In apocalyptic films, tsunamis are presented as giant waves inundating entire cities and capable of destroying everything in their path. Reality is not far from fiction. In fact, the waves of a tsunami can exceed 30 meters in height, and the damage they cause is very significant. The question that arises is how is this natural disaster caused? And what are the ways to protect yourself?
Tsunami is a Japanese word that means “harbour wave”. This literal translation, however, is not the exact definition of what a tsunami is. A more accurate term would actually be “seismic waves”. A tsunami, or tidal wave, or seismic wave at sea is more precisely a series of waves in a body of water, caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or in a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, as well as any other disturbances above or below water can generate a tsunami.
Unlike normal ocean waves, created by the wind; or tides, which are generated by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun, a tsunami is generated by moving water. Tsunamis are certainly waves, but unlike wind waves, they have a much longer wavelength. This often exceeds one hundred kilometres; and that is why tsunamis are so dangerous. Moreover, tsunamis are never singular waves, but appear as series of successive waves.
The formation of a tsunami
The vast majority of tsunamis form as a result of earthquakes, especially tectonic tsunamis. When an earthquake occurs, the ground beneath the water rises or falls abruptly, and as this movement occurs, a large body of water moves and begins to move in all directions. It can also be caused by underwater landslides or volcanic eruptions, but also by artificial detonations, glacier slides and meteorite impacts.
80% OF TSUNAMIS OCCUR IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN’S RING OF FIRE.
This displacement of water marks the beginning of a tsunami. Then the displaced water begins to present itself as waves. At this stage, there is a very low amplitude, because the waves are located in deep water; and open-water tsunamis are typically less than 0.5 meters. If the height of the waves is not impressive, it is however necessary to be wary of their force. Tsunamis actually travel across the sea at speeds of up to 900 kilometers per hour, about as fast as a jet plane. At this rate, they can cross the entire expanse of the Pacific Ocean in less than a day.
When the waves start heading towards the shore, the tsunami starts to become a real hazard. First of all, the water becomes less and less deep. As a result, the height of the tsunami begins to increase significantly, and this is the main reason why it is so dangerous. Shallow waves, however, have a lower speed, but we must not forget to take into account the fact that a tsunami does not stop until all the waves have landed.
HAWAII IS THE MOST TSUNAMI-STRUCKED STATE IN THE USA WITH A TSUNAMI ALERT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.
Once the waves land, much of their energy is dissipated and returned; but part of it is maintained and therefore tsunamis continue to travel inland until all their energy is gone. So not being at the beach during a tsunami does not mean being safe. In fact, a large enough tsunami can sweep an entire city with its waves, or plunge into waterspouts in the form of a flood. In rare cases, tsunamis can also travel down river valleys, like fast-moving tides that flood coastal areas.
How to protect against tsunamis?
The first thing to do is to stay informed. Since science cannot predict when earthquakes will occur, it is not possible to determine exactly when a tsunami will be generated. However, this does not mean that there is nothing to do. Using historical records of tsunamis and digital models of their size and speed, scientists have a pretty good idea of where tsunamis are likely to be generated. In fact, tsunami warning agencies have a network of seismic equipment and water level gauges to identify tsunamis at sea; This gives them a certain head start in warning the inhabitants of coastal areas who are likely to be victims of this disaster.
IF YOU ARE CATCHED BY A TSUNAMI WAVE, IT IS BETTER NOT TO SWIM BUT RATHER HOLD A FLOATING OBJECT AND LET THE CURRENT CARRY YOU
If you are on a coastal area, or on a beach, just before the tsunami occurs, you can avoid the worst by leaving quickly. To do this, you must know that before a tsunami occurs on a beach, you can usually observe a large body of water withdrawing from the shores. This receding seawater is an important harbinger of a tsunami, and the first wave of the disaster usually reaches the coast about five minutes later. It should also not be forgotten that a tsunami is made up of several waves. This means that if you can flee after the first wave, you absolutely must.
The worst tsunami in modern history
Although Japan has the highest number of recorded tsunamis, the worst in modern history is undoubtedly the one that killed more than 250,000 people in 2004 in the Indian Ocean. This tsunami was generated by an earthquake in the middle of the Indian Ocean. In fact, the earthquake was so powerful that the energy it released can easily be compared to that of an explosion of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. This tragedy took place on December 26, 2004, and affected 14 countries.
With an epicenter off the west coast of North Sumatra, the Indian Ocean tsunami traveled almost 5,000 kilometers to Africa, where it arrived with enough force to kill people and destroy property. . In some countries affected by the tsunami, the waves reached 30 meters in height, but the force of the current also contributed to the devastation caused by the disaster.
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