Final answer:
In the event of a tsunami warning issued after an earthquake near Los Angeles, CA, residents in Honolulu, HI, would have approximately 5 to 6 hours to evacuate based on the speed of tsunamis and the distance across the Pacific Ocean.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a tsunami warning is issued after an earthquake occurs off the coast of Los Angeles, CA, the people in Honolulu, HI, US would have approximately 5 to 6 hours to evacuate. This calculation is based on the speed at which tsunamis can travel, typically up to 700 km/h in deep ocean waters. Given that the distance from the coast of Southern California to Honolulu is roughly 4000 km, and a tsunami would travel at speeds that can decrease as they approach the shore, we can approximate that it would take a tsunami 5-6 hours to cross the Pacific Ocean to reach Hawaii.
To provide further context, should a tsunami wave crest travel every 15 minutes (4 waves per hour) at a speed of 600 km/h, the distance between wave crests at sea would be around 150 km. This is because the wave travels 600 km in one hour, and four wave crests pass within that time. However, in the case of an emergency, such as a tsunami generated by an earthquake, official tsunami warnings and evacuation orders should always be adhered to promptly and without delay.