Tsunamis

What is a Tsunami?
• Series of waves generated when a body of water,
such as a lake or ocean, is rapidly displaced on a
massive scale.
• High energy waves
• When mass movement (caused due to an
earthquake or landslide) occurs, it suddenly
displaces a large amount of water from its
equilibrium state.
• Comes from a Japanese word = harbor wave
• Effects of tsunami can range from unnoticeable to
devastating.
• = seismic waves {most of tsunamis are generated
by undersea seismic events}.
Causes of Tsunami
• Earthquakes (e.g. Sumatra, 2004: >200,000 people
killed; Papa New Guinea, 1998: ~3,000 people
killed)
• Destructive plate margin :
• Volcanic eruptions (e.g. Krakatoa, 1883: tsunamis
killed 30,000 people; Santorini, 2002).
• Sub-marine landslides (e.g. Alaska, 1958: waves up
to 518 m high formed in Lituya Bay).
• Extraterrestrial Impacts - large impacts have the
potential to create enormous tsunamis.
 Subduction Zone Earthquake

• Oceanic crust collides with continental crust and is

forced downward
• Compression forces build until rock fractures and
an earthquake occurs
Graphic © Strahler/Wiley 2005
 Generation of the Tsunami

• During the earthquake, the seafloor moves

upward, creating a water wave that spreads
outward.
Graphic © Gerard Fryer 2003
Undersea Landslide
or Slump
• Body of sediment slumps
downward along a
continental shelf
• Can be triggered by an
earthquake
• Water drops at head of
slump, rises at toe to
create a wave
• Wave moves outward as a
tsunami
Graphic © Gerard Fryer 2003
Volcanic Explosion

• The explosive eruption of Krakatau in August 1883

created a tsunami that claimed more than 36,000
lives
TSUNAMI - water wave generated by earthquake

NY Times
Tsunami Earthquake Sources
• Earthquakes that suddenly uplift or down-drop the
sea floor generate tsunamis.
• Generally such surface deformation is largest for
reverse and normal faulting earthquakes, and small
for transform faulting events thus the potential for
tsunamis is lower for strike slip faults (e.g. the
Balleny earthquake 1998 did not generate a
tsunami).
• In general tsunami are generated by reverse faults.
 Tsunami
Genesis

• Tsunamis are
caused by events
that drastically and
suddenly shift a
large volume of
water.

From Plummer McGeary Carlson

Tsunami Earthquakes
• Some earthquakes have generated very large
tsunamis for their “size”. These events are called
tsunami earthquakes.
• Analysis of seismograms from these events suggest that
they are the result of low-frequency seismic energy.
• These earthquakes present a problem for tsunami
warning systems
 Describing Tsunamis
• Tsunami wave height is the height of the wave at the
shore.
• Tsunami run-up height is the maximum height that the
wave reaches on land.
IN DEEP OCEAN tsunami has long wavelength, travels fast, small
amplitude - doesn’t affect ships

AS IT APPROACHES SHORE, it slows. Since energy is conserved,

amplitude builds up - very damaging
 Tsunami Locations
• Large subduction
zones produce the
most tsunamis.
• The Pacific, rimmed
with subduction
zones, has the most
tsunamis.
• Pacific ~ 80%
• Atlantic ~ 10%
• Elsewhere ~
10%
Tsunami Propagation
• Tsunamis are most devastating near the earthquake
zone.
• They are larger and strike the region soon after the
earthquake.
• They also travel across entire oceans and cause
damage and death thousands of miles from the
earthquake.
Tsunami Warning
• Because tsunamis travel relatively slowly, we have a chance
to warn distant regions of potential tsunamis.
• Alerts are issued routinely by cooperating governments.
• As soon as an earthquake of magnitude >6.5 is located in
the sea, the alarm start.
• Using computer simulations and maps like the one in the
following slide, scientists forecast the time of arrival in
different locations.
 Tsunami Travel Times (Hawaii)

From Merritts et al., 1998

Tsunami Warning
• As soon as an earthquake of magnitude >6.5 is
located in the sea the alarm start.
• Using computer simulations and maps like the one
in the following slide scientists forecast the time of
arrival in different locations.
• The use of Buoy and tide gauges help to verify the
effective presence of a tsunami, the alarm is given.
DART – Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis
Tsunami Warning
• As soon as an earthquake of magnitude >6.5 is located in
the sea the alarm start.
• Using computer simulations and maps like the one in the
following slide scientists forecast the time of arrival in
different locations.
• The use of Buoy and tide gauges help to verify the effective
presence of a tsunami, the alarm is given.
• Once that the alarm is given, it is necessary that the local
communities have emergency plans, that they receive the
messages, and that the population knows what to do
NOAA
• Pacific tsunami warning system – set up – 1948-26
countries aroun dd pacific ocean including
Indonesia.
• Tsunami warning centres- located – Alaska, Hawaii
& Japan.
• Tsunami meters – along pacific coastlines.
Tsunami meter
1. pressure recorder/ deep sea sensors : measure
changes in water pressure as a tsunami passes
overhead.
Recorders send the data through acoustic signal
to Floating buoys @ sea surface.
2. Floating buoys : measure wind speed,
temperature & air pressure.
Data so derived are transmitted to satellites.
3. Satellite
Sumatra Tsunami 2004
BANDA ACEH, INDONESIA: June 23, 2004
A satellite image of the waterfront area of Aceh province's
capital city before the tsunami.
BANDA ACEH, INDONESIA: December 28, 2004
An image taken after the tsunami shows destroyed housing
and the shoreline nearly wiped out.
Can We Do Better? Yes

•Improved sensor networks in hazardous areas of the world

(seismic, tide gauge, ocean buoys) and coordinated distribution
and processing of data

•Better information content that can better assist emergency

responders to assess the scope of the disaster

•Coordination and integration with national, regional and local

emergency response agencies and civil authorities

•Education and training at national, regional and local levels of

government and the general population
Tsunami Hazard Mitigation
• We can warn people of potential tsunamis from
distant earthquakes. Warning of near source
tsunamis is much more difficult.
• Prevention of tsunami catastrophes requires
carefully planned use of low-lying areas.
• This is not always possible, or affordable.
Protecting Yourself (Tsunami)
• Move to higher ground.
• Wait until authorities give the go ahead to return to
low-lying regions.
• Watch for surges of water in rivers and streams
near the coast.
• If you feel a strong earthquake, don’t wait for a
formal warning.
Thank You!!!