Japanese tsunami debris washes up on U.S. West Coast

[webeagle12]

Large black floats are the first remnants of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami to begin washing up on the American coastline.

The debris traveled 4,500 miles on Pacific Ocean currents, pushed by wind and water, to reach the beaches of Neah Bay in far northwestern Washington state 280 days after the Japanese disaster.

Some 100 million tons of debris -- from wrecked fishing vessels to household furniture and even body parts -- is bearing down on the West Coast, raising environmental fears about the impact of massive amounts of wreckage clogging beaches.

The debris is even more massive and moving much faster than originally predicted. Initial projections said 5 to 20 million tons of waste would take three years to reach American shores.

Now, scientists say, 100 million tons could be here in just one year.

One float, the size of a 55-gallon drum, was found in Washington two weeks ago, another was reportedly discovered in Vancouver, Canada.

The 9.0 magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami that struck the eastern coast of Japan March 11 killed more than 15,000 people and washed homes, boats and human lives out to sea.

Anything that floated is now riding Pacific currents. According to computer predictions from the University of Hawaii, most of it is headed for an area between southern Alaska and southern California.

The researchers in Hawaii predicted most of the debris will reach the US mainland in three years.

However, oceanographers Curtis Ebbesmeyer and Jim Ingraham said some of the flotsam appears to be traveling much faster and could hit the West Coast in less than a year, the Peninsula Daily News reported.

Most debris travels at about 7 miles per day, the Seattle scientists said, but pieces can cover up to 20 miles in a day if they are big enough for the wind to push them.

The large black drums averaged about 16 miles per day to reach Neah Bay in Washington.

The University of Hawaii team also predicted the debris was about 5 to 20 million tons.

However Mr Ebbesmeyer and Ingraham say the errant Japanese flotsam could be five times that amount, about 100 million tons.

Sailors and the US Navy have spotted all manner of shards of Japanese life in the massive debris fields that are floating the currents.

In October, the crew of a Russian ship spotted televisions and refrigerators riding the current. Parts of homes, and a wrecked 20-foot fishing vessel have also been seen.

Body parts are also expected to wash up on US shores, the Daily News reported.

The two researches said beachcombers who find any debris with identifying marks - such as Japanese writing - should contact authorities so it can be returned.

Families lost everything when their homes were washed away by the giant wall of water, Mr Ebbesmeyer said. Anything they can reclaim from the sea could help them recover from the disaster.

Read more: http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1h74c0Dzr

[FMH]

Font is really tiny. :)

[Brandon H Supervisor]

oh god that's small

it hurts my eyes just trying to read it

[bguy_1986]

5-20 million tons? They can't get that narrowed that down at all? That's a pretty large guess... My guess is it won't be near as bad as they are saying. Just like the BP spill. media blowing it way out of porportion... I haven seen any up to date images of of the debris either, other than the picture of the old guy and the float...

[calimike]

Font is really tiny. :)

wi

For Chrome user: Hold Ctrl & + for resize font :laugh:

Somebody pick tons of things and send to scrap for $$$. Pay your debt first :shifty:

[bguy_1986]

wi

For Chrome user: Hold Ctrl & + for resize font :laugh:

Somebody pick tons of things and send to scrap for $$$ to pay your debt :shifty:

IE hold ctrl and move the mouse wheel...

+1 for the debt... looks like he could resell the float as well...