RT @BBCBreaking: Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issues alert around Moluccas in Indonesia after quake of 7.3 magnitude NW of Ternate

From the horse's mouth. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usc000sxh8#summary

RT @mpoppel: Map shows the areas where a tsunami warning is in effect http://t.co/pN6cmBeY1S

"Tsunamis could be expected to reach Indonesia, the Philippines, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Marshall Islands, and as far away as Japan's Okinawa and Taiwan, it said.

The first waves could reach land within 30 minutes and the last within about six hours. "The initial wave may not be the largest," the center warned."

Reuters

Powerful earthquake strikes off Indonesia, tsunami warning issued
Posted by BNO News

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) — A powerful earthquake struck the Molucca Sea off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Saturday morning, prompting a tsunami warning for local coastlines, seismologists said. There was no immediate word on damage or casualties.

The 7.3-magnitude earthquake at 9:31 a.m. local time (0231 GMT) was centered in the Molucca Sea about 155 kilometers (96 miles) east-northeast of Bitung, a city on the northern coast of the island of Sulawesi. It struck about 48 kilometers (29.8 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the country’s seismological agency (BMKG).

BMKG said a tsunami warning was in effect for coastlines of the Molucca Sea.

Read More: http://www.bnowire.com/2014/11/14/update1-powerful-earthquake-strikes-off-indonesia-tsunami-warning-issued/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=update1-powerful-earthquake-strikes-off-indonesia-tsunami-warning-issued

--BNO NEWS 2014-11-15

any warnings for Thailand issued or any effect expected?

cancelled. http://ptwc.weather.gov/text.php?id=pacific.TSUPAC.2014.11.15.0435

any warnings for Thailand issued or any effect expected?

From that map it seems unlikely there will be anything visible. If this produces enough force to create a Tsunami on any of those coasts then there is certainly a chance that it will have an effect. Luckily it is unlikely to be anything destructive.

I think it needs to be a mega thrust quake to really generate a tsunami.

Like 8+ or something like that.

The Richter scale is log₁₀, so an 8 magnitude is 10 times greater than 7 magnitude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richter_magnitude_scale

Greatest recorded quakes . . .

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/10_largest_world.php

RT @NWS_PTWC: There is no longer a #tsunami threat from the #earthquake near Halmahera, Indonesia. #PTWC http://t.co/Mt1xQweha4

I think it needs to be a mega thrust quake to really generate a tsunami.

Like 8+ or something like that.

The Richter scale is log₁₀, so an 8 magnitude is 10 times greater than 7 magnitude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richter_magnitude_scale

Greatest recorded quakes . . .

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/10_largest_world.php

What's critical is whether the earth quake happens in a subduction zone or not.

7.3-magnitude quake in Indonesia, tsunami warning issued

JAKARTA - A 7.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the Maluku Islands in eastern Indonesia Saturday (November 15), the US Geological Survey said, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning.

The undersea quake struck at a depth of 46 kilometres (28 miles) at 10:31 am (0231 GMT), 154 kilometres northwest of Kota Ternate, the USGS said.

"Tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 300 kilometres," said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The centre said tsunami waves could hit parts of Indonesia, as well the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan and islands in the South Pacific.

Tsunami waves between 30 centimetres (12 inches) and one metre could hit parts of Indonesia, said the centre, while waves below 30 centimetres were forecast for the coasts of the Philippines, the centre said.

"We have issued an early tsunami warning," an official from Indonesia's meteorological agency told AFP.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

A huge undersea quake in 2004 triggered a tsunami that killed more than 170,000 people in Aceh province, on western Sumatra island, and tens of thousands more in other countries with coasts on the Indian Ocean. AFP

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/7-3-magnitude-quake-in-indonesia-tsunami-warning-issued-49680.php

-- Phuket News 22014-11-15

I think it needs to be a mega thrust quake to really generate a tsunami.

Like 8+ or something like that.

The Richter scale is log₁₀, so an 8 magnitude is 10 times greater than 7 magnitude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richter_magnitude_scale

Greatest recorded quakes . . .

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/10_largest_world.php

What's critical is whether the earth quake happens in a subduction zone or not.

Thank you. Any idea of the minimum power to generate a tsunami? I've never really got a definite on this one.

Tsunami alert sparks panic in Indonesia

KOTA TERNATE, Indonesia - A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the Maluku Islands in eastern Indonesia Saturday, sparking a tsunami warning and causing panicked people to flee their homes.

Small waves generated by the undersea quake were detected in several parts of the sprawling archipelago, local authorities said, although there were no reports of casualties or major damage and the tsunami warning was lifted after a short while.

Nevertheless, the prospect of a major tsunami set nerves on edge in one of the most seismically active countries in the world, almost a decade after quake-triggered destructive waves devastated western Aceh province.

The tsunami of December 26, 2004, left more than 170,000 people dead in Aceh, on Sumatra island, and tens of thousands more in countries with coasts on the Indian Ocean.

Saturday’s tremor struck northwest of the town of Kota Ternate, at 0231 GMT, the US Geological Survey said.

"Tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 300 kilometres," said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The centre also warned of small tsunami waves in the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan and islands in the South Pacific.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Tsunami-alert-sparks-panic-in-Indonesia-30247848.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-15

Major earthquake off Indonesian coast triggers tsunami alerts in the region

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia early Saturday, causing tsunami warnings throughout the region.

The epicentre was located 154 kilometres northwest of Kota Ternate, Indonesia, and the major earthquake occurred 10:31 a.m. local time Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported.

Tsunami advisories were issued for Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and other areas, the Tsunami Warning Center said.

In Thailand, the Seismology Bureau said Saturday it hasn’t issued Tsunami warning yet as the earthquake which struck at 09.31am and 59 kilometres deep in the Indonesian sea off the Northern Molucco island has no impact on the Thai coasts.

The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said Tsunami waves up to 1-metre high were possible on some coasts of Indonesia.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Two strong aftershocks have occurred since the major earthquake.

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded 60 kilometres south of Molibagu, Indonesia, and a 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred 148 kilometres northwest of Kota Ternate, it said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/major-earthquake-indonesian-coast-triggers-tsunami-alerts-region/

-- Thai PBS 2014-11-15

I think it needs to be a mega thrust quake to really generate a tsunami.

Like 8+ or something like that.

The Richter scale is log₁₀, so an 8 magnitude is 10 times greater than 7 magnitude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richter_magnitude_scale

Greatest recorded quakes . . .

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/10_largest_world.php

What's critical is whether the earth quake happens in a subduction zone or not.

Thank you. Any idea of the minimum power to generate a tsunami? I've never really got a definite on this one.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-12739417

I think it has to do with the type of earthquake and not necessarily a minimum power. And slip type earthquake would move water, its just a matter of how much.

What's critical is whether the earth quake happens in a subduction zone or not.

Thank you. Any idea of the minimum power to generate a tsunami? I've never really got a definite on this one.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-12739417

I think it has to do with the type of earthquake and not necessarily a minimum power. And slip type earthquake would move water, its just a matter of how much.

Exactly this. The Boxing Day tsunami was triggered by an earthquake that shifted a HUGE section of sea-floor downwards suddenly. This immediately displaced water on the surface causing water to rush into the space. The rebound from this caused the tsunami. When the earthquake simply shakes the ground there is much less chance of a tsunami as the vibrations are quick just causing surface ripples and there is no displacement.

An earthquake magnitude refers to 2 components, the shaking amplitude and the released energy.

An 8.0 mag compared to a 7.0 mag is 10 times the shaking amplitude but is equal to 31.6 times the released energy.

Every increase of 0.2 in magnitude doubles the released energy. A 7.3 mag is equal to 1.35 megatons of tnt. The 2005, 8.7 mag earthquake was equal to 170 megatons of energy released.

Should have also added that the 2004 quake and tsunami was from a 9.2 mag with release of energy at 950 megatons of tnt, so a 7.3 is quite small in comparison.