Tsunamis Flashcards
what is a tsunami
a series of ocean waves suddenly surging onto land
what does tsunami mean?
harbour wave
in Japanese
what causes tsuanamis
large undersea earthquakes at destructive tectonic plate boundaries
how does the underwater earthquake create a tsuanami
- the ocean floor at a plate boundary rises or falls suddenly
- the sea is suddenly pushed up creating rolling waves that build up in size and speed
- the massive waves race across the ocean towards land
- flooding the land
where do most tsunamis happen
80% happen within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire”
how fast are tsunamis
up to 500 miles per hour
= jet plane
what is the first warning sign a tsunami is coming
coastal water near the beach is sucked out to sea exposing sea floors and harbours
after the water is sucked out, how long do you have before the tsunami hits the shore
5 minutes
what should you do during those 5 minutes after the water is sucked out
run in the opposite direction to the sea
get to high ground
cling onto something like a tree
what are the social impacts of a tsunami
- death & injury
- homes destroyed
- food / water shortages
- disease (sewage mxing with salt water)
what are the economic impacts of a tsunami
- Ports/harbours ruined
- Fishing industry destroyed
- Homes and businesses destroyed
- Tourism industry ruined
- roads, bridges and rail damaged
what are the environmental impacts of a tsunami
- crops destroyed
- farmland ruined by salt water
- coral reefs damaged
