Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma
Dr Simon Day, of the Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre at University College London, UK, believes one flank of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma, in the Canaries archipelago, is unstable and could plunge into the ocean.
Swiss researchers who have modelled the landslide say half a trillion tonnes of rock falling into the water all at once would create a wave 650 metres high (2,130 feet) that would spread out and travel across the Atlantic at high speed.
The wall of water would weaken as it crossed the ocean, but would still be 40-50 metres (130-160 feet) high by the time it hit land. The surge would create havoc in North America as much as 20 kilometre (12 miles) inland.
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The largest wave in recorded history, witnessed in Alaska in 1958, was caused by the collapse of a towering cliff at Letuya Bay. The resulting wave was higher than any skyscraper on Earth and gouged out soil and trees to a height of 500 metres (1,640) feet) above sea level.
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That's a big wave.
Of course, the East Coast is also at risk from tsunamis from [link|http://www.manythings.org/voa/00/000602er_t.htm|underwater landslides] caused by huge amounts of methane [link|http://marine.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/gas-hydrates/title.html|gas hydrates]....
Cheers,
Scott.
