Research the following and answer on a sheet of paper use the resources below to help you find the answers.

1. Define the term tsunami and describe some of the characteristics of tsunamis. In what ways do tsunamis differ from other water waves?

2. What are some natural events that can generate a tsunami?

3. The term tsunami is a Japanese world whose English translation is "harbor wave." Tsunamis are often inaccurately referred to as "tidal waves" or "seismic sea waves." Explain why neither of these terms correctly describes a tsunami.

4. Roughly four out of five tsunamis happen in an area called the "Ring of Fire," which roughly encompasses the Pacific Ocean. Why are tsunamis most common in coastal areas bordering the Pacific Ocean?

5. Create a chart which shows approximately 6 of the most destructive tsunamis of the past (3) and current(3) century. Include as much of the following information as possible: date and time the tsunami occurred, world locations most affected, cause, number of people killed, and the amount of property damage incurred.

6. Two tsunami warning centers are operated by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States. Describe where they are located, and identify the locations they serve.

Resources

The Web sites given here will help you answer questions about tsunamis and the dangers they pose in coastal areas.

http://www.geophys.washington.edu/tsunami/intro.html
This site offers information about how tsunamis are generated, as well as how people in coastal areas are warned about these events. The site includes a survey of great tsunamis throughout history, and describes how coastal residents can protect themselves whether on land or sea during one of these events.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~docbob/waves.htm
Find clear, easy-to-understand answers to questions including "How do tsunamis form?", "How big do they get?", and "How much destruction do they cause?" at this site.

http://cwis.usc.edu/dept/tsunamis/
This site has a world map which leads to information about some of the most devastating recent tsunamis. Video and simulations of tsunami activity can also be viewed at this site.

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/hazard/slideset/tsunamis
Amazing pictures and brief descriptions of major tsunami events can be found at this site.

http://www.sthjournal.org/
The magazine "Science of Tsunami Hazards" posts articles from recent issues on this site.

http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association operates this site which provides information about tsunami modeling and forecasting and recent tsunami events. Answers to frequently asked questions about tsunamis are also addressed.

http://www.tsunami.org
This site is operated by the Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo, Hawaii. Visit the site to view photos and read survivor stories and other articles about tsunamis.

http://www.fema.gov/kids/tsunami.htm
This site offers tsunami photos, information about how tsunamis are measured, and tips for protecting yourself, your pets, and your home during natural disasters.

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