The Harbor Column:

A hot issue that is generating a lot of discussion is from the tsunami advisory issued Saturday after the devastating earthquake off the coast of Chile. This week’s column will be the first of a two-part response.

But first, a quick refresher: the word “tsunami” is formed from the Japanese words “tsu” and “nami.” “Tsu” and “Nami” are Japanese for “harbor” and “wave.” Many people will refer to a “harbor-wave” as a tidal wave, but keep in mind that tides are created by the sun and moon and tsunamis are created by the vertical displacement of water from primarily either an underwater earthquake, volcanic activity or a landside.

The recent seismic activity did trigger a tsunami that hit South America with a punch and pushed a wave of water across the ocean and up the coastline. Our area was issued a tsunami advisory by the West Coast Tsunami Center, which was not a warning or indication of destructive waves coming in our direction.

My radio crew and I were tracking the tsunami activity all morning since the waves were due to hit Newport during the first part of my Saturday radio show. We were closely watching and analyzing the information from the Tsunami Center, as well as the live interactive ocean buoys, and real observations from areas south of Newport. We determined that the approaching small waves will cause no damage to Newport Harbor or the coastline.

The Tsunami Center never changed its notice for Southern California from an advisory to a warning, but later another notice surfaced — which did not come from the center — that bigger waves from an aftershock were now heading our way. I immediately alerted my radio crew, but almost immediately rescinded the alert. By looking at the data from the Tsunami Center and again gathering information from the buoys and personal observations from those south of Newport, I determined that this notice was incorrect.

There were two different responses from the city of Newport Beach and the Orange County Harbor Patrol. I have been getting inquiries about why the city activated the AlertOC system after the small swells reached our coastline. I think that the Community Commentary piece in Wednesday’s Daily Pilot by City Manager Dave Kiff explains the correct and prudent steps that the city took, especially after receiving the later and inaccurate tsunami notice.

Next week, we will look at the response by the O.C. Harbor Department.

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to [email protected] or go to www.boathousetv.com .