National Tsunami Warning Center, NOAA/NWS

Tsunami of 8 December, 2016

A major earthquake with a moment magnitude of 7.8 (USGS magnitude) occurred at 17:38:46 UTC 8 December, 2016 (day 343) and was located 44 m/70 km WSW of Kira Kira, Solomon Islands (10.676S, 161.330E, 41.0 km/ 25.6 mi depth -- USGS location).

This earthquake produced a tsunami that was recorded at tide gages monitored by the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC). Many observatories provide data to the centers; such as the NOAA National Ocean Service, the U. of Hawaii Sea Level Center, the Chilean Navy, the Japan Meteorological Agency 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 wave arrival computed at the NTWC based on the earthquake origin time and location. The Sample Interval column shows the time between data 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/
Measurement Location

Estimated Arrival Time
[UTC (J.Day)]

Observed Arrival time
[UTC (J.Day)]

Peak amplitude
(above sea level in cm)

Time of Peak Amplitude Measurement
[UTC (J.Day)]

Model Forecast Amplitude
(above sea level in cm)

Initial motion

Sample Interval
(min)

Data File
(Julian Day Starts
at 0000 UTC)

Crescent City, Ca

0605 (344)

0929 (344)

17

2119 (344)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345

Hienghene, New Caledonia, Fr

-

1932 (343)

56

2101 (343)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345

Hilo, Hawaii

0120 (344)

0143 (344)

6

0443 (344)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345

Honiara, Solomon Islands

-

1823 (343)

7

1857 (343)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345

Kahului, Hawaii

0130 (344)

0201 (344)

10

1643 (344)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345

Lifou, New Caledonia, Fr

-

1926 (343)

5

1938 (343)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345

Ouinne, New Caledonia, Fr

-

1957 (343)

22

2155 (343)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345

Rosslyn Bay, Australia

-

0546 (343)

13

0106 (344)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345

Sand Point, Alaska

0505 (344)

0538 (344)

6

0751 (344)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345

Tarekukure Wharf, Solomon Islands

-

-

5

2126 (343)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345

Unalaska, Alaska

0430 (344)

0602 (344)

5

0839 (344)

-

?

1

343, 344, 345


Return To:
NTWC Home Page