Tsunamis

Question 1

What is a tsunami

Answer 1

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves that sends surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 ft (30.5 metres) onto land. These walks of water can cause widespread destruction when they crash ashore

Question 2

These awe inspiring waves are typically caused by what

Answer 2

Large, undersea eaturquakes, at tectonic plate boundaries

Question 3

When the ocean floor at a plate boundary suddenly rises or falls what happens

Answer 3

It displaces the water above it and launches the rolling waves that will cause a tsunami

Question 4

Where do they mostly occur

Answer 4

Most tsunamis, about 80% happen within the Pacific Ocean’s ‘Ring of Fire’, a geologically active area where tectonic shifts make earthquakes and volcanos common.

Question 5

In the Ring of Fire what makes earthquakes and volcanoes common

Answer 5

Tectonic shifts

Question 6

Tsunamis race across the sea at what speed

Answer 6

Up to 500 miles (805 kilometres) an hour - about as fast as a jet aeroplane. At that pace they can cross the entire Pacific Ocean in less than a day

Question 7

Is it possible to warn people of a tsunami:

What is the best defence against any tsunami

Answer 7

Early warning, that allows people to seek higher ground

Question 8

Is it possible to warn people of a tsunami:

What does the Pacific tsunami warning system do and what are they

Answer 8

The Pacific tsunami warning system, a coalition of 26 nations headquartered in Hawaii, maintains a web of seismic equipment and water level gauges to identify tsunamis at sea. Similar systems are proposed to protect coastal areas world wide