National Tsunami Warning Center, NOAA/NWS

Tonga Island Region Tsunami of 19 March 2009

A major earthquake with a moment magnitude of 7.6 (USGS magnitude) occurred at 18:17:03 UTC 19 March 2009 (day 078) and was located 135 miles/220 km SSE of Nuku'alofa, Tonga (23.050S, 174.668W, 21.1mi/34.0km depth--USGS location).

This earthquake produced a tsunami that was recorded at tide gages monitored at the Tsunami Warning Centers. Many observatories provide data to the centers; such as the NOAA National Ocean Service,  the U. of Hawaii Sea Level Center, the Chilean Navy, and the National Tidal Facility in Australia among others. Click on the site name to see a graph of the tsunami, when available. Listed wave heights are maximum amplitude in cm (above sea level). Observed Arrival time is the actual tsunami arrival time in UTC on gages where it could be determined. The Computed Arrival time is the estimated time of arrival computed at the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) based on the origin time and location. The Sample Interval column shows the time between samples.

For additional information about this tsunami event see the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center's homepage .

 

Travel Time Map
(click to enlarge)

Maximum Amplitude Graph
(click to enlarge)

 

Tide gage

Peak amplitude (above sea level in cm)

Observed Initial Arrival time (UTC)

Computed Initial Arrival time (UTC)

Initial motion

Sample Interval (min)

Data File (Julian Day Starts at  0000 UTC)

Tonga

6.4

 1851

1851

rise

6

 078

Niue

3.2

 1900

1902

rise

2

 078
PagoPago 8.8 ? 1925 rise 1 078

Suva, Fiji

4.4

 1959

2006

rise

1

 078

Rarotonga

9.4

 ~2012

2011

rise

1

 078

Napier, NZ

7.4

 ? 2123 rise

0.25

 078 079

Port Vila, Vanuatu

6.4

 2204 2136 rise

1

 078 079
Nuka Hiva, Fr. Poly 9.0 2338 2322   1 078 079
Rikitea 2.5 ? 2327   1 078 079
Nawiliwili HI 5.1 0054 3-20 0039 3-20 rise 1 078 079
Honolulu HI 3.5 0058 3-20 0040 3-20 rise 1 078 079
Kawaihae HI 6.5 0028 3-20 0040 3-20 rise 1 078 079
Kahului HI 9.5 0113 3-20 0108 3-20 rise 1 078 079

Corral, Chile

4.5

 ? 0651 3-20  

2

079
Valparaiso, Chile 7.2 ? 0722 3-20   2 079
Baltra, Ecuador 2.9 0809 3-20 0729 3-20 rise 1 079
Coquimbo, Chile 8.0 0800 3-20 0736 3-20   2 079
Caldera Chile 7.5 ? 0751 3-20   2 079
Antofagasta, Chile 3.1 ? 0819 3-20 rise 2 079
Callao,La Punta, Peru 15.0 ? 0826 3-20 rise 6 079
LaLibertad, Ecuador 6.0 ? 0829 3-20   2 079

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