Presented by:

F.Y. B.C.A.
Mihir Roat
 Tsunami
A sea wave of local or distant origin that results from large-
scale seafloor displacements associated with large
earthquakes, major submarine slides, or exploding
volcanic islands.
 Tsunami and Tides

 The term Tsunami has been derived from a Japanese term Tsu meaning
'harbor' and nami meaning 'waves'.
 Tsunamis are popularly called tidal waves but they actually have nothing
to do with the tides.
 Tidal waves are normal surface water ups and downs while tsunamis are
generated by sea floor activities and are not only confined to the surface
 The wavelength in other waves is shorter as much as 50 meter while the
wavelength in tsunami is as greater as 100 km.
 Water is displaced with a violent motion and swells up, ultimately
surging over land with great destructive power.
 The tsunamis travel much faster than ordinary waves. Compared
to normal wave speed of 100 kilometers per hour, tsunami in the
deep water of the ocean may travel the speed of a jet airplane - 800
kilometers per hour
Causes of Tsunamis
A tsunami can be generated by any disturbance that displaces a
large water mass from its equilibrium position.
 Ocean Earthquakes
Tsunamis can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms
and vertically displaces the overlying water.
When earthquakes occur beneath the sea, the water above the
deformed area is displaced from its equilibrium position.
Waves are formed as the displaced water mass, which acts under
the influence of gravity, attempts to regain its equilibrium.
Around the margins of the Pacific Ocean, for example, denser
oceanic plates slip under continental plates in a process known as
subduction. Subduction earthquakes are particularly effective in
generating tsunamis.
 Submarine Landslides
The second most common cause of the tsunami is a landslide
either occurring under water or originating above the sea and
then plunging into the water.
The water column is uplifted by the material fell down on to
the sea floor resulting into the generation of tsunami waves
The largest tsunami ever produced by a landslide was in
Lituya Bay, Alaska 1958. The massive rock slide produced a
wave that reached a high water mark of 50 - 150 meters above
the shoreline.
 Submarine Volcanism
The third major cause of tsunami is volcanic activity.
Several volcanic activities such as collapse or actual volcanic
explosion can also generate giant waves in ocean waters
resulting into tsunami
In 1883, the violent explosion of the famous volcano,
Krakotoa in Indonesia, produced tsunami measuring 40
meters which crushed upon Java and Sumatra. Over 36,000
people lost their lives in this tyrant waves.
 Destructions by Tsunamis
 The force of the water can raze everything in its path resulting
into casualties and property losses.
 Deaths mainly occur because of drowning as water
inundates homes.
 Many people get washed away or crushed by the
giant waves and some are crushed by the debris,
causes.
 It is normally the flooding affect of the tsunami that causes
major destruction to the human settlements, roads and
infrastructure thereby disrupting the normal functioning
of the society.
 As the waves withdraw towards the ocean they sweep out
the foundations of the buildings, the beaches get destroyed
and the houses carried out to sea.
 Damage to ports and airports may prevent importation of
needed food and medical supplies
 Apart from the physical damage, here is a huge impact on
the public health system.
 Availability of drinking water has always been a major
problem in areas affected by a disaster.
 Sewage pipes may be damaged causing major sewage
disposal problems.
 Open wells and other ground water may be contaminated by
salt water and debris and sewage.
 Flooding in the locality may lead to crop loss, loss of
livelihood like boats and nets, environmental degradation
etc.
Possible Mitigation Strategies
Like earthquakes, tsunamis gives no warning and strike all of the
sudden.
However, the far-field tsunamis i.e. when the earthquake origin is far
away from the shore, gives a plenty warning in many cases.
The following measures may be helpful in reducing the impacts of
tsunamis.
 Efficient Early Warning System can be effective in case of far-field
tsunamis as they take a few minutes to reach the harbor and a little
evacuation time is given.
 Land-use zoning: Tsunami hazards can be mitigated by land-use
zoning that limits building to elevations above those that would
potentially be flooded by a tsunami.
 Coastal developments that orient streets and buildings
perpendicular to waves tend to survive better than those aligned
parallel to the shore. This layout allows waves to penetrate farther
and dissipate as they flow through open streets, limiting debris
impact.
 Structures should also be designed to resist erosion and scour.
 Landscaping with vegetation capable of resisting wave erosion
and scour can help. Trees can slow waves while permitting
water to flow between them, but they need to be well rooted.
 A large ditch or reinforced concrete wall placed in front of
houses can help reduce the impact of the first wave and may
provide a little extra evacuation time. Both these options are
extensively used in Japan.
 Avoid week and poor building material in construction in the
vulnerable areas.
 In case if a tsunami strikes, follow the following safety measures
 You need to get to high ground or well inland immediately. Roads
heading directly inland are escape routes, but blocked roads and
traffic jams are likely. Climb a nearby slope as far as possible.
 Even if there are no nearby hills, quickly moving in-land can still
help, because the energy, height, and speed of a tsunami dissipates
on land.
 Moving to an upper floor of a well-reinforced building away from the
beach may also help.
 Do not return to the shore after the first wave. Although the sea may
pull back offshore for a kilometer or more following that first wave,
other, even higher, waves often arrive for several hours, with long
intervals in between. Wait until officials provide an all-clear signal
before you return.
 Stay tuned to your radio or television.