DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURAL DISASTER

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves that sends surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over
100 feet (30.5 meters), onto land. These walls of water can cause widespread destruction when they
crash ashore.
These awe-inspiring waves are typically caused by large, undersea earthquakes at tectonic plate
boundaries. When the ocean floor at a plate boundary rises or falls suddenly it displaces the water
above it and launches the rolling waves that will become a tsunami. A tsunami’s trough, the low point
beneath the wave’s crest, often reaches shore first. When it does, it produces a vacuum effect that sucks
coastal water seaward and exposes harbor and sea floors. This retreating of sea water is an important
warning sign of a tsunami, because the wave’s crest and its enormous volume of water typically hit
shore five minutes or so later. Recognizing this phenomenon can save lives.
A tsunami is usually composed of a series of waves, called a wave train, so its destructive force may be
compounded as successive waves reach shore

WHERE AND WHEN THE DISASTER IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR

Most tsunamis, about 80 percent, happen within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” a geologically
active area where tectonic shifts make volcanoes and earthquakes common. A tsunami can occur in any
ocean. If there is an earthquake or a huge movement had taken the place, that increases the likelihood
of a Tsunami occurring. There are plates on the surface of the earth and there are some gaps between
two plates (usually they are placed under the sea). When these plates are moved vertically, a huge sea
wave will occur. This is the typical method for a tsunami. At the middle of the sea we can't have a great
experience of tsunami but when it comes near the shore it will become greater.
Tsunamis occur most often along countries which border the Pacific "Rim of Fire", or "Ring of Fire'.
One end of this region of high sesmic and volcanic activity begins at New zealand, heading northwest
to Indonesia (completely bypassing Australia) and then west to Papua New guinea and Indonesia,
northeast along the Asian coastline, east to North America and then south along the western North
American coastline. Roughly horse-shoe shaped, the Ring of Fire extends about 40,000km long, and
tsunamis can be generated anywhere along this rim.

Tsunamis may also be caused by underwater landslides or volcanic eruptions. They may even be
launched, as they frequently were in Earth’s ancient past, by the impact of a large meteorite plunging
into an ocean.
Tsunamis race across the sea at up to 500 miles (805 kilometers) an hour—about as fast as a jet
airplane. At that pace they can cross the entire expanse of the Pacific Ocean in less than a day. And
their long wavelengths mean they lose very little energy along the way.
In deep ocean, tsunami waves may appear only a foot or so high. But as they approach shoreline and
enter shallower water they slow down and begin to grow in energy and height. The tops of the waves
move faster than their bottoms do, which causes them to rise precipitously.
Tsunamis are a frequent occurrence in Japan; approximately 195 events have been recorded.[3] Due to
the immense volumes of water and energy involved, tsunamis can devastate coastal regions.

HISTORICAL EXAMPLES OF DISASTER INCIDENTS/MOST RECENT INCIDENT

As early as 426 B.C. the Greek historian Thucydides inquired in his book History of the Peloponnesian
War about the causes of tsunami, and was the first to argue that ocean earthquakes must be the cause.
The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus described the typical sequence of a tsunami, including an
incipient earthquake, the sudden retreat of the sea and a following gigantic wave, after the 365 A.D.
tsunami devastated Alexandria.
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami killed over 200,000 people with many bodies either
being lost to the sea or unidentified. According to an article in Geographical magazine (April 2008),
the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004 was not the worst that the region could expect. It was
an undersea mega thrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004,
with an epicenter off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific
community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake. The resulting tsunami is given various names,
including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Asian Tsunami, Indonesian Tsunami, and Boxing Day
Tsunami.
The earthquake was caused by subduction and triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the
coasts of most landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean, killing over 230,000 people in fourteen
countries, and inundating coastal communities with waves up to 30 meters (100 feet) high. It was one
of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. Indonesia was the hardest hit, followed by Sri
Lanka, India, and Thailand.
With a magnitude of between 9.1 and 9.3, it is the third largest earthquake ever recorded on a
seismograph. This earthquake had the longest duration of faulting ever observed, between 8.3 and 10
minutes. It caused the entire planet to vibrate as much as 1 cm (0.4 inches)] and triggered other
earthquakes as far away as Alaska. Its hypocenter was between Simeulue and mainland Indonesia.
HISTORIC TSUNAMIS IN THE UNITED STATES
Twenty-four tsunamis have caused damage in the United States and its territories during the last 204
years. Just since 1946, six tsunamis have killed more than 350 people and damaged a half billion
dollars of property on Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast.

Tsunamis have historically been rare in Oregon. Since 1812, Oregon has experienced about a dozen
tsunamis with wave heights greater than 3 feet; some of these were destructive. Ten of these were
generated by distant earthquakes near Alaska, Chile or Japan. The worst damage and loss of life
resulted from the 1964 Alaskan earthquake.
The most recent tsunami happened in Alaska and the warning system classified as low gave the
information below.
2011/02/12 00:50:50 (UTC)
Preliminary Magnitude: 4.0
Latitude: 58.888 Longitude: -157.589
Location: 35 miles/56 Km SE of Dillingham, Alaska

DESCRIPTION OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE DISASTER

Damage to human lives
Tsunamis are capable of causing a substantial amount of damage. One tsunami can destroy an entire
coastal village and remove all the sand from a beach and sand that took hundreds of years to
accumulate. Below are examples of the destructive power of tsunamis:
 New Guinea - July 17, 1998

At 6:49 PM on July 17, 1998, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter Scale shook the
western Bismark Sea. Almost twenty minutes later, a series of 3 giant tsunami waves crashed on
to the shore of New Guinea between Aitape and Serai. Over 2200 Villagers were crushed and
drowned while the over 10,000 survivors were left homeless Kalapana, Hawaii - November
29, 1975

On November 29, 1975, an earthquake with an intensity of 7.2 shook the town of Kalapana,
 Hawaii. Within a few minutes, a 47-foot tall tsunami crushed the town, resulting in property
damage of over 4.1 million dollars and claiming the lives of two innocent people.

Damage to plant, animal life and the earth’s landscape

Upon impact, tsunami waves are capable of dislodging any land formations, foliage and nearby bodies
of water. As the power behind these waves pushes them inward, ocean waters can reach several miles
inland. As a result, fresh water lakes become contaminated with salt water, while salt sedimentation is
embedded in the lakes' soil. Runoff from inland areas can leave trash and silt to rest in lake waters.
Resulting damage from tsunami waves dislodges existing flora and fauna, leaving leftover
sedimentation to smother undersea corals and grasses. Costal forestation undergoes significant damage,
and can be totally wiped out under severe conditions. As waters begin to recede, non-biodegradable
debris is swept through inland areas and dragged into the ocean waters. Contaminated soil in which
crops and vegetation are grown kills off bacteria populations needed to maintain the soil's ecosystem.

ANALYSIS OF HOW HUMAN ACTIVITY IMPACTED THE EFFECTS OF THE DISASTER

Coastal villages who make their living from the ocean/waters are the ones that feel the most impact of
this natural disaster. It cannot be helped that people who live by the ocean as well as the island
communities will be most fully affected. The more people there are in these villages, the more they
will suffer including their livelihood such as fishing, tourism as well as maintaining livestock and crops
around the area. Also, these areas are typically tourist destinations because of beaches and island
paradise with a lot of water recreational activities. They are in a lot of danger and will cost millions of
dollars when damaged.

OUTCOME FOR THE AFFECTED ECOSYSTEM FROM THE DISASTER

It is very hard to determine any positive effects of a tsunami. Ecosystems that lie along coastal lines
include mangrove forests, sea grasses, coral reefs and wetlands. Each of these ecosystems is dependent
on the others for nutrient supplies. The elimination of one or more systems may permanently alter the
overall environmental status. Coral reef structures destroyed in the wake of a tsunami also kill off any
existing fish populations. This absence can lead to a significant break in an ecosystem's food chain, and
ultimately work to eliminate species that are dependent on that food supply. Soil exposed to salty
sedimentation loses its fertility, and so becomes sterile. As result, soil located in agricultural areas must
be re-cultivated, which is a long, costly process. Tsunami waves can also cause the erosion of costal
terrains which will continue to erode for years afterward. As new terrains grow in, the surrounding
ecosystems may never be the same. As you can see, there may be no positive outcome due to a tsunami
except that new ecosystems can grow, the soil can be rested but it will take a long time before we
probably see any positive effects from this disaster.
 Submitted by:
VICTORIA CRISTIAH FERRER
Science 7 Project