TSUNAMIS

REPORTER:
MYKA ODESSA A. BARROGA
BSA 4B
Contents
1 CAUSES

2 IMPACTS

ADVANTAGES &
3 DISADVANTAGES

4 MITIGATION
 WHAT IS A TSUNAMI?
The word “tsunami” is originally a Japanese word
that translates into ‘harbor wave’. It originated
from the Japanese words ‘tsu’ meaning ‘harbor’
and ‘nami’ meaning ‘wave’. Tsunami is a series
of water waves caused by the displacement of a
large volume of a body of water, usually an
ocean.
TYPES OF TSUNAMI

1. Local Tsunami
A local tsunami is one that originates from
within about 100 km or less than 1 hour
tsunami travel time from the impacted
coastline. Local tsunamis can result in a
significant number of casualties since
authorities have little time to warn/evacuate
the population.
 TSUNAMI
2. Regional Tsunami
• A regional tsunami is one that is capable of
destruction in a particular geographical
region, generally within 1,000 km from its
source. Regional tsunamis can arrive to
affected coastlines within 1-3 hours of being
generated, however, as with local tsunamis,
due to the limited warning time they can still
prove very destructive and deadly.
 TSUNAMI

3. Distant Tsunami
A tsunami originating from a source, generally more than 1,000 km or more than
3 hours tsunami travel time from the impacted coastline is called an ocean-wide
or distant or tele-tsunami. These tsunamis are less frequent, but more hazardous
than regional tsunamis. These tsunamis have the ability to cause widespread
destruction, not only in the immediate region but across an entire ocean. All
ocean-wide tsunamis have been generated by major earthquakes.
TSUNAMIS
About 80% of tsunamis occur in the
FA C T S
Pacific Ocean, “Rings of Fire”.

The first wave of Tsunami is not the

strongest. However, the successive waves

are stronger and bigger.

Tsunamis can travel up to the speed of

805 km/hrs or 500 miles almost as fast as

a jet plane.

If anyone is caught by a Tsunami wave,

it’s better to not swim, instead, he must

grab an object and let the wave carry

him.
01
1.
CAUSES OF TSUNAMI

EARTHQUAKE
2. LANDSLIDES
3. VOLCANIC ERUPTION
4. METEORITE IMPACTS
5. NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
 TSUNAMIS
CAUSES

1. EARTHQUAKE
There are four conditions necessary for an earthquake to
cause a tsunami:

The earthquake must…

• occur beneath the ocean or cause the material to slide into
the ocean.
• be strong, at least magnitude 6.5 on the Richter Scale
• rupture the Earth’s surface and it must occur at shallow
depth – less than 70km below the surface of the Earth.
• cause vertical movement of the seafloor (up to several
meters).
TSUNAMIS
CAUSES

2. LANDSLIDES
A landslide that occurs along the coast can force large
amounts of water into the sea, disturbing the water and
generate a tsunami. Underwater landslides can also result in
tsunamis when the material loosened by the landslide moves
violently, pushing the water in front of it.

3. VOLCANIC ERUPTION
Although relatively infrequent, violent volcanic eruptions represent also impulsive disturbances, which can displace a
great volume of water and generate extremely destructive tsunami waves.
 TSUNAMIS
CAUSES
4. METEORITE IMPACTS
Tsunamis caused by extraterrestrial collisions are an
extremely rare occurrence. Although no meteor/asteroid-
induced tsunami has been recorded in recent history,
scientists realize that if these celestial bodies should strike the
ocean, a large volume of water would undoubtedly be
displaced to cause a tsunami.

5. NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
Tsunami waves can also be generated from very large nuclear
explosions. However, no tsunami of any significance has ever
resulted from the testing of nuclear weapons in the past.
Furthermore, such testing is presently prohibited by
international treaty.
 02
IMPACTS OF TSUNAMI
1. DESTRUCTION
Tsunamis can wreck everything in their path: boats, houses, bridges, vehicles, trees, telephone lines, power lines, and
just about everything else.

2. DEATH
People living in coastal regions, towns, and villages have no time to escape. The violent force of the tsunami results in
instant death, most commonly by drowning. Buildings collapsing, electrocution, and explosions from gas, damaged
tanks, and floating debris are another cause of death.
TSUNAMIS
I M PA C T S

3. DISEASE
The areas close to the coast are flooded with sea water, damaging the infrastructure
such as sewage and fresh water supplies for drinking.
Illnesses such as malaria arise when water is stagnant and contaminated. Under these
conditions it is difficult for people to stay healthy and for diseases to be treated, so
infections and illnesses can spread very quickly, causing more death.
4. COST
Massive costs hit communities and nations when a tsunami happens. Victims and
survivors of the tsunami need immediate help from rescue teams.
Reconstruction and clean up after a tsunami is a huge cost problem. Loss of income in
the local economy and future losses from the destruction of infrastructure will be a
problem for some time to come.
 TSUNAMI
5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
• Changes the landscape
• Destroys animal habitats
• Solid waste and disaster debris
• Hazardous materials and toxic substances can be mixed up with ordinary debris (asbestos, oil fuel, and other
industrial raw materials and chemicals)
• Contamination of soil and water (salination)
• Radiation resulting from damage to nuclear plants (Fukushima Accident, 2011)

5. PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Survivors will suffer from grief and depression as their homes, businesses, and loved ones were taken from them.
They can develop PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
03
ADVANTAGES &
DISADVANTAGES
1. Redistribution of
nutrients
• Tsunami waves can lift up nutrient-rich
sediment and help to spread nutrients in
agricultural areas thus increasing the fertility of
the soil.

• Tsunami can distribute water inland.

Sometimes, they can replenish dried-out
ecosystems like mangroves and marshes. In this
way, they help to restore ruined habitats.

ADVANTAGES OF
TSUNAMIS
 • For example, plants can eventually grow in the nutrient-rich sediment that tsunami
waves brought to the lowlands. Over time, jungles can form where animals can
also find refuge.

2. Create new
habitats
 TSUNAMI
3. Create landscape
• As the giant waves crash on the shore, they can produce some dramatic features in the landscape.
Tsunamis can either deposit large amounts of materials on the shore or wash away chunks of rocks and
sand.
• Thus, as tsunamis deposit materials on the shore, they form sand laminae, dump deposits, ridges,
mounds and boulder stacks.

4. New Economic opportunities

• Now with more people living in coastal regions despite the associated dangers, there is a need for
tsunami-resistant buildings and infrastructure. Architecture and engineering firms can thus provide these
solutions. They can provide materials like stilts to resist tsunami waves or come up with innovative
ideas.

5. Study Tool
• Tsunami events provide insightful study opportunities, be it to increase resilience or to understand the
hazard itself.
DISADVANTAGES
1. Primary effects of
tsunamis
• The primary effects of tsunamis include damage to
properties, deaths, erosion and other in changes in the
landscape. What is often left is bare ground or covered
with all sorts of natural and human-made debris.

2. Secondary effects of
tsunamis
• Conversely, secondary effects of tsunamis take place
hours, days and weeks after the event. It can include fires,
explosions, pollution from sewer networks and carcasses
and disease outbreaks. Sometimes, the secondary effects
can be worse than the triggering tsunami event itself.
 TSUNAMIS
CAUSES

3. Damage Built infrastructure

• As the giant waves break inland, the force of the impact can destroy buildings,
infrastructure, and communication lines. They can also disrupt transportation
networks thus hindering the movement of goods and relief workers.

4. Loss of lives
• . The violent force of the tsunami results in instant death,
most commonly by drowning. Buildings collapsing,
electrocution, and explosions from gas, damaged tanks,
and floating debris are another cause of death.
TSUNAMIS
CAUSES

5. ECONOMIC LOSSES
Tsunami damage residential, commercial and agricultural facilities. All
sectors of businesses can be affected from human resource to
transportation networks. They can also severely damage agricultural
production from polluting the land to wiping out harvests. Or, they can
lead to the spread of diseases in livestock populations.

6. Damage Ecosystems
As tsunami waves travel to and from the ocean, they damage both terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems along the way.
 04
MITIGATIONS
Ways to prepare for and mitigate the potential impacts of a tsunami emphasize thoughtful land-use

planning and building design in tsunami hazard zones

 TSUNAMIS
M I T I G AT I O N

•Improving evacuation routes

•Building tsunami evacuation structures
•Limiting new development in tsunami hazard zones
•Designing, siting, and building structures to minimize tsunami
damage
•Adopting building codes that address tsunamis
•Protecting and strengthening existing structures and infrastructure
that if damaged would negatively affect response and recovery
•Moving important community assets and vulnerable populations
out of tsunami hazard zones
•Planning for post-tsunami recovery
THANKS!