Tsunamis
By: Reagan Bustabad
How are Tsunamis created?
- A tsunami is caused by a rearrangement of water in the ocean.
- It can be a reaction of many things including landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, glaciers, and meteorites.
- One of the main causes are earthquakes, because when plates move they can cause holes in the earth's crust. Water can enter this hole, and this can cause a rearrangement of water.
- When the rearrangement of water is put forth the water ripples to the surface
- The waves can travel for immense distances and grow up to 100 feet high!
Why are Tsunamis Harmful?
- When tsunamis reach the shore they can cause great damage
- Houses, trees, buildings, cars, and much more become demolished as these waves rush onto the shore.
- Tsunamis are extremely hard to predict, and hard to know when one is being formed.
- This means some areas do not get much time to evacuate or prepare for one.
- Many people have been killed due to tsunamis
Where do Tsunamis Occur?
- Tsunamis usually occur in the Pacific Ocean (more towards Indonesia).
- Near here there are a lot of submarine earthquakes which cause the tsunamis.
- Most of the tsunamis on American soil have been near California, Hawaii, and Alaska.
- Tsunamis can also occur in the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean Sea as well.
How are Tsunamis Measured?
- Tsunamis can be measured by tide gauges, satellites, and the DART system.
- Tide gauges are used to measure tide levels which help in predicting where a tsunami has or is likely to form.
- The height of the ocean surface can be measured with electromagnetic waves. This is how satellites are collected.
- The Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis, or DART, system uses sea-bottom recorders and buoys to inform employees when a tsunami is being formed.
- Also, a Richter Scale can be used if the tsunami was caused by an earthquake.
What are the Largest Tsunamis Recorded?
- On July 9, 1958 about 30.6 million cubic meters of land was moved by an earthquake along the Fairweather Fault in the Alaska Panhandle.
- Rocks came down into the ocean, creating a tsunami.
- The wave crashed into the Gilbert inlet and continued all the way down Lituya Bay.
- All trees and plants were swept up by the 1720 feet tall wave, the highest tsunami ever recorded.
- Only five people died, and there were only four survivors.
- The area the tsunami hit was fortunately not populated.
- On August 26, 1883 Volcano Krakatoa in Indonesia erupted, causing a tsunami.
- This tsunami grew to be up 120 feet in height.
- Over 36,000 people died, 90% of them by the tsunami.
- The tsunami destroyed 165 villages in Sumatra and Java.
How do I Prepare for a Tsunami?
- Make a evacuation plan for all the places you might be located if a tsunami occurs.
- Share the evacuation plan with family, friends, and associates.
- Create a disaster supplies kit to take with you if a tsunami occurs.
- Have a radio handy to listen for any severe weather updates or warnings.
Bibliography
http://www.everylifesecure.com/72-hour-kits/
- http://www.cwarn.org/tsunami/be-prepared
- http://info.geonet.org.nz/display/tsunami/Krakatau+Volcano+tsunami,+28+to+29+August+1883
- http://geology.com/records/biggest-tsunami.shtml
- http://www.bom.gov.au/tsunami/info/
- http://nctr.pmel.noaa.gov/faq_display.php?kw=15%20March%202005%20Interview%20with%20Dr.%20Hal%20Mofjeld
- http://www.ducksters.com/science/earth_science/tsunamis.php
- https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-tsunamis
- http://shoebat.com/2015/07/15/jesuss-prophecy-of-massive-earthquakes-is-now-confirmed-as-fox-news-reports-of-a-mega-quake-to-soon-destroy-u-s-pacific-northwest-triggering-christs-soon-coming/
- http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/art-87538/Pacific-Ocean
- http://www.bom.gov.au/tsunami/info/
- http://www.wsspc.org/resources-reports/tsunami-center/significant-tsunami-events/1958-lituya-bay-tsunami/
- http://hubpages.com/education/The-biggest-tsunamis-in-history
- http://www.sms-tsunami-warning.com/pages/richter-scale#.Vre_O1JfcdU