Introduction
Chances are you’ve heard the term “tsunami” (su-nah-me), whether it was from a Science fiction movie or off the news, but if not this article will teach you all about tsunamis. From how tsunamis form, the causes and the aftermath of tsunamis and past events involving them and so much more. You’ll be an expert on tsunamis by the end of this article!
What is a Tsunami?
According to https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/tsunami.html, “A tsunami is a series of waves caused by earthquakes or undersea volcanic eruptions.” The thing is, these aren’t exactly the everyday waves you would see at a beach. Tsunami waves are gigantic and can travel very fast depending on how far they are away from the shore. Some waves can travel as fast as 500mph, this is equivalent to the speed of a jet. The speed and size are determined by the distance between the shore and the wave. For example, if a tsunami wave is farther away from shore it will increase height as it gets closer to the shore. Tsunami waves tend to increase in height as the water gets shallower, so closer to shore. Speedwise, when the wave approaches the shore it will slow down, but get taller. Some destructive and dangerous waves may reach up to 100 feet, but most usually stay at the 10 feet mark.
Photo credits: https://www.bviddm.com/understanding-tsunamis/
What can cause a Tsunami?
When a volume of water is suddenly moved up and down, a tsunami can form. There are several causes for the water moving in this motion, underground volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, or even a meteoroid crashing into the ocean floor.
2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami
On December 26th, 2004 an earthquake hit the west coast of northern Sumatra. It had devastating effects on the area, 227,898 people passed away from the natural disaster. The damage from the tsunami and earthquake caused 15 billion dollars of damage. The tsunami itself traveled at 500 mph, the height of the waves reached 100 feet.
Want to learn more? Check out these awesome sources!
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30034501
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