Major tsunami damage in N Japan after 8.9 quake

[seahorse513]

Prayers going out to the people in Japan and surrounding areas!!

[Revolution]

My God. To wake up, and see this is devastating. From what I heard on Rush's show, it mostly impacted the manufacturing industry in Japan. That's goiing to really hurt.

Prayers to all affected in Japan.

[namvet]

ok im back. years ago i saw a NATGEO doc special that showed 2 ships rolled over by Tsunmai's hundreds of miles from shore. 1 was a container and the other a freighter. that's what im basing this on

[MP_Sarge]

I'm thinking either the Nat Geo documentary left out a significant detail [perhaps that the ships were immediately adjacent to the source of the tsunami at its inception], were wrong in their description of how far from shallow water the ships were, or you're mis-remembering the clip details.

[namvet]

I'm thinking either the Nat Geo documentary left out a significant detail [perhaps that the ships were immediately adjacent to the source of the tsunami at its inception], were wrong in their description of how far from shallow water the ships were, or you're mis-remembering the clip details.

perhaps you should contact NATGEO. it was their program.

[MP_Sarge]

perhaps you should contact NATGEO. it was their program.

I'm actually trying to find it now.
In the meantime, Nat Geo says this about tsunamis:

A tsunami may be less than a foot (30 centimeters) in height on the surface of the open ocean, which is why they are not noticed by sailors. But the powerful shock wave of energy travels rapidly through the ocean as fast as a commercial jet. Once a tsunami reaches shallow water near the coast it is slowed down. The top of the wave moves faster than the bottom, causing the sea to rise dramatically.

NOAA advises that since tsunami wave activity is imperceptible in the open ocean, vessels should not return to port if they are at sea and a tsunami warning has been issued for the area. Tsunamis can cause rapid changes in water level and unpredictable, dangerous currents in harbors and ports. Boat owners may want to take their vessels out to sea if there is time and they are allowed to do so by port authorities. People should not stay on their boats moored in harbors. Tsunamis often destroy boats and leave them wrecked above the normal waterline.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1228_041228_tsunami_2.html

[namvet]

I'm actually trying to find it now.

I hope you do

[debk]

Obama is on Fox now...

According to him....one aircraft carrier is already in Japan, and another is on it's way.

Not sure who's there already, but I bet the Lincoln is going unless there is already another one out to sea and closer.

He said another ship is being sent to the Marianas.

[seahorse513]

Obama is on Fox now...

According to him....one aircraft carrier is already in Japan, and another is on it's way.

Not sure who's there already, but I bet the Lincoln is going unless there is already another one out to sea and closer.

He said another ship is being sent to the Marianas.

What are the Naval ships expected to do in this situation??

[debk]

What are the Naval ships expected to do in this situation??

When my son was there before....one of the things the Lincoln (an aircraft carrier) can do is convert sea water to fresh water. They also provided man-power and helicopters to ferry in supplies.

The Navy hospital ship, Mercy (?) , was also sent.

[namvet]

Obama is on Fox now...

According to him....one aircraft carrier is already in Japan, and another is on it's way.

Not sure who's there already, but I bet the Lincoln is going unless there is already another one out to sea and closer.

He said another ship is being sent to the Marianas.

he wasted very little time on it

[namvet]

What are the Naval ships expected to do in this situation??

relief

[Evil_Conservative]

My heart goes out to all the victims of this earthquake and tsunami.  I just couldn't imagine ever having to deal with an 8.9 magnitude earthquake. 

[Rebel]

We'll get it much worse when La Palma slides into the Atlantic. Other than that, I think the Southeast is the safest place to live in the world. No volcanoes, a minute amount of F-5s, and no major earthquakes. ...and the winters are bearable. The Japanese have been dealing with these for centuries. No clue why they keep building up right next to the coastline. Then again, I can't understand why the Italians keeping expanding up the side of Vesuvius either.

[Gina]

My heart goes out to all the victims of this earthquake and tsunami.  I just couldn't imagine ever having to deal with an 8.9 magnitude earthquake. 

I watched a video and they (Japanese) were so calm during it.  They were more worried about their merchandise.  It was amazing how calm they were.  I would be 

[Evil_Conservative]

I watched a video and they (Japanese) were so calm during it.  They were more worried about their merchandise.  It was amazing how calm they were.  I would be  

I saw the videos too.  They are used to earthquakes, but really?  An 8.9!  If I dealt with earthquakes my whole life, I'd shrug at most of them... except something as strong as this morning.

Those aftershocks are very strong too.  Now Crescent City, CA is getting up to six feet waves.  Just crazy to think California can get hit by a tsunami that originally started just off shore from Japan.  

Scary.  

[namvet]

I saw the videos too.  They are used to earthquakes, but really?  An 8.9!  If I dealt with earthquakes my whole life, I'd shrug at most of them... except something as strong as this morning.

Those aftershocks are very strong too.  Now Crescent City, CA is getting up to six feet waves.  Just crazy to think California can get hit by a tsunami that originally started just off shore from Japan.  

Scary.  

Fox reported an 8 ft wave that hit Crescent city. boats in the harbor destroyed and and some buildings as well. also an unconfirmed 2nd wave

they also reported a reactor leak in Japan. apporx 1000 dead and 80,000 missing

[MP_Sarge]

Reactor leak, or potential reactor leak if they can't start cooling the rods?

EDIT:

Apparently, they've opted to intentionally release some radioactive steam to prevent the overheating and catastrophic meltdown.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/03/11/1579741/utility-reports-fire-at-power.html

TOKYO — Japanese authorities will release slightly radioactive vapor to ease pressure at nuclear reactor whose cooling system failed.

[namvet]

Reactor leak, or potential reactor leak if they can't start cooling the rods?

fox tv reported it as a leak. but this just popped up on their site

Japan Evacuates Thousands of Residents Near Nuke Plant

TOKYO -- Authorities say the pressure is rising at a nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan after its cooling system failed.

Japan's nuclear safety agency says pressure inside the reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant has risen to 1.5 times the level considered normal. To reduce the pressure, slightly radioactive vapor may be released.

The agency said the radioactive element in the vapor would not affect the environment or human health.

Japan has issued an evacuation order to about 3,000 residents living near the plant. The government also issued a state of emergency at the power plant.

The agency says plant workers are scrambling to restore cooling water supply at the plant but there is no prospect for an immediate success.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/11/japan-issues-emergency-nuke-plant-leak/#

[BlueStateSaint]

There's reports of an earthquake in Central Japan which is a 6.6 . . .

[Evil_Conservative]

Just heard on fox, USGS reports Japan quake ripped hole 150 miles long, 50 miles across into the Earth's crest.

[Evil_Conservative]

There's reports of an earthquake in Central Japan which is a 6.6 . . .

Another aftershock.

[bijou]

Tsunami: Crescent City harbor destroyed; 4 people swept into sea, 1 feared dead

Eight-foot waves from the Japan tsunami destroyed much of Crescent City harbor, battered boats, closed the 101 Freeway and left one person missing.

KDRV-TV reported that four people were washed out to sea Friday. Three were hurt and one is feared dead.

Local residents reported that about three dozen boats were "crushed" in the harbor and that surging waters significantly damaged or destroyed most of the docks. Ocean water surging up Elk Creek north of the harbor reportedly lapped up to front doors of the community's cultural center. ...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/crescent-city-harbor-destroyed-people-swept-into-sea.html

[BlueStateSaint]

There's something on Drudge:  KYODO:  88,000 REPORTED MISSING

 

[NHSparky]

As long as they keep the core covered, it's all good.  The major nuclide of concern during Rx operations is N-16, which has a half-life of 7.1 SECONDS, meaning after the reactor shuts down, the activity in the coolant water drops significantly in a very short period of time.

I'd be interested in seeing where the primary leak occured and why the primary reliefs didn't pick up as they should have.