stock here, this even made the Local News. I am amazed anyone is paying attention LOL
EQ in this area are extremely rare, 19 in 110 years, Sometimes there is a group of 3 in a 2 or 3 year period.
stock here: the rich detail north of Molokai was from when 1/3 of Molokai collapsed leaving multi thousand feet sea walls that exist today.
Let’s talk about the Tsunami generated….
The massive landslide event that caused one-third of Molokaʻi to collapse into the ocean likely generated a significant tsunami, though exact measurements are difficult to determine due to its occurrence approximately 1 to 1.5 million years ago. Here’s what we know:
The Landslide and Its Tsunami
Event Description:
The collapse, known as the Wailau Landslide, involved the northern flank of Molokaʻi breaking off and sliding into the ocean.
This catastrophic event created the famous sea cliffs on Molokaʻi's northern shore, which are among the tallest in the world.
Volume of Material:
The landslide displaced an estimated 5,000 cubic kilometers (about 1,200 cubic miles) of rock and debris into the ocean.
The debris field extends more than 120 miles (200 km) northward across the ocean floor.
Tsunami Generation:
Such a large-scale displacement of material would have triggered a mega-tsunami, potentially reaching heights of hundreds of meters near the landslide zone.
Tsunamis from events like this could devastate surrounding areas and travel vast distances across the Pacific Ocean.Estimated Tsunami Size
Local Impact:
Near the collapse zone, tsunami waves might have reached 500 meters (1,640 feet) or more in height, depending on the speed and volume of the material sliding into the ocean.
Regional Impact:
Waves from similar prehistoric landslides in Hawaiʻi (e.g., on the Big Island) have been modeled to reach 50-100 meters (165-330 feet) in neighboring islands and still cause measurable effects thousands of miles away.Evidence of the Tsunami
Geological Clues:
Deposits of marine sediments and coral fragments high above sea level on islands in the Pacific point to ancient tsunami events caused by landslides like this.
Hawaiian Archipelago:
The Hawaiian Islands’ history of volcanic activity and landslides makes it a hotspot for studying ancient mega-tsunamis.Comparison to Modern Tsunamis
For context, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (caused by a 9.1 earthquake) produced wave heights of 30 meters (100 feet) in some areas. The Wailau Landslide tsunami would have been far larger, given the immense displacement of material.
Conclusion
The Wailau Landslide almost certainly produced one of the largest tsunamis in Earth’s history, with local wave heights potentially exceeding 500 meters and widespread impacts across the Pacific Ocean. Though we lack precise measurements due to its prehistoric timing, the event serves as a stark reminder of the geologic power of volcanic islands and landslides.
You said:
I wonder if early humans in africa or Europe would have encountered this tsunami, would it reach them
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
It’s possible that early humans in Africa or Europe could have encountered tsunamis generated by massive Hawaiian landslides, but the effects would depend on several factors, including the energy of the tsunami, the distance from Hawaiʻi, and the geography of the coastlines.
Could the Molokaʻi Tsunami Reach Africa or Europe?
Tsunami Travel Distance:
Tsunamis can travel vast distances across the ocean at speeds of up to 500-600 mph (800-1,000 km/h).
The Hawaiian Islands are approximately:
18,000 km (11,000 miles) from Africa's eastern coast.
Slightly farther from Europe.
A mega-tsunami triggered by a landslide as massive as the Wailau Landslide could cross the Pacific Ocean, round the southern tip of Africa, and enter the Atlantic.
Energy Dissipation:
As tsunamis propagate across oceans, their energy dissipates over distance. By the time such a tsunami reached the coastlines of Africa or Europe, it would likely have diminished in height and intensity. However, given the scale of the event, it might still have produced measurable and potentially dangerous waves.
Geographic Amplification:
Narrow bays, river deltas, or inlets can amplify tsunami waves, making them much larger locally. If a diminished wave reached a region with such geography, it could still cause significant flooding and damage.Would Early Humans Have Encountered It?
Timing:
The Wailau Landslide occurred approximately 1 to 1.5 million years ago, during the Lower Pleistocene epoch.
Early humans (e.g., Homo erectus) were present in Africa and parts of Eurasia at this time. Some may have lived near coasts and could theoretically have been affected by the event.
Possible Effects:
If the tsunami reached Africa’s east coast, it might have caused flooding, disruption of ecosystems, and displacement of coastal populations.
Evidence of this would likely be hard to find today due to the passage of time, coastal erosion, and sediment deposition.Prehistoric Evidence of Tsunamis
While direct evidence of the Wailau Landslide tsunami in Africa or Europe is unlikely, other prehistoric tsunamis have left traces:
Landslide Tsunamis:
Similar events have occurred in other volcanic islands, such as the Canary Islands, with evidence of massive waves impacting nearby continents.
Mega-Tsunami Deposits:
Sediment layers far inland or high above sea level in coastal areas sometimes point to ancient tsunamis.Conclusion
It’s plausible that early humans in Africa or Europe might have experienced diminished but still significant effects from the tsunami caused by the Wailau Landslide. However, the exact impact would depend on how far the wave’s energy propagated and how it interacted with the geography of coastal regions. While direct evidence is scarce, it’s an intriguing possibility in understanding the interaction between prehistoric geology and early human populations.