TSUNAMI SIGNS

Subtitle
TSUNAMI

■ A Tsunami is a series of sea waves commonly

generated by under-the-sea earthquakes and whose
heights could be greater than 5 meters. It is
erroneously called tidal waves and sometimes
mistakenly associated with storm surges. Tsunamis can
occur when the earthquake is shallow-seated and
strong enough to displace parts of the seabed and
disturb the mass of water over it.
 TSUNAMIVS
TSUNAMI VSSTORM
STORMSURGE.
SURGE.

■ A tsunami is a Japanese word meaning “harbor waves”. A

tsunami is commonly generated by disturbances associated
with earthquakes occurring below or near the ocean floor. It
occurs when the earthquake is shallow-seated and strong
enough to displace parts of the seabed and disturb the mass
of water over it. In addition, underwater volcanic eruptions
and landslides can also generate a tsunami. While Storm
surges is a wind-generated waves on the surface of the sea.
■ Sometimes, tsunamis are erroneously called “tidal
waves”. Remember that tsunamis are generated by
earthquakes and tsunami waves are generated because
of movement of fault under the sea. Tsunamis have
nothing to do with high tide and low tide which is
caused by the gravitational pull between the earth and
moon. The increase in wave heights associated or
during typhoons (when there are strong winds) or
tropical cyclones are called “storm surges”.
 TWO KINDS OF TSUNAMI

■ Local Tsunami

■ Far Field or Distant Tsunami

 LOCAL TSUNAMI

■ Local tsunamis are confined to coasts within a hundred

kilometers of the source usually earthquakes and a
landslide or a pyroclastic flow. It can reach the
shoreline within 2 to 5 minutes.
 Far Field or Distant Tsunami

■ Far field or distant tsunamis can travel from 1 to 24

hours before reaching the coast of the nearby countries
 NATURAL SIGNS OF AN
IMPENDING TSUNAMI
■ Feel an earthquake. If the ground shakes under your
feet in a coastal region, a tsunami may have been
caused by a strong undersea earthquake. However, you
may not feel an earthquake if the event is far away.
 NATURAL SIGNS OF AN
IMPENDING TSUNAMI
■ See ocean water disappear from the beach, bay or river
Before a tsunami arrives, water may recede from the
shoreline before returning as a fast-moving wall of
water. If you notice the water is disappearing, tell your
family and friends and prepare to move inland or to
higher ground.
 NATURAL SIGNS OF AN
IMPENDING TSUNAMI
■ Hear an unusual roaring sound If you hear a loud roar
approaching (a bit like a passenger jet or a train), tell
your family and friends. It could be a tsunami
approaching.
 NATURAL SIGNS OF AN
IMPENDING TSUNAMI
■ A strong felt earthquake,
■ Unusual sea level change: sudden sea water retreat
(exposed sea beds – coral flats, fishes, etc..) or rise,
and
■ Unusual rumbling sound of approaching waves (e.g.
sound like that of a train
EARTHQUAKE
HAZARD MAPS
 CONCEPTS OF MAGNITUDE AND
INTENSITY
■ Magnitude of an earthquake refers to the amount of
energy released, measured by the amount of ground
displacement or shaking. It is calculated based on
record of the earthquake (seismograph). It is
represented by Arabic numbers (ex. 4.8, 9.0)
 CONCEPTS OF MAGNITUDE AND
INTENSITY
■ Intensity is the strength of an earthquake as perceived
and felt by people in a certain locality. It is a numerical
rating based on relative effects to people, objects,
environment and structures in the surroundings. The
intensity is generally higher near the epicenter. It is
represented by Roman Numerals (ex. II, IV, IX) .
 HAZARD MAPS

■ People and properties are affected by earthquake due

to any or a combination of the following: unsafe
location, poor construction, people don’t believe or
know that they be affected, people don’t know how
they can be affected, people don’t know what to do,
and there is lack of timely and proper response.
 HAZARD MAPS

■ Scientists have for so long studied earthquake

occurrences and the hazards associated with them by
looking at impacts from major earthquakes. Based on
studies, given a specific earthquake scenario (magnitude)
maps showing areas likely to be affected by a certain
specific hazard and the degree of expected impact are
generated. The purpose is to be able to use these maps.
 HAZARD MAPS

■ Hazard Maps are maps that show different hazards that

may affect a certain area. For earthquakes, a ground
shaking hazard map shows the distribution of earthquake
shaking levels that have a certain probability of
occurring. A ground rupture hazard map shows areas
wherein faults cut across. There are hazard maps for
liquefaction, earthquake induced landslide and tsunami.