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the tsunami waves across the Pacific. The modeled propagation times for Hawaii, the
U.S. west coast, and South America fall within 2.5% of observed values, showing
arrivals from 3 to 15 minutes earlier than the observed arrival times. NOAA also
predicted initial wave amplitudes with good accuracy.
Figure16.March11,2011GreatEastJapantsunamiglobalmaximumamplitude
plot(Source:NOAA2011)
Because of reflections and refraction in the sea bed bathymetry, Figure 16 shows
significant wave energy persisted for hours over the width of the entire region. The
figure shows visible areas of relatively higher wave amplitude traveling to the coast
of California, propagating north and south of the Hawaiian Islands, and continuing on
toward South America. Effects of the tsunami were also observed in Antarctica
(Brunt et al. 2011) where calving of the Sulzberger Ice shelf (longitude 150.13° W)
was attributed to the long period motion triggered by the tsunami waves. Wave
gauges at Cape Roberts, at longitude 163.7° E, recorded values of up to 14 cm, which
agree fairly well with model predictions. Modeled values at the ice shelf were
somewhat higher at 30 cm. Brunt et al. also attributed icebergs observed in the
Southern Ocean after the 1868 Arica earthquake to similar causes, and emphasized
the global effects of tsunami activity.
 
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