- 2 days ago
In this eye-opening video, we explore the alarming potential for massive tsunamis to strike Europe in the near future, alongside predictions for a particularly devastating hurricane season.
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00:00We are up for a crazy Atlantic hurricane season.
00:04It may be even worse than that of 2005, the year that brought us Hurricane Katrina.
00:11That one took 1,392 lives and cost the country over $100 billion.
00:19Experts predict there will be between 17 to 25 total named storms.
00:25Some of these storms are about to become hurricanes, with winds reaching over 100 miles per hour or higher.
00:33We're already seeing storms sweep across the country, bringing dangers like tornadoes, flooding, and hail.
00:40You gotta thank the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, for this.
00:45This complicated term has to do with El Niño and La Niña, the two giant forces that basically shape our
00:52world.
00:53Normally, winds in the Pacific Ocean blow west along the equator, moving warm water from South America towards Asia.
01:01This warm water is replaced by cold water rising from the depths of the Pacific.
01:06But, during El Niño and La Niña, this usual pattern is messed up.
01:14El Niño is the warm phase of the ENSO cycle.
01:17During El Niño, the equatorial winds weaken, causing warm water to shift back towards the west coast of the Americas.
01:25This means less cold water rises to the surface.
01:29The weather in northern parts of the U.S. and Canada become drier and warmer because of it.
01:34But, there are wetter conditions in southern states.
01:38In the Atlantic, El Niño weakens hurricane seasons, and it ramps up hurricane activity in the central and eastern Pacific.
01:45In Africa, it brings more rain to East Africa, but less to southern Africa, West Africa, and parts of the
01:53Sahara.
01:55La Niña is the cold phase of the ENSO cycle.
01:59During this phase, the westward winds along the equator in the Pacific are stronger than usual, and they push more
02:05warm water towards Asia.
02:07And, because of it, colder, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface along the Americas' west coast.
02:14These colder Pacific waters push the jet stream northward, giving us drier weather in the southern U.S., but wetter
02:21and colder conditions in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
02:25La Niña also brings warmer winters to the southern U.S. and cooler-than-normal temperatures to the north.
02:32La Niña usually calms hurricane activity in the Pacific, but intensifies it in the Atlantic.
02:41In 2023, El Niña was in charge, and it took most storms up before they got to the U.S.,
02:47but this year, we've switched to La Niña, and this lady brings us colder water in the Pacific and a
02:53pattern that lets storms move a little farther west and reach the Caribbean.
02:57And when they get there, they can easily move into the Gulf and affect Florida and other states.
03:05The upcoming intense Atlantic hurricane season also has to do with a strong monsoon season in West Africa.
03:12It creates moisture and waves off Africa's coast and can travel along the Atlantic and spur hurricanes.
03:19The Atlantic hurricane season runs from the 1st of June to the 30th of November, and most activity happens between
03:26mid-August and mid-October.
03:28Since the 1950s, tropical cyclones have been given names to make it easier for meteorologists to inform the public about
03:35them.
03:36You're more likely to remember that Leslie is coming than Hurricane X34D is on the way, right?
03:42So there are 20 names on the alphabetical list this year, from Alberto to Beryl to Valerie and William.
03:53Let's hope it won't get as terrible as the Galveston hurricane.
03:57The most fatal natural disaster in U.S. history hit Texas in the year 1900.
04:02A Category 4 hurricane smashed into Galveston, demolishing over 3,600 buildings with winds over 135 miles per hour.
04:14It took the lives of between 6,000 and 12,000 people.
04:18One of the reasons it became so fatal was poor communication policy.
04:23Days before the disaster, it was clear to a professional weather forecaster that the storm was moving west.
04:29But the Weather Bureau in Washington predicted it would go over Florida and up to New England, which was way
04:35off.
04:37The Bureau was just 10 years old then, so hurricane science in the U.S. wasn't very advanced.
04:43Cuban scientists were excellent at tracking storms because their region is so prone to them.
04:47So they knew it was heading towards the Gulf of Mexico.
04:51Unfortunately, the director of the Weather Bureau was so jealous that the Cuban forecasters were better than the American ones
04:57that he cut off the flow of information from Cuba and made it difficult for local forecasters to issue warnings
05:03without going through Washington.
05:06In the days before the storm hit, the chief observer in Galveston began to suspect that Washington's forecast was wrong
05:13and tried to warn the city.
05:15But it was too late.
05:17The hurricane left Galveston in ruins.
05:20After this hurricane, the Weather Bureau started improving communication both internationally and within the U.S.
05:29The officials in charge are doing everything possible to improve forecasts, support the people,
05:35and help the affected areas recover more easily after the hurricanes hit.
05:39They're going to try new forecast models to predict tropical cyclones getting stronger,
05:44help emergency and water managers prepare for potential flooding,
05:48and protect people and infrastructure.
05:51Coastal weather buoys in the tropical western Atlantic and Caribbean have been upgraded,
05:56and new drifters and sail drones, underwater gliders, and a lightweight drop sond will provide real-time data.
06:03There are also some things you can do to ensure your safety before, during, and after a hurricane.
06:10If you live in a hurricane-prone area, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas,
06:14you must always be prepared before the high storm season.
06:18Make up a family disaster plan that will outline your actions during an emergency.
06:23Map out several evacuation routes in case your primary one is blocked,
06:27and decide on a meeting place if you get separated.
06:31You can arrange drills to teach family members how to shut off water, gas, and electricity,
06:36and even make sure the youngest knows how to call emergency services.
06:41Pack a disaster kit that will be ready to go at a moment's notice.
06:45It should include essentials like food, water, a first aid kit, and flashlights to last at least 72 hours on
06:52your own.
06:53You can buy a generator to make sure you have electricity in case of a power outage until the power
06:58returns.
06:59Keep it in a secure place, away from rain and rising water, with proper ventilation.
07:05You're also going to need self-powered radios and flashlights.
07:09If you can, add a safe room to your house that's strengthened to withstand high winds
07:15with reinforced concrete ceiling, floor, and walls.
07:18Make sure you have enough canned and non-perishable food and bottled water for at least three days.
07:27When the storm is about to hit, head north to get away from it, where it will be much weaker
07:33by the time it gets there.
07:34It's much safer to keep your family and pets together away from the storm than trying to ride it out
07:40at home.
07:41Try to go in one car if possible.
07:44Always follow local evacuation orders, especially if you're in a mobile home.
07:49Fill up your gas tank and give yourself plenty of time to get out.
07:53Never leave your pets behind.
07:55Debris, floodwaters, or flying objects can be dangerous for them.
07:59If you're staying put during a storm, you need a safe spot for you, your family, and your pets.
08:05This place shouldn't have any windows or skylights.
08:08If you're hiding at home, close all interior doors and secure the exterior ones.
08:13Quickly find an interior room with strong walls and no windows, like a bathroom or a closet.
08:19If your home isn't safe, look for a community shelter.
08:23Get to your shelter at least two hours before the storm hits so it doesn't catch you outside.
08:28Bring a battery-powered radio with extra batteries for updates every 15 to 30 minutes.
08:33Never leave your shelter even if it seems calm.
08:36As conditions can get worse quickly, especially if you're in the eye of the storm.
08:42For extra protection, lie on the floor under something sturdy, like a table.
08:46Don't use electric appliances, phones, or showers during the storm.
08:51Don't leave your shelter until you get the official all clear from the authorities.
08:56Be careful.
08:57There will be many hazards outside.
09:01A tsunami hitting major cities on or near the Mediterranean Sea and in the northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean
09:08is not a matter of if, but when.
09:11It is scary and surreal to think that places like Cannes or Barcelona could suddenly get slammed by a huge
09:17wave.
09:17But the fact is, European coastlines are in active tectonic areas.
09:22Only about 10% of all tsunamis worldwide happen in the Mediterranean.
09:27And there have been at least 290 tsunamis in this area since 1600 before Common Era.
09:33Despite the relatively low number, this phenomenon has caused numerous devastating disasters throughout Europe's history.
09:42Back in 1755, an estimated 8.5 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter southwest of Cape St. Vincent triggered a tsunami
09:52that destroyed most of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
09:55About 40 minutes after the earthquake, this massive wave just slammed into the harbor and downtown, racing up the Tagus
10:02River.
10:03The phenomenon was so fast that several people on horseback had to gallop to higher ground to avoid getting carried
10:09away.
10:10And this was just the beginning of a nightmare, with two more terrifying waves hitting Lisbon right after.
10:16A disaster like this is similar to what we see in the Pacific Ocean several times a century.
10:22But in the Atlantic, it's very rare.
10:24This type of major tsunami is expected to happen every 3 to 5 centuries.
10:29But now, it could happen tomorrow.
10:34Marseille in France, Chippione in Spain, and other cities are on the list of important locations
10:39that could be flooded soon, with a roughly 100% chance of being hit by a tsunami in the next
10:4530 years.
10:46Statistics show that the wave will probably be more than 3 feet high.
10:50I know, it doesn't sound like much.
10:52Especially since when we think about tsunamis, we imagine terrifyingly tall waves,
10:57like the one that hit Lutuya Bay in Alaska.
11:00In that case, the wave was over 1,700 feet tall.
11:03But we must remember that even waves only 19 inches high can be dangerous to swimmers.
11:09Because it's not the height of the tsunami that matters, but also the flow and movement of the water.
11:15Not to mention the flooding, which can damage beaches, harbors, and streets.
11:19If the coastline has a small harbor, and the waterfront is exceptionally low, like Khan,
11:25this natural disaster might be much more dangerous.
11:27Tsunamis around 6 feet high can lift cars off the ground,
11:31while smaller waves can create walls of water traveling at 40 miles per hour.
11:36Plus, there are these smaller events that might not wreck everything, but still can cost a ton of money.
11:42For example, large sandbars that move around on the ocean floor, like sand dunes shifting in deserts.
11:48They can mess up pipelines or deep-sea cables for internet and communications.
11:53And that ends up costing businesses and governments millions of dollars.
12:00That's why organizations like UNESCO are worried about the possibility of a dangerous tsunami hitting Europe soon.
12:06So, they're doing everything they can to prevent apocalyptic scenarios.
12:11Like what happened in 2004, when an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia,
12:16caused waves over 100 feet high in coastal communities, resulting in over 200,000 lives lost.
12:23And let's not forget about 2011, when an earthquake off the coast of Tohoku, Japan,
12:29triggered a tsunami that reached about 6 miles inland and caused a major nuclear accident at a power station along
12:35the coast.
12:36Over 16,000 people lost their lives in that tragedy.
12:40And the event resulted in billions of dollars in infrastructure damage.
12:43These disasters were huge wake-up calls, and we've come a long way since 2004.
12:50We're much safer today, largely because the tsunami warning system is highly effective at quickly detecting this dangerous situation.
13:00Unlike many other natural phenomena, a tsunami can be anticipated.
13:04We may only have a few minutes to act, but if we all know what to do, many lives can
13:10be saved.
13:11And in most parts of the world, sirens are commonly used to alert people to tsunamis.
13:16To sound the siren as early as possible, initial tsunami alerts usually rely only on seismic data.
13:23First, specialists receive information about an earthquake.
13:27Seismic waves travel about 100 times faster than tsunamis,
13:30so they have enough time to analyze the data and see if the earthquake might have generated a tsunami
13:36and whether they should issue an initial tsunami alert.
13:39At U.S. warning centers, for example,
13:42scientists typically issue initial alerts within 5 minutes of an earthquake.
13:47If a tsunami is suspected,
13:49these alerts may also include information about wave arrival times,
13:53recommended actions, and potential impacts.
13:57But sounding the alarm is not enough.
14:00To save lives, coastal communities also need to be trained to respond fast
14:05and in the best way possible.
14:07That's why UNESCO produced this program called Tsunami Ready,
14:10aiming to train people living in coastal areas at risk
14:13on how to act in case of a tsunami event by the year 2030.
14:18The idea is to help communities stay safe
14:20by teaching them how to protect their livelihoods and safeguard their homes.
14:25Being recognized as Tsunami Ready by UNESCO
14:28doesn't mean a community is tsunami-proof, of course.
14:31It's more like a recognition that they have adopted all possible measures to mitigate tsunami risks.
14:37So authorities are helping communities to prepare themselves
14:40by installing evacuation signs, establishing security procedures,
14:44and creating plans to warn tourists.
14:47Like Spain, which distributed tsunami warning signs along the entire coastline,
14:51as well as signs showing evacuation routes to higher ground.
14:54And Spain better be prepared.
14:57I mean, only seven tsunamis have hit the country since the year 365,
15:02so it's difficult to predict the effects of such an event.
15:05But they could be devastating,
15:07considering that Spanish coastal areas are so economically important.
15:11There's also a danger zone in the Avaroes fault beneath the Aburran Sea.
15:16If an earthquake happens at this point,
15:18people will have only 21 minutes to escape a tsunami.
15:24UNESCO has also established 12 tsunami warning centers, which cover Europe as well.
15:30This initiative involves five centers located in the Mediterranean and Northeast Atlantic regions.
15:35These centers can save thousands of lives because they monitor ocean disturbances 24-7.
15:41Then, after analyzing the threat,
15:44they send out messages based on the event's potential to cause a tsunami.
15:47The intensity scale ranges from no effect to completely devastating.
15:52And by that, they understand that nearly all brick buildings could be demolished by waves.
15:57And even the most reinforced concrete structures could suffer heavy damage.
16:04Now, so far, we have mostly talked about tsunamis caused by earthquakes along converging tectonic plate boundaries.
16:11In fact, earthquakes have accounted for over 80% of tsunamis since 1900.
16:16But tsunamis can also result from landslides, volcanic eruptions, and even meteorite impacts.
16:23Experts are also worried that with the current changes in climate,
16:27we might see more of meteo tsunamis popping up in the Mediterranean.
16:31These ones are triggered by freaky weather conditions
16:34and can mess with any coastline that's got a shallow seafloor.
16:37They might not be as huge or famous as the earthquakes ones,
16:41but they can still cause significant property damage and put people in danger.
16:45For instance, in 2006, a meteo tsunami struck the harbor of Ciutadea on the Spanish island of Menorca.
16:53Yachts were tossed into each other and later stranded on the harbor floor as the water receded,
16:58resulting in tens of millions of euros in damage.
17:01Unfortunately, meteo tsunamis in the Mediterranean tend to be stronger during summer,
17:06So, if you're planning to spend your vacation in Europe,
17:09stay alert for any signs of dangerous waves.
17:12If you suddenly encounter a tsunami moving in your direction,
17:16remember this is the time to react.
17:18Move to higher ground as far inland as possible.
17:22Pay special attention to any emergency alerts and information.
17:25And follow the guidance of local authorities.
17:28Most importantly, do not wait around taking photos.
17:32Leave the area as soon as you notice any signs of this danger event.
17:35Or if you hear an official tsunami warning.
17:38Hey, stay safe.
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