Predicting large tsunamis

Article Abstract:

Improved tsunami prediction might have saved many of the over 2,000 lives lost in two of the seismic-generated sea waves that occurred in 1992. The Nicaraguan earthquake was mild in those coastal areas devastated on Sep 2 by the consequent tsunami, but there was ample time for warning. The tsunami of Dec 12 that destroyed an Indonesian village is less well understood. The Nicaraguan quake probably was a very slow rupture involving undersea slumping of subducted sedimentary layers. Such slow events can transfer large amounts of energy to overlying water even though their Richter magnitude is low.

Forecasts and trends, Tsunami warning systems

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Slow ruptures, roaring tsunamis

Article Abstract:

Subduction zones are seismically active plate boundaries, producing 90% of global seismicity and the largest earthquakes. Bilek and Lay have analyzed the durations of many earthquakes using globally recorded seismograms, and found that in the complex zones of convergence, shallower earthquakes take longer to 'break' than events occurring deeper at the plate interface. It is likely that the ruptures propagate through low rigidity material. The rock rigidity controls slip and so can exert strong influence on the size of large, destructive ocean waves, or tsunamis.

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Anatomy of a basaltic volcano

Article Abstract:

A description of Kilauea volcano's physical features and processes is presented based on seismic and geodetic measurements as well as studies of past eruptions. The new model includes data on the volcano's magmatic system, average magma supply rate, and the influence of magmatic movements on the occurrence of earthquakes. Despite the vast amount of data on Kilauea, several questions about the factors that control the volcano's activities still remain.

Volcanism, Kilauea

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