Provided by G. Wuesthoff
Tsunami is the Japanese word for “great
harbor wave”. Though sometimes called “tidal
waves,” tsunamis have nothing to do with
tides. Usually an undersea earthquake starts
a tsunami’s waves rolling across the ocean.
If you’ve ever tossed a pebble into a pond,
then watched ripples spread out over the
surface, you’ve seen this principle at work.
The actions of earthquakes, landslides, and
even meteorites may cause tsunamis to occur.
What does the word
"tsunami" mean?
1.
2.
3.
4.
High wave
Giant wave
Earthquake wave
Great harbor wave
Answer
What can cause tsunamis?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Undersea quake
Wind
Fire
All of the above
Answer
Suppose there is a big earthquake in
the middle of an ocean. The ocean
floor shakes and creates waves. These
waves spread out from the center of
the quake to all directions. They
travel at a speed of 500-600 miles
per hour. As these waves come near
the land, they start to slow down, but
they begin to grow higher. Once these
big waves break or hit the land, they
can cause serious damage. People get
killed. Villages get washed away.
Buildings get ruined.
This entire village was swamped by waves and was
destroyed.
An aerial shot shows flattened houses near
the coast of Banda Aceh on the Indonesian
Island of Sumatra, January 5, 2005.
The most recent tsunami was in Asia. On
December 26, 2004, there was a big
undersea earthquake outside of an island
called Sumatra. Sumatra belongs to a
country call Indonesia. The undersea
quake pushed the entire island of Sumatra
100 feet southwest. It created huge
harbor waves These waves reached up to
50 feet high when they came ashore.
Because there was no “tsunami warning
system” in that area, People did not
escape in time and over 155,000 died.
The disaster is one of the worst ever
recorded in history!
The closest land area to the
December 26, 2004 tsunami
was an island called
1.Madagascar
2.Somalia
3.Sumatra
Answer
Sumatra
How far did Sumatra move after
the earthquake on December
26, 2004?
1.100 feet southwest
2.100 feet northeast
3.100 feet northwest
Answer
100 feet southwest
The areas in blue show the countries that were
most affected by the 50 foot waves. The
epicenter is where the quake originated or began.
The place where an undersea
Tsunami began or originated is
called the
1.Centerpole
2.Epicenter
3.Earthquake
Answer
Epicenter
In which ocean did the tsunami
occur or take place?
1.Pacific Ocean
2.Indian Ocean
3.Atlantic Ocean
Answer
Indian Ocean
In the Pacific Ocean there is a “tsunami
warning system” in operation near Pearl
Harbor. Fortunately, tsunamis take time to
travel, which can give populations in harm's
way anywhere from a few minutes to many
hours to flee. For this reason, 26
countries have banded together to
establish a tsunami-warning system for the
Pacific.
There is not one yet in the Indian Ocean.
If there were a tsunami near the United
States, Hawaii would be the state at
greatest risk.
This Thai
fishing boat
was thrown up
on shore by
the tsunami.
Many
fishermen who
were fishing
out on the
ocean were
drowned.
In December in the United States, it is
the winter season, but in the areas near
the Indian ocean, December is the
summer season. People are vacationing
and enjoying the beach and that is why so
many of them were surprised by the
tsunami.
The destructive
force of the water
is powerful.
What season is it in
December in the USA?
1.Spring
2.Fall
3.Summer
4.Winter
Answer
Winter
What season is it in
December in the Indian
Ocean?
1.Fall
2.Winter
3.Summer
4.Spring
Answer
Summer
The largest wave ever recorded was
in the Indian Ocean but in Lituya Bay,
Alaska.
not
A reliable tsunami warning system for all
oceans does not yet exist. There are
tsunami watch bulletins that mean an
earthquake with a force of 6.75 or greater
has occurred somewhere, but most of the
alarms issued have been 75% false.
One of the warning signs of a tsunami is
when water suddenly rushes from the shore
out to sea. However, you only have minutes
to react!
Click on the photo and watch a
video of how a tsunami develops.
Continue
Small tsunamis, that cause little
damage, occur about once a
year. But waves with a height of
15 to 20 feet occur every
1. Ten years
2. Two Years
3. Five years
Answer
Five years
Tsunamis with waves of 100 feet
or more occur every
1. Ten years
2. Twenty years
3. Fifty years
Answer
Twenty years
Click on the link to
take a Tsunami Quiz
http://observe.arc.nasa.gov/nasa/exhibits/
tsunami/tsunami_quiz2.html
Right click to end show.