National Tsunami Warning Center, NOAA/NWS

Torres Islands, Vanuatu Tsunami of 07 October, 2009

Two earthquakes occurred on October 7 2009 near the Vanuatu Islands in the southwest Pacific. The first earthquake, magnitude 7.7 at 2203UTC, was located at 13.05S, 166.19E and the second earthquake, magnitude 7.8 at 2218UTC, was located at 12.55S, 166.31E (USGS parameters). Both events triggered a tsunami. Due to the close origin time and location of the sources, it is not possible to determine the amplitude generated by each source. Only one arrival time and maximum amplitude is listed in the table below. The computed travel time is provided for the first event.

This earthquake produced a tsunami that was 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 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 West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) based on the origin time and location. The Sample Interval column shows the time between samples.

For additional information about this tsunami event see the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center's homepage .

 

Travel Time Map
(click to enlarge)

Maximum Amplitude Graph
(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)

Port Vila, Vanuatu

30.5

2301

2302

rise

1

280, 281

Honiara, Solomon Islands

6.5

2341

2326

rise

1

280, 281

Funafuti, Tuvalu

2.2

?

0010

?

6

280, 281

Kings Wharf, Fiji

2.5

0049

0035

down

6

280, 281

Lautoka, Fiji

3.0

0054

0111

?

1

280, 281

Majuro, Marshal Island

1.9

?

0126

?

1

280, 281

Nukualofa, Tonga

3.0

?

0145

?

6

280, 281

Manus, Papa New Guinea

4.5

0201

0147

down

1

280, 281

Apia, Samoa

3.9

0150

0149

down

1

280, 281

Pago Pago, America Samoa

7.0

?

0157

?

1

280, 281

Wake Island, U.S.A.

3.0

?

0257

?

1

281

Midway Island, U.S.A.

5.9

0437

0431

down

1

281

Papeete, French Polynesia

2.5

0451

0445

down

1

281

Nawiliwili, Hawaii

8.0

0518

0455

rise

1

281

Honolulu, Hawaii

5.0

0512

0501

rise

1

281

Kawaihae, Hawaii

11.0

0515

0510

rise

1

281

Hilo, Hawaii

7.4

0531

0524

?

1

281

Kahului, Hawaii

18.6

?

0537

?

1

281

Cabo, San Lucas

4.0

1147

1054

rise

1

281

Atka, AK

6.0

?

0753

?

1

281

Adak, AK

7.5

0835

0801

?

1

281

Nikolski, AK

8.0

0846

0821

rise

1

281

Arena Cove, CA

4.3

?

0954

?

1

281

Port Reyes, CA

6.0

?

1002

?

1

281

Monterey Harbor, CA

4.5

?

1002

?

1

281

Rosslyn Bay, Australia

12.3

0450

?

rise

1

281

Port San Luis, CA

8.0

?

1015

?

1

281

Santa Barbara, CA

15.1

?

1024

?

1

281

Santa Monica, CA

4.6

?

1033

?

1

281

South Beach, OR

2.9

?

1039

?

1

281

Tofino, BC

4.3

?

1052

?

1

281

Neah Bay, WA

3.2

1024

1057

down

1

281

Coquimbo, Chili

8.5

?

1442

?

2

281

Caldera, Chili

7.0

?

1457

?

2

281

Iquique, Chili

4.6

?

1543

?

2

281

Return To:
NTWC Home Page