National Tsunami Warning Center, NOAA/NWS

Irian Jaya Tsunamis of 3 January 2009

A major earthquake with a moment magnitude of 7.6 (USGS magnitude) occurred at 19:43:55 UTC 3 January (day 003) and was located 93 miles WNW of Manokwari, Irian Jaya, Indonesia (0.51S, 132.787E, 21.7mi/34.7km depth--USGS location).

Two hours and 50 minutes after the first earthquake, a second major earthquake (occurring at 22:33:42 UTC 3 January, 2009) with a moment magnitude of 7.3 (USGS magnitude) occurred 51.7 miles WNW of Manokwari, Irian Jaya, Indonesia (0.695S, 133.279E, 21.7mi/34.7km depth--USGS location).


These earthquakes produced tsunamis that were recorded at tide gages monitored at the Tsunami Warning Centers. Many observatories provide data to the centers; such as the NOAA National Ocean Service, the Japanese Meteorological Agency, the U. of Hawaii Sea Level Center, the Chilean Navy, and the National Tidal Facility in Australia among others. Click on the site name to see a graph of the tsunami, when available. Listed wave heights are maximum amplitude in cm (above sea level). Observed Arrival time is the actual tsunami arrival time in UTC on gages where it could be determined. The Computed Arrival time is the estimated time of arrival computed at the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) based on the origin time and location. The Sample Interval column shows the time between samples.

For additional information about these tsunami events see the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center's homepage .

 

travel time map

Travel Time Map
(click to enlarge)

 

Tide gage

Peak amplitude (above sea level in cm)

Observed Initial Arrival time (UTC)

Computed Initial Arrival time (UTC)

Initial motion

Sample Interval (min)

Data File (Julian Day Starts at  0000 UTC)

Arena Cove, CA

4.8

1052

0929

rise

1

004

Port San Luis, CA

7.6

1132

1004

rise

1

004

Shemya, AK

?

0441

15 (sec)

003   004

Malakal, Palau

4.0

2111 (003)

2059

drop

1

003  

Kwajalein, Marshall Islands

2.9

0148

0109

rise

1

003   004

Pago Pago, Samoa

5.1

0519

0457

rise

1

004

Saipan, USA

10.6

2312

No ETA

drop

1

003   004

Tosa

18.5

0052

No ETA

rise

1

004

Ishi

8.6

2331

2322

rise

1

004

Naha

8.6

2353

0003

rise

1

004

Omae

20.1

0106

0057

?

1

004

Wake Is

3.0

0105

0102

rise

1

003   004

Nauru, Nauru

Obs.

0243

0117

?

6

003   004

Betio, Tarawa, Kiribati

1.5

0211

No ETA

rise

1

003   004

Hanasaki, Japan

8.3

0305

No ETA

?

1

003   004

Port Vila, Vanuatu (?)

4.1

0224

?

1

003   004

Midway Island

9.3

0318

0316

rise

1

003   004

Yap, Micronesia

3.8

2131

No ETA

rise

1

003   004


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