Here is the map [1]. The Aleutian islands are hit first, but it seems the big effect is the slowing-down of the wave in very shallow waters. (Here's depth maps

Here is the map [1]. The Aleutian islands are hit first, but it seems the big effect is the slowing-down of the wave in very shallow waters. (Here's depth maps: [2][3]). Note the contours -- it takes ~9 hours for the tsunami to cross this small sea (Bering), the same time as it takes to cross the entire Pacific from Japan to British Columbia. According to [4], shallow-water waves (including tsunamis) have speed proportional to sqrt(depth). Not sure how accurate this approximation is, but it seems to get the order-of-magnitude right. This FAQ [5] says that much of the energy should be reflected off the continental slope (where it goes from deep to shallow abruptly), so the tsunamis there should be pretty small. The tsunami height-forecast [6] says the same thing. [1] http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/06/ttvulhvpd9-06.jpg http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/06/ttvulhvpd9-0... [2] http://www.gebco.net/data_and_products/gebco_world_map/images/gda_world_map_small.jpg http://www.gebco.net/data_and_products/gebco_world_map/image... [3] http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/oceancolor/additional/science-focus/images/bering_sea_bathymetry.gif http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/oceancolor/additional/science-... [4] http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/ocng_textbook/chapter16/chapter16_01.htm http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/ocng_textbook/chapter16... [5] http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/faq/ArcticTalkingPoints.htm http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/faq/ArcticTalkingPoints.htm [6] http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/energylhvpd9-04.jpg http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/energylhvpd9-04...