The status of tsunami debris in Alaska.
While the devastation of the Japanese tsunami touched many of our hearts, echoes of it are soon expected to wash up along our shores. The bulk of the debris is subject to currents and isn’t expected to arrive until 2013, but the lightest debris may have been spotted along the west coast of US and Canada. Report your own debris sightings and pictures at marinedebris@ak.net.
Recent Highlights:
Survey Results-
In Alaska, there are no definitive sightings of the debris to date, but several possible objects have washed ashore. Foreign debris has been washing up on Alaska beaches for years, long before the 2011 tsunami, so whether these objects are from tsunami or were already adrift is unknown. We’re still waiting for debris that can be conclusively identifiable debris.
Yakutat:
December 22, 2011: A large black buoy with Japanese writing has been discovered on a Yakutat beach similar to those being found in Washington State.
January 2, 2012: Nine of those black oblong buoys were found in the last two days, plus a couple monster round floats.
January 4, 2012: After the next blow, we also picked up 3 Japanese jerry jugs. There are 6 or 7 large white Styrofoam floats (a little larger than a 55 gal drum) scattered along the beach.
Kodiak:
According to KMXT radio: A local beach comber and a renowned oceanographer have found that Kodiak is already receiving some of the earliest arrivals of debris from the Japanese earthquake and subsequent tsunami. . . . Back in September, avid beach comber Dave Kubiak came across a large, white plastic float while out in his boat. Read more.
The two waves of Tsunami Debris
Wind Driven Debris
Late 2011 or early 2012.
Buoys and other wind driven debris are expected to travel roughly 20 miles per day, much faster than the current driven debris. The map above shows a 2006 buoy that was tracked in its eight month journey across the pacific. If the Japanese tsunami debris travels at the same rate, it would be expected to arrive in Washington in Nov/Dec 2012.
Map courtesy of Curtis Ebbesmeyer and Jim Ingraham (DriftBusters Co) previously published in the Beachcombers' Alert newsletter.
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Current Driven Debris
2013
OSCURS tsunami debris simulation shows the current driven debris arriving in 2013. This debris is expected to travel roughly 7 miles per day. Map courtesy NOAA and Dr James Churnside. |
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