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Tsunami

Tsunamis are primarily caused by large undersea earthquakes at tectonic plate boundaries, displacing water and generating rolling waves that grow in height as they approach shore. The initial trough of a tsunami can create a vacuum effect, exposing coastal areas before the wave crest arrives, which can lead to multiple waves hitting the shore. Safety measures include recognizing warning signs, having an evacuation plan, and remaining in safe areas until official all-clear signals are given.

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9 views

Tsunami

Tsunamis are primarily caused by large undersea earthquakes at tectonic plate boundaries, displacing water and generating rolling waves that grow in height as they approach shore. The initial trough of a tsunami can create a vacuum effect, exposing coastal areas before the wave crest arrives, which can lead to multiple waves hitting the shore. Safety measures include recognizing warning signs, having an evacuation plan, and remaining in safe areas until official all-clear signals are given.

Uploaded by

arinamoskovko
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Tsunami

Prepared by Moskovko Oryna


What Causes a These awe-inspiring waves are typically caused by large, undersea earthquakes at
tectonic plate boundaries. When the ocean floor at a plate boundary rises or falls
suddenly, it displaces the water above it and launches the rolling waves that will

Tsunami?
become a tsunami. In deep ocean, tsunami waves may appear only a foot or so
high. But as they approach shoreline and enter shallower water they slow down and
begin to grow in energy and height. The tops of the waves move faster than their
bottoms do, which causes them to rise precipitously.
What Happens A tsunami’s trough, the low point beneath the wave’s crest, often
reaches shore first. When it does, it produces a vacuum effect

When It Hits
that sucks coastal water seaward and exposes harbor and sea
floors. This retreating of sea water is an important warning sign of
a tsunami, because the wave’s crest and its enormous volume of

Land water typically hit shore five minutes or so later. Recognizing this
phenomenon can save lives.

A tsunami is usually composed of a series of waves, called a wave


train, so its destructive force may be compounded as successive
waves reach shore. People experiencing a tsunami should
remember that the danger may not have passed with the first
wave and should await official word that it is safe to return to
vulnerable locations.

Some tsunamis do not appear on shore as massive breaking


waves but instead resemble a quickly surging tide that inundates
coastal areas.
Tsunami safety tips
Know the warning signs of a tsunami: rapidly rising or falling coastal waters,
a loud roar from the ocean, or rumblings of an earthquake. “If people along
the Indian Ocean coastline on December 26, 2004, were aware of and
heeded these natural warnings, fewer people would have died,” says Rocky
Lopes, administrator of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program.
He adds, “A strong myth is that tsunamis always cause the ocean to recede
before [the powerful] waves flood in. In some areas, particularly on islands,
water recession may not happen.”
● If you're in a tsunami area and there is an earthquake, ● Stay put in a safe area until an official all-clear is
first drop to the floor, cover your head and neck, and given. The first wave of a tsunami may not be the last
hold on to something stable. If you're in a low-lying area, or the strongest and the danger can last for hours or
move inland as soon as possible. even days, according to the National Weather Service.
● Map your evacuation route—not just for your home, ● Stay clear of damaged or flooded areas and
but work, school or caregivers, or any place else where downed power lines.
your family tends to be. Know how to get to safety on ● Listen for further alerts and instructions about
foot—roads may not always be feasible. evacuation zones and shelters.
Disastrous example
of tsunami in history
Sumatra, Indonesia – 26 December 2004
The 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra was estimated to occur at a depth of 30 km.
The fault zone that caused the tsunami was roughly 1300 km long, vertically displacing the sea floor
by several metres along that length. The ensuing tsunami was as tall as 50 m, reaching 5 km inland
near Meubolah, Sumatra. This tsunami is also the most widely recorded, with nearly one thousand
combined tide gauge and eyewitness measurements from around the world reporting a rise in wave
height, including places in the US, the UK and Antarctica. An estimated US$10b of damages is
attributed to the disaster, with around 230,000 people reported dead.
Thank You
For Your Attention

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