Please give a detailed information about tsunami?

Question

I am doing a project on it and I have tried google wikipedia etc. but they are not so accurate and according to the standard of a high school student.
It will be somewhat like this -
TSUNAMI (introduction),
CAUSE,
CHARACTERISTICS,
IMPACT,
EXAMPLE (2004 indian ocean tsunami),
PRECAUTION,
CONCLUSION.
For each topic I will have to write at least 30 lines.
It's very urgent so please..... help as fast as possible.

Answer 1

the Indonesian earthquake calculated it affected Earth's rotation, decreased the length of day, slightly changed the planet's shape, and shifted the North Pole by centimeters. The earthquake that created the huge tsunami also changed the Earth's rotation.

The sudden vertical rise of the seabed by several metres during the earthquake displaced massive volumes of water, resulting in a tsunami that struck the coasts of the Indian Ocean. A tsunami which causes damage far away from its source is sometimes called a "teletsunami", and is much more likely to be produced by vertical motion of the seabed than by horizontal motion.[26]

The tsunami, like all others, behaved very differently in deep water than in shallow water. In deep ocean water, tsunami waves form only a small hump, barely noticeable and harmless, which generally travels at a very high speed of 500 to 1,000 km/h (310 to 620 mph); in shallow water near coastlines, a tsunami slows down to only tens of kilometres an hour but in doing so forms large destructive waves. Scientists investigating the damage in Aceh found evidence that the wave reached a height of 24 m (80 ft) when coming ashore along large stretches of the coastline, rising to 30 m (100 ft) in some areas when travelling inland.[27]

Tsunami characteristics:-

Radar satellites recorded the heights of tsunami waves in deep water: at two hours after the earthquake, the maximum height was 60 cm (2 ft). These are the first such observations ever made. However, these observations could not have been used to provide a warning, because the satellites were not intended for that purpose and the data took hours to analyse.[28][29]

Economic impact:-
The impact on coastal fishing communities and fisherfolk, some of the poorest people in the region, has been devastating with high losses of income earners as well as boats and fishing gear.[50] In Sri Lanka artisanal fishery, where the use of fish baskets, fishing traps, and spears are commonly used, is an important source of fish for local markets; industrial fishery is the major economic activity, providing direct employment to about 250,000 people. In recent years the fishery industry has emerged as a dynamic export-oriented sector, generating substantial foreign exchange earnings. Preliminary estimates indicate that 66% of the fishing fleet and industrial infrastructure in coastal regions have been destroyed by the wave surges, which will have adverse economic effects both at local and national levels.[51]

But some economists believe that damage to the affected national economies will be minor because losses in the tourism and fishing industries are a relatively small percentage of the GDP. However, others caution that damage to infrastructure is an overriding factor. In some areas drinking water supplies and farm fields may have been contaminated for years by salt water from the ocean.[52]

Both the earthquake and the tsunami may have affected shipping in the Malacca Straits by changing the depth of the seabed and by disturbing navigational buoys and old shipwrecks. Compiling new navigational charts may take months or years.[53]

Countries in the region appealed to tourists to return, pointing out that most tourist infrastructure is undamaged. However, tourists were reluctant to do so for psychological reasons. Even resorts on the Pacific coast of Thailand, which were completely untouched, were hit by cancellations. One year after the tsunami hit, tourism is beginning to climb again, with a full recovery expected sometime in 2006.[54]

Environmental impact

Tsunami Inundation, Khao Lak, North of Phuket, Thailand ASTER Images and SRTM Elevation Model.Beyond the heavy toll on human lives, the Indian Ocean earthquake has caused an enormous environmental impact that will affect the region for many years to come. It has been reported that severe damage has been inflicted on ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs, forests, coastal wetlands, vegetation, sand dunes and rock formations, animal and plant biodiversity and groundwater. In addition, the spread of solid and liquid waste and industrial chemicals, water pollution and the destruction of sewage collectors and treatment plants threaten the environment even further, in untold ways. The environmental impact will take a long time and significant resources to assess.[55]

According to specialists, the main effect is being caused by poisoning of the freshwater supplies and the soil by saltwater infiltration and deposit of a salt layer over arable land. It has been reported that in the Maldives, 16 to 17 coral reef atolls that were overcome by sea waves are totally without fresh water and could be rendered uninhabitable for decades. Uncountable wells that served communities were invaded by sea, sand and earth; and aquifers were invaded through porous rock. Salted-over soil becomes sterile, and it is difficult and costly to restore for agriculture. It also causes the death of plants and important soil micro-organisms. Thousands of rice, mango and banana plantations in Sri Lanka were destroyed almost entirely and will take years to recover. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is working with governments of the region in order to determine the severity of the ecological impact and how to address it.[56] UNEP has decided to earmark a US$1,000,000 emergency fund and to establish a Task Force to respond to requests for technical assistance from countries affected by the tsunami.[57] In response to a request from the Maldivian Government, the Australian Government sent ecological experts to help restore marine environments and coral reefs—the lifeblood of Maldivian tourism. Much of the ecological expertise has been rendered from work with the Great Barrier Reef, in Australia's north-eastern waters.

Answer 2

Tsunami: A tsunami is a series of waves created when a body of water, such as an ocean is rapidly displaced on a massive scale. Earthquakes, mass movements above or below water, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, landslides and large meteorite impacts all have the potential to generate a tsunami.

Cause: 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".
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 or even centuries.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. The moving wave begins travelling out from where the earthquake has occurred. Some of the water travels out and across the ocean basin, and, at the same time, water rushes landward to flood the recently lowered shoreline

Characteristics: Travel at speeds of up to 400-500 miles per hour
In deep waters, tsunamis are low and wide, often less than three feet high
As much as 95 miles between the crest of one wave and the next.
At shallower waters, they get more deadly
Can reach up to heights of 100 feet or more and crash inland.

Impact: for this u can explain how tsunami caused economic distructions

Preccaution:
If the warning is issued:

go faster on the high and hilly places.
Follow the preliminary established signs on the roads
Never go to the sea side for collecting samples and fish
Never go back before the cancellation of warning is issued. New waves may follow.

If there is no warning, but you felt tremors and live near the seashore:

go faster to the high and hilly places
wait for the instructions by the authorities
never go back, before checking the proper information issued by the respective authorities, that this is safe

In conclusion summarize all the info

Answer 3

This was probably meant to test your knowledge of where the active tectonic plate subduction zones are which can cause strong, shallow earthquakes capable of setting off tsunamis. However, tsunamis can also be caused by other phenomena such as volcanoes, land slides and... METEOR STRIKES! Since these guys can whap the earth just about anywhere, I would argue (on a rare technicality) that any coast could be hit by a tsunami. If your question is one of practical concern rather than a homework question, I apologize.

Answer 4

Tsunami is Japanese for 'Bay Wave'
They can be caused by under sea earthquakes along a fault line or by an undersea avalanch caused by an undersea quake. They can be caused by meteor impact.
A tsunami will travel at high speed across and ocean and (usually) not be visible until it reaches a shore. Then it will slow down and build up in height before crashing on a shore. A bay will amplifiy this effect... Hence the name 'Bay Wave'. Tsunamis can be as small as inches in height to many hundreds of feet in height. Very large ones can deposit stones weighing tons, inland for miles.
Good precautions are to head warnings from authorities and not stay near an effected shore when warnings are issued. Move to high ground asap and avoid cliff tops in the event of a very large wave.
PS. This is very sloppy information straight off the top of my head. Best for you to do a google search I think.

Answer 5

tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes when tactonic plates on the ocean floor collide. the earthquake produces a very strong energy and this energy makes waves of even more than 30 meters. when there is a tsunami go to an elevated place as soon as you notice that the tide is getting low quickly that even the fishes cannot catch up to the water. it can destroy everything that it hits.

Answer 6

Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning harbour waves.
tsunami is one of the weather associated natural hazards.
causes
1 under sea earthquake
under sea earthquake is main cause of tsunami
2 landslide
3 moving of plates
CHARACTERISTICS,
1trembling of earth
2 large sea waves
3 peculiar movement of the sea water
impact of tsunami
destruction of the sea ports
heavy loss life and property
sea tr sport gets damaged
flood in low lying areas.
precaution
leave the house and move to the higher areas
pack dry food stuffs, drinking water,torch,etc in a water Prof bag.
listen to local radio or television for effective warnings and preparations.

Answer 7

Military Grade Tactical Flashlight : http://FlashLight.uzaev.com/?KRiF

Answer 8

Stop writing papers for kids....they should have to do research themselves. Later in life when they have a job are they going to rely on Yahoo.

Answer 9

ABOUT TSUNAMI

What is tsunami?

Tsunami is a Japanese word with the English translation, "harbor wave." The phenomenon we call tsunami is a series of large waves of extremely long wavelength and period usually generated by a violent, impulsive undersea disturbance or activity near the coast or in the ocean. When a sudden displacement of a large volume of water occurs, or if the sea floor is suddenly raised or dropped by an earthquake, big tsunami waves can be formed by forces of gravity. Earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, explosions, and even the impact of cosmic bodies, such as meteorites, can generate tsunamis. Tsunamis can savagely attack coastlines, causing devastating property damage and loss of life.

How do earthquakes generate tsunamis?

Tsunamis can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water. Tectonic earthquakes are a particular kind of earthquakes 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. Waves are formed as the displaced water mass, which acts under the influence of gravity, attempts to regain its equilibrium. When large areas of the sea floor elevate or subside, a tsunami can be created.

What happens when a tsunami encounters land?

Just like other water waves, tsunamis begin to lose energy as they rush onshore - part of the wave energy is reflected offshore, while the shoreward-propagating wave energy is dissipated through bottom friction and turbulence. Despite these losses, tsunamis still reach the coast with tremendous amounts of energy. Tsunamis have great erosional potential, ********* beaches of sand that may have taken years to accumulate and undermining trees and other coastal vegetation. Capable of inundating, or flooding, hundreds of meters inland past the typical high-water level, the fast-moving water associated with the inundating tsunami can crush homes and other coastal structures. Tsunamis may reach a maximum vertical height onshore above sea level, often called a run up height, of 10, 20, and even 30 meters.

Speed of tsunami

Tsunami wave can travel at the speed of a commercial jet plane, over 800 km/h. They can move from one side of the Pacific Ocean in less than a day. The waves can be extremely dangerous and damaging when they reach the shore.

What should you do?

1. If you are at home and hear there is a tsunami warning, you should make sure your entire family is aware of the tsunami. Your family should evacuate your house if you live in a tsunami evacuation zone.

2. If you are at the beach or near the ocean and you feel the earth shake, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for a tsunami warning to be announced.

3. If you are on a ship or boat, do not return to port if you are at sea and a tsunami warning has been issued for your area. Tsunami can cause rapid changes in water level and unpredictable dangerous current in harbours and ports.


Characteristics of a Tsunami


Travel at speeds of up to 400-500 miles per hour
In deep waters, tsunamis are low and wide, often less than three feet high
As much as 95 miles between the crest of one wave and the next.
At shallower waters, they get more deadly
Can reach up to heights of 100 feet or more and crash inland.

General impacts

The impact of the recent Asian tsunami on ecosystems from Indonesia to East Africa will take a long time and significant resources to assess. The first major report Status of Coral Reefs in Tsunami Affected Countries: 2005 has just been completed and confirms the earlier predictions about likely damage, made on this page, as follows:

There is likely damage to the structure and function of the coastal ecosystems (coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses, estuarine mudflats):
The physical structure has been damaged by the force of the wave itself, physical removal of flora and fauna and increased sediment load which will have killed sediment sensitive corals and sea grasses by smothering. The extent of this damage is being assessed and will likely vary considerably depending on the local topography and hydrology.
Chemical changes have included saltwater intrusion, eutrophication (enrichment) of the water resulting from increased runoff, raw sewage and decomposition of flora and fauna including unrecovered bodies. There will be the slower decomposition of timber from mangroves, fishing boats and buildings.
Non biodegradable waste such as plastics has contributed to a build up in marine debris.
Toxic wastes, which were inadequately stored, may have been dispersed, as has been reported on beaches in Somalia.
Exotic (introduced) species used for aquaculture have escaped.
Finally, the biological structure of the ecosystem could be disrupted as various species at different trophic levels were differentially removed. With the structure altered, ecosystem functions could be altered.


Post tsunami precautions
Four months after the tsunamis that devastated large areas of South East Asia, relief efforts in most of the affected areas have progressed from emergency management to the development of long-term plans for infrastructure rebuilding and rehabilitation of health systems.


The major epidemics of communicable diseases envisaged in the aftermath of the disaster have been avoided, with disease surveillance and early warning systems now in place. Water supplies and sanitation systems are operating effectively. Governments have rescinded their travel advisories for most areas including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Tanzania, the Seychelles, Kenya and Somalia. However, Indonesia is still causing concerns for travellers, in particular Aceh and Northern Sumatra.


Humanitarian and health workers working in the worst affected areas remain at highest risk of developing illness or injury, not least from the ongoing psychological impact that follows such enormous loss of life. However, business travellers still need to take additional precautions, ideally consulting a health care provider four-six weeks before departure to ensure adequate preparation and immunisation.


Significantly decreased health services may still be operating in many areas so make sure all routine vaccinations are up to date, specifically tetanus, diptheria, polio and measles.

Risk of infection from insect borne diseases may still be increased, despite a significant number of mosquito control measures in many areas. In Banda Aceh, 200,000 homes have been sprayed with insecticide. Bed nets and plastic sheeting treated with insecticide have been widely distributed. However, malaria is endemic in much of South East Asia and travellers should take medical advice to ensure they are taking appropriate antimalarial medication. An antimalarial drug regimen should be taken for travel to all parts of Aceh Province. For employees with prolonged exposure, travelling with a malaria testing kit can be a useful precaution allowing a quick and clear diagnosis where symptoms are relatively mild or inconclusive.

Japanese Encephalitis is also spread by infected mosquitoes and is endemic across the region. Vaccinations are effective but serious adverse reactions do occasionally occur in some individuals. Any vaccination schedule for this potentially fatal disease should be completed at least 10 days before departure. Alternatively visitors should travel with equipment to minimise the risk of mosquito bites, including impregnated bed nets, long sleeved clothing and insect repellants.

Displaced animals, from snakes and other reptiles to small mammals and dogs, also pose an increased hazard after a natural disaster. In a remote medical environment, prevention is better than cure, so it is important to take simple measures to avoid possible incidents. Few reptiles are aggressive unless disturbed. Snakes tend to be active at night and in warm weather. Finding out about the local species and their habits will go a long way to minimising the risks of attack. Extra precautions for field staff working alone in high-risk areas could include a procedure for regular contact. Copies of route plans and operational movements should be logged centrally to enable an emergency team to be despatched.

Rabies is endemic throughout most of the tsunami-affected areas. A rabies vaccination requires three weeks to complete. In the case of an animal bite, anyone without full immunisation should obtain a post exposure prophylaxis as quickly as possible.

Find out more about malaria testing kits and rabies vaccinations.