Tsunami

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Tsunami
By Rachel Young
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What is a Tsunami?
A Tsunami is a group of gigantic waves that
occurs after an undersea disturbance. Tsunami is
a Japanese word, which means harbour wave.
Tsunamis can travel in any directions away from
the disturbance. In an open sea the tsunami can
travel about 450 miles per hour. As soon as they
reach the shore, they form a large massive wave
which is about 100 metres in height and crashes
inland destroying trees, people, houses, animals
etc. Some people think that tsunamis are similar
to tidal waves, but scientists believes that
tidal waves is not the scientific word for
tsunamis and tsunamis have nothing to do with
tidal waves.
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How do Tsunamis form?
Tsunamis are formed from earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions and landslides. Once the earthquake (or
volcanic eruptions, or landslides) occurs, they
form a large energy wave through the ocean. The
energy wave moves rapidly under the deep sea. As
it makes its way to the coastline, it gets
slower.The energy wave make an up and down
movement through the ocean, until it reaches to
the coastline. As soon as the large energy waves
are near the coastline, it forms a large curve
wave that will hit inland. Go to
http//www.ncs.cathedral.org/science8/OceanDiag.ht
m to see a diagram of a tsunami.
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What effects does the Tsunamis creates?
The tsunami causes a physical damage to many
countries, that have been crashed by these
natural hazards. They have completely destroyed
buildings, ripped trees out of their roots,
capsizing boats and throw them to the shore. Many
parking metres have been bent to the ground by
these vicious waves. Many people drowned, luckily
some people have survived.
Tsunami crashing inland
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Ways of how to be safe from a Tsunami

• If you see a Tsunami coming from a distance, then
  run to a high-leveled area. E.g hills, mountains,
  etc.
• If you hear an earth quake, then get prepared for
  a tsunami emergency.
• If you are suspended on a boat and a tsunami is
  coming, then quickly move your boat to the deep
  water (at least 100 fathoms).
• If your at the beach at night. Be aware if you
  hear a train or an aircraft sound coming from the
  sea. Then run for higher ground.

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Examples

• In Alaska,1964, an earthquake formed a tsunami.
  The Tsunami was 10 and 20 feet high. It caused
  more than 84 million to repair the damage in
  Alaska.123 people died.
• On November 18, 1929, in the Grand Banks of
  Newfoundland created a tsunami that caused an
  amount of damage and loss of life at Placentia
  Bay, Newfoundland.
• In 1946, a tsunami (20 to 32 feet) crashed into
  Hilo, Hawaii, flooding the downtown area and
  drowning 159 people.

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Internet Links
http//www.area-ham.org/library/causes/causes.htm
http//www.glaciermedicaled.com/Earthquake_html/ts
unami/tsunami1.html http//www.fema.gov/hazards/ts
unamis/tsunamif.shtm http//www.fema.gov/kids/tsun
ami.htm http//www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/tsuna
mi.html http//www.frontiernet.net/docbob/waves.h
tmform http//wcatwc.gov/safety.htm