The Earthquake in Japan
Like millions of others on the eastern seaboard of the US, I awoke this morning to discover that a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake had struck off the northeast coast of Japan, producing a massive tsunami that has inundated sections of the Japanese coast and produced calamitous damage. It was among the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history, striking near one of the most densely populated nations on earth.
As reports roll in, my thoughts are with the people of Japan, who face an enormous challenge as they work to contain, assess and ultimately recover from the damage caused by this event. Most troubling, there is little doubt that the initial casualty figures, which numbers in the dozens as I write this, will skyrocket. This earthquake is, first and foremost, a human catastrophe whose true scale will not be known for days or weeks.
There will be a time in the days and weeks to come to consider the unique technological dynamics around this event. Japan is among the most urbanized, industrialized and information-savvy societies on the planet. It is also a nation with an infrastructure uniquely designed and prepared to weather the impacts of a strong earthquake.
Already, we are hearing reports that Internet access and communications stayed up even as land and cell phone networks failed -- a development that mirrored the experience of New Orleans-area residents during Hurricane Katrina. The availability of advanced information and communications systems is already playing a role in limiting the human toll of this calamity, as real-time data gathered from the vast network of so-called DART stations (for Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami) allow officials to track the progress and power of the tsunami as it travels across the Pacific Ocean. The network of 39 DART stations was finalized just three years ago--and now is getting a critical test.
For today, my concern is for the people directly impacted by this terrible catastrophe. This is an event of almost unimaginable proportions, and as much as I am hoping for the best, I am very much fearing the worst.
Posted by Michael Desmond on 03/11/2011