Tsunamis

Which of the phrases below best describes a tsunami? a Japanese word an underwater earthquake a series of small waves a giant wave Which of the following underwater events can cause a tsunami? earthquake volcanic eruption landslide the tide What happens during a tsunami? When the Earth’s tectonic plates under the oceans slip, they release a massive amount of energy into the water. The energy travels up to the surface and pushes the water up above the normal sea level. Gravity pulls it back down so the energy ripples out sideways as waves. As the waves reach land, the sea gets shallower and there is less water for the energy to travel through. The waves slow down but get much taller. When they reach the land they can travel up to 1 mile inland causing huge damage to buildings and trees. Think about what you saw in the photographs. Describe the kinds of damage a tsunami can cause. What would you take? Imagine you have just been told that a natural disaster (like an earthquake or a tsunami) is about to hit your town.You have 10 minutes to pack one small suitcase.Make a list of the things you would pack.Think about things you would need, as well as things you would like to keep safe.