Tsunami Description can give a right definition of tsunami, to know the cause of tsunami and where do tsunami occur

on our planet.

Tsunami Description : 1. Definition of Tsunami 2. What causes of Tsunami? 3. Where do tsunamis occurs in the world

Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning harbor wave. It is constituted with two syllables, Japanese language meaning harbour ("tsu", ) and wave ("nami", ). Tsunami is a wave train or series of waves generated, by impulsive disturbance that vertically displaces the water column, in water body. Earthquake, landslides, volcanic eruption, explosion and even the impact of cosmic bodies like meteorites commonly generate tsunami. Tsunami savagely attacks coastlines causing devastating property damage and loss of lives.

Tsunami "Wave Train" Many people have the mistaken belief that tsunamis are single waves. They are not. Instead tsunamis are "wave trains" consisting of multiple waves. The chart below is a tidal gauge record from Onagawa, Japan beginning at the time of the 1960 Chile earthquake. Time is plotted along the horizontal axis and water level is plotted on the vertical axis. Note the normal rise and fall of the ocean surface, caused by tides, during the early part of this record. Then recorded are a few waves a little larger than normal followed by several much larger waves. In many tsunami events the shoreline is pounded by repeated large waves.

1. Tsunami can be generated when the see floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water. 2. Tectonic earthquakes are a particular kind of earthquake that are associated with the earths crustal deformation, when these earthquakes occur beneath the see, the water above the deformed area is displayed from its equilibrium position. 3. Waves are formed as the displaced water mass, which acts under the influence of gravity, attempts to regain its equilibrium

 Ocean waves are normally divided into 3 groups, characterized by depth: Deep water Intermediate water Shallow water Even though a tsunami is generated in deep water (around 4000 m below mean sea level), tsunami waves are considered shallow-water waves. As the tsunami wave approaches the shallow waters of shore, its time period remains the same, but its wavelength decreases rapidly, thus causing the water to pile up to form tremendous crests, in an effect known as "shoaling".

Subduction Zones are Potential Tsunami Locations

Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes generated in a subduction zone, an area where an oceanic plate is being forced down into the mantle by plate tectonic forces. The friction between the subducting plate and the overriding plate is enormous. This friction prevents a slow and steady rate of subduction and instead the two plates become

Accumulated Seismic Energy

As the stuck plate continues to descend into the mantle the motion causes a slow distortion of the overriding plage. The result is an accumulation of energy very similar to the energy stored in a compressed spring. Energy can accumulate in the overriding plate over a long period of time - decades or even centuries.

Earthquake Causes Tsunami

Energy accumulates in the overriding plate until it exceeds the frictional forces between the two stuck plates. When this happens, the overriding plate snaps back into an unrestrained position. This sudden motion is the cause of the tsunami - because it gives an enormous shove to the overlying water. At the same time, inland areas of the overriding plate are suddenly lowered.

Tsunamis occur most frequently in the Pacific Ocean, but are a global phenomenon; they are possible wherever large bodies of water are found, including inland lakes, where they can be caused by landslides. Japan is a nation with the most recorded tsunamis in the world. The earliest recorded disaster being that of the 684 A.D. Please refer to the below website of the List of historic tsunamis by death toll
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_natural_disasters_by_death_t oll

Map of tectonic plates where the earthquake triggered the tsunami

Definition
Tsunami is a series of sea waves spreading rapidly in all directions from the area on the sea bottom where a large earthquake, volcanic eruption, or coastal landslide has occurred.

Recabarren et. al., I invite you to know the earth, p. 35

Image courtesy NOAA http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/tsunami_story.html

Definition

Sea floor movement can be caused by several different types of geological activity:

Earthquake Tsunami

Earthquakes Landslides (~10%) Submarine volcanic eruptions (< 10%) Meteorite Impact

Landslide Tsunami

Landslide Tsunami

Earthquake Tsunami Formation

Underwater earthquakes cause an uplift of one plate and a subsequent displacement of water. The water is pushed upward above normal sea level. The resulting wave can be hundred of miles long and has been know to reach heights of up to 34 ft. The waves travel as fast or faster than a commercial jet.
From How Stuff Works: http://science.howstuffworks.com/ts unami.htm

Tsunami Generation and Propagation

QuickTime animation by Professor Miho

Aoki, University of Alaska-Fairbanks Art

Department, University of AlaskaFairbanks of a Tsunami generated by a subduction zone earthquake.

Wave Propagation

Tsunami waves propagate radially from the source. Tsunami propagation has distinct directionality it will travel normal to the direction of the fault. Propagation of the December 24, 2004 Sumatra tsunami.

NOAA Animation: http://nctr.pmel.noaa.gov/indo_1204.html

Pacific Northwest Model

USGS: Stochastic Model for Potential Tsunamis in the Pacific Northwest.

20 minute simulation

In minutes 230,000 people lost their lives, and over 430,000 homes were reduced to rubble

Over 100,000 fishing boats were destroyed. The livelihoods of over 5 million people were thrown into jeopardy

More than 2,174 miles of roads destroyed. $10 billion in damages in barely 24 hours.

Effects
Economical Impact

Economical Impact

The immediate relief needs in the affected countries in the Indian Ocean are gigantic and complicated, and there will be a long term need for rebuilding in these areas. The disaster is complicated because there are the effects of the earthquake near the epicenter (Banda Aceh) and the widespread effects of the tsunami wave. In effect, there are two disasters, a very serious earthquake as well as the effects of the tsunamis generated. The effects are likely to be most severe and apparent for island economies and countries/cities dependent on the sea and near the epicenter of the earthquake (Banda Aceh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Maldives).

Undesirable Effects

For the many indigenous fishermen who have no other skills, can no longer depend on fishing as a means of survival for the time being. The fish stock has been depleted, as would the fishermen's money. Also, the many of the fishermen's families would have lost their sole breadwinners, together with the fishing boats and equipment, adding on to their already heightening problems. The tsunamis that affected the coast of Thailand, Indonesia and the Maldives has destroyed much of the marine biology there, also damaging the ecosystem severely. Even if the fish had detected the incoming tsunami, they would most probably still have gotten caught up in it, due to its immense energy. Any fish trying to swim away from it would also have ended up on the shores,after being swept ashore. Also, the arrival of a tsunami is marked by a huge receding wave, which would have left fish flopping on the seabed.

Undesirable Effects

Millions of fish were swept ashore by the huge waves, and many more will continue to die, being unable to survive in the severely damaged habitat left in the wake of the tsunami. The marine ecosystem is hence likely to have been affected badly, with the predators up the food chain, such as dolphins and sharks, dying out due to the lack of food. Many species will not be able to adapt to the sudden change in their lifestyle and will inevitably die. In addition, even if there were fish to be caught, there would be a substantial number of people in the region who refuse to consume marine products such as fish and shellfish, for fear that they could be eating the remains of the victims of the tsunami. Getting them to consume seafood again would be no easy feat. All these serve to deal the already battered fishing industry another devastating blow.

Undesirable Effects

Fish is also a popular food in these countries due to the affected countries being surrounded by water, and the sudden lack of fish and its important nutrients may pose a problem for the people used to having fish at every other meal. Seafood farms in countries such as Thailand would also have been damaged, with their owners suffering enormous losses. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland said that relief supplies could be moved to tsunami-hit regions in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, but ninety percent of the problem remains in Indonesian archipelago. He estimated that there are currently over 1.8 million people in tsunami-stricken countries in need of food aid around 1 million in Indonesia, and around 700,000 in Sri Lanka, with the remainder in the Maldives and Somalia.

Undesirable Effects

ABC News has reported that heavy rains and fresh floods had disrupted relief efforts in Asia's tsunami-hit countries villages as the United Nations refugee agency started a 400 ton airlift as part of a $2 billion relief operation to save the millions who had survived but were struggling to survive. Tropical rainstorms in Aceh province of Indonesia and flooding along Sri Lanka's low-lying coast also hampered aid deliveries. The damage to human and animal life was also tremendous, leaving an estimated 150,000 people dead in Indonesia alone. The latest total death toll is expected to be over 225,000, one of the largest dealt by a tsunami in history. When the sheer force of a incoming tsunami obliterates everything in its path, it also clears away roads and railways, hampering rescue efforts.

Undesirable Effects

In addition, the torrential water deluging entire hectares prevent helicopters from landing. Most of the affected villages were situated in isolated areas and are extremely hard to get to. Furthermore, the huge mass of water also broke sewage and water pipes, contaminating water and food sources. Subsequently, diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and dengue then become more rampant. The rotting corpses left behind by the tsunami also helped to spread diseases to the survivors. Crops, settlements, wildlife, properties were severely destroyed, with power and communications disrupted, adding on to the daunting task of rescue work. People clung on to trees for their dear life; some were rescued, but some were also swept away, right in front of their relatives and family members. The emotional and mental trauma would remain in all those affected for years, even if they had escaped a watery grave.

Undesirable Effects

Skipping to the damage to the economy, the tsunamis of SE Asia have dealt a heavy blow to the tourism industry in the region. The huge losses of life suffered by Thailand and the Maldives, which were once extremely popular tourist destinations, only proved that safety measures in the above countries had been taken lightly and were inadequate. As such, potential tourists would have lost a sense of security in visiting these countries. People would also refrain from visiting the countries for fear of being affected by similar incidences due to this lack of protection. Furthermore, few people would want to visit a site ravaged by the forces of nature, where countless died, for the time being, either out of respect for the dead or due to its pure eeriness itself.

Undesirable Effects

The governments of the affected countries would hence lose massive amounts of money which could have been otherwise used for improving the general standard of living of the people. The impact of the tsunami on the Maldives and Phuket is expected to set the growth rate back for at least two years. It would take half to two years to rebuild the devastated stretches of beaches, which were once tourist havens, and probably even longer to attract back the tourists. Countries which would be affected most severely would be Thailand and the Maldives, both of which are still in the developing stage and need large amounts of resources and finances to provide for an ever-growing population. This is especially for the Maldives, which relies mainly on tourism revenues to feed its people, and would pose a formidable problem.

Undesirable Effects

Now, not only do all the above countries stop getting tourism revenue, they also have to fork out money and divert government spending to rebuild the resorts and hotels which were destroyed during the tsunami, which would be extremely detrimental to those who lost a lot of assets during the disaster. Somalia, a country in Africa, would also be badly affected due to the extreme poverty and lack of government. To quote another example, Banda Aceh was arguably the place which suffered the most losses during the entire event. Their road to recovery would be arduous, as the area itself is in political turmoil, with the tsunami exacerbating the numerous problems it was already facing. The greatest challenge in the long term however, for all countries, will be in making sure that the poor, especially those who fish for a living, those who are on the margins of the tourist economy and in remoter areas are helped to recover.

Undesirable Effects

On to secondary impacts, they depend very much on the structure of economies and on their tenacity. The effects are much worse when many other sectors depend a lot on the affected sector or if there is a huge impact on the government expenditure. Generally, the more developed economies are more resilient than those economies which are less developed. Surprisingly, the large scale economic effects of such natural disasters are mostly quite short-lived. It has been proven unusual to find large drops in national income or dips in the annual growth rate from these catastrophes. Sometimes, natural disasters can also have a positive effect, because of increased spending on the rebuilding of infrastructure and more concerns over safety matters.

Undesirable Effects

The refugee camps housing the internally displaced people also had squalid conditions, unfit for living in. Hence many wounds were only hastily treated as there was a shortage of manpower. Luckily for the injured, many volunteers from over 10 countries joined in the relief efforts to provide adequate healthcare services for them.

Effects
Environmental Consequences

Environmental Consequences

Precious coral reefs and mangrove areas would have been crushed by the huge tsunami waves that have devastated southern Asia, an environmental and economic setback that could take years to reverse. The reefs around Sri Lanka and Phuket have been severely damaged due to then bearing the brunt of the forceful walls of water. When the waves get close to shore, their height is amplified and they release all their energy, decimating everything in their paths. The atolls of the alluring Maldives and the southern Thai islands (including Mangrove areas that act as nursery habitats to fish and shrimp) were also destroyed by the strong waves.

Environmental Consequences

According to scientists, reef-forming coral grows only about cm, or 1/5 inch a year, thus for the seaside resorts on the numerous affected islands to regain their previous splendor could take several years to a decade. The worst marine damage was likely to have been concentrated 100m to 1km from shore. Fortunately, large sea mammals such as whales and dolphins probably suffered little impact. According to Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, dolphins can feel disturbances happening in the water and would have most likely headed for deep water where they would be safe. Also, they mostly inhabit the areas far offshore, where the tsunami has the least damaging capacity.

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KELAS

: FRITA LIANY WIYANDARI

: X.7 (RESBIVENT)

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