研究指出，美國加州若遭遇強震，恐面臨大海嘯引發的毁滅性的衝擊。
國際中心／綜合報導
美國科學家報告5日顯示，一旦阿拉斯加州外海爆發規模9.1強震，「巨獸型海嘯」可能狂襲加州地區，重創美國最繁忙的港口設施，並淹沒沿海社區，迫使75萬人大撤離。
美國地質調查所（USGS）專家表示，一旦阿拉斯加州太平洋外海發生規模9.1強震，停泊在加州沿海的三分之一船隻恐受創沉沒，造成約7億美元災損，主要港口貨輪必須及時出海，以免遭海嘯重創。科學家說，儘管爆發規模9.1強震「僅是假設，但的確有可能發生」，1958年阿拉斯加海嘯浪高為150公尺約為50層樓，南亞海嘯浪高50公尺約15層樓。
根據這項預測，海嘯大概會在地震爆發後約4小時抵達俄勒岡州沿海社區，約6小時後抵達聖地牙哥，理論上，民眾應有時間逃往地勢較高地區。
這份由美國地質調查所和加州地質調查所共同發表的報告說，「這項假設一旦成真，粗估75萬人必須疏散，其中9萬人是觀光客和遊客。」每到夏日月份，蜂擁至加州海灘的觀光人數常多達數百萬人，一旦強震引發海嘯，毫無防備的觀光客可能面臨最大威脅。
研究報告主要執筆人之一瓊斯（Lucy Jones）說，「好消息是，加州沿岸有四分之三為峭壁，因此可抵擋海嘯可能帶來的嚴酷和破壞性衝擊。」根據災損評估預測，靠近加州沿海的兩座核電廠預料不會受到強震和海嘯威脅；不過，壞消息是加州四分之一經濟重鎮成為海嘯威脅的熱點區。
原文網址: 美版阿拉斯加強震預言 巨獸海嘯吞噬加州 | ETtoday新奇新聞
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Lucie
根據吸引力法則、因果法則、作用力與反作用力法則(牛頓第三運動定律)
A tsunami generated by a massive earthquake off Alaska could cause major damage to California's economy and force 750,000 people to evacuate, a report published Wednesday warned.
One third of all boats in California's marinas could be damaged or sunk, costing some $700 million in losses, while major ports would struggle to get huge cargo vessels out to sea in time to avoid being buffeted by tsunamis.
Experts from the US Geological Survey (USGS) based their damage assessment on the scenario of a 9.1 magnitude quake off Alaska's Pacific Coast, which it said was "hypothetical but plausible."
"In this scenario approximately 750,000 people would need to be evacuated, with 90,000 of those being tourists and visitors," said the report, co-published by the USGS and the California Geological Survey.
The number of tourists -- who would be more at risk because they may be less prepared for what to do -- would increase to millions in the event of a tsunami in summer months, when visitors flock to California's beaches.
"The good news is that three-quarters of California's coastline is cliffs, and thus immune to the harsher and more devastating impacts tsunamis could pose," said Lucy Jones, who led the study.
She also welcomed findings that neither of California's two nuclear power plants, both near the coast, would be risk under the scenario studied.
"The bad news is that the one-quarter at risk is some of the most economically valuable property in California," she added.
The report highlighted the potential impact on the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, two of the largest trade gateways on the US West Coast. "Larger vessels that remain in ports might also be vulnerable," it said.
"For example, given the short time between the tsunami warning ... and the first wave arrival" -- 3.5 hours in LA and Long Beach -- it may be difficult or impossible" to get ships out to sea, where they would be at less risk.
"Damage to vessels in the ports is possible. Other ports in San Francisco Bay and San Diego Bay are also likely to be damaged in such a scenario," it added.
California has long braced for the Big One, a monster 8.5 plus magnitude earthquake expected to occur on one of the seismological weak spots under the US state itself, notably the San Andreas fault east of Los Angeles.
But a tsunami generated from a quake further away has been taken more seriously, notably since the March 11, 2011 9.0-magnitude temblor off Japan that killed some 19,000 people and triggering a nuclear calamity.
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