Jump to content
  • Member Statistics

    17,606
    Total Members
    7,904
    Most Online
    ArlyDude
    Newest Member
    ArlyDude
    Joined

9.0 Earthquake strikes Japan


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 1.6k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Alot of quakes there!

Several big ones as well there.

First waves slamming into the west coast, should see more and more reports in the next hour or two working southwards down the west coast.

Hope everyone stays safe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Much ado about nothing. My prayers go out to the Japanese people but I really didn't expect 10 foot surges in Hawaii and 6 foot surges in San Fran.

I agree with this..

Something needs to change in the criteria or something because the hype was completely ridiculous considering what actually happened. It sounds like they pretty much got what they expected in HI and I'm not sure that should warrant a "tsunami warning." I'm not trying to give any jazz to the forecasters for what they have done over the past 24 hours.. rather suggesting that we re-evaluate the whole tsunami watch/warning criteria system. Also, I think it's completely understandable that the system isn't refined yet because this is still a relatively young area of our science that we're still learning about.

But how many times do we have to go through this in HI before we re-evaluate? Has there ever been an instance where an earthquake that far away from HI has caused major problems in HI? And tsunami warnings for the west coast of the US? Really? I understand the "better safe than sorry" attitude but at the same time you can't over-do it to the point of patronizing the public until they don't take you seriously anymore. I think we have gotten close to that lately with TOR/SVR warnings that often don't verify. Obviously it was a good move to change hail criteria to 1" so at least we're making progress there, but I'm telling you I hear all the time from people that don't take these things seriously because they're over-issued.

I'm in the broadcast sector and the most important part of our job is making information consumable for the public. I think that's something that NWS has some trouble with in general, but it seems like they've been making strides lately to get better. We need to understand that when people hear "tsunami warning" they instantly think of what happened in 2004 or last night in Japan. There needs to be some kind of lower level advisory with different language.. like the difference between "wind advisory" and "high wind warning." One thing I've learned in this business is that (in general) you shouldn't just assume everyone is completely stupid.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with this..

But how many times do we have to go through this in HI before we re-evaluate? Has there ever been an instance where an earthquake that far away from HI has caused major problems in HI? And tsunami warnings for the west coast of the US? Really? I understand the "better safe than sorry" attitude but at the same time you can't over-do it to the point of patronizing the public until they don't take you seriously anymore. I think we have gotten close to that lately with TOR/SVR warnings that often don't verify. Obviously it was a good move to change hail criteria to 1" so at least we're making progress there, but I'm telling you I hear all the time from people that don't take these things seriously because they're over-issued.

:facepalm:

http://www.cbsnews.c...in6250359.shtml

1946, 1964 basin wide tsunamis. 46 killed over 100 in Hilo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with this..

Something needs to change in the criteria or something because the hype was completely ridiculous considering what actually happened. It sounds like they pretty much got what they expected in HI and I'm not sure that should warrant a "tsunami warning." I'm not trying to give any jazz to the forecasters for what they have done over the past 24 hours.. rather suggesting that we re-evaluate the whole tsunami watch/warning criteria system. Also, I think it's completely understandable that the system isn't refined yet because this is still a relatively young area of our science that we're still learning about.

But how many times do we have to go through this in HI before we re-evaluate? Has there ever been an instance where an earthquake that far away from HI has caused major problems in HI? And tsunami warnings for the west coast of the US? Really? I understand the "better safe than sorry" attitude but at the same time you can't over-do it to the point of patronizing the public until they don't take you seriously anymore. I think we have gotten close to that lately with TOR/SVR warnings that often don't verify. Obviously it was a good move to change hail criteria to 1" so at least we're making progress there, but I'm telling you I hear all the time from people that don't take these things seriously because they're over-issued.

I'm in the broadcast sector and the most important part of our job is making information consumable for the public. I think that's something that NWS has some trouble with in general, but it seems like they've been making strides lately to get better. We need to understand that when people hear "tsunami warning" they instantly think of what happened in 2004 or last night in Japan. There needs to be some kind of lower level advisory with different language.. like the difference between "wind advisory" and "high wind warning." One thing I've learned in this business is that (in general) you shouldn't just assume everyone is completely stupid.

I agree with the concern of desensitizing the public to these situations. However, if some of the media (I stress some, as there are wonderful broadcast people out there) would better report what the actual forecast is versus crazy hype, then that would go a long way in 'managing expectations'. We deal with this with storm surge on the Gulf Coast. A lot of people cannot relate to numbers. They simply want to know what those numbers mean to them and how it will impact them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with this..

Something needs to change in the criteria or something because the hype was completely ridiculous considering what actually happened. It sounds like they pretty much got what they expected in HI and I'm not sure that should warrant a "tsunami warning." I'm not trying to give any jazz to the forecasters for what they have done over the past 24 hours.. rather suggesting that we re-evaluate the whole tsunami watch/warning criteria system. Also, I think it's completely understandable that the system isn't refined yet because this is still a relatively young area of our science that we're still learning about.

But how many times do we have to go through this in HI before we re-evaluate? Has there ever been an instance where an earthquake that far away from HI has caused major problems in HI? And tsunami warnings for the west coast of the US? Really? I understand the "better safe than sorry" attitude but at the same time you can't over-do it to the point of patronizing the public until they don't take you seriously anymore. I think we have gotten close to that lately with TOR/SVR warnings that often don't verify. Obviously it was a good move to change hail criteria to 1" so at least we're making progress there, but I'm telling you I hear all the time from people that don't take these things seriously because they're over-issued.

I'm in the broadcast sector and the most important part of our job is making information consumable for the public. I think that's something that NWS has some trouble with in general, but it seems like they've been making strides lately to get better. We need to understand that when people hear "tsunami warning" they instantly think of what happened in 2004 or last night in Japan. There needs to be some kind of lower level advisory with different language.. like the difference between "wind advisory" and "high wind warning." One thing I've learned in this business is that (in general) you shouldn't just assume everyone is completely stupid.

I'm not sure what you can do since the areas that would be affected most(like Japan in this case) by huge waves, there wouldn't be enough time to issue a warning anyway.

it's 1am in HI and what we were seeing on the live shots was one little area and not on the NW shores

from another forum

major coastal damages all along Kona coast

with first light we’ll know more

surges continuing , some roads closed

lots of debris on coastal roads , many ocean side homes and properties will be greatly affected .

100 ft inland penetrations in some places and waves heights to 12 ft.

<BR clear=all>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure what you can do since the areas that would be affected most(like Japan in this case) by huge waves, there wouldn't be enough time to issue a warning anyway.

it's 1am in HI and what we were seeing on the live shots was one little area and not on the NW shores

from another forum

major coastal damages all along Kona coast

with first light we’ll know more

surges continuing , some roads closed

lots of debris on coastal roads , many ocean side homes and properties will be greatly affected .

100 ft inland penetrations in some places and waves heights to 12 ft.

<BR clear=all>

As with so many disasters, the first reports of 'not much happening' turn out to be wishful thinking.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As with so many disasters, the first reports of 'not much happening' turn out to be wishful thinking.

Some day people will learn this. You know, because where the bad stuff happens, power is out or infrastructure is damaged or people are too busy reacting to bad stuff happening to race to Twitter.

You'd think the media in particular would have learned from the Katrina "New Orleans dodged a bullet" statements.

It takes time for reports to come in, and the first ones come in from the places least affected.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

However, if some of the media (I stress some, as there are wonderful broadcast people out there) would better report what the actual forecast is versus crazy hype, then that would go a long way in 'managing expectations'. We deal with this with storm surge on the Gulf Coast. A lot of people cannot relate to numbers. They simply want to know what those numbers mean to them and how it will impact them.

BINGO! Very well said :thumbsup: Same deal with the rivers around here...

There are a ton of over-hypers out there and to be fair, a lot of places that management has their nose so deep in it that they're almost telling mets what to say (always over-hype) but for me, if it's my face on a forecast, you're gonna get what I think is going to happen whether management likes it or not and whether it worries people or puts them at ease.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As with so many disasters, the first reports of 'not much happening' turn out to be wishful thinking.

Yep so true, often it takes a while for the true damage to filter through in a big disaster. Just gotta hope the fact Japan is well prepared for this and there has been some decent warning time will prevent too great a loss of life...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since the surge heights were "spot on", then why issue warnings, advisories would have been sufficient. The more we desensitize the public, the worse it'll be when our great quake comes

The issue is that wave heights are often not spot on, because every earthquake is different. This one for instance seems to have directed its energy just south of the Hawaiian Islands.

And advisories, while in this case with an overnight tsunami, may have been sufficient. A daytime, nice weather day would send a message of less dangerous than a warning. When the draw down and run up you saw creates chaotic currents that even locals wouldn't anticipate. Many deaths can occur from underestimating the power of even a small rise in water. To me an advisory would still have to mean stay out of the water anyway, period. So why not stick with a warning, because they evacuate based on forecast wave heights not the warning itself.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...