The ‘Ring of Fire’ Is Heating Up; Could a Mega-Tsunami Be Next?

"What happened in Russia is a reminder of the similar forces at play in our backyard," Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, told Axios about the west coast. "Except we have more people and infrastructure in harm's way."

As Bill Martin – meteorologist and long-time Northern California surfer – says in the video above: "It’s not fear—it’s awareness. The faults move inches each year, and eventually that built-up tension will release. This is just the way it is if you live on the West Coast."

One tectonic plate is most in question, in terms of potential destruction and a mega-tsunami for the west coast of North America – the Cascadia Subduction Zone. According to a recent study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, there’s a 15% chance of a rupture in the Cascadia Subduction Zone in the next 50 years, and a 29% chance by the year 2100.

Looking back through history, a destructive earthquake has occurred in the subduction zone spanning from Northern California to British Columbia roughly once every 550 years. The last one was in 1700 – 325 years ago. So, the next one could be anytime soon.

For more on the threat of tsunamis in the Pacific ampitheater, here’s the National Weather Service:

“Tsunamis are among Earth's most infrequent hazards. But even though tsunamis do not occur very often, and most are small and nondestructive, they pose a major threat to coastal communities, particularly in the Pacific. A tsunami can strike any ocean coast at any time. There is no season for tsunamis. We cannot predict where, when or how destructive the next tsunami will be. However, while tsunamis cannot be prevented, there are things you can do before, during and after a tsunami that could save your life and the lives of your family and friends.”

In other words, been nice knowin’ ya! Just kidding…stay alert; have a plan.