PMEL Scientists Model Japan Tsunami

Research models developed at PMEL’s NOAA Center for Tsunami Research and installed at NOAA Tsunami Warning Centers accurately predicted the wave arrival time within 15 minutes for Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. West Coast during the Honshu tsunami event on March 11.  The 9.0 magnitude earthquake was detected by a Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART®) 3 minutes after the earthquake and the tsunami was measured 25 minutes later.

For more information on this tsunami event, including colorful maps, wave height information for U.S. beaches, and a YouTube animation please visit the Honshu Event Page.