Latest news with #NorthPacific
New York Times
an hour ago
- Climate
- New York Times
What to Know About the Pacific Tsunami
From Japan to Hawaii and California, people were tracking the effects of a tsunami after a powerful earthquake struck overnight in the North Pacific off the coast of Russia's Far East. Hawaii and parts of California spent hours under a tsunami warning, with officials urging residents to stay away from shorelines and seek shelter on higher ground. The waves first hit California around 1 a.m. local time. By Wednesday morning, many official tsunami warnings had been downgraded to advisories, with minimal damage and no reported deaths. Still, officials warned people to stay away from beaches and out of the water as Hawaii and parts of the California coast braced for what could be 24 hours of surging waves and tidal swells. Here's what to know: Where has the tsunami hit and what's next? Waves began arriving in Hawaii around 7:30 p.m. local time Tuesday evening, and first hit the coasts of Northern California and Washington State around 1 a.m. local time. A 3.6-foot wave was recorded in Crescent City, Calif., overnight, and a 5.7-foot wave reached Maui, Hawaii, late on Tuesday, the tallest recorded so far for this tsunami. Smaller surges hit parts of Alaska, which measured tsunami waves around a foot tall on Tuesday evening. Many beaches and shorelines across those areas were closed, and officials warned residents not to be lured into a false sense of security. What triggered this tsunami? An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's eastern coast in shallow waters of the North Pacific on Tuesday morning, causing significant aftershocks and damage to structures in Russia, and setting off a ripple of tsunami warnings from Japan to the California coast, as well as Central and Latin America. If the quake's magnitude is confirmed by scientists, it will be one of the largest ever recorded. What damage has the tsunami caused? As of early Wednesday morning Pacific time, damage in the United States was minimal after the first waves arrived in Hawaii and across the West Coast. In Hawaii, a tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory after officials said the biggest waves had likely passed and major flooding was not likely. In Oregon and California, officials urged residents to stay vigilant even as warnings were downgraded, saying that dangerous currents could still occur in the water, and waves could continue to surge through the night. In Russia, the earthquake damaged structures and caused cliff faces to collapse into the sea. Videos from the area showed homes and other structures shaking violently and buildings awash in seawater. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths caused by the tsunami so far. What should I do to prepare for a tsunami? The U.S. government provides tips for preparing for tsunamis. Among them: Know your community's evacuation plans and practice them ahead of time. Maps of tsunami inundation zones and evacuation routes that can guide your planning may be available for your area. At home and in other places where you spend time, 'you have to know your threat,' said Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade, a manager in the Caribbean office of the International Tsunami Information Center. Dave Snider, a tsunami warning coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, advised having 'multiple ways to receive emergency information.' In the United States, you may be able to receive emergency alerts, including information about tsunamis, through an app from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said. Alerts may also be available locally or on NOAA Weather Radio. What do I do during an earthquake or tsunami? During an earthquake, drop to the ground, cover your body to prevent injuries (by crawling under a table, for example) and hold on, according to the Earthquake Country Alliance. If you are notified that an earthquake may have set off a tsunami in your area, heed the instructions you are given. Move as high and as far inland as you can. But don't wait around for a notification if you notice something is amiss — even a couple of minutes can make a life-or-death difference, Ms. von Hillebrandt-Andrade said. 'You have to recognize the natural warning signs,' she said. 'If you feel an earthquake that is so strong that you can't stay on your feet and you live in a coastal area, you have to self-evacuate.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Evacuation orders across California and Alaska after massive earthquake sparks tsunami warning
A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in the North Pacific off Russia has triggered a wave of tsunami warnings and evacuation notices across Hawaii, Alaska, and along the U.S. West Coast. The earthquake struck Tuesday evening with its epicenter located about 78 miles east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. It is the strongest earthquake of the year and is believed to be among the six strongest quakes on record. The resulting waves first hit Japan's Hokkaido and Russia's Kuril Islands, before racing across the Pacific Ocean. Tsunami warnings were in effect for Hawaii, Alaska's Aleutian Islands, and parts of Northern California, while most of the West Coast was placed under a less severe tsunami advisory. The first waves reached Alaska and Hawaii early Wednesday morning, with other Western U.S. states bracing for impact. Here's what you need to know about how the tsunami could impact the U.S: Hawaii Just before 7.20 p.m. local time, waters could be seen gradually receding in Kauai's Hanalei Bay and at Haleiwa Boat Harbor on Oahu's North Shore. The first waves reportedly arrived in Hawaii about ten minutes later. Waves up to 4 feet tall crashed into the shores of Haleiwa, while water levels rose by 2.8 feet at Hanalei Bay and reached 2.3 feet above sea level in Honolulu. At Midway Atoll, the last buoy measurement site in the central Pacific Ocean before Hawaii, sea levels rose almost 6 feet above normal, implying potential for higher waves in Hawaii. Hawaiians began fleeing coastal areas Tuesday afternoon as officials warned of tsunami waves reaching up to 10 feet. Mountain roads quickly became clogged with traffic as residents raced to higher ground. Flights at major airports were canceled amid the unfolding emergency, with about 200 passengers sheltering in Maui's Kahului Airport terminal, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared an emergency and urged residents to 'please take this very seriously,' adding that waves could drown people, cause power outages, and uproot trees. President Donald Trump urged on Truth Social for Americans to 'STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!' Hawaii had reported no damage from the waves by late Tuesday, with Governor Green saying there was 'no wave of consequence.' The state remained 'at least two to three hours' from being in the clear, he told reporters at an 8:20 p.m. press conference. 'So far, though, at the moment, so good,' he added. The tsunami waves likely reached their maximum height on Tuesday evening, Chip McCreery, the director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, told reporters. Alaska A tsunami warning, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's most severe alert, was issued Tuesday for Alaska's western Aleutian Islands – from Samalga Pass to Attu – and the Pribilof Islands. Forecast models predicted that waves could reach higher than 5ft in parts of the affected areas. Just before 5.15 p.m. PT on Tuesday, a tidal surge of 1ft was recorded near Alaska's volcanic island of Amchitka. Other localized reports of wave measurements in Alaska towns have not yet been published. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed late Tuesday that waves about a foot tall had been recorded in Alaska. West Coast Tsunami advisories were issued on Tuesday for California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as the U.S. territory of Guam. The National Tsunami Warning Center said most areas along the U.S. West Coast were expected to see wave heights of a foot or less, though some locations could experience significantly higher surges. In Port Orford, Oregon, waves are predicted to reach up to two feet, while Crescent City, California, is forecast to see waves between 3.1 and 5.7 feet. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management said that while the first waves to hit the coast may not be the largest, conditions can be dangerous 'even if no large wave is visible.' Further south, Port San Luis could see wave heights ranging from 1.7 to 3.2 feet. In San Francisco, officials warned of strong, dangerous currents likely to impact beaches, harbors, marina docks, and finger piers along the shoreline. Emergency management authorities said they were closely monitoring conditions and assessing whether evacuations would be necessary. Tsunami waves have reached the coast of Washington on Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service's Seattle office said. Residents have been urged to keep away from the water and shore.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
A Biologist Spotlights The Oldest Bird In The World (Hint: It Was First Tagged In 1956 On This Isolated Island)
Most small birds are lucky to make it to ten years of age. Bigger birds, however, can live much ... More longer. Here's the story of the oldest known bird on planet Earth. Birds, unlike other species such as the giant tortoise, the Greenland shark or the bowhead whale, aren't known for their longevity. But there are a few species that buck the trend. Generally speaking, bigger birds tend to live longer. This is true across most animal classes. The ostrich, which is the world's largest bird, often lives to the ripe age of 30 to 40 years old. Albatrosses and seabirds also have long lifespans, with some living to over 50 years of age. Parrots, too, are generally long-lived birds, especially those kept in captivity. Some have been known to eclipse 60 years of age. Small finches and sparrows, on the other hand, often don't live long enough to see the age of five. Here's the story of the world's oldest known wild bird: Wisdom the Laysan albatross. Exploring The Ultrasurviving Laysan Albatross Laysan albatrosses range across the North Pacific but breed on a few remote islands, such as Midway ... More Atoll. In 1956, ornithologist Chandler Robbins affixed a small aluminum band to the leg of a female Laysan albatross on Midway Atoll, a remote U.S. territory located in the North Pacific Ocean. Robbins had no idea at the time how important this bird would turn out to be. That bird, now known as Wisdom, is estimated to be at least 74 years old, making her the oldest known wild bird ever recorded. What's more astounding is that she's still alive, and still laying eggs and raising chicks. Wisdom is a Laysan albatross, a large seabird known for its long wingspan – up to seven feet – and gliding. These birds spend the majority of their lives at sea, only returning to land to breed and raise young. Most Laysan albatrosses don't start breeding until they're around five to eight years old, and pairs usually return to the same nesting sites year after year. Midway Atoll, where Wisdom resides, is part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. The island's isolation makes it an ideal haven for seabirds, with few predators and virtually no human interference. Laysan albatrosses are remarkably long-lived seabirds, and one key to their longevity is their exceptionally low annual adult mortality. A 1975 study published in Pacific Science estimated that more than 94% of breeding adults on Midway Atoll survive each year – meaning fewer than 1 in 20 die annually. That same long-term banding effort found that 13% of birds lived at least 20 years. More recent findings support those numbers. A 2011 mark-recapture study at Kaena Point on Oahu, Hawaii published in The Auk, reported survival rates as high as 99.6% in pre-breeding adults, while successful breeders averaged 93.2% annually. The study also highlighted the species' strong site fidelity and long-term pair bonds – traits that likely help support their extraordinary lifespans. Wisdom, now in her 70s, may be an outlier, but she's also a powerful example of what's biologically possible for a seabird built for endurance. To truly appreciate Wisdom's journey, it helps to understand just how far she's traveled. Albatrosses can fly thousands of miles in a single foraging trip, and it's estimated that over her lifetime, Wisdom has logged over three million miles. This is equivalent to flying to the moon and back more than six times. Laysan albatrosses are masterful gliders, soaring thousands of miles on ocean winds. She has laid dozens of eggs, fledged many chicks, and outlived not only her original bander, Chandler Robbins, who passed away in 2017, but also many of her own offspring. Her story challenges assumptions about aging in wild animals, particularly birds, who face threats from weather, predators, plastic pollution and commercial fishing. Against the odds, Wisdom keeps returning to the same patch of land, often with a new mate (albatrosses form long-term pairs, but mates can change if one dies). Incredibly, she was photographed with another newly hatched chick earlier this year (February 2025), at age 74. Wisdom is more than just an anomaly – she's a living data point in a long-term study of bird longevity, migration and survival. Her age has helped biologists better understand how seabirds age and reproduce over long periods, which in turn informs conservation efforts. She's also become something of a celebrity and a symbol of resilience, featured in children's books, conservation campaigns and even honored with her own U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service social media following. Are you an animal lover who owns a pet, perhaps even a pet bird? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.
CBC
22-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Coastal First Nations in B.C. issue open letter to Carney opposing suggested northern pipeline
Coastal First Nations in British Columbia have issued an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, asking him to reject any new proposal for a crude oil pipeline to the northwest coast. The move comes as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pushes for a new private-sector pipeline that would send crude oil to the northern B.C. coast for export to Asia. Marilyn Slett, president of the Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative, says in a statement that there is no pipeline or oil tanker project that would be acceptable to their group, and any proposal to send crude oil through their coastal waters is a "non-starter." The group is asking Carney to uphold the 2019 Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which prohibits oil tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tons of crude from stopping, loading or unloading at ports or marine installations along the North Coast. It says the act is Canada's recognition of more than 50 years of effort to protect the North Pacific coast, which includes the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, from the risks of an oil spill. The nations say they have not changed their stance since oil tankers were banned from their territorial waters in 2010 based on ancestral laws, rights and responsibilities. The group says the North Pacific coast has one of the richest and most productive cold-water marine ecosystems on Earth, and it remains a source of sustenance, culture, and livelihood for coastal communities and all B.C. residents. The group has instead suggested the prime minister meet with them to "better understand the credible ecological treasure that is the North Pacific coast." The letter comes less than a week after Carney met hundreds of First Nations chiefs, where he faced resistance to the Building Canada Act, which allows the government to fast-track major projects that it deems to be in the national interest, including by sidestepping existing laws. A news release from the Prime Minister's Office after he met with premiers in Ontario, says Carney will "continue meeting with key stakeholders over the coming weeks to ensure big projects are built in full partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, and to build one Canadian economy." B.C. Premier David Eby told media after the meeting that "for the pipeline project that Premier Smith is a great enthusiast of, a heavy oil pipeline project, there is no project, there is no proponent, there is no private sector money involved at all that I'm aware of." Eby says that his government is focused on projects with proponents who are ready to go and have passed an environmental assessment. "When Premier Smith crosses those obvious hurdles to get a project done, then let's have those conversations. But to be blunt, we have major projects that are moving ahead, and that's where our focus is."
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
B.C. Coastal First Nations issue open letter to Carney opposing suggested pipeline
VANCOUVER — Coastal First Nations in British Columbia have issued an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, asking him to reject any new proposal for a crude oil pipeline to the northwest coast. The move comes as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pushes for a new private-sector pipeline that would send crude oil to the northern B.C. coast for export to Asia. Marilyn Slett, president of the Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative, says in a news release that there is no pipeline or oil tanker project that would be acceptable to their group, and any proposal to send crude oil through their coastal waters is a "non-starter." The group is asking Carney to uphold the 2019 Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which prohibits oil tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tons of crude from stopping, loading or unloading at ports or marine installations along the north coast. It says the act is Canada's recognition of more than 50 years of effort to protect the north Pacific coast, which includes the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, from the risks of an oil spill. The nations say they have not changed their stance since oil tankers were banned from their territorial waters in 2010 based on ancestral laws, rights and responsibilities. The group says the north Pacific coast has one of the richest and most productive cold-water marine ecosystems on Earth, and it remains a source of sustenance, culture, and livelihood for coastal communities and all B.C. residents. The group has instead suggested the prime minister meet with them to "better understand the credible ecological treasure that is the north Pacific coast." The letter comes less than a week after Carney met hundreds of First Nations chiefs, where he faced resistance to the Building Canada Act, which allows the government to fast track major projects that it deems to be in the national interest, including by sidestepping existing laws. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025. Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
