Tsunami!

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Tsunami!

• What happened why

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2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake

• Undersea earthquake
• Magnitude 9.0 (Moment magnitude scale)

NOAA
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Epicenter 150 KM west of Sumatra
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_ear
thquake
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Occurred along the subduction zone where the
Indian dives under the Eurasian Plate
http//www.nps.gov/prsf/geology/images/plates.gif
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Facts

• The earthquake came just three days after a
  magnitude 8.1 earthquake in an uninhabited region
  west of New Zealand
• Possible connection between these two earthquakes
  
• Possibility of a seismic chain reaction across
  neighboring plates has also been considered

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Facts

• Total energy released by a magnitude 9.0
  earthquake exceeds the total amount of energy
  consumed in the U.S. in one month
• Massive release of energy and shift in mass
  insignificantly altered the Earth's rotation

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A tsunami (pronounced soo-NAA-mee) is a series of
waves (called a "wave train") generated in a body
of water by a pulsating or abrupt disturbance
that vertically displaces the water column.
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Tsunami's are also mistakenly referred to as
tidal waves as they often resemble a tide that
keeps rising, rather than cresting waves when
they reach shore. However, as they are not
actually related to tides the term may be
misleading, and its use is discouraged by
scientists.
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• Tsunamis are created when
• Seafloor quickly changes shape
• Water is displaced
• Waves are formed as the displaced water mass,
  which is affected gravity, tries to move back

Anthony Liekens 1530, 28 Dec 2004 (UTC)
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(No Transcript)
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Characteristics

• Move at high speeds
• Can travel enormous distances with little energy
  loss
• Can cause damage thousands of miles from its
  origin
• May be several hours between its creation and its
  impact on the coast

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Warning Systems
Many countries around the Pacific, including
Hawaii, have warning systems and evacuation
procedures in the event of a serious tsunami.
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Effects of Tsunamis

• Destruction of human life (100,000)
• Destruction of property
• Spread of disease
• Destruction of ecosystems

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http//msnbc.msn.com/id/6770108/
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http//msnbc.msn.com/id/6770108/
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Review