School Name: Sherwood Heights School
Team Size: 1 or 2
Grade Category: 7-9
ProjectType: Experimental
Subject Area: Environmental Issues
Language: English
Team Captain First Name: Alycia
Team Captain Last Name: Saini
Awards Obtained: Honorable Mention for School Science fair 2005
Special Skills Used: Javascript and HTML
The giant, deadly waves of seawater that crashed through coastal towns in Asia and parts of east
Africa during December, are commonly called tidal waves, but that term is, “not exactly correct“,
say scientists. The more correct word is "tsunami".
The force of the magnitude 9 earthquake caused tsunami, that destroyed Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia,
Thailand and other countries in the region that were caused by a massive shift of tectonic plates under
the Indian Ocean - a sea quake - and were not caused by the moon’s pull, which creates tidal phenomena.
Tsunami, a word borrowed from Japan, where earthquakes are common, really means "harbor wave," that
is represented by two characters, the top character, "tsu," means harbor, while the bottom character, "nami,"
means "wave," but the fury unleashed on December 26 was more far more widespread than that!
The US Geological Survey, which forms part of the international Tsunami Warning System for the Pacific
Ocean, defines a tsunami as "a wave or series of waves that are generated by a sudden disturbance that
displaces water". Tsunami’s are mainly caused by earthquakes and landslides in coastal regions.
The term "tidal wave", is considered, "is a misnomer.... The impact of a tsunami upon a coastline is partially
dependent upon the tidal level at the time it strikes, but its generation is unrelated to ocean tides".
Although tsunamis are often referred to as 'tidal waves' by English-speaking people, they are not caused
by the tides and aren't related to them. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
says on an explanatory webpage: “The phenomenon we call a tsunami is a series of waves of extremely long
wavelength and period generated in a body of water by an impulsive disturbance that displaces the water.”
As you can see, the word tsunami has many definitions. The dictionary says that the word “tsunami,” means ,
“A very large ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake, a landslide, or a volcanic eruption.” The Indian
Ocean tsunami generated by the most powerful earthquake in decades on December 26, is believed to have
killed more than 150,000 people and made millions homeless, making it perhaps the most destructive tsunami in history.
Two giant tectonic plates, which have been pushing against each other for millennia, suddenly shifted. The left plate slid
under the right at the rate of a few centimeters a year, but now the top plate suddenly sprung up, lifting perhaps 60 feet along a
1,000-mile ridge.
Tsunami Facts:
The Definition of a tsunami:
A tsunami (pronounced “soo-nahm'ee”) is a series of waves generated by an undersea disturbance such as an earthquake.
From the area of the disturbance, the waves will travel outward in all directions, much like the ripples caused by throwing a
rock into a pond.
What is a tsunami?
A tsunami is a series of waves, generated in a body of water by an impulsive disturbance that vertically displaces the water column.
How Tsunamis Work.
On December 26, 2004, a massive underwater earthquake off the coast of Indonesia's Sumatra Island rattled the Earth in its orbit.
The quake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale is the largest one since 1964.
How Do Earthquakes Cause Tsunamis?
Tsunamis can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water.
Detecting a Tsunami.
In general, if you think a tsunami may be coming, the ground shakes under your feet or you hear there is a warning, tell your relatives
and friends, and move quickly to higher ground.
The Asia Tsunami of 2004
DID YOU KNOW ??????
"The earthquake that generated the great Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type
atomic bombs, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). " 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was
an undersea earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC (07:58:53 local time) on December 26, 2004. The earthquake generated tsunamis that
were among the deadliest disasters in modern history. At a magnitude of 9.0, it was the largest earthquake since the 9.2 magnitude Good
Friday Earthquake off Alaska in 1964 caused by a landslide, and tied for fourth largest since 1900.
Go To The Page With Many Pictures On The Tsunami!!
Go To The Purpose Page!!
Go To The Hypothesis Page!!
Go To The Apparatus Page!!
Go To The Method Page!!
Go To The Observation Page!!
Go To The Conclusion Page!!
Go To The Virtual Science Fair Website!!