Tsunami

Overview:

Tsunami - what is it? Tsunami causes Tsunami Formation What is the Physics behind them? Effcts of tsunami Warning systems? Examples of Tsunamis

Tsunami- what is it?

Definition:

Unusually large wave in a harbour (Japanese; tsu-harbour, nami-wave) Series of water waves generated by huge and sudden perturbation (e.g. earthquakes, slides, volcanoes, asteroids) Wave period: 2-200 minutes

Characteristics:

Run-up heights: O(10-100 m) (Flooding of shoreline)

Speed

Tsunami causes:

Earthquake Land slide Volcanic eruption Glacier calvings Tides do not play any part in generation of sunami

Tsunami generated by seismicity

Tsunami can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water. Tectonic earthquakes are a particular kind of earthquake that are associated with the Earth's crustal deformation; when these earthquakes occur beneath the sea, the water above the deformed area is displaced from its equilibrium position..

Contd:

tsunami can be generated when thrust faults associated with convergent or destructive plate boundaries move abruptly, resulting in water displacement, owing to the vertical component of movement involved. Movement on normal faults will also cause displacement of the seabed, but the size of the largest of such events is normally too small to give rise to a significant tsunami.

By Landslides:

In the 1950s, it was discovered that larger tsunamis than had previously been believed possible could be caused by giant landslides. Underwater landslides that generate tsunamis are called sciorrucks. These phenomena rapidly displace large water volumes, as energy from falling debris or expansion transfers to the water at a rate faster than the water can absorb. Their existence was confirmed in 1958, when a giant landslide in Lituya Bay, Alaska, caused the highest wave ever recorded, which had a height of 524 metres (over 1700 feet).. Scientists named these waves megatsunami. Scientists discovered that extremely large landslides from volcanic island collapses can generate megatsunamis that can cross oceans.

Tsunami Formation

Tsunami Formation

Tsunamis can be generated when the sea floor suddenly displaces the overlying water vertically. Tectonic earthquakes are a kind of earthquake that can cause that.

When they occur beneath the sea, the water above the deformed area is displaced from its equilibrium position.
Waves are formed as the displaced water mass, acting under the force of gravity, tries to regain equilibrium. When large areas of the sea floor elevate or subside, a tsunami can be created. Large vertical movements of the earth's crust can occur at plate boundaries, at the faults.

Tsunami Formation

As a tsunami leaves the deep ocean and travels toward the shallow coast, it transforms. A tsunami moves at a speed related to the water depth, therefore the tsunami slows as the water depth decreases. The tsunami's energy flux, being dependent on both its wave speed and wave height, remains nearly constant. As a result, the tsunami's speed decreases as it travels into shallower water, and its height increases. When it reaches the coast, it may appear as a rapidly rising or a series of breaking waves.

Tsunami Formation:

It Slows down and height increases when approaching shallow coast Tsunamis reach the coast with tremendous amounts of energy. Destructive power is due to speed and force with which they strike the coastal area. As a tsunami reaches the shore, it begins to lose energy . Tsunamis are stronger and retain height longer than waves generated by wind.

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 "stuck".

Tectonic plate boundary before earthquake

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..

Overriding plate bulges under strain, causing tectonic uplift

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.

Plate slips, causing subsidence and releasing energy into water.

The energy released produces tsunami waves.

Whats the Physics behind the Waves

EFFECTS:

The effects of the tsunami on the country during this period range from destruction damage, death, injury, millions of dollors in financiall loss, and long lasting psychological problems for the inhabitants of the region.

Warning Systems

PUBLIC WARNING SYSTEM

can you tell if a tsunami is coming?

The U. S. ESSA operates warning systems. Its PTWC in Hawaii is the regional operational center for tsunami information in the Pacific A Tsunami Watch Bulletin is released when an earthquake occurs with a magnitude of 6.75 or greater on the Richter scale. A Tsunami Warning Bulletin is released when information from tidal stations indicates that a potentially destructive tsunami exists. This system is not very reliable. For example, Honolulu was evacuated in 1948 on a false alarm at a cost of more than $30 million dollars.

Examples of Tsunamis
-The fifth-largest earthquake in a century with magnitude of 26thDec2004 8.9 Richter scale -struck the coast of the northern Indonesia Island of Sumatra -triggered tsunamis in Srilanka, India,tourist islands in Thailand , Maldives, some part of East Africa

1992

The Cape Mendocino quake produced a tsunami that hit Humboldt Bay within 20 minutes

1964

an earthquake in Alaska produced a destructive tsunami that inundated Crescent City

PICTURES:

Wave Propagation simulation

Conclusion
Tsunamis.. Are uncontrollable phenomenon Causes extensive loss of life Damage property Public warning systems provide some measures of protection.

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