Tsunami
What Is A Tsunami?
Tsunami comes from a Japanese word meaning "Big Wave". Tsunamis are a bunch of waves that move across the ocean one after another. These waves can go as fast as 600 miles per hour and reaches heights of 100 feet.
What Causes Them?
Tsunamis are caused when plates inside Earth underwater moves against each other. The Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean causes the most tsunamis in the world. The Ring of Fire is a chain of underwater volcanoes. Another thing that triggers tsunamis are underwater earthquakes. Underwater earthquakes are so strong it pushes large amounts of water to the surface which forms into tsunamis.
What Is The Power?
When the tsunami is out in the ocean it approaches shore at 500 miles per hour but when it gets near the shore it slows down to about 80 to 100 miles per hour. Tsunamis causes big damage when it hits land. They can flip cars and trucks and move boulders and trees. Tsunamis can also damage many houses at once. One tsunami can kill over thousands of people.
Do You Remember The Tsunami That Struck
Indonesia?
In December 26,2004 a huge tsunami hit the east coast of Indonesia. It killed over 116,000 people and 800,000 people lost their homes. This tsunami cost more than any other tsunami in history.
What Is The PTWC?
The PTWC stands for "Pacific Tsunami Warning Center". It was founded in 1949. It was organized to warn the Pacific Coast when and where a tsunami is about to hit and to evacuate the area immediately. They watch out for earthquakes by measuring them with seismographs to see if it is strong enough to form a tsunami.
What Are Some Safety Tips That You Should Know?
The very first safety tip that you should know is to always listen to the radio to find out if their is a tsunami warning. If their is you should evacuate the area immediately and listen to the radio to find out where to go, which is usually higher ground. You should always have an emergency kit ready. In the kit you should have food, water, blankets, and clothes.
Work Cited:
Drohan, Michele I. Tunamis: Killer Waves. Rosen Groups, 1999. 15-17.
"Pacific Tsunamis Warning Center." Noaa's National Weather Service. National Weather Service. 3 Feb. 2006 <http://www.prh.noaa.gov/pr/ptws>.