1.5

• What causes tsunamis?

  Tsunamis are caused by undersea earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions, usually along subduction zones. They primarily occur around plate boundaries, especially in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
• How high can tsunamis reach?

  Tsunamis are typically about 3 meters high, but larger waves can reach up to 30 meters in height.
• How do earthquakes cause tsunamis?

  When an earthquake occurs, the energy released causes the sea floor to lift, displacing the water above. This displacement creates waves that move at speeds of up to 800 km/h.
• What happens as a tsunami wave nears the shore?

  As the wave approaches the shore, it creates a vacuum effect, drawing water out to sea and exposing the sea floor before the crest of the wave arrives.
• What are the primary impacts of tsunamis?

  Tsunamis can travel several miles inland, sweeping away buildings, trees, bridges, and soil. They can cause deaths, mainly from drowning, as well as injuries from collapsing structures. Flooding also leads to the contamination of food and water, which can cause illness.
• How are tsunamis predicted?

  Tsunami early warning systems, like those in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, use seismic sensors to detect undersea earthquakes. DART (Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis) systems with sensors and buoys monitor sea-level changes. Information is sent via satellite to warning centers, which use computer modeling to estimate the size and direction of the waves.
• What is the most extensive tsunami warning system in the world?

  Japan has the world's most extensive tsunami warning system. In 2011, Japan's meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning within 3 minutes of an earthquake but underestimated the size of the wave.
• What triggered the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami?

  The Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by an earthquake with a magnitude of 9. The upward thrust of the ocean floor by 15 meters generated the tsunami, and the proximity of the epicenter to densely populated coastal areas made it particularly devastating.
• What were the impacts of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami?

  The tsunami affected 5 million people across 14 countries, with 230,000 deaths, including 9,000 tourists.Around 1.7 million people were left homeless. Coastal settlements were devastated, and 70% of people in these areas were killed. In Sumatra, 1,500 villages were destroyed. In Sri Lanka, over 60% of the fishing fleet was destroyed.In Thailand, the tourism industry lost $425 million per month, and 120,000 people lost their jobs. Ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs were damaged, and water supplies and soil were contaminated by saltwater.
• What factors worsened the impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami?

  The absence of early warning systems, the proximity of the epicenter to coastal communities, and the destruction of coastal mangroves (which previously provided natural protection) contributed to the severity of the impact.