What causes Tsunamis: How To Construct Experiments
For the first experiment, have the students fill their
containers with water and insert their plastic divider.
To generate their tsunami, have students press down on
the edge of the plastic in a smooth motion. The divider
should pivot on the edge of the container
This experiment replicates a ‘mega-thrust’ caused by a
subduction zone. The plastic divider “springs forward” as
the earth would during a mega-thrust earthquake.
Essentially, plates in subduction zones can get stuck
against one another. When they finally release, it causes
the plate to push forward and up.
In the second part of the experiment, instruct the students
to fill their container with water.
On the plastic divider, students will build a mound of rocks
and sand to represent a mountain side or cliff.
Students will raise their hill parallel with the edge of the
container and then quickly tip it into the container,
generating a tsunami similar to one caused by a terrestrial
landslide.
In the final part of the experiment, students will use their
containers to recreate a submarine landslide.
The students insert their divider and use it to hold up a
wall of sand and debris. Then, the students fill the
container with water, being sure to cover the debris as
well (otherwise it is simply replicating another landslide
tsunami.)
Once ready the students pull the divider up and out
quickly, allowing the debris to cascade into the container,
replicating an underwater landside and tsunami.
Prepared by Monika Pelz, 2013