West Coast TE Peeps.... [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

SadieKate

03-11-2011, 07:16 AM

3 - 5 foot waves predicted. Business as usual.

For your reading pleasure. Remedial Tsunami Waves 101. ;)

4. How are tsunami waves different from normal ocean waves?
Both normal ocean waves and tsunami waves can be described by their period (time between two waves), wavelength (horizontal distance between waves), amplitude (wave height), and speed. Normal ocean waves are caused by the wind, weather, tides, and currents. They have periods of 5-20 seconds, wavelengths of 100-200 meters (300-600 feet), and travel at speeds of 8-100 km per hour (5-60 miles per hour). Tsunami waves have much longer periods of 10 minutes to 2 hours, wavelengths of 100-500 km (60-300 miles), and travel at speeds of 800-1000 km per hour (500-600 miles per hour). The amplitude of normal waves and tsunami waves are similar in deep ocean water, but near shore, tsunami waves can be much larger with heights of 10 meters (32 feet) or more. Furthermore, normal ocean waves only involve motion of the uppermost layer of the water, but tsunami waves involve movement of the entire water column from surface to seafloor. This means a normal wave is like a small ripple on top of the ocean, but tsunamis are like the entire ocean getting deeper all at once.

http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/faq.php#4

maillotpois

03-11-2011, 07:19 AM

Good stuff - interesting. Even so, the point is by the time it gets here, its not expected to be particularly hazardous. We'll see. It's apparently supposed to start now. People are crowded up on Grizzly Peak and Skyline drive to "watch", which is ludicrous.

SadieKate

03-11-2011, 07:19 AM

Fortunately, I'm waaay inland and in high ground, but the news is reporting waves are starting to hit Southern Oregon.

Hawaii is starting to see the wave train pushing water inland.

Eden

03-11-2011, 07:44 AM

Apparently not much in the way of worries on the WA coast - waves a foot and under for most places, probably won't be much noticeable, but they have evacuated some very low lying areas just in case. I've also heard a little jut out on the Oregon coast has been cleared - I'm guessing even though the waves coming in won't be high, they may swamp the area.

I'm more concerned over all the poor people in Japan.... looks like it was pretty bad over there... (I think we have one or two TErs over there)

Our NOAA radio went off last night - good thing it wasn't an emergency in our immediate area... DH managed to sleep right through the racket....

Biciclista

03-11-2011, 09:15 AM

Our NOAA radio went off last night - good thing it wasn't an emergency in our immediate area... DH managed to sleep right through the racket....

what do you mean "our Noaa radio went off"

SadieKate

03-11-2011, 10:59 AM

what do you mean "our Noaa radio went off"

I'm guessing you mean "what is a weather radio?"

Anyone who has lived in tornado alley knows about them. It's a dedicated radio that turns on with NOAA weather alerts.

http://us.oregonscientific.com/cat-Weather-sub-Weather-Emergency-Alert-Systems-.html?partner=Google&gclid=CMfE7Pelx6cCFZJe7AodRzWFiQ

KnottedYet

03-11-2011, 11:03 AM

Our NOAA radio went off last night - good thing it wasn't an emergency in our immediate area... DH managed to sleep right through the racket....

I used to have a NOAA radio, I need to get one again. (got a Red Cross 3-day EP kit in the trunk of my car, it's a good kit, I recommend it as well)

Feeling bad for the folks in Crescent City, CA. They're getting hit pretty hard while the media is full of armchair quarterbacks poo-pooing the warnings and advisories. Harbor destroyed, 34 boats destroyed, and the wave train is apparently building. And Santa Cruz isn't having a good day, either.

Doesn't help that the tide is coming in now, too.

Sounds like the underwater topography is what makes tsunamis so hard on Crescent City.

I wish I remembered more from my oceanography classes.

ETA: the photo of the first of the tsunami waves coming into San Francisco Bay (Emeryville) is pretty impressive. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inberkeley/detail?entry_id=84822&tsp=1

Trek420

03-11-2011, 11:08 AM

I'm more concerned over all the poor people in Japan.... looks like it was pretty bad over there... (I think we have one or two TErs over there)

+1. The devestation looks astonishing. Anyone here know where that shut off button is on their nuke plant? A reminder to us on the "ring of fire" now that's what an 8.9 does :( The Loma Prietta was not "the big one" :o

Duck on Wheels is staying with me while a visiting scholar at Cal :D I think we'll sit down and formulate an emergency plan; rotate the spare water, move the deck chairs on the Titanic :rolleyes:

Blueberry

03-11-2011, 11:45 AM

In all seriousness - nuke plants don't have an off button. Once you "stop" them, you still have to make sure they cool for hours - otherwise, you can have big problems. From what I hear, they're having issues with some of the back up systems that cool the cores....scary stuff.

ETA: Of course, I'm worried about our friends in Japan too. I was bleary eyed when I posted, and knew about the tsunami warnings, but not the quake that caused them....

crazycanuck

03-11-2011, 12:03 PM

Some of my former workmates (and students) in Japan have been affected by the Quake.

One dude's wife n kids (lives in Fujisawa) were @ Shinjuku station on thier way home & were stranded. They spent the night in Yokohama.

Another's family is in Sendai & are unable to contact them.

It goes on...

Biciclista

03-11-2011, 12:08 PM

from the news: Tsunami waves up to 1.7 feet hit Washington coast

badger

03-11-2011, 12:26 PM

nothing here in Vancouver, but got word from my cousin in Japan that him and his family in a small port town are okay. Apparently they had a "tsunami" the height of 90cm.

KnottedYet

03-11-2011, 12:46 PM

So far 5 "Looky-loos" have been washed out to sea from the West Coast.

Gotta get up close and personal with the tsunami surge, cuz everyone knows the media is just over-reacting and the government is lying and hey, we all know we see waves bigger than 2 feet all the time, so this tsunami warning stuff means nothing and besides we're 8,000 miles from Japan and let's get a six-pack and go to the beach!

4 people were rescued. The body of the 5th has not been found.

C'mon, kids. Keep your buns off the beaches today. :mad:

Trek420

03-11-2011, 01:07 PM

In all seriousness - nuke plants don't have an off button. Once you "stop" them, you still have to make sure they cool for hours - otherwise, you can have big problems. From what I hear, they're having issues with some of the back up systems that cool the cores....scary stuff.

Yes, I know there's no off button. ;) Was just making light of a very serious event. The main thing is thoughts and prayers to everyone, especially those waiting to hear from family.

Eden

03-11-2011, 01:17 PM

what do you mean "our Noaa radio went off"

We have a NOAA weather radio - it mainly just sits there quietly, but if there is an alert, (usually weather related, but it will go off for Amber Alerts and area wide emergencies too) it beeps very obnoxiously - as it should as it is meant to get your attention then gives you the alert. I've only heard it go off a few times. Two have been Amber Alerts, a couple times for high wind, once for "severe winter weather" and last night to give the tsunami warning. There's a button you can push to get the current weather forecast too.

jelee1311

03-11-2011, 01:20 PM

My mom and stepdad live in Rockaway Beach, Oregon,and have had no major problems,thank goodness. Praying for people in Japan and everywhere that have been affected by this distaster.

Trek420

03-11-2011, 01:38 PM

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/c0001xgp/us/index.html

Aggie_Ama

03-11-2011, 03:36 PM

We have a NOAA weather radio - it mainly just sits there quietly, but if there is an alert, (usually weather related, but it will go off for Amber Alerts and area wide emergencies too) it beeps very obnoxiously - as it should as it is meant to get your attention then gives you the alert. I've only heard it go off a few times. Two have been Amber Alerts, a couple times for high wind, once for "severe winter weather" and last night to give the tsunami warning. There's a button you can push to get the current weather forecast too.

In Texas we have warnings every other day. Right now it is a red flag warning for high winds and dry area. The weather alarms are a curse but necessary....

To think Japan is on the cutting edge of earthquake proofing and to still see the devastation is insane. It was almost more than I could take. Prays/good vibes to everyone in Japan and worldwide.

SadieKate

03-11-2011, 03:50 PM

I was yelling at the TV this morning when the news anchor starting implying that the impending peril had imploded when the first wave hadn't shown up within 20 mins of estimated arrival. Sorry, but what a dipsh!t.

Tsunami waves do not behave like normal waves. They are not surfable. They are not to be played with. And they are hard to track in deep water. And there can be a lot spaced across hours.

This is readily available info. Obviously, brains were not a requirement for his position.

Eden

03-11-2011, 03:51 PM

Sometimes I wonder about my hubby.... when he sleeps, he sleeps hard... Not only did the weather radio fail to wake him up, this morning he had no memory whatsoever that when I came to bed I told him that the radio went off and gave a tsunami warning....

I've been watching the news. It looks so horrible along the coast. I don't think any amount of preparedness can stand up to the force of a big wave.... the best you can do is get people out of the way. It was good that the quake happened during the day - people were awake and alert, so it does sound like many people were able to get out or to a high building before the wave hit.

NbyNW

03-11-2011, 04:42 PM

Well it sounds like the big man (or woman) upstairs was looking out for my Dad today! He was supposed to stop in at Narita on his way to Taipei early this morning, and it sounds like the earthquake hit just about a half hour before his scheduled landing time. Apparently they were sent to a nearby military base to refuel and then got re-routed to Osaka. Crazy timing, but very glad he wasn't on the ground when things got exciting.

I have friends who are still waiting on news of family, friends and colleagues out of Sendai. Keeping fingers crossed.

bluejellybean

03-11-2011, 05:28 PM

I live in a tsunami zone in Canada...we've been on "advisory" all day but it hasn't advanced to a "warning"...thank god...I'm thinking about friends in Japan who I've lost touch with over the past few years and don't have their current emails...who knows what to come and where, things can happen at the blink of an eye.

shootingstar

03-11-2011, 06:15 PM

Hope you will be safe ...for a long time on west coast and your loved ones in Japan/eastern Asia.

Vancouver Island particularily on west coast side would the first hit area in the southern part of Canada.

bluejellybean

03-11-2011, 06:53 PM

this is definitely another nudge to get an emergency kit together!

Biciclista

03-11-2011, 06:57 PM

shootingstar

03-11-2011, 06:57 PM

Really, bluejellybean VAncovuer Island is quite vulnerable compared to City of vancouver or Seattle.

When I was vacationing near your side of Vancouver Island I stayed at a lovely bed 'n breakfast in Qualicum Beach --about 12 years ago. The guy was a retired provincial govn't bureaucrat in emergency planning.

He had his kit in the car and by his bed.

Trek420

03-11-2011, 07:11 PM

this is definitely another nudge to get an emergency kit together!

Buy it here! They'll need the funds. I'm getting at least another one. So far small one in the car, purse, teeny tiny kit in the commuter bike bag .. need one for home and another for work.

http://www.redcrossstore.org

Enough power to: devastate Japan, cross the Pacific, threaten Hawaii, more ocean, sweeeeeeze through the tiny opening in the San Francisco bay and ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdMDCLwblkY

Tokie

03-11-2011, 07:42 PM

Here in the Santa Barbara area we were on Tsunami "alert". My house is in the tsunami flood zone. So I thought about loading the 3 poodles into the car to spend the day in the covered parking at work, which is further inland. But the surge was only predicted to be a foot or so, and the beach here is down a bluff too - I think we are about 30 feet above sea level. So the dogs stayed home. I can tell you from the light traffic into work though that alot of people were spooked and stayed home. My girlfriend is in Osaka now visiting family. the earthquake there was almost imperceptible. But I expect that her flight home early next week may be delayed! So sorry for the destruction and loss of life. Tokie

shootingstar

03-11-2011, 07:49 PM

For reasons I can't fully explain, I felt really sad watching the aerial plane photos of the tsunami sweeping across...I can't imagine the terror and horror.

It was on CNN from a Japanese broadcasting statioin that aired it in silence with Japanese slow, mournful music...like a temple-like dirge.

It was probably the most effective footage. No dialogue was necessary.

This is just sustainable blog in Tokyo that I occasionally follow. Doesn't say much...which how much can one say when there is devastation not so far away. http://tokyogreenspace.com/

NbyNW

03-11-2011, 08:29 PM

My Dad was able to get on a flight out of Osaka this afternoon. I'm glad this didn't end up in him being stranded for multiple days!

Still can't wrap my mind around the devastation in the quake zone. It's a bit surreal.

shootingstar

03-11-2011, 08:41 PM

Lucky him.

Another earthquake had occurred.

Diagram of plates:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/earthquake-hotspots-in-the-ring-of-fire/article1939560/?from=1939748

It's just not a good sign when there have been several major earthquake disasters in past few years....Indonesia, NZ (just recently), Chile..

For the tsunami in Indonesia 1-2 yrs. ago, I was in touch with someone in Honolulu. She told me that in the evacuation, the traffic congestion..was alot. They went to high ground. The mood was abit ...even festive. Guess that's a coping mechanism.

Trek420

03-11-2011, 08:52 PM

Aftershocks: 6.8. 6.3, 7.1 .......

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/

shootingstar

03-11-2011, 09:08 PM

It feels very bizarre that someone read one of my blogs from Kobe, Japan about 12 hrs. ago. I realize they're far away...but one cannot help how they are touched personally in terms of people who they know who might be hurt or dead.

Our lives have more interconnections than we can possibly even imagine.

Koronin

03-11-2011, 10:38 PM

It's terrible what has happened to Japan.

Living on the east coast (NC) we bought a weather radio, well actually two. One that is plugged in and one that is fully battery powered for if/when the power goes out. I do have a plan for evac for a hurricane though. I have a friend in Raleigh who has told me as long as I can give her some notice she can have a bedroom prepared for us and our cats to stay with her for however long we need to. Never thought about an emergency kit. Guess because when we moved here I just figured if we had to go somewhere Raleigh should be safe from whatever might hit here.

smilingcat

03-12-2011, 07:37 AM

I kept on writing to post on this thread and kept on erasing. What can you say about natural disasters?

I'm deeply touched with all your comments, who wouldn't? I was on the phone with my mother several times yesterday. She is worried sick for her older brother. He is in his 80's my mother in her late 70's. My mother couldn't get her call through although my cousin in Kyushu managed to get her call through to my mother.

My uncle and his wife lives about 60 miles south of Sendai up in the mountain. Only thing we can do is wait. One good thing for my mother is that my sister lives only 5-10 minutes from her and both of them are helping each other in this difficult time.

Thank you for your kind words and kind thoughts,

Smilingcat

shootingstar

03-12-2011, 09:30 AM

My uncle and his wife lives about 60 miles south of Sendai up in the mountain. Only thing we can do is wait. One good thing for my mother is that my sister lives only 5-10 minutes from her and both of them are helping each other in this difficult time.

This would be very tough...to wait and hear of outcome.

channlluv

03-12-2011, 10:35 AM

Total non-event here in San Diego. My heart goes out to the people affected north of us, though. I agree that the news media were really downplaying the danger. Our beaches weren't closed and while there was a police cruiser going up and down warning people, no one was required to get out of the water or off the beach or boardwalk. Duh.

My brother and his wife and five-year-old daughter moved from the earthquake zone a month ago to the D.C. area.

I just can't even fathom the amount of devastation the people of Japan are facing right now. All those agricultural facilities gone, buildings destroyed, transportation hubs demolished...it's going to be a long time recovering for them.

Roxy

Trek420

03-12-2011, 11:21 AM

I was on the phone with my mother several times yesterday. She is worried sick for her older brother. He is in his 80's my mother in her late 70's. My mother couldn't get her call through although my cousin in Kyushu managed to get her call through to my mother.

It must be hard to wait for word. I can hardly imagine. :(

The phone system is probably overloaded. Lines and poles may be down, central offices damaged but the sytem is designed to re-route calls. In a disaster everyone picks up the phone right away. Cell and land line systems while robust are not meant to take that kind of load. The system IS though designed to shut down to "protect itself" leaving available trunk lines for first responders.

Please assure your Mom that's probably the technical reason why she can't get through and that her family is in our thoughts and prayers.

That's why it's recommended in a major disaster unless you or others nearby actually neeeeeeed emergency help stay off the phone. Don't call into the area, don't call out.

Instead if disaster strikes call 1 (one, uno, ichi ... ) person outside of your area. Call them. If dial tone is slow don't hang up, stay on the line it may pick up. Say you're ok or not ... that 1 person should have your emergency contacts. They make calls.

I've said this before and like the cobblers children not having shoes barely have my own emergency contacts but now I'm working on it.

limewave

03-12-2011, 01:48 PM

I was overwhelmed watching the coverage yesterday evening. All I could do was send up silent prayers. I kept going in and checking on my kids who were fast asleep during the commercials. And later DH and I fell asleep holding hands.

International Aid (http://www.internationalaid.org/) is down the road from us. We will most likely look to offer support through them.

Trek420

03-14-2011, 07:08 AM

The ALOHA FOR JAPAN t-shirt is available at FITTED as well as other fine local retailers in Hawai’i. The retail price for this t-shirt will be $20 and all profits will be donated towards Hawai’i’s Red Cross Foundation in support for the people of Japan. Lets help our friends and family in Japan in this great time of need.

These will be available for sale online Monday

http://www.fittedhawaii.com/hanahou/

Also available at:

BUTI-GROOVE HAWAII
500 Piikoi Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
808-589-2884

IN4MATION WARD WAREHOUSE
1050 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
808-597-1447

BAREFOOT LEAGUE
880 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96816
808-734-0200