Disaster Management: Tsunami

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Disaster

Management

TSUNAMI-
the killer wave
Submitted To : Submitted By :

Mr. Jaspal Sahota Navdeep Kaur

Class : X

INTRODUCTION
Tsunami (pronounced soo-NAH-mee) is a Japanese word. An earthquake generates
a tsunami if it is of sufficient force and there is violent movement of the earth
causing substantial and sudden displacement of a massive amount of water. A
tsunami is not a single wave but a series of waves. The first wave in a tsunami is
not necessarily the most destructive. Tsunami waves can be very long (as much as
60 miles, or 100 kilometers) and be as far as one hour apart. They are able to cross
entire oceans without great loss of energy. The Indian Ocean tsunami traveled as
much as 3,000 miles (nearly 5,000 kilometers) to Africa, arriving with sufficient
force to kill people and destroy property. How big do they get?

What is TSUNAMI??

A tsunami or tidal wave is a series of water waves (called a tsunami wave train)
caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, usually an ocean,
but can occur in large lakes. Tsunamis are a frequent occurrence in Japan;
approximately 195 events have been recorded Due to the immense volumes of
water and energy involved, tsunamis can devastate coastal regions.

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions (including


detonations of underwater nuclear devices), landslides and other mass movements,
meteorite ocean impacts or similar impact events, and other disturbances above or
below water all have the potential to generate a tsunami.

The Greek historian Thucydides was the first to relate tsunami to but
understanding of tsunami's nature remained slim until the 20th century and is the
subject of ongoing research. Many early geological, geographical, and
oceanographic texts refer to tsunamis as "seismic sea waves."
How do they form?
Tsunamis are formed as a result of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides
that occur under the sea. When these events occur under the water, huge amounts
of energy are released as a result of quick upward bottom movement. For example,
if a volcanic eruption occurs, the ocean floor may very quickly move upward
several hundred feet. When this happens, huge volumes of ocean water are pushed
upward and a wave is formed. A large earthquake can lift thousands of square
kilometers of sea floor which will cause the formation of huge waves. The Pacific
Ocean is especially prone to tsunamis as a result of the large amount of undersea
geological activity.
How big do they get?
In the open ocean tsunamis may appear very small with a height of less than 1
meter (3 feet). Tsunamis will sometimes go undetected until they approach shallow
waters along a coast. These waves have a very large wavelength (up to several
hundred miles) that is a function of the depth of the water where they were formed.
Although these waves have a small height, there is a tremendous amount of energy
associated with them. As a result of this huge amount of energy, these waves can
become gigantic as they approach shallow water. Their height, as they crash upon
the shore, depends on the underwater surface features. They can be as high as 30 m
(100 feet) or more. In 1737 , a huge wave estimated to be 64m (210 feet) in height
hit Cape Lopatka, Kamchatka (NE Russia). The largest Tsunami ever recorded
occurred in July of 1958 in Lituya Bay, Alaska. A huge rock and ice fall sent water
surging up to a high water mark of 500m (1640 feet). It's no wonder that these
waves can cause such massive destruction and loss of life.
How fast do they move?
In the deep open sea, tsunamis move at speeds approaching a jet aircraft. As they
approach the shore, they slow down. When a tsunami arrives at the shore, it usually
does so as a rapidly rising tide moving at about 70 km/hour (45 miles/hour).

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How much destruction do they cause?


Beyond the tremendous destruction of life that tsunamis cause, they have also
caused massive physical damage. They have entirely destroyed buildings and left
towns looking like a nuclear war zone. They have lifted boats high out of the water
and violently hurled them against the shore, smashing them to pieces. They have
bent parking meters all the way down to the ground. In one incredible story, during
the huge tsunami in Lituya Bay, Alaska a boat with two people in it was carried
from the bay, over tree tops and over the land out into the ocean. The people
survived to tell the tale.

Some tsunamis can be very large. In coastal areas their height can be as great as 10
m or more (30m in extreme cases ) and they can inland several hundred meters.
All low lying consists coastal areas can be struck by tsunami.
A tsunami consists of a series of waves. Often the first wave may not be largest.
The danger from subsequent tsunami waves can last for several hours after the
arrival of first wave.

Tsunami can move even 50 km per hour on coastal plain, faster than a person can
run.

Sometimes a tsunami causes the water near the shore to recede, exposing the ocean
floor. This is nature’s tsunami warning and should be heeded.

The force of some tsunami can be enormous. Large rocks weighing some tons
along with boats and other debris can be moved inland several meters by tsunami
waves activity. Homes and other buildings are destroyed. All floating materials and
water move with great force and can kill or injure people.
Tsunami can occur on anytime on day or night.

Tsunami can travel up rivers and that lead to the ocean.

B a
ck t

o question list

DO YOU KNOW!!!!
Consider this:

 1883 - Krakatoa, Indonesia - 36,000 people dead


 1896 - Honshu, Japan - 27,000 people dead
 1976 - Mindanao, Philippines - 8,000 people dead
 1992 - Nicaragua - 100 people dead

This is just a small sampling of the loss of life that has been attributed to "killer
waves" which are better known as tidal waves or tsunamis.
“The Indian Ocean tsunami generated by the most powerful earthquake in decades
on December 26 is believed to have killed more than 150,000 people and made
millions homeless, making it perhaps the most destructive tsunami in history”.

If you are living in a tsunami hazard prone, you should:


Know the height of your street above street and level and the distance of your
street from the coast or other high risk waters.

Plan evacuation routes from tour home, school, work place or any other place you
could be where tsunamis present a risk.

Practice your evacuation routes.

Have disaster supplies on hand.

Discuss tsunamis with your family.

Develop an emergency communication plan. In case family members are separated


from one another during a tsunami have a plan for getting back together. Ask an
out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the family contact.
If you are at risk from tsunami you should:
Avoid buildings within several hundred feet of the coastline.

Make a list of items to bring inside the event of tsunami.

Elevate coastal homes. Most tsunami waves are than 10 feet. Elevating your house
will help reduce damage to your property from most tsunamis.

Take precautions to prevent flooding.

Follow instructions issued by local authorities.

During a tsunami you should:


If you are at home and hear tsunami warning, you should make sure that your
whole family is aware of the warning. Your family should evacuate house if you
live in a tsunami prone area and move in an orderly, calm and safe manner to
evacuation site.
Take your Disaster Supplies Kit. Having supplies will make you more comfortable
during the evacuation.

If you evacuate take your animals with you.

If you are at beach or near the ocean and you feel the earth shake, move
immediately to the higher ground. Do not wait for Tsunami warning to be
announced. Stay away from oceans and streams that lead to oceans.

High muti-storey, reinforced concrete buildings are located in many low-lying


coastal areas. The upper floors of these buildings can provide a safe place.

Update yourself on emergency information or warning announced on radio and


television from time to time.
Can we detect them before they hit?
Yes. About 35 years ago, 24 countries around the Pacific set up the Pacific
Tsunami Warning System. A group of seismic monitoring stations and a network
of tide gauges are used for detection. The biggest problem with this system is that
it is difficult to predict how large and destructive the resulting waves will be.
Scientists are currently working on better predictive tools

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