Excerpt
Introduction to Tsunamis
Have you ever seen a wave while you were at the beach? Imagine a wave that is so big that it is taller than buildings and goes very far onto the beach! This is not an ordinary wave; This is a tsunami (pronounced soo-NAH-mee), also called a "giant wave."
It is one of the most awesome and frightening events that can happen in our world's oceans. Tsunamis are very special types of waves. If you've been to the beach, you know that regular waves can be lots of fun.
Ocean water is continually being pushed around by the wind, creating all sorts of waves. Sets of waves, known as "swell," roll ashore and can be caught by surfers. Tsunamis are very different. They are not caused by the wind, or waves like you see on the ocean's surface. These waves are caused by a sudden change in the ocean, usually the result of an earthquake or volcano eruption.
But in order to understand how a tsunami is created, we have to imagine that the earth is made up of giant puzzle pieces that consist of an outer layer of the earth called the "crust". We call these pieces tectonic plates.
These plates are always moving, pushing against, sliding past or underneath other plates. This continuous motion is called "plate tectonics." Sometimes the plates get stuck and when they finally move, they cause an earthquake. If the earthquake happens under the ocean, the sudden release of energy from the earthquake causes the water to move.
The water begins to go up and down, forming a tsunami. The energy from the earthquake radiates out in all directions. In this way, the energy forms waves that travel across the ocean like cars racing on a track.
A wave can travel through water much faster than a car can drive. Tsunamis can even travel as fast as a jet airplane, over 500 miles per hour. But the most amazing thing about tsunamis is that in deep ocean water, tsunamis are not very high. However, don't be fooled; they contain a lot of energy!
As these waves approach the coast, the water becomes shallower, and do you know what occurs then? The bottom of the wave begins to slow down, but the top continues to travel fast, so much so that the leading wall of the wave is boosted higher and higher.
The small bump in the ocean can generate into a colossal wall by the time it comes crashing down upon the shore. And you might be wondering, how common are tsunamis? Well, they are not an everyday event, but they are more prominent in some parts of the world. The peril is more notable at the rim of the Pacific Ocean, an area that has so many earthquakes that it is dubbed the "ring of fire."
Having said that, they can occur anywhere where there is a robust, unending pool of water, such as an ocean or a significant sea. Scientists invest an enormous amount of time and energy into the study of these killer waves to understand better the occurrence and the science behind them.
They are also equipped with tools and instruments that monitor the movement of Earth's plates and waves in the oceans. So, it often does not land without letting humans know. Scientists are able to detect it hours or even days in advance, before it can wreak havoc, giving people time to find shelter.
The best part is that, despite their ferocity, tsunamis are a natural phenomenon. The more we learn about them, the more secure we can feel in our living environment. For example, if you know what to do when a tsunami is coming, then you can save lives! However, you have to understand how tsunamis work before you can help others.
Also, even though you may be young, you can learn about these waves and make a positive change with the knowledge you possess. Isn't that amazing? You could be the one saving lives, family, and friends by using the knowledge you have gained about tsunamis. However, you have to learn to be able to do that!
Come along with me, and we can learn about our wonderful world and keep underground on what it has to offer!
Have you ever seen a wave while you were at the beach? Imagine a wave that is so big that it is taller than buildings and goes very far onto the beach! This is not an ordinary wave; This is a tsunami (pronounced soo-NAH-mee), also called a "giant wave."
It is one of the most awesome and frightening events that can happen in our world's oceans. Tsunamis are very special types of waves. If you've been to the beach, you know that regular waves can be lots of fun.
Ocean water is continually being pushed around by the wind, creating all sorts of waves. Sets of waves, known as "swell," roll ashore and can be caught by surfers. Tsunamis are very different. They are not caused by the wind, or waves like you see on the ocean's surface. These waves are caused by a sudden change in the ocean, usually the result of an earthquake or volcano eruption.
But in order to understand how a tsunami is created, we have to imagine that the earth is made up of giant puzzle pieces that consist of an outer layer of the earth called the "crust". We call these pieces tectonic plates.
These plates are always moving, pushing against, sliding past or underneath other plates. This continuous motion is called "plate tectonics." Sometimes the plates get stuck and when they finally move, they cause an earthquake. If the earthquake happens under the ocean, the sudden release of energy from the earthquake causes the water to move.
The water begins to go up and down, forming a tsunami. The energy from the earthquake radiates out in all directions. In this way, the energy forms waves that travel across the ocean like cars racing on a track.
A wave can travel through water much faster than a car can drive. Tsunamis can even travel as fast as a jet airplane, over 500 miles per hour. But the most amazing thing about tsunamis is that in deep ocean water, tsunamis are not very high. However, don't be fooled; they contain a lot of energy!
As these waves approach the coast, the water becomes shallower, and do you know what occurs then? The bottom of the wave begins to slow down, but the top continues to travel fast, so much so that the leading wall of the wave is boosted higher and higher.
The small bump in the ocean can generate into a colossal wall by the time it comes crashing down upon the shore. And you might be wondering, how common are tsunamis? Well, they are not an everyday event, but they are more prominent in some parts of the world. The peril is more notable at the rim of the Pacific Ocean, an area that has so many earthquakes that it is dubbed the "ring of fire."
Having said that, they can occur anywhere where there is a robust, unending pool of water, such as an ocean or a significant sea. Scientists invest an enormous amount of time and energy into the study of these killer waves to understand better the occurrence and the science behind them.
They are also equipped with tools and instruments that monitor the movement of Earth's plates and waves in the oceans. So, it often does not land without letting humans know. Scientists are able to detect it hours or even days in advance, before it can wreak havoc, giving people time to find shelter.
The best part is that, despite their ferocity, tsunamis are a natural phenomenon. The more we learn about them, the more secure we can feel in our living environment. For example, if you know what to do when a tsunami is coming, then you can save lives! However, you have to understand how tsunamis work before you can help others.
Also, even though you may be young, you can learn about these waves and make a positive change with the knowledge you possess. Isn't that amazing? You could be the one saving lives, family, and friends by using the knowledge you have gained about tsunamis. However, you have to learn to be able to do that!
Come along with me, and we can learn about our wonderful world and keep underground on what it has to offer!