaii’s volcanoes to build, but these slopes can become unstable and fall, particularly during earthquakes or eruptions.
Millions of tonnes of rock may fall into the ocean as a result, leading mega-tsunamis that damage neighbouring islands. These incidents are especially deadly because of the steep terrain of the islands.
Volcanoes in Hawaii are still active, and the biggest challenge is found on the southeast part of the Big Island, which is home to “younger” volcanoes like Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
Kilauea has actually been erupting lava for months. On May 6, the most recent eruption in its current cycle came to a close.
Researchers from Penn State warn that these precarious slopes might collapse once more, causing terrible waves.
The West Coast
The West Coast settlement of Pachena Bay was damaged on January 26, 1700, when a magnitude 9 earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone sparked a mega-tsunami.
Only 30 minutes after the earthquake, waves as high as 100 feet hit, leading no survivors.
Massive volumes of ocean water are replaced by this movement, causing tsunamis to travel great distances. The 1700 incident des the potential reach of these waves.
According to estimates from the US Geological Survey and FEMA, the likelihood of an earthquake in Cascadia with a magnitude of 8 to 9 occurring over the next 50 years is 37 percent.
Although early notification systems and evacuation plans are being enhanced by researchers, the tsunami hazard persists because of the region’s earthquake susceptibility.
Because of their dynamic geology and shifting surroundings, Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast are constantly at risk of mega-tsunamis.
As in the past, landslides driven by melting glaciers in Alaska, shaky volcanoes in Hawaii, and strong earthquakes around the West Coast could cause catastrophic waves.
