Tsunami Teacher Worksheets

Printable Tsunami Worksheets

Tsunamis are waves caused by earth quakes under the ocean floor. Many scientists theorize that hundreds of tsunamis occur on a daily basis. Most tsunamis cause only very small waves to occur. In 1958, a tsunami generated a wave 1720 feet tall in Lituya Bay, Alaska. This is the largest tsunami on record. Below you will find a series of worksheets on this phenomenon.

Data and Maps on the Historical 2004 Tsunami

Bulletin Boards

What is a Tsunami?

The deadliest tsunami recorded in history was the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. It lasted almost 10 minutes and is said to have more energy than all the combined bombs used in World war II. 225,000 people across a dozen countries lost their lives.

So what causes this naturally occurring tide of destruction?

A tsunami is a series of giant waves triggered by undersea earthquakes. Sometimes volcanic eruptions in the ocean or landslides also cause them. The large waves can be dangerous and destructive when they travel inland, where they build up to higher and tremendous heights as they reach shallow coastal waters.

The speed of tsunami waves in the ocean can be as fast as 800 km per hour. The size of the waves is small, and the period between them is long. That is why they are hardly noticeable when they are still in the ocean.

When these waves reach a shore, the decreasing distance from the ground creates friction that reduces the velocity and increases the heights of the waves. The waves may rise as high as 100 feet in less than 10 minutes.

A tsunami comes in a series of waves, with the first wave being the least harmful and the later waves being larger and more destructive. Usually, the trough of the first wave reaches the shore first, which sucks all the water from the coast towards the sea, exposing the sea floors.

This water receding is the biggest indication of an upcoming tsunami because less than 5 minutes later, a powerful crest hits the shore with enormous waves. This succession of waves is why people are asked to keep off the sea coast until the officials declare it safe.

Biggest in history

- 2004 Indian Ocean

On December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake with a 9.1 magnitude off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, set off a tsunami. It is considered the deadliest tsunami recorded in history, causing death and devastation across the Indian Ocean coastline. The number of deaths is estimated to be 230,000, with approximately $13 billion in damage at that time.

- 2011 Tohoku

Japan experienced one of the strongest earthquakes on March 11, 2011. A tsunami arrived 30 minutes later, flooded, and disabled three nuclear reactors.

The result was the leaking of radiation from the plant, which forced more than 100000 people to evacuate the area. It took the country two and a half years to recover from the damage. More than 15,000 people died, with a $199 billion damaged.

- 1755 Lisbon earthquake

On November 1, 1755, All Saints Day in Lisbon, Portugal, a deadly earthquake hit the city and killed more than 50,000 people. Buildings collapsed, and fires destroyed the royal palace and much of the art and historical literature. The city was virtually rebuilt from scratch following the widespread destruction. A 20-foot tsunami hit the coastal area and killed thousands.

Indisputable Facts

- The word tsunami has a Japanese origin and is composed of two words "tsu" (harbor) and "nami" (wave).

- It is also called killer waves

- The series of waves generated by a tsunami is called ‘wave train'

- The time period between waves can last up to several minutes

- Their waves can reach up to 100 feet

- They can travel as fast as a jet plane

- The danger never goes away after the first wave. The second or third waves can be dangerous and deadly

- The waves arriving at the shore look like walls of water

- Palm trees are known to survive a tsunami

- If you're caught in a wave during a tsunami, its better to hold onto a floating object rather than trying to swim through it

- Hawaii is always at a risk of Tsunami

- 80% of tsunamis happen within the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire," also known as the Circum-Pacific Belt.

Natural warnings

- Notice the behavior of the sea. A quiet sea that suddenly gets violent may be a sign that a tsunami is on its way

- An earthquake that lasts for a very long time increases the chances of a tsunami

- A loud boom from the ocean is an indication that you need to get as far away as possible

- Large waves follow a sudden receding of water from the shore

Official warnings

A tsunami warning is issued when a potentially dangerous tsunami is imminent on the coastline. It alerts the emergency management to evacuate the area immediately.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning System uses seismic-monitoring and looks for any abnormal changes in sea levels to detect earthquakes. It helps to warn whether an earthquake has triggered a tsunami and generates official warnings and alerts.

Learn to protect yourself from a Tsunami

You can do some things to protect yourself from an upcoming tsunami.

- Know the signs of a tsunami. If you see a sudden draining of water on the shoreline, run

- During an earthquake, follow the drop, cover, and hold rule

- Move away from the coast and go inland as far as you can

- Immediately get to high ground and avoid walking in the floodwater

- Follow instructions from emergency departments

- Stay away from damaged buildings

- If you are in a boat, head out to sea.

Tsunamis can range from small to large scale, which can cause immense damage and several deaths. It is always better to be prepared if you live in a tsunami risk zone. Proper knowledge about this natural phenomenon and evacuation training prevent chances of mass destruction. Remember, get to high ground and stay away from the coast!