Tsunami Basics
What is the most common natural event that triggers a tsunami?
Earthquakes
What nation was struck by a massive tsunami on March 11, 2011?
Japan
As a tsunami enters shallow water, its speed decreases, but what increases?
Height (or amplitude)
Where should you go to immediately during a tsunami?
High ground
What is the term for an underwater “collapse” of earth that can trigger a tsunami?
Landslide
Unlike regular waves, tsunamis are caused by the displacement of _____
Water
In which ocean happened the deadliest tsunami in history occurred in 2004?
Indian ocean
What is the geologically active region of the Pacific where about 80% of tsunamis occur?
Ring of Fire
What should you do first if you hear a tsunami siren or receive an official warning?
Evacuate
What object from outer space could theoretically cause a mega-tsunami if it struck the ocean?
Asteroid (or meteorite)
What is the speed of a tsunami in the deep ocean?
(comparable to a commercial jet)
500 to 600 mph (800 to 900 km/h)
Whats the height of the record-breaking 1958 Lituya Bay wave?
(more than 1000 ft but less than 2,000 ft)
1,720 ft
What is the term for the noticeable drawback of water from the shore that can act as a natural warning sign?
Withdrawal
If you cannot reach high ground, what type of building is safest to enter?
A reinforced concrete building
What is the main reason tsunami waves are so destructive, related to the massive volume of water they move?
Energy (or mass displacement)
What is the incorrect name often used for tsunamis, despite having no link to the moon?
Tidal Waves
Which city, now the capital of Portugal, was nearly destroyed by a tsunami in 1755?
Lisbon
What is the term for the time between two successive wave crests?
Wave period
Where should you never go to “watch” a tsunami wave approach?
The beach
What “railroad” term is used to describe a series of tsunami waves?
Wave train
"Tsunami" is a Japanese word that translates to what in english?
Harbor Waves
What was the name of the Indonesian volcano whose 1883 eruption created global tsunamis?
Krakatoa
What is the lowest point of a wave, often causing water to recede from the shore?
Trough
What is the name of the specialized buoy system used by NOAA to detect tsunami waves in the open ocean?
DART buoy
What Hawaii-based center monitors tsunami activity in the Pacific Ocean?
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center