tsunamis
Ocean's earthquake response
Tsunamis are massive ocean waves triggered by underwater disturbances—earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.
Unlike wind-driven waves, tsunamis move the entire water column, traveling across open ocean at jet speed before piling up catastrophically as they reach shallow coastal waters.
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed over 200,000 people.
Figuratively, a tsunami is any overwhelming surge: a tsunami of emails.
Sudden powerful increase
- swellIncrease in size
- crestHighest point or tuft
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
- delugeSevere overflow of water
engulf · bore · runup · drawback · wavelength · amplitude · propagation · flood
Severe widespread destruction
- rubbleBroken building fragments
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
- flattenedMade smooth or level
demolished · obliteration · annihilation · razed · shattered · debris · collapsed · leveled
Japanese nuclear accident site
- SumatraIndonesian island, sixth largest
- Indian OceanSea south of Asia
- Boxing DayDecember 26th Commonwealth holiday
- KrakatoaIndonesian volcanic island
Lisbon · Chile · Alaska · Japan · Indonesia · Pacific · coastal · historical
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
- aftermathResults following an event
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
humanitarian · evacuation · displacement · survivors · casualties · victims · loss · recovery
Seismic ground movement
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- faultlineCrustal fracture zone
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
magnitude · seismograph · tremor · aftershock · seaquake · shockwave · foreshock · tectonic plates
Wailing alert device
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- buoyTethered nautical signal
- detectionAct of finding something
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
early warning · evacuation route · preparedness · NOAA · shelter · hazard map · coastal defense · seawall
surge
Sudden powerful increase
- swellIncrease in size
- crestHighest point or tuft
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
deluge · engulf · bore · runup · drawback · wavelength · amplitude · propagation · flood · overflow
devastation
Severe widespread destruction
- rubbleBroken building fragments
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
flattened · demolished · obliteration · annihilation · razed · shattered · debris · collapsed · leveled · catastrophic
Fukushima
Japanese nuclear accident site
- SumatraIndonesian island, sixth largest
- Indian OceanSea south of Asia
- Boxing DayDecember 26th Commonwealth holiday
Krakatoa · Lisbon · Chile · Alaska · Japan · Indonesia · Pacific · coastal · historical · ancient
catastrophe
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
- aftermathResults following an event
- emergencySerious sudden danger
crisis · humanitarian · evacuation · displacement · survivors · casualties · victims · loss · recovery · relief
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- faultlineCrustal fracture zone
epicenter · magnitude · seismograph · tremor · aftershock · seaquake · shockwave · foreshock · tectonic plates · seafloor
siren
Wailing alert device
monitoring · early warning · evacuation route · preparedness · NOAA · shelter · hazard map · coastal defense · seawall · breakwater
- catastrophesdisasters, disaster, natural disasters, catastrophe, apocalypse
- ocean processesocean currents, currents, waves, tides, El Nino
- sea phenomenawaves, tides, currents, storm surges, rogue waves
- ocean physicscurrents, waves, tides, salinity, thermocline
- disastersdisaster, earthquake, earthquakes, catastrophe, floods
- hazardsfire hazard, fire hazards, toxin, contamination, tripping hazard
tsunamisswells
Enlarges or billows
surface waves · ripples · ocean swells · chop · breakers
tsunamiscalm seas
Flat, waveless ocean
still water · flat water · dead calm · still waters · slack water
- tsunami warningNotice of incoming surge
- tsunami alertOcean wave danger notification
- Indian Ocean tsunami2004 seismic sea surge
- silver tsunamiRapid population aging
- ice tsunamiWind-pushed shore ice
- tsunami zoneRegion threatened by seismic waves