essay on natural disaster tsunami

Tsunami’s Reasons and Effects Essay

Main causes of tsunami, ways to recognize the approach of a tsunami in advance, ways to reduce the risks of tsunami impacts, additional ways to predict tsunami, reference list.

For many inhabitants of the Earth, a tsunami threat looks like an abstract and very exotic danger. However, the vagaries of nature in recent years are such that it is quite difficult to feel completely protected from such a danger. Moreover, even in a small lake, under a certain confluence of circumstances, a large wave can arise. If it is about the cities located on the seashore or beside the ocean, the problem is urgent enough.

The knowledge of how to survive during a tsunami can be useful at the most unexpected moment and in almost any part of the globe. Therefore, it is essential to know how to anticipate the place and time of the occurrence of a tsunami and to determine which factors are the main in assessing the potential wave’s power and the speed at which it approaches the land.

The central and most frequent cause of tsunami occurrence is underwater earthquakes. Powerful jerks create a directional movement of huge masses of water that roll to the shore with waves more than 10 meters high and bring casualties and destruction. It is not surprising that the greatest risk of occurrence of this natural disaster exists in coastal areas with increased seismic activity. Thus, everyone knows the example of the tsunami in Japan in 2011, which led to an incredible number of human casualties and triggered an accident at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant (Ikehara et al. 2014).

Quite often, there is a tsunami threat in the Philippines, Indonesia, and other island states of the Pacific. The consequences of tsunamis can be very serious, and this danger should be discussed in detail since many people are exposed to it.

The first reason to take care of a tsunami threat is the announcement of increased seismic activity in the coastal area. Earthquakes are natural signals notifying about a possible runup of a tsunami. In case seismologists manage to predict earth tremors in advance, the residents of settlements on the coast should ensure their safety in order not to expose their lives to danger. According to Melgar and Bock (2015), such warnings are relevant even if the earthquake’s strength in the city is low because the epicenter can be in the sea. That is why the threat is very dangerous in coastal areas where people, as a rule, are in no way protected from such a natural disaster.

During the moments of increased tsunami threat, the authorities’ reports on radio and television should be carefully monitored. In most cases, the danger becomes known in a few hours, which gives residents the opportunity to timely react to it. As tsunami witnesses note, animals are especially sensitive to the approach of a giant wave. Long before the onset of danger, they are worried. Many wild animals and birds tend to leave the area in advance.

It is also possible to predict the approach of a tsunami in fifteen-twenty minutes judging by the changes of the coastline. At this moment, the water quickly recedes, the sound of the surf subsides, the normal regime of tides breaks. In some cases, unusual and untimely tides lasting from several minutes to half an hour can be observed. As Leonard and Bednarski (2014) note, the tsunami of 2012 in Haida Gwaii was accompanied by a drift of unusual objects: fragments of ice or, for example, coastal debris that is raised from the bottom by the movement of water. The runup of the wave is always accompanied by thundering sounds since the mass of water is very large, and at high speed, its movement creates a very perceptible noise.

Modern technologies make it possible to predict not only the power of an upcoming tsunami but also an approximate time in which it will happen. The fact is that experts from the Japanese National Research Institute of Geophysics and Natural Disaster Prevention have developed a high-tech system that predicts these natural disasters. This unique project, as Lin et al. (2014) note, enables residents of the coastal areas to escape from a tsunami within twenty minutes after the alarm. This time will be enough to completely evacuate the area that is endangered and to save all the residents. There have not been severe disasters in Japan that could be similar to that in 2011, but if one happens, people are likely to be ready.

This system has already been launched and includes dozens of different detectors installed at one hundred and fifty points on the seabed along the Pacific coast of Japan from Hokkaido to Tokyo. Information from the sensors comes through the cable directly to the Japanese meteorological office. The development and construction of the system cost the Japanese budget several hundred million dollars. Nevertheless, today, scientists and rescuers will be able to learn about the earthquakes that took place under the water about twenty minutes earlier.

According to Riquelme et al. (2015, p. 6487), the primary idea of any work related to the ways of identification tsunamis is “to provide a tool for emergency response, trading off accuracy for speed”. The creation of a new system has become a new step in the development of science. It is quite easy to imagine how many lives can be saved by possessing the information that can be acquired with the help of those useful data that come from sensors located on the seabed.

In the middle of the twentieth century, after the catastrophic earthquake in Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Service was established in the Pacific Ocean (Yeh & Mason 2014). Seismic stations record the time and place of the earthquake; if its epicenter lies under water, it is possible to expect a tsunami. In this case, all stations monitoring sea level are notified of the need to monitor the approach of big waves.

In order to calculate an approaching time, there are special maps of the duration of the tsunami run from various points to the Hawaiian Islands. The notification about the expected time of the approach of waves is transmitted via the international Pacific communication system. The headquarters of the Tsunami Warning Service (subordinate to the National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is in Honolulu.

Thus, it is significant to find out how to anticipate the place and time of the occurrence of a tsunami. Those factors that signal an imminent threat are always important to consider. Appropriate equipment was invented after the disastrous effects of the tsunami in Japan. Earthquakes, as a rule, are the most common reasons for the emergence of large waves.

Ikehara, K, Irino, T, Usami, K, Jenkins, R, Omura, A & Ashi, J 2014, ‘Possible submarine tsunami deposits on the outer shelf of Sendai Bay, Japan resulting from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami off the Pacific coast of Tohoku’, Marine Geology , vol. 358, no. 1, pp. 120-127.

Leonard, LJ & Bednarski, JM 2014, ‘ Field survey following the 28 October 2012 Haida Gwaii tsunami ’, Pure and Applied Geophysics , vol. 171, no. 12, pp. 3467-3482.

Lin, JH, Cheng, CY, Yu, JL, Chen, YY & Chen, GY 2014, ‘Quick estimation of tsunami induced runup on coastal area’, Coastal Engineering Proceedings , vol. 1, no. 34, pp. 8-22.

Melgar, D & Bock, Y 2015, ‘Kinematic earthquake source inversion and tsunami runup prediction with regional geophysical data’, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth , vol. 120, no. 5, pp. 3324-3349.

Riquelme, S, Fuentes, M, Hayes, GP & Campos, J 2015, ‘A rapid estimation of near-field tsunami runup’, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth , vol. 120, no. 9, pp. 6487-6500.

Yeh, H & Mason, HB 2014, ‘Sediment response to tsunami loading: mechanisms and estimates’, Géotechnique , vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 131-143.

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Tsunami Essay

Giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions in the sea are known as tsunamis . The height of tsunami waves does not substantially rise as they approach the ocean's depths. However, as the waves move inland, the ocean's depth declines, causing them to rise to ever-higher heights. Although tsunamis majorly affect only coastal areas, they have a tremendous amount of destructive power and can have an impact on entire ocean basins. Here are a few sample essays on "Tsunami".

100 Words Essay On Tsunami

The first people to declare the existence of tsunamis were the Greeks. The Greeks considered a tsunami to be a ground quake. The only thing that separates tsunamis from earthquakes is that tsunamis happen in the ocean. Consequently, it is very difficult to limit the magnitude and spread of tsunamis. The ecology suffers significantly as a result of tsunamis. Buildings, ecosystems, livelihoods, and other things are destroyed.

Underwater earthquakes and volcanic eruptions play a crucial role in the development of tsunamis. Tsunamis are caused by various sources, including ground sinking, explosives, etc. Volcanic eruptions beneath the ocean's surface also cause tsunamis to occur. It is commonly known that tsunamis frequently happen in the Pacific Ocean.

200 Words Essay On Tsunami

The word "tsunami," meaning "harbour wave," is of Japanese origin. A tsunami is a series of lengthy water waves that are caused by ocean floor tremors and volcanic eruptions. A landslide will be the primary effect of the earthquake, barring any failure to produce a tsunami on the inside of the seas.

Warning Signs About Tsunamis

The ecology is destroyed by tsunamis , just like any other natural disaster. When a tsunami hits, the ocean waves accelerate to 420 km/h. There are warning signs advising individuals to get away if a tsunami is approaching in several places along the western coastline of the United States, which is vulnerable to tsunamis from the Pacific Ocean.

Based on details about the event that caused the tsunami, the topography of the sea floor, and the coastal landmass, computer simulations can roughly forecast the tsunami's arrival and damage.

Signals By Animals | Animals in the neighbourhood provide one of the first warnings. Before the flood comes, a lot of creatures recognise danger and seek higher ground. Marine life is impacted by tsunamis as well. The ability to predict earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters could be achieved by closely observing their behaviour.

Tsunami Warning Systems | The public can now be alerted to tsunamis before they reach the coasts in areas with a high risk of flooding by using the tsunami warning systems that are available nowadays.

500 Words Essay On Tsunami

A tsunami is a natural disaster that originates under water and is brought on by the waves that an earthquake causes to be generated in the ocean. The tsunami's impacts were initially reported by Greeks on Earth. They claim that earthquakes on land and tsunamis are identical. The sole distinction between a tsunami and an earthquake is that a tsunami results from an oceanic event. Because of this, it is practically impossible to manage the height and intensity of the tsunami.

Tsunami In India

In 2004, India suffered from a terrible tsunami. The tsunami's source was, though, close to Indonesia. It was estimated that 2 lakh people died due to the tsunami. The waves covered thousands of kilometres in places like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and the Maldives.

In the Pacific Ocean, tsunamis dominate. They are likely to occur in a region with more massive bodies. A tsunami may be aided in its progression into a step-like wave by open bays and coastlines near extremely deep oceans.

Controlling Destruction

Here are some steps that can be taken by the government to prevent Tsunami and especially the destruction it brings:-

Infrastructure | Government expenditures can go toward developing infrastructure that is robust, highly secure, and capable of withstanding a tsunami's impact. The height should be sufficient to prevent the tsunami's upper wave from conquering it. A tsunami-prone area can be protected from intensive development and habitational activity.

Warning Systems | The local government can install a quick and effective early warning system. This would assist in raising everyone's level of alertness. By doing so, it might be possible to reduce the loss of human life by getting more people to migrate or escape dangerous locations.

Awareness | It is vitally important to inform people about the effects of tsunamis and their potential consequences. They must be instructed on recognising and understanding the early tsunami warning signs. Under challenging circumstances, they must learn to stay fully prepared rather than panic and anxiously rush around.

Afforestation | Another alternative is to plant trees that can absorb the force of tidal waves, like mangroves, along the coast and its borders. These may lessen a tsunami's effects and limit the devastation they create.

My Experience Of Mock Drills

I remember mock drills were conducted in my school and high school as they were located near the coast of the Arabian sea. These mock drills were conducted to prepare the students for any emergency circumstances like tsunamis, earthquakes and fire disasters. We were taught how to escape in a planned manner which does not create a problematic situation. We were strictly instructed not to use lifts in such a scenario. During heavy rains, school was kept off since Tsunami is more likely to strike during rains.

Tsunamis are less common than other types of natural disasters. However, they may still cause significant damage. A tsunami's most severe consequence is the massive number of deaths. As a result, individuals have little time to flee or escape a tsunami's immediate, nearly silent impact. Tsunamis significantly harm the environment in addition to bringing severe degradation. Marine life suffers extreme damage.

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Tsunami Essay | Essay on Tsunami for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Sastry

Tsunami Essay: The term Tsunami comes from the Japanese language and means harbour wave. Tsunamis are seismic waves that are caused by earthquakes which travel through water. An earthquake that is too small to create a tsunami by itself may trigger an undersea landslide quite capable of generating a tsunami.

You can read more Essay Writing about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Tsunami for Kids and Students in English

Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of ‘Tsunami’ in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on Tsunami of 400-500 words. This long essay about Tsunami is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Tsunami of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.

Long Essay on Tsunami 500 Words in English

Below we have given a long essay on Tsunami of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.

Tsunami can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water. Such large vertical movements of the earth’s crust can occur at plate boundaries. Although often referred to as ‘tidal waves’, a tsunami does not look like the popular impression of ‘a normal wave only much bigger’. Instead, it looks rather like an endlessly onrushing tide which forces its way around and through any obstacle. Most of the damage is caused by the huge mass of water behind the initial wave front, as the height of the sea keeps rising fast and floods powerfully into the coastal areas. The sheer weight of water is enough to pulverise objects in its path, often reducing buildings to their foundations and scouring exposed ground to the bedrock. Large objects such as ships and boulders can be carried several miles inland before, a Tsunami subsides.

It is said that the Greek historian Thucydides proposed that Tsunamis had some relation to submarine earthquakes. However, the understanding of Tsunami’s nature and causes remained weak until the 20th century. Roman historian, Ammianus described the order of events giving rise to a Tsunami: an earthquake, sudden retreat of the sea followed by a gigantic wave. Japan has the longest recorded history of Tsunamis. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake cum Tsunami is marked as one of the most devastating in modern times, taking the death toll to around 2,30,000 people. The Sumatran region also experiences earthquakes off the coast regularly.

Recently, it has been discovered that larger Tsunamis than previously believed possible could be caused by landslides, explosive volcanic actions and Earth-scouring impact events. These phenomena rapidly displace large volumes of water, as energy from falling debris or expansion is transferred to the water into which the debris fall. Tsunamis caused by these mechanisms, unlike the ocean-wide tsunamis caused by some earthquakes, generally dissipate quickly and rarely affect coastlines distant from the source due to the small area of the sea affected.

Tsunamis move the entire depth of the ocean (often several kilometres deep) rather than just the surface, so they contain immense energy, propagate at high speeds and can travel great trans-oceanic distances with little overall energy loss. A Tsunami can cause damage thousands of kilometres from its origin, so there may be several hours between its creation and its impact on a coast, arriving long after the seismic wave generated by the originating event arrives.

In open water, Tsunamis have extremely long periods from minutes to hours, and long wavelengths of up to several hundred kilometres. This is very different from typical wind-generated swells on the ocean, which might have a period of about 10 seconds and a wavelength of 150 metres.

A few signs may be triggered by nature to warn a huge tsunami wave. An earthquake may be felt. Large quantities of gas may bubble to the water surface and make the sea look as if it is boiling. The water in the waves may be unusually hot. The water may sometimes smell of rotten eggs due to the presence of hydrogen sulphide or of petrol or oil. The water may sting the skin.

A thunderous boom may be heard followed by a roaring noise as of a jet plane, a helicopter, or a whistling sound. The sea may recede to a considerable distance.

A flash of red light might be seen near the horizon and as the wave approaches, the top of the wave may glow red. These signals have been recorded from time to time over the ages before every Tsunami tragedy. Oceanographers, scientists, geologists and environmentalists are working on making some kind of systems which can if not prevent atleast signal the impending Tsunami.

The Lisbon quake is the first documented case of such a phenomenon in Europe back in 1 755 which had generated an almost 12 metre high sea wave and had destroyed most part of the city killing around 60000 people. This phenomenon was also seen in Sri Lanka in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. In 2011, the powerful 8.9 magnitude earthquake sent Japan into chaos as it triggered a giant tsunami in the Pacific Ocean, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people, and led to the loss of more than 15000 lives in Japan.

In some particularly Tsunami-prone countries, measures have been taken to reduce the damage caused on the shores. Japan has implemented an extensive programme of building Tsunami walls of up to 4.5m (13.5 ft) high in front of populated coastal areas. Other localities have built floodgates and channels to redirect the water from incoming tsunamis. However, their effectiveness has been questioned, as Tsunamis are often higher than the barriers.

For instance, the Tsunami which hit the island of Hokkaido on 12 July, 1993 created waves as much as 30 m (100 ft) tall – as high as a 10-storey building. The port town of Aonae was completely surrounded by a Tsunami wall but the waves washed right over the wall and destroyed all the wood-framed structures in the area.

The wall may have succeeded in slowing down and moderating the height of the Tsunami but it did not prevent major destruction and loss of life.

Yet the effects of a Tsunami can be mitigated by natural factors such as tree cover on the shoreline. Some locations in the path of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami escaped almost unscathed as a result of the tsunami’s energy being sapped by a belt of trees such as coconut, palms and mangroves. In one striking example, the village of Naluvedapathy in India’s Tamil Nadu region suffered minimal damages and few deaths as the wave broke up on a forest of 80244 trees planted along the stretches of seacoasts that are prone to Tsunami risks.

While it would take some years for the trees to grow to a useful size, such plantations could offer a much cheaper and longer-lasting means of Tsunami mitigation than the costly and environmentally destructive method of erecting artificial barriers.

Short Essay on Tsunami 200 Words in English

Below we have given a short essay on Tsunami is for Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. This short essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 6 and below.

Regions with a high risk of Tsunamis may use Tsunami warning systems now available to detect Tsunamis and warn the general populace before the waves reach the coasts. In some communities on the West coast of the United States, which is prone to Pacific Ocean Tsunamis, warning signs advise people where to run in the event of an incoming Tsunami. Computer models can roughly predict Tsunami arrival and impact based on information about the event that triggered it and the shape of the sea floor and the coastal landmass. One of the early warnings comes from nearby animals. Many animals sense danger and flee to higher ground before the water arrives. Monitoring their behaviour closely could provide advance warnings of earthquakes, Tsunamis etc.

In 2011, Earthquake Research Committee of Japanese Government announced that Tsunami forecasts would be started to alert the public in advance about the approaching Tsunamis in near future. This would comprise Tsunamic height, attack area and probability of occurrence within 100 years. Such forecasts should be soon activated in the Indian sub-continent also. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO is working out strategies for this area.

Coastal areas of India are sitting on a ‘Tsunami-bomb’. Awareness and robust measures are the needs of the hour.

Tsunami Essay Word Meanings for Simple Understanding

Seismic – pertaining to, of the nature of, or caused by an earthquake or vibration of the earth, Whether due to natural or artificial causes
Pulverise – to demolish or crush completely
Scouring – to clear or dig out (a channel, drain, etc) as by the force of water, by removing debris, etc
Wavelength – the distance, measured in the direction of propagation of a wave, between two successive points in the wave that are characterised by the same phase of oscillation
Recede – to go or move away, withdraw
Oceanographer – the branch of physical geography dealing with the ocean
Unscathed – not scathed, unharmed, uninjured
Dissipate – to use up or waste, to disperse
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