Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
58.
1868, April 2, 15 h 40 min.
A destructive earthquake and tsunami occurred with source to the south or south-
east of island Hawaii, which was manifested as lasting (2-3 min) long-period oscil-
lations.
A vessel, that happened to be in the source area had its jib-boom broken by a blow
from the water.
In Punalu'u immediately after the earthquake, or even at the same time as
the earthquake, the ocean became very agitated, 'as if an enormous amount of red-
hot lava had been poured into it at a certain distance from the shore'. The water
boiled and frantically tossed about in all directions.
59.
1903, October, 5, noon.
On the English vessel 'Ormsry', approaching the western coast of Hawaii Island,
it was noticed, that the ocean 'started to boil', as if powerful sources were in action
under the water surface. The temperature increased noticeably. The vessel received
a blow, as if from the tidal wave travelling from the coast, and it was turned stern
first. On October 6 the Mauna Loa volcano threw up a column of smoke; maybe
lava also poured out.
As it was correctly noted in reports compiled in Honolulu, here, most likely, it
was not a tsunami that took place, but a seaquake or convection flows.
60.
1903, November 24.
In Punalu'u the ocean started moving. On the water surface, that had been calm,
there suddenly appeared waves lasting 10 min; their origin was inexplicable. At the
same moment a black column of unusual dimensions rose above the Mauna Loa
Volcano.
Several not very striking, but typical, phenomena are described in the Pacific
Tsunami Catalogue [Soloviev et al. (1986)], which embraces the period from 1969
up to 1982 and contains information on 85 events. In Appendix 3 to this catalogue
there are Addenda to the 'Catalogue of tsunamis on the West coast of the Pacific
Ocean' [Soloviev, Go (1974)].
61.
1977, August 19.
A catastrophic earthquake on the south of Sumbawa Island embraced a wide
region—from the southern coast of Indonesia to the north-western coast of
Australia.
It was unusual that during the period between the origination of the earthquake
and the tsunami arrival the inhabitants of the villages on Sumbawa and Lombok
Islands heard three sounds similar to explosions, with intervals between them from
several seconds up to 1 min and more. Nearly in each village it was said that the wa-
ter became black, some people mentioned an increase of temperature and an un-
pleasant smell.
62.
1920, February 2, 21 h 12 min.
A very strong earthquake took place on Gasmata Island (the south of New
Britain). Its strength amounted to about 8-9, and it lasted for about 1 min 10 s.
In Gasmata, after the main shock the water left the harbour in a rapid stream
through the main entrance toward the sea, but did not return, as a result of which
the tides were 50-60 cm lower than the previously. Much dead fish was left on the
