Tsunami and Tidal Waves By Matt Sapp Lauren
Tsunami and Tidal Waves By Matt Sapp & Lauren Gareau
Wading in Water § Tsunami, commonly known as Tidal Waves come from the Japanese word Tsu for (harbor) Nami for (Wave) § All oceans can have tsunami’s but 80% of Tsunami’s originate in the Pacific Ocean due to large amounts of geological activity § From Japan to the West Coast of South America, tsunami’s strike with devastating consequences
All Washed Up § A tsunami is a series of waves in a body of water that vertically displaces the water column § Oceanographers often refer to tsunami’s as seismic sea waves as a result of a rise or fall of the earths crust § The displacement can be caused by earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and meteorites § All but meteorites occur under the sea § Tsunami’s are most likely to occur in April
Turning the Tide § Tsunami’s can go undetected until it reaches shallow waters § Some vary from 30 ft to 100 ft § Tsunami’s move a the speeds approaching jet aircraft § Tsunami’s are able to be detected but the size and destructive force of them can not be predicted § The ability to detect them gives the population a chance to get cover
A Wave is a Wave? § The difference between a tsunami and wave is that waves you see at the beach are generated by wind § Waves depend on the strength of the wind and the wavelengths (distance between crest/trough) is from 5 ft to 1000 ft § Waves moves at about 5 to 60 mph
A Wave is A Wave Cont § Tsunami’s result from physical mechanisms § The magnitude of a tsunami is by the mechanism § The difference between wavelengths can range from 100 -300 miles apart § Depending on depth tsunami’s can travel up to 500 mph
That’s No Tsunami § Common misconceptions come regarding tsunami’s appearance but it all depends on the topography of the ocean floor § The increase in height occurs as the tsunami gets closer to land § Most think tsunami’s are large steep waves this is not always the case § Most tsunami’s appear as an advancing tide § The result is the rapid flooding of the low-lying coastal areas
That’s a big Momma § The largest tsunami occurred in Lituya Bay on the southern coast of Alaska § On July 9, 1958 a earthquake caused a glacier landslide at the head of the bay § It triggered a wave that was 1720 ft/524 m high § This is the equivalent of over 5 football fields § This is the case of a tsunami where no people were present but this possible § Up to 36, 000 people have died in a tsunami and the following flooding that occurs (Krakatoa, Indonesia 1883)
Danger Watch Yourself § A tsunami can reach the shore of any country regardless of where it starts in about a day and if local, it can reach in minutes § A tsunami is more than just a single wave like an earthquakes aftershocks, tsunamis are a wave train and many people have lost their lives returning home thinking it was safe
Crazy Pics
Questions § § § 1. What is a Tsunami? 2. What is the ranging height for Tsunamis? 3. What is the difference between a Tsunami and a wave? 4. Where and when did the largest Tsunami occur? 5. How long does it take for a Tsunami to occur?
- Slides: 11