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 .

 

 

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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