Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Tsunamis | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Maremotos Active
Tsunami probability in the Caribbean Region
Probabilidad de maremotos en la región del Caribe
Bathymetry and ancillary data collected in the Puerto Rico Trench
Batimetría y datos auxiliares recolectados en la Fosa de Puerto Rico
Tsunamis are long waves formed from a sudden displacement of the sea floor due to a fault rupture, landslide, or volcanic activity. Given that Puerto Rico lies above a subduction zone in the Caribbean Sea, it is especially susceptible to large earthquakes and tsunamis. The greatest tsunami ever recorded in Puerto Rico occurred from an earthquake off the Mona Passage in 1918. The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program are studying the risks of tsunamis in Puerto Rico and have developed detailed maps of the Caribbean fault traces. On this page, explore all tsunami hazard publications, data releases, and news for Puerto Rico.
Los maremotos son olas largas formadas por un desplazamiento repentino del suelo marino debido a la ruptura de una falla, un deslizamiento de tierra o actividad volcánica. Dado que Puerto Rico reside sobre una zona de subducción en el Mar Caribe, es especialmente susceptible a terremotos y maremotos. El maremoto más grande que se registró en Puerto Rico se produjo debido a un terremoto en el Canal de la Mona en 1918. El Programa sobre los Peligros de los Terremotos del USGS y el Programa de Recursos y Peligros Costeros y Marinos del USGS estudian los riesgos de los maremotos en Puerto Rico y desarrolló mapas detallados de la localización de las fallas del Caribe. Explore las publicaciones, datos y noticias sobre los peligros de maremotos en Puerto Rico en esta página.
Sea Floor Mapping | Mapa del suelo marino
North of Puerto Rico is the Puerto Rico Trench, the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean. This region poses a significant seismic and tsunami risk to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Detailed seafloor mapping can provide a critical perspective for hazard assessment about the origin of the bathymetry, its gravity and development. Learn more about the Puerto Rico Trench.
En el norte de Puerto Rico está la Fosa de Puerto Rico, la parte más profunda del Océano Atlántico. Esta región presenta un riesgo sísmico y de tsunamis significativo para Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes. Los mapas detallados del fondo marino pueden proporcionar una perspectiva crítica para la evaluación de amenazas sobre el origen de la batimetría, su gravedad y desarrollo. Conozca más sobre la Fosa de Puerto Rico.
International Tsunami Information Center - Caribbean Office Collaboration | La colaboración con el Centro Internacional de Información sobre Tsunamis - Oficina del Caribe (ITIC-CAR, por sus siglas en inglés)
The International Tsunami Information Center - Caribbean Office (ITIC-CAR) based out of University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) receives data from seismic monitoring stations managed by the USGS to issue tsunami warnings. USGS also works with NOAA on tsunami evacuation, source characterization, and other tasks, as needed. For official tsunami warnings and information visit the International Tsunami Information Center - Caribbean Office (ITIC-CAR).
El Centro Internacional de Información sobre Tsunamis - Oficina del Caribe (ITIC-CAR, por sus siglas en inglés), localizado en la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Mayagüez (UPRM), recibe datos de las estaciones de vigilancia sísmica, gestionados por el USGS, para emitir alertas de maremotos. El USGS también trabaja con la NOAA en programas de evacuación ante maremotos y la caracterización de sus orígenes. Si desea obtener alertas e información oficial sobre los maremotos, visite el Centro Internacional de Información sobre Tsunamis - Oficina del Caribe (ITIC-CAR, por sus siglas en inglés).
Core Data for Puerto Rico | Muestras de sedimento para Puerto Rio
Tsunamis that have impacted coastal communities in Puerto Rico could had been originated from landslides and earthquakes at the submerged carbonate platform north of Puerto Rico. The USGS, in collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has collected core samples in an effort to establish temporal data from past tsunamigenic landslide and earthquake events to provide a better understanding of historical tsunamis and help assess future risks. Learn more.
Los maremotos que han afectado a las comunidades costeras de Puerto Rico podrían haberse originado por deslizamientos de tierra y terremotos en la plataforma carbonatada sumergida al norte de Puerto Rico. El USGS, en colaboración con la Institución Oceanográfica de Woods Hole, ha recolectado muestras de sedimentos como parte de un esfuerzo que busca establecer una base de datos temporales de pasados deslizamientos de tierra y terremotos tsunamigénicos para proveer un mejor entendimiento de los maremotos históricos y evaluar los riesgos futuros. Obtenga más información.
Learn more about USGS Puerto Rico hazards research and tools. | Obtenga más información sobre las herramientas e investigaciones del USGS acerca de riesgos en Puerto Rico.
Science
USGS tsunami research is mainly conducted within the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Learn more about the science of tsunamis in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean in the links below.
Ciencias
Las investigaciones sobre tsunamis del USGS son principalmente realizadas dentro del Programa de Riesgos de Terremotos del USGS. Conozca más sobre la ciencia de tsunamis cerca de maremotos en Puerto Rico y el Caribe en los siguientes enlaces.
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
Explore media products on USGS tsunami research on Puerto Rico.
Explore los productos multimedia sobre las investigaciones de maremotos del USGS en Puerto Rico.
Explore scientific publications by USGS researchers about tsunamis in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Explore publicaciones científicas por los investigadores del USGS acerca de los maremotos en Puerto Rico y el Caribe.
Coarse-clast ridge complexes of the Caribbean: A preliminary basis for distinguishing tsunami and storm-wave origins
Coastal gravel-ridge complexes deposited on islands in the Caribbean Sea are recorders of past extreme-wave events that could be associated with either tsunamis or hurricanes. The ridge complexes of Bonaire, Jamaica, Puerto Rico (Isla de Mona), and Guadeloupe consist of polymodal clasts ranging in size from sand to coarse boulders that are derived from the adjacent coral reefs or subjacent rock pl
Submarine slides north of Puerto Rico and their tsunami potential
New multibeam bathymetry of the entire Puerto Rico trench reveals numerous retrograde slope failures at various scales at the edge of the carbonate platform north of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The slumped material comprises carbonate blocks, which fail, at least in initial stages, as a coherent rock mass. This, combined with the fact that the edge of the carbonate platform is steeper than
Reconnaissance investigation of Caribbean extreme wave deposits — Preliminary observations, interpretations, and research directions
Size distribution of submarine landslides and its implication to tsunami hazard in Puerto Rico
We have established for the first time a size frequency distribution for carbonate submarine slope failures. Using detailed bathymetry along the northern edge of the carbonate platform north of Puerto Rico, we show that the cumulative distribution of slope failure volumes follows a power-law distribution. The power-law exponent of this distribution is similar to those for rock falls on land, comme
Project PROBE Leg II: Final report and archive of swath bathymetric sonar, CTD/XBT and GPS navigation data collected during USGS Cruise 03008 (NOAA Cruise RB0303) Puerto Rico Trench 18 February - 7 March, 2003
No abstract available.
Project PROBE Leg I - Report and archive of multibeam bathymetry and acoustic backscatter , CTD/XBT and GPS navigation data collected during USGS Cruise 02051 (NOAA Cruise RB0208) Puerto Rico Trench September 24, 2002 to September 30, 2002
On September 24-30, 2002, six days of scientific surveying to map a section of the Puerto Rico Trench (PRT) took place aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Ron Brown. The cruise was funded by NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration. Multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data were collected over an area of about 25,000 sq. km of the Puerto Rico trench and its vi
New seafloor map of the Puerto Rico Trench helps assess earthquake and tsunami hazards
Earthquakes and tsunamis in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Many earthquakes and tsunamis have occurred in the northeastern Caribbean, where the movements of the Earth's surface plates are rapid and complicated. Future such events pose serious hazards to the 3.7 million people who live in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Puerto Rico: Marine sediments, terrestrial and seafloor imagery, and tectonic interpretations
Introduction: Puerto Rico is an island situated in the plate boundary zone between the Caribbean and the North American Plates. This is a geologically fascinating, tectonically active region, where the Caribbean Plate has over-ridden the North American Plate and is now sliding past it with strike-slip motion. The details of this tectonic interaction are poorly understood, largely because much of t
Seismic and tsunami hazard in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Executive SummaryPuerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are located at an active plate boundary between the North American plate and the northeast corner of the Caribbean plate. The region was subject in historical times to large magnitude earthquakes and devastating tsunamis. A major downward tilt of the sea floor north of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, large submarine rockslides, and an unusual
Read research news highlights about USGS tsunami research on Puerto Rico.
Lea las noticias más importantes sobre las investigaciones del USGS en Puerto Rico con relación a maremotos.
Tsunamis are long waves formed from a sudden displacement of the sea floor due to a fault rupture, landslide, or volcanic activity. Given that Puerto Rico lies above a subduction zone in the Caribbean Sea, it is especially susceptible to large earthquakes and tsunamis. The greatest tsunami ever recorded in Puerto Rico occurred from an earthquake off the Mona Passage in 1918. The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program are studying the risks of tsunamis in Puerto Rico and have developed detailed maps of the Caribbean fault traces. On this page, explore all tsunami hazard publications, data releases, and news for Puerto Rico.
Los maremotos son olas largas formadas por un desplazamiento repentino del suelo marino debido a la ruptura de una falla, un deslizamiento de tierra o actividad volcánica. Dado que Puerto Rico reside sobre una zona de subducción en el Mar Caribe, es especialmente susceptible a terremotos y maremotos. El maremoto más grande que se registró en Puerto Rico se produjo debido a un terremoto en el Canal de la Mona en 1918. El Programa sobre los Peligros de los Terremotos del USGS y el Programa de Recursos y Peligros Costeros y Marinos del USGS estudian los riesgos de los maremotos en Puerto Rico y desarrolló mapas detallados de la localización de las fallas del Caribe. Explore las publicaciones, datos y noticias sobre los peligros de maremotos en Puerto Rico en esta página.
Sea Floor Mapping | Mapa del suelo marino
North of Puerto Rico is the Puerto Rico Trench, the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean. This region poses a significant seismic and tsunami risk to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Detailed seafloor mapping can provide a critical perspective for hazard assessment about the origin of the bathymetry, its gravity and development. Learn more about the Puerto Rico Trench.
En el norte de Puerto Rico está la Fosa de Puerto Rico, la parte más profunda del Océano Atlántico. Esta región presenta un riesgo sísmico y de tsunamis significativo para Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes. Los mapas detallados del fondo marino pueden proporcionar una perspectiva crítica para la evaluación de amenazas sobre el origen de la batimetría, su gravedad y desarrollo. Conozca más sobre la Fosa de Puerto Rico.
International Tsunami Information Center - Caribbean Office Collaboration | La colaboración con el Centro Internacional de Información sobre Tsunamis - Oficina del Caribe (ITIC-CAR, por sus siglas en inglés)
The International Tsunami Information Center - Caribbean Office (ITIC-CAR) based out of University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) receives data from seismic monitoring stations managed by the USGS to issue tsunami warnings. USGS also works with NOAA on tsunami evacuation, source characterization, and other tasks, as needed. For official tsunami warnings and information visit the International Tsunami Information Center - Caribbean Office (ITIC-CAR).
El Centro Internacional de Información sobre Tsunamis - Oficina del Caribe (ITIC-CAR, por sus siglas en inglés), localizado en la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Mayagüez (UPRM), recibe datos de las estaciones de vigilancia sísmica, gestionados por el USGS, para emitir alertas de maremotos. El USGS también trabaja con la NOAA en programas de evacuación ante maremotos y la caracterización de sus orígenes. Si desea obtener alertas e información oficial sobre los maremotos, visite el Centro Internacional de Información sobre Tsunamis - Oficina del Caribe (ITIC-CAR, por sus siglas en inglés).
Core Data for Puerto Rico | Muestras de sedimento para Puerto Rio
Tsunamis that have impacted coastal communities in Puerto Rico could had been originated from landslides and earthquakes at the submerged carbonate platform north of Puerto Rico. The USGS, in collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has collected core samples in an effort to establish temporal data from past tsunamigenic landslide and earthquake events to provide a better understanding of historical tsunamis and help assess future risks. Learn more.
Los maremotos que han afectado a las comunidades costeras de Puerto Rico podrían haberse originado por deslizamientos de tierra y terremotos en la plataforma carbonatada sumergida al norte de Puerto Rico. El USGS, en colaboración con la Institución Oceanográfica de Woods Hole, ha recolectado muestras de sedimentos como parte de un esfuerzo que busca establecer una base de datos temporales de pasados deslizamientos de tierra y terremotos tsunamigénicos para proveer un mejor entendimiento de los maremotos históricos y evaluar los riesgos futuros. Obtenga más información.
Learn more about USGS Puerto Rico hazards research and tools. | Obtenga más información sobre las herramientas e investigaciones del USGS acerca de riesgos en Puerto Rico.
Science
USGS tsunami research is mainly conducted within the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Learn more about the science of tsunamis in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean in the links below.
Ciencias
Las investigaciones sobre tsunamis del USGS son principalmente realizadas dentro del Programa de Riesgos de Terremotos del USGS. Conozca más sobre la ciencia de tsunamis cerca de maremotos en Puerto Rico y el Caribe en los siguientes enlaces.
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
Explore media products on USGS tsunami research on Puerto Rico.
Explore los productos multimedia sobre las investigaciones de maremotos del USGS en Puerto Rico.
Explore scientific publications by USGS researchers about tsunamis in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Explore publicaciones científicas por los investigadores del USGS acerca de los maremotos en Puerto Rico y el Caribe.
Coarse-clast ridge complexes of the Caribbean: A preliminary basis for distinguishing tsunami and storm-wave origins
Coastal gravel-ridge complexes deposited on islands in the Caribbean Sea are recorders of past extreme-wave events that could be associated with either tsunamis or hurricanes. The ridge complexes of Bonaire, Jamaica, Puerto Rico (Isla de Mona), and Guadeloupe consist of polymodal clasts ranging in size from sand to coarse boulders that are derived from the adjacent coral reefs or subjacent rock pl
Submarine slides north of Puerto Rico and their tsunami potential
New multibeam bathymetry of the entire Puerto Rico trench reveals numerous retrograde slope failures at various scales at the edge of the carbonate platform north of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The slumped material comprises carbonate blocks, which fail, at least in initial stages, as a coherent rock mass. This, combined with the fact that the edge of the carbonate platform is steeper than
Reconnaissance investigation of Caribbean extreme wave deposits — Preliminary observations, interpretations, and research directions
Size distribution of submarine landslides and its implication to tsunami hazard in Puerto Rico
We have established for the first time a size frequency distribution for carbonate submarine slope failures. Using detailed bathymetry along the northern edge of the carbonate platform north of Puerto Rico, we show that the cumulative distribution of slope failure volumes follows a power-law distribution. The power-law exponent of this distribution is similar to those for rock falls on land, comme
Project PROBE Leg II: Final report and archive of swath bathymetric sonar, CTD/XBT and GPS navigation data collected during USGS Cruise 03008 (NOAA Cruise RB0303) Puerto Rico Trench 18 February - 7 March, 2003
No abstract available.
Project PROBE Leg I - Report and archive of multibeam bathymetry and acoustic backscatter , CTD/XBT and GPS navigation data collected during USGS Cruise 02051 (NOAA Cruise RB0208) Puerto Rico Trench September 24, 2002 to September 30, 2002
On September 24-30, 2002, six days of scientific surveying to map a section of the Puerto Rico Trench (PRT) took place aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Ron Brown. The cruise was funded by NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration. Multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data were collected over an area of about 25,000 sq. km of the Puerto Rico trench and its vi
New seafloor map of the Puerto Rico Trench helps assess earthquake and tsunami hazards
Earthquakes and tsunamis in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Many earthquakes and tsunamis have occurred in the northeastern Caribbean, where the movements of the Earth's surface plates are rapid and complicated. Future such events pose serious hazards to the 3.7 million people who live in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Puerto Rico: Marine sediments, terrestrial and seafloor imagery, and tectonic interpretations
Introduction: Puerto Rico is an island situated in the plate boundary zone between the Caribbean and the North American Plates. This is a geologically fascinating, tectonically active region, where the Caribbean Plate has over-ridden the North American Plate and is now sliding past it with strike-slip motion. The details of this tectonic interaction are poorly understood, largely because much of t
Seismic and tsunami hazard in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Executive SummaryPuerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are located at an active plate boundary between the North American plate and the northeast corner of the Caribbean plate. The region was subject in historical times to large magnitude earthquakes and devastating tsunamis. A major downward tilt of the sea floor north of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, large submarine rockslides, and an unusual
Read research news highlights about USGS tsunami research on Puerto Rico.
Lea las noticias más importantes sobre las investigaciones del USGS en Puerto Rico con relación a maremotos.