Tsunami

[Tim Collins]

Any idea as to how this morning's tsunami may have effected Niku?

[Chris Johnson]

Until someone goes there there isn't a way of knowing.  However as I understand it a Tsunami is just a large swell in the ocean until it hits the continental shelf.  Then the kinetic energy in the swell becomes the Tsunami wave.  With Niku the sean sea mount should not create that effect.

The BBC in the UK has published this map of the Tsunami Tsunami forecast model

Not sure that it helps much  :)

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

Any idea as to how this morning's tsunami may have effected Niku?

Boiling down perhaps a dozen e-mails on the EPAC mailing list, waves 7' to 11' above normal may have hit Niku from the Northwest.  Folks are guessing that the damage will be minimal due to the depth and steep pitch of the sea mount.  But no one will know for certain until someone or something (a satellite, perhaps) does some inspection.

[Chris Johnson]

Would that mean the 7 site would be protected?

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

Would that mean the 7 site would be protected?

Theoretically, yes.

But strange things do happen, so the facts cannot be derived by logical deduction.

"One experiment is worth 10,000 expert opinions."

[Walter Runck]

Maybe the wave tossed the Electra back up on the reef!  Perhaps some other nifty surprises for Niku 7?

[Chris Johnson]

Maybe the wave tossed the Electra back up on the reef!  Perhaps some other nifty surprises for Niku 7?

Probably not, looks like it may have been (fingers crossed) a non event for the islands of the pacific?

ABC News

Radio New Zealand International

[Dan Swift]

A 7 or 8 foot wave, even though not crested, hitting at or near high tide could really do some washing. 
With luck it may have even uncovered as much as it covered some history.  7 Site is on the opposite side, but I would imagine some pretty good sized waves came through the inlet and straight down the lagoon toward the area.  But I also understand it is substantially above sea level (?) so no 'surge' probably touched it.  Maybe some new clues will be found on the NW side of the island after these strong (high) waves.  TBD.

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

... Maybe some new clues will be found on the NW side of the island after these strong (high) waves. ...

The ocean, like the Lord, giveth and taketh away.

2-2-v-1, a most tantalizing piece of Alclad aluminum, seems to show some deformation from wave action.

[James G. Stoveken]

Marty,
While reading the Wiki information for artifact 2-2-V-1 I noticed a typo.  The Niku IIII expedition is cited and linked but I believe that Niku II is the correct expedition.

Please feel free to delete this post from the thread.

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

While reading the Wiki information for artifact 2-2-V-1 I noticed a typo.  The Niku IIII expedition is cited and linked but I believe that Niku II is the correct expedition.

Thanks!

Please feel free to delete this post from the thread.

Not necessary.  Corrections are always welcome!  :P

[Mark Petersen]

Unfortunately it looks like Midway got clobbered:

"Spit Island, about 15 acres, was completely overrun. The tsunami washed over 60 percent of Eastern Island, an islet of nearly 370 acres. Waves also covered 20 percent of Sand Island, the largest of the three at almost 1,200 acres."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110316/ap_on_re_us/us_tsunami_midway_seabirds

Let's hope that Niku is spared.

[Tom Swearengen]

anyone heard about Samoa, of Fiji? That might be a godd indicator, since the brunt of the wave was going southeast from Japan, towards South America.
OR---hack into a satelilte at look.
Tom

[Chris Johnson]

anyone heard about Samoa, of Fiji? That might be a good indicator, since the brunt of the wave was going southeast from Japan, towards South America.
OR---hack into a satelilte at look.
Tom

Tom

http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/mixed-success-for-se-asias-japan-tsunami-alert-response

bottom of the report had OXFAM saying there has been little effect but......as there isn't anyone on NIKU we won't know till bext year.  Just have to keep our fingers crossed.

[Mark Petersen]

This is off topic, but there are some interesting videos being posted on Youtube that shows the Tsunami hitting California. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC8xecTjzvA&feature=related

Here is one at Dana Point not far from me, the current must be what 20+ knots?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gw54iSiRH8

Then the surge changes direction...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQazlUQivps&feature=related