Tsunamis: More Than a Splash

Presentation By: Ka’ai Young, Ellie Goodrich, Geri Trower, & Ivan Maurer

PHYSICS 1010

A Tsunami is a disastrous wave caused by a disruption on the Seafloor

Tsunami is derived from a Japanese word meaning, ‘harbor wave’: tsu, which means harbor, nami, which means wave

Most tsunamis are generated by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and asteroids

What is a Tsunami?

Most tsunamis are initiated by earthquakes that occur underwater, but not all of these earthquakes will produce a tsunami

Immediately after an underwater earthquake occurs, the surface of the sea reflects the new form of the sea floor, which creates a series of waves and the start of a tsunami

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/animations/tsunami/main.html

Development

Tsunami’s usually hit in multiple large waves, not just one

Their above water height grows as they move inland

Speeds can reach hundreds of miles per hour.

http://www.edumedia-sciences.com/en/a98-tsunami

A very large tsunami can do some serious damage even when it occurs thousands of miles away from where the earthquake that caused it originated, although there has never been one recorded that has gone farther than a mile inland

Movement & Size

Movement and Size

Locally generated tsunamis have the potential to reach a nearby shore in the span of 10 minutes

Not enough time for any tsunami warning center to issue a tsunami warning

Tsunami Hazards: Local Tsunami’s

Tsunami Hazards: Wave Propagation

• Disruption on the seafloor creates displacement in the water and Tsunami waves are formed

• Once they are formed they move in all directions away from the origin point

In order for an earthquake to cause a noticeable tsunami it must have a magnitude of at least 6.75 on the Richter scale

Because of this, larger tsunamis only occur on an average of about 6 per century with ninety percent of those occurring in the Pacific Ocean

There is no way to calculate how many smaller tsunamis occur because their effects are rarely noticeable at all

Tsunami Hazards: How often do they occur?

Tsunamis cannot be prevented The damage can be reduced by being

rightfully prepared and educated about these monstrous waves

Tsunami walls have also been installed in many coastal communities to reduce damage

Prevention

Before the devastating Tsunami of 2004, we don’t have much ability to track Tsunamis

Now we can trace the following once a wave has been detected: Height Speed Arrival Time Flood potential

Tracking a Tsunami

Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (D.A.R.T)

http://oceantoday.noaa.gov/trackingtsunamis/

Warning Systems

Some warning signs include: An earthquake or volcanic eruption near a

coastal community Shaking of the ground Receding of the ocean Sound of loud ocean roars A noticeable rise or fall in the shore line An approaching wall of water

Warning Signs

Named by the Japanese, caused by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, and asteroids

Created by sudden events that displaces the sea floor, which then causes the sea to compensate for that displacement of water

Not noticeable until it reaches closer to shore Multiple waves; first wave isn’t always the most dangerous Locally generated waves are dangerous Natural phenomenon, cannot be prevented Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis

(D.A.R.T) Receding of the ocean is one major sign

Review