Characteristics of a Tsunami
Tsunamis
Lab 5
What is a Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of waves that are generated by a large displacement of sea water.
The energy moves out from the source, producing a series of waves that have long wavelengths.
Characteristics of a Tsunami
Generated in deep sea water
water that is displaced by a landslide or fault movement
Velocities are in the range of several hundred mph
The deeper water its travelling through, the faster it is
Tsunamis can move at 500 mph same as a jet plane
Tsunamis can cross the entire ocean in less than a day
What causes a Tsunami?
Earthquakes
Landslides
Volcanoes
Life Cycle of a Tsunami
Initiation
Energy displaces water
Water uplifts and drops
Splitting
Splits and travels radially outward
Amplification
Wave height increases, velocity decreases
Wave approaches shore
Runup
Water comes to shore
Tsunami Warning and Mitigation
Watching out for large earthquakes
Pacific Tsunami Warning center
Headquarters of National Weather Services (NWS)
Few people must live near the shoreline
Tsunami Detection
Buoys receives signal from seafloor sensor
Pressure from passing tsunami
Tracking path of tsunami
First information seismic activity
Be prepared
Second – pressure sensing of water column
Tsunami is traveling
What Happens During a Tsunami Warning?
An information Bulletin
Information to scientists that an earthquake has occurred
An advisory
Issued when it is believed a tsunami may have occurred
A watch
This is issued based on seismic information.
Depends on the magnitude of the earthquake
A warning
Highest level of tsunami alert
Tsunami Hazards
Destruction is caused by the smashing force of water travelling at high speed and the destructive power of a large volume of water
Tsunamis destroy buildings, bridges, cars, uproot trees, telephone lines, power lines
Cause deaths.
Tsunami in 2004 that struck East Asia and East Africa killed about 31,000 people, injured 23,000
Disease
Can damage sewage and fresh water supplies
Environmental impact
costly
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