Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
@valah.bsky.social
Seismologist at Reykjavík University | seismology, volcanoes, natural hazards, geothermal and energy, fiber optic sensing | formerly UNAM, Reykjavik Energy | she/her | views my own 🇮🇸🇲🇽
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
On July 29, 2025 a Mw 8.8 earthquake off Kamchatka launched a Pacific-wide tsunami, right as the SWOT satellite flew south-to-north taking altimetry measurements of the wave train. In our new preprint, we pair SWOT with nearby DART buoys to capture the tsunami’s propagation and its source
October 1, 2025 at 2:08 PM
On July 29, 2025 a Mw 8.8 earthquake off Kamchatka launched a Pacific-wide tsunami, right as the SWOT satellite flew south-to-north taking altimetry measurements of the wave train. In our new preprint, we pair SWOT with nearby DART buoys to capture the tsunami’s propagation and its source
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
As Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica, we can see its approach over the past few days on seismometers. Strong winds generated by hurricanes create ocean waves and pressure fluctuations that cause stronger up and down movements in the water column, which seismometers record.
October 28, 2025 at 7:02 PM
As Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica, we can see its approach over the past few days on seismometers. Strong winds generated by hurricanes create ocean waves and pressure fluctuations that cause stronger up and down movements in the water column, which seismometers record.
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
On X, Masaki Nobushiro posts a recurring (and useful) drawing about how people wrongly think a 1m tsunami is a cresting wave when it's actually a wall of water filled with dangerous and deadly debris that's strong enough to sweep up a car.
#tsunami
#tsunami
July 30, 2025 at 3:29 AM
On X, Masaki Nobushiro posts a recurring (and useful) drawing about how people wrongly think a 1m tsunami is a cresting wave when it's actually a wall of water filled with dangerous and deadly debris that's strong enough to sweep up a car.
#tsunami
#tsunami
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
Tsunami resulting from a M 8.7 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. Preliminar solution from USGS and GeoClaw model. @haskoliislands.bsky.social
July 30, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Tsunami resulting from a M 8.7 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. Preliminar solution from USGS and GeoClaw model. @haskoliislands.bsky.social
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
This is a VERY large earthquake, possibly/probably among the 10 largest ever recorded. A clear subduction zone megathrust event. And it is another M>8.5 event with a notable foreshock (the recent M7.4 in same location), like Tohoku in 2011.
July 30, 2025 at 12:36 AM
This is a VERY large earthquake, possibly/probably among the 10 largest ever recorded. A clear subduction zone megathrust event. And it is another M>8.5 event with a notable foreshock (the recent M7.4 in same location), like Tohoku in 2011.
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
A M8.7 struck Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, #Russia, an hour ago (days ago M7.4 struck the same area). The #tsunami alert was issued for the nearby areas. It seems to be a megathrust #earthquake. These thrust quakes produce the most significant tsunamis. This subduction zone is well-known for big quakes
July 30, 2025 at 1:05 AM
A M8.7 struck Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, #Russia, an hour ago (days ago M7.4 struck the same area). The #tsunami alert was issued for the nearby areas. It seems to be a megathrust #earthquake. These thrust quakes produce the most significant tsunamis. This subduction zone is well-known for big quakes
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
Full video of the tsunami in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka, Russia, following the 8.7 earthquake. Wave seems incoming and a few meters at least.
July 30, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Full video of the tsunami in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka, Russia, following the 8.7 earthquake. Wave seems incoming and a few meters at least.
It is so hard to estimate the size of such a large earthquake correctly. For that we need to look at very long period waves, and to do that we need for them to arrive at the seismic stations. First indications (USGS) suggest that the rupture duration of this event is likely above 100 seconds
Magnitude : 8.8
Region: *Off East Coast of Kamchatka*
Time: 2025-07-29 23:24:52 UTC
Epicenter : 160.10°E 52.55°N
Depth: 21 km
*First posted at: 23:34 UTC*
https://geofon.gfz-potsdam.de/eqexplorer/events/gfz2025otqm/general
##GEOFON ##GFZ ##earthquake ##magnitude
Region: *Off East Coast of Kamchatka*
Time: 2025-07-29 23:24:52 UTC
Epicenter : 160.10°E 52.55°N
Depth: 21 km
*First posted at: 23:34 UTC*
https://geofon.gfz-potsdam.de/eqexplorer/events/gfz2025otqm/general
##GEOFON ##GFZ ##earthquake ##magnitude
July 30, 2025 at 1:12 AM
It is so hard to estimate the size of such a large earthquake correctly. For that we need to look at very long period waves, and to do that we need for them to arrive at the seismic stations. First indications (USGS) suggest that the rupture duration of this event is likely above 100 seconds
Predicted arrival times of tsunamis in the Pacific basin - from NY Times
The threat of a potential tsunami exists for the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, parts of the North Pacific coastline of Russia and for Japan after a 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean on Tuesday evening Eastern time, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System.
Map: Tracking a Potential Tsunami in the North Pacific Ocean
Monitor warnings and predicted arrival times for the ocean wave.
nyti.ms
July 30, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Predicted arrival times of tsunamis in the Pacific basin - from NY Times
A very large earthquake occurred offshore Kamchatka just over an hour ago. Tsunami warning in effect of the Pacific.
Magnitude 8.7 #earthquake in Kamchatka, following a M7.4 last week - may be largest earthquake since 2011, 8th largest on record globally, #tsunami warning in place for US west coast and Canada - the historic 1952 M9 closely caused a destructive tsunami across the Pacific
July 30, 2025 at 1:05 AM
A very large earthquake occurred offshore Kamchatka just over an hour ago. Tsunami warning in effect of the Pacific.
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
I generated a quick map with past seismicity and it appears that M5ish earthquakes have previously occurred near the North coast of Greenland. Today’s M5.8 event is the pink square. ⚒️🧪
July 15, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I generated a quick map with past seismicity and it appears that M5ish earthquakes have previously occurred near the North coast of Greenland. Today’s M5.8 event is the pink square. ⚒️🧪
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
Every country is warming.
Every country is experiencing more extreme weather events because of climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels. www.ShowYourStripes.info
Time to #ShowYourStripes and start climate conversations to prompt actions to reduce emissions, personally & collectively.
Every country is experiencing more extreme weather events because of climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels. www.ShowYourStripes.info
Time to #ShowYourStripes and start climate conversations to prompt actions to reduce emissions, personally & collectively.
June 21, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Every country is warming.
Every country is experiencing more extreme weather events because of climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels. www.ShowYourStripes.info
Time to #ShowYourStripes and start climate conversations to prompt actions to reduce emissions, personally & collectively.
Every country is experiencing more extreme weather events because of climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels. www.ShowYourStripes.info
Time to #ShowYourStripes and start climate conversations to prompt actions to reduce emissions, personally & collectively.
😮🤩🙀
So, if anyone missed it, the next eruption episode has started at Kīlauea. Lava fountains just keep comin'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiyt...
June 11, 2025 at 11:23 PM
😮🤩🙀
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
June 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
Reposted by Vala Hjörleifsdóttir
There is a false dichotomy drawn between "the ivory tower" and "the real world," and I'm here to report that in a post-industrial society, your real-world economy absolutely hinges on the university.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
A must read
May 18, 2025 at 9:20 AM
There is a false dichotomy drawn between "the ivory tower" and "the real world," and I'm here to report that in a post-industrial society, your real-world economy absolutely hinges on the university.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
War on women continues.. in countries where women typically stay home after having children (I am thinking Japan for example), they have voted on these type of policies by not having children..
As the Trump administration shrinks child care programs, Republicans are backing policies they hope will allow more parents to scale back at work. Senator Jim Banks of Indiana introduced a bill that would effectively pay stay-at-home parents. Other Republicans want to expand the child tax credit.
Not Just More Babies: These Republicans Want More Parents at Home
www.nytimes.com
May 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
War on women continues.. in countries where women typically stay home after having children (I am thinking Japan for example), they have voted on these type of policies by not having children..
Incredible footage of a fault moving - the whole landscape in the background shifts.
Amazing - I think this may be the only footage in existence of real-time slip on a fault.
⚒️ 🧪
⚒️ 🧪
This is mind-blowing! I have never seen footage of the slip that occurs during an earthquake! Here you see the slip that occurred during the Myanmar earthquake. 🤯
www.youtube.com/watch?v=77ub...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=77ub...
May 12, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Incredible footage of a fault moving - the whole landscape in the background shifts.
The war on logic - in numbers
Computational analysis of speeches given in US Congress shows a strong decline in evidence based language at the expense of intuitive language that starts in the early 80s. Trends parallel developments in income inequality, polarization and congressional productivity.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
May 11, 2025 at 11:27 AM
The war on logic - in numbers