A mega tsunami threatens? They will be devoured

Researchers from Virginia Tech University determined that a potentially powerful earthquake, combined with rising sea levels, could lead to a mega tsunami, which would hit residents and property hardest in northern California, northern Oregon and southern Washington, Blic reported.

A mega tsunami is a catastrophic wave caused by the movement of ocean water, which can trigger earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruptions.

Experts have pointed out that there is a 15 percent chance of this fault triggering an earthquake of magnitude 8 or more in the next 50 years, which could cause the coastal land to sink up to 2 meters.

"Expansion of the coastal inundation zone after an earthquake in the Cascadia subduction zone has not been quantified until now, and land use impacts could significantly prolong recovery time," said Tina Dura, lead author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Virginia Tech University.

Landslide hotspot

Alaska remains a hotbed for landslides due to its rugged terrain and frequent earthquakes, and with climate change and melting glaciers, slopes are becoming more unstable and rocks are being dislodged, the Daily Mail reports.

Volcano danger

In Hawaii, the volcanic islands have a long history of mega tsunamis caused by collapsing volcanoes. About 105,000 years ago, a wave about 300 meters high hit the island of Lānaʻi.

Volcanoes in Hawaii grow by depositing layers of lava, which can lead to unstable slopes with the possibility of collapse, especially during volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. This can cause millions of rocks to slide into the ocean, displacing the water and creating mega tsunamis.

Because Hawaii's volcanoes remain active, there is a major threat, especially on the southeast side of the Big Island, where "younger" volcanoes such as Mauna Loa and Kīlauea are currently active. Kīlauea has been spewing lava for months, with the last eruption ending on May 16.

Earthquakes

On the West Coast, the Cascadia subduction zone remains one of the most powerful seismic areas in North America—and is highly likely to be hit by another major earthquake in the coming decades.

The Cascadia subduction zone is part of the "Ring of Fire," where the Pacific plate collides with another tectonic plate, causing "the most severe earthquakes in the world" as well as most volcanic eruptions.

However, the authors of the study noted that an earthquake over 8 degrees on the Richter scale has not been recorded in this region since January 26, 1700.

"The Cascadia is a unique place. It's not very densely populated, but most of the estuaries have a community in them, and they're all right in the sinkhole," Dura said.

"Honestly, I think the sinking here could have more consequences than it has during other major earthquakes around the world."