speedy 0 #1 August 10, 2004 Clicky Volcano! Why America's coast could be toast By Steve Connor, Science Editor 10 August 2004 It sounds like the plot of a fanciful Hollywood disaster movie. A dangerous volcano in the Canary Islands erupts, sends a giant tsunami travelling faster than a jet aircraft into the major population centres of America's east coast, killing tens of millions and wiping out New York and Washington DC. But unlike the eruption in the 1997 film Volcano (which threatened in its tagline that 'the coast is toast') scientists believe the threat from the volcano of Cumbre Vieja on the island of La Palma is real, and that it could send a massive slab of rock twice the size of the Isle of Man crashing into the Atlantic. The effect would be to generate a huge wave with the energy equivalent to the combined output of America's power stations working flat out for six months. After travelling across 4,000 miles of the Atlantic for about nine hours the tsunami would hit the Caribbean islands and the east coasts of Canada and the US with devastating effect. It would stretch for many miles and sweep into the estuaries and harbours for up to 20 miles inland, destroying everything in its path. Those scientists are warning that the US government is not taking the threat from Cumbre Vieja seriously enough and not enough is being done to monitor it. Professor Bill McGuire, the director of the Benfield Grieg Hazard Research Centre at University College, London, warned that Boston, New York, Washington DC and Miami could be virtually wiped out. Professor McGuire said close monitoring might at best provide two weeks warning of the disaster but that despite knowing about the danger for a decade, no one was keeping a proper watch on the mountain. The two or three seismographs left to pick up signs of movement in the rock were not capable of detecting a looming eruption weeks in advance, Professor McGuire warned. "What we need now is an integrated volcanic monitoring set up to give maximum warning of a coming eruption. The US government must be aware of the La Palma threat. They should certainly be worried, and so should the island states in the Caribbean that will really bear the brunt of a collapse. "They're not taking it seriously. Governments change every four to five years and generally they're not interested in these things," he added. A monitoring station equip-ped to look deep into the heart of the mountain and spot the early signs of an eruption might cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. In comparison, the US was spending $4m (£2.2m) a year scouring the skies for kilometre-sized asteroids which were much less of a threat, Professor McGuire said. The Cumbre Vieja volcano last erupted in 1949 and its western flank is highly unstable. It could literally split apart next time the volcano erupts, which could be at any time in the next 1,000 years. Any evacuation plan would have to be based on the forecast of an eruption, since once the collapse happened it would be too late, he said. However, it could be a false alarm. Several eruptions could come and go before one of them sent the mountainside crashing into the sea in a matter of minutes. Professor McGuire acknowledged that the decision to depopulate the US eastern seaboard would not be an easy one. "I don't honestly know how we handle that," he said. "As scientists all we should really do is advise people of what we think the risks are." The wave front from the collapse of the mountain would spread out in a crescent, striking the west African coast with a wall of water more than 300ft high in two to three hours. Its northern side would also brush against Europe. Within three to four hours, a 33ft-high wave would smash into the south coast of England, causing immense damage. Unlike a normal wave, the tsunami would not break rapidly but just keep coming, said Professor McGuire. "You're not talking about the destruction of the UK economy, but very serious damage along the south coast," he said. Trying to stop the mountain collapsing was simply out of the question, he said. He has calculated that it would take 35 million years to dig out the dangerous part of the volcano and move it away. ---------------------------------------------------- Surfers, get your boards ready Dave Fallschirmsport Marl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #2 August 10, 2004 eek! I live right on the east coast JenArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unformed 0 #3 August 10, 2004 In the next 1000 years? We're going to destroy ourseles in the next 100 years, I don't think we need to worry about anything after that .... but that's just my opinion.This ad space for sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catfishhunter 2 #4 August 10, 2004 MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT Life is Short and we never know how long we are going to have. We must live life to the fullest EVERY DAY. Everything we do should have a greater purpose. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #5 August 10, 2004 QuoteIn the next 1000 years? Thats anytime in the next 1000 year. As in tomowrow, next week, next century....Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WrongWay 0 #6 August 10, 2004 Hmmm....maybe we should just start blasting the outside of the rock so it'll be little chunks instead of one massive rock causing this nasty tsunami........then again that could agg it on and make it blow early. Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #7 August 10, 2004 You know - it's kinda funny how it seems that when the scientists always predict doom on us (US Citezens)- they never mention anyone on any other continents. We must be the only ones that anything bad will happen to if this volcano erupts. Last time I checked, waves from a dropped object travel out from center in a circular pattern. what would that same "tsunami" do to greenland, Iceland, Ireland, England, Spain, Etc. Etc.?I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FreeflyChile 0 #8 August 10, 2004 mmmm....toast. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #9 August 10, 2004 QuoteLast time I checked, waves from a dropped object travel out from center in a circular pattern. what would that same "tsunami" do to greenland, Iceland, Ireland, England, Spain, Etc. Etc.? Did you read the article?: QuoteThe wave front from the collapse of the mountain would spread out in a crescent, striking the west African coast with a wall of water more than 300ft high in two to three hours. Its northern side would also brush against Europe. Within three to four hours, a 33ft-high wave would smash into the south coast of England, causing immense damage. Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #10 August 10, 2004 QuoteDid you read the article?: Bwaaaahhhhhaaa! did you really just ask turtle that?? Holy shit that was funny. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #11 August 10, 2004 I'm going to go get a set of pliers for a PA.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #12 August 10, 2004 QuoteI'm going to go get a set of pliers for a PA. Suddenly all Kinky there Turtle. I like it. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #13 August 10, 2004 QuoteQuoteI'm going to go get a set of pliers for a PA. Suddenly all Kinky there Turtle. I like it. That last statement scares the hell outta me. Do you hear a "ripping sound?"I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #14 August 10, 2004 QuoteI'm going to go get a set of pliers for a PA. See my sig line... I do no get it...~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clownburner 0 #15 August 10, 2004 It's OK, the west coast is screwed too. We may not get as many tsunamis (although we certainly could, since we're on the edge of the ring of fire), but we also have earthquakes, and Super Volcanoes to worry about.... Face it, you're hosed if mother nature wants it that way, no matter where you live. Don't like tsunamis and hurricanes? Live in nebraska. Watch out for the tornados though. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tspillers 0 #16 August 10, 2004 Not everyone knows that turtle can't read more than 3 lines at a time. I am not totally useless, I can be used as a bad example. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #17 August 10, 2004 QuoteIt's OK, the west coast is screwed too. We may not get as many tsunamis (although we certainly could, since we're on the edge of the ring of fire), but we also have earthquakes, and Super Volcanoes to worry about.... Face it, you're hosed if mother nature wants it that way, no matter where you live. Don't like tsunamis and hurricanes? Live in nebraska. Watch out for the tornados though. Well then - So much for global warming, huh? QuoteSuch an eruption would disrupt global climate by injecting millions of tons of ash into the atmosphere. Some of the ash would remain in the atmosphere for years, reflect sunlight back into space and cool the planetI'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #18 August 10, 2004 whats the nearest country to this volcano? Isle of Man ? ,,,,Cumbrie? Ismile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #19 August 10, 2004 I think its Morocco.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #20 August 10, 2004 QuoteWell then - So much for global warming, huh? Thirty-thousand people somewhere on the other half of the world died as a result of global warming in the past two years. Heard it on the news and they are always right! Yes, California will be separated from the mainland by a huge earthquake, and Florida will be underwater as a result of a huge tsunami. The rest of the world will then die as a result of global warming. And I will keep recycling and limiting my use of pesticides until then~always a dreamer, I amPaint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,151 #21 August 11, 2004 Quote...warned that Boston, New York, Washington DC and Miami could be virtually wiped out. Well, it's not ALL bad news then.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #22 August 11, 2004 QuoteBoston, New York, Washington DC and Miami could be virtually wiped out. You know, as much as I despise the goings-on in DC, it wouldn't get much more wet than a summer shower. (did you know that rain in DC feels like grease?) DC is more than 30 miles from the bay, and looking at the wave's direciton of travel, most of it would crash onto the DelMarVa penninsula and barely reach the bay. For the bit of the wave that does hit the tiny openning of the Delaware Bay, if would have to work about 40 miles north (one 90 degree turn) then hang a shapr left into the Potomac (another 90 degree turn) and then move 30 miles inland towards DC. Sorry, I don't think DC is in much danger. Ocean City, sure. Annapolis, maybe. Baltimore, possibly. DC, I just don't think so.witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
