A tsunami (pronounced su-nah-me) is a wave train, or series of waves, generated in a body of

water by an impulsive disturbance that vertically displaces the water column. Earthquakes,
landslides, volcanic eruptions, explosions, and even the impact of cosmic bodies, such as
meteorites, can generate tsunamis. Tsunamis can savagely attack coastlines, causing devastating
property damage and loss of life.

How do earthquakes generate tsunamis?

Tsunamis can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the
overlying water. Tectonic earthquakes are a particular kind of earthquake that are associated with
the earth's crustal deformation; when these 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. When
large areas of the sea floor elevate or subside, a tsunami can be created. Large vertical
movements of the earth's crust can occur at plate boundaries. Plates interact along these
boundaries called faults. 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.

How do landslides, volcanic eruptions, and cosmic collisions generate

tsunamis?

A tsunami can be generated by any disturbance that displaces a large water mass from its
equilibrium position. In the case of earthquake-generated tsunamis, the water column is disturbed
by the uplift or subsidence of the sea floor. Submarine landslides, which often accompany large
earthquakes, as well as collapses of volcanic edifices, can also disturb the overlying water column
as sediment and rock slump downslope and are redistributed across the sea floor. Similarly, a
violent submarine volcanic eruption can create an impulsive force that uplifts the water column
and generates a tsunami. Conversely, supermarine landslides and cosmic-body impacts disturb the
water from above, as momentum from falling debris is transferred to the water into which the
debris falls. Generally speaking, tsuna-mis generated from these mechanisms, unlike the Pacific-
wide tsunamis caused by some earthquakes, dissipate quickly and rarely affect coastlines distant
from the source area.

Tsunamis race across the sea at up to 500 miles (805 kilometers) an hour—about as fast as a
jet airplane. At that pace they can cross the entire expanse of the Pacific Ocean in less than a
day. And their long wavelengths mean they lose very little energy along the way.

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.

A tsunami’s trough, the low point beneath the wave’s crest, often reaches shore first. When it
does, it produces a vacuum effect 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 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.
The best defense against any tsunami is early warning that allows people to seek higher
ground. The Pacific Tsunami Warning System, a coalition of 26 nations headquartered in
Hawaii, maintains a web of seismic equipment and water level gauges to identify tsunamis at
sea. Similar systems are proposed to protect coastal areas worldwide

Mitigation of Risks and Hazards

The main damage from tsunami comes from the destructive nature of the waves themselves.
Secondary effects include the debris acting as projectiles which then run into other objects,
erosion that can undermine the foundations of structures built along coastlines, and fires that
result from disruption of gas and electrical lines.  Tertiary effects include loss of crops and
water and electrical systems which can lead to famine and disease.

For the fishing industry, this is a poser, and the livelihood of many who depend on the
sea would be at stake. In addition, even if there were fish to be caught, there would be a
substantial number of people in the region who refuse to consume marine products such as
fish and shellfish, for fear that they could be eating the remains of the victims of the tsunami.

Health Effects of Tsunamis

Immediate health concerns

 After the rescue of survivors, the primary public health concerns are clean drinking water,
food, shelter, and medical care for injuries.

 Flood waters can pose health risks such as contaminated water and food supplies.

 Loss of shelter leaves people vulnerable to insect exposure, heat, and other environmental
hazards.

 The majority of deaths associated with tsunamis are related to drownings, but traumatic
injuries are also a primary concern. Injuries such as broken limbs and head injuries are
caused by the physical impact of people being washed into debris such as houses, trees,
and other stationary items. As the water recedes, the strong suction of debris being pulled
into large populated areas can further cause injuries and undermine buildings and services.

 Medical care is critical in areas where little medical care exists.

Long-lasting effects

The effects of a disaster last a long time. The greater need for financial and material assistance is
in the months after a disaster, including

 surveying and monitoring for infectious and water- or insect-transmitted diseases;

 diverting medical supplies from non affected areas to meet the needs of the affected
regions;
Damage to Tourism

Potential tourists would have lost a sense of security in visiting these countries, thus leading
to a loss of tourism revenue. People would also refrain from visiting the countries for fear of
being affected by similar incidences due to this lack of protection. Furthermore, few people
would want to visit a site ravaged by the forces of nature, where countless died, for the time
being, either out of respect for the dead or due to its pure eeriness itself. The governments of
the affected countries would hence lose massive amounts of money which could have been
otherwise used for improving the general standard of living of the people.

CASE STUDY

A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck in the South Pacific between Samoa and
American Samoa around dawn today, sending terrified residents fleeing for higher ground as
a tsunami swept ashore, flattening at least one village. There were no immediate reports of
fatalities.

The quake hit at 6.48am local time midway between the two island groups. In Apia, families
reported shaking that lasted for up to three minutes. The US Geological Survey said the
quake struck 20 miles (35 km) below the ocean floor, 120 miles from American Samoa and
125 miles from Samoa.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Honolulu, Hawaii issued a general alert for the South
Pacific region, from American Samoa to New Zealand. It said there were indications a
tsunami wave could be "destructive" along some coastlines.

SYDNEY, Australia — A powerful tsunami generated by an undersea

earthquake on Tuesday has killed at least 89 people and wiped out
several villages on the tropical islands of American Samoa and Samoa,
according to government officials, the police and local residents.

At least 24 people were killed in American Samoa, according to officials

there, and the territory’s governor, Togiola T. A. Tulafono, said in a news
conference that the worst damage had been caused by the second and
third waves in a series of four. There was also widespread devastation
reported in the territory’s capital, Pago Pago.

The centre issued a tsunami warning for numerous islands in the Pacific, including the
Samoas, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, French Polynesia and Palmyra Island.

A tsunami watch was issued for Hawaii, Vanuatu, the Marshall Islands, Solomon Island,
Johnston Island, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Wake Island, Midway Island and
Pitcairn.