Tsunami Review Sheet

Questions

• What is a tsunami wave?  How does it differ from a normal wind-driven wave?  Why are the terms "tidal wave" and "seismic sea wave" not good names to describe a tsunami wave?

• Define the following properties of a wave:  wavelength, frequency, amplitude, velocity.  Compare and contrast each of these properties for wind driven waves and tsunami waves (both open ocean and near shore).

• Why are tsunamis not detectable in deep water?

• Review Figure 15.8.  Describe the motion of water as a wind driven wave passes.

• List and explain the four ways that tsunamis can be generated. 

  • Why do landslides and impact generate the largest tsunami waves?

  • What type plate boundary is most likely to generate a tsunami? Why?

• Review figure 7.18 in your text.  Explain why the amplitude of a tsunami increases when it approaches the shore line.

• Describe the following stages in tsunami development: down draw, run up and reflection.

• What is the weight of a cubic meter of water? Bedside the force of water, what else can injure or kill people after a tsunami inundates a coastline?

• What two instruments do scientists use to determine if a tsunami has been generated by an earthquake?

• How long does it take to issue a tsunami warning?  Why are warnings only effective for locations 750 km or more from the origin of the tsunami?

• List the three factors that influence the effectiveness of a tsunami early warning system.

• Why were scientists unable to monitor and issue warnings for the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami?

 Text Reading

Chapter 7 (pages 200 - 203)

Chapter 15 (pages 411-415)