Tsunami and Tidal WavesTsunami and Tidal Waves

By Matt Sapp By Matt Sapp

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Lauren Gareau Lauren Gareau

Wading in WaterWading in Water Tsunami, commonly Tsunami, commonly

known as Tidal Waves known as Tidal Waves come from the Japanese come from the Japanese word Tsu for (harbor) Nami word Tsu for (harbor) Nami for (Wave)for (Wave)

All oceans can have All oceans can have tsunami’s but 80% of tsunami’s but 80% of Tsunami’s originate in the Tsunami’s originate in the Pacific Ocean due to large Pacific Ocean due to large amounts of geological amounts of geological activityactivity

From Japan to the West From Japan to the West Coast of South America, Coast of South America, tsunami’s strike with tsunami’s strike with devastating consequencesdevastating consequences

All Washed UpAll Washed Up A tsunami is a series of waves A tsunami is a series of waves

in a body of water that vertically in a body of water that vertically displaces the water columndisplaces the water column

Oceanographers often refer to Oceanographers often refer to tsunami’s as seismic sea waves tsunami’s as seismic sea waves as a result of a rise or fall of the as a result of a rise or fall of the earths crustearths crust

The displacement can be The displacement can be caused by earthquakes, caused by earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and meteoritesand meteorites

All but meteorites occur under All but meteorites occur under the sea the sea

Tsunami’s are most likely to Tsunami’s are most likely to occur in Apriloccur in April

Turning the TideTurning the Tide

Tsunami’s can go undetected Tsunami’s can go undetected until it reaches shallow watersuntil it reaches shallow waters

Some vary from 30ft to 100ftSome vary from 30ft to 100ft Tsunami’s move a the speeds Tsunami’s move a the speeds

approaching jet aircraftapproaching jet aircraft Tsunami’s are able to be Tsunami’s are able to be

detected but the size and detected but the size and destructive force of them can destructive force of them can not be predictednot be predicted

The ability to detect them gives The ability to detect them gives the population a chance to get the population a chance to get covercover

A Wave is a Wave?A Wave is a Wave?

The difference between a The difference between a tsunami and wave is that tsunami and wave is that waves you see at the beach waves you see at the beach are generated by windare generated by wind

Waves depend on the Waves depend on the strength of the wind and the strength of the wind and the wavelengths (distance wavelengths (distance between crest/trough) is between crest/trough) is from 5ft to 1000ftfrom 5ft to 1000ft

Waves moves at about 5 to Waves moves at about 5 to 60 mph60 mph

A Wave is A Wave ContA Wave is A Wave Cont

Tsunami’s result from Tsunami’s result from physical mechanismsphysical mechanisms

The magnitude of a The magnitude of a tsunami is by the tsunami is by the mechanismmechanism

The difference between The difference between wavelengths can range wavelengths can range from 100-300 miles apartfrom 100-300 miles apart

Depending on depth Depending on depth tsunami’s can travel up to tsunami’s can travel up to 500 mph500 mph

That’s No TsunamiThat’s No Tsunami

Common misconceptions come Common misconceptions come regarding tsunami’s appearance regarding tsunami’s appearance but it all depends on the but it all depends on the topography of the ocean floortopography of the ocean floor

The increase in height occurs as The increase in height occurs as the tsunami gets closer to landthe tsunami gets closer to land

Most think tsunami’s are large Most think tsunami’s are large steep waves this is not always steep waves this is not always the casethe case

Most tsunami’s appear as an Most tsunami’s appear as an advancing tideadvancing tide

The result is the rapid flooding The result is the rapid flooding of the low-lying coastal areasof the low-lying coastal areas

That’s a big MommaThat’s a big Momma The largest tsunami occurred in The largest tsunami occurred in

Lituya Bay on the southern Lituya Bay on the southern coast of Alaskacoast of Alaska

On July 9, 1958 a earthquake On July 9, 1958 a earthquake caused a glacier landslide at the caused a glacier landslide at the head of the bayhead of the bay

It triggered a wave that was It triggered a wave that was 1720ft/524m high1720ft/524m high

This is the equivalent of over 5 This is the equivalent of over 5 football fieldsfootball fields

This is the case of a tsunami This is the case of a tsunami where no people were present where no people were present but this possible but this possible

Up to 36,000 people have died Up to 36,000 people have died in a tsunami and the following in a tsunami and the following flooding that occurs (Krakatoa, flooding that occurs (Krakatoa, Indonesia 1883)Indonesia 1883)

Danger Watch YourselfDanger Watch Yourself

A tsunami can reach the A tsunami can reach the shore of any country shore of any country regardless of where it regardless of where it starts in about a day and if starts in about a day and if local, it can reach in local, it can reach in minutesminutes

A tsunami is more than A tsunami is more than just a single wave like an just a single wave like an earthquakes aftershocks, earthquakes aftershocks, tsunamis are a wave train tsunamis are a wave train and many people have lost and many people have lost their lives returning home their lives returning home thinking it was safethinking it was safe

Crazy PicsCrazy Pics

QuestionsQuestions

1. What is a Tsunami?1. What is a Tsunami? 2. What is the ranging height for Tsunamis?2. What is the ranging height for Tsunamis? 3. What is the difference between a 3. What is the difference between a

Tsunami and a wave?Tsunami and a wave? 4. Where and when did the largest Tsunami 4. Where and when did the largest Tsunami

occur?occur? 5. How long does it take for a Tsunami to 5. How long does it take for a Tsunami to

occur?occur?