Hydrosphere Hazard Mapping Assignment: Tsunami

Global View: Tsunami Around the East Side of the World

Caption:
This map shows the global scope of tsunami that occurs mostly in the East side of the
Earth. Tsunamis are a terrible force of nature. They are wild and monstrous waves that spawn
after an earthquake and sometimes, after a volcanic eruption. Tsunamis can either be
minuscule to devastating. Tsunami waves do not increase in size, however, as the tsunami
travel inland, the height of the waves get bigger because the differences of depth of the land
and ocean decreases. These waves can travel as fast as a plane and will only stop or slow down
once it reaches shallow waters. The areas that are affected the most by tsunamis are cities,
suburban areas closest to ocean shores. Tsunamis last quite a duration since they can overcome
or overpower structures and other body of water. On average, tsunami lifespan ranges from 5
to 7 hours. In some cases, tsunamis can begin landfalls, which is a collapse of mass
building/structures, land. These violent waves can cause countless of losses such as death and
economically. As you can see in this map above, the countries that could be affected by
tsunamis are Russia, South Korea, Indonesia and most infamously, Japan. When we hear stories
about Tsunamis and earthquakes, Japan always comes into our mind.
Hydrosphere Hazard Mapping Assignment: Tsunami
Regional View: Tsunamis Surrounding Japan

Caption:
The map shown here is the region of Japan and the green squares shows tsunami
activities. Japan is known for having frequent tsunami because Japan lies on the border of four
tectonic plates: The Pacific, Northern America, Eurasian and Filipino plates. These plates tend to
rub on each other endlessly to no end. When there is built up friction between plates, it
eventually built up a vast amount of seismic energy, which releases itself into a form of an
earthquake. As that shock wave from the earthquake created travel a certain distance below
sea floor, that power pushes up one of the plates of the Earth’s crust. This then disrupts the
ocean water which results in the creation of a tsunami which spreads out in every direction
from the epicenter of an earthquake. As you can see here, there is clearly a pattern at play
here. Most earthquakes that causes tsunamis near Japan happens in an area called the
subduction zones. A place where the Earth’s crust presses against one another. In this map, we
can see clearly see the subduction zone and that is the Japan Trench and the Pacific Ocean
basin, which is also called the “Ring of Fire”. Ninety percent of the world’s earthquake occurs in
his specific area. This type of the natural hazard is unpredictable and always an aftermath of a
huge earthquake. To monitor tsunami formations, scientist and researchers use sensors such as
the Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis. These type of technology enables
them to track pressure and movement in the ocean and allow them to direct this information to
people and other professionals, so they can prepare when a tsunami will rise.
Hydrosphere Hazard Mapping Assignment: Tsunami
Local View: Japan Cities Affected by Tsunami

Caption:
From this map, we get to see a clear picture of which cities are affected by tsunamis. For
instance, cities such as Fuji and Tokyo. As we know by now, tsunamis are infamous surrounding
the island of Japan. Also, not long ago on March 11th 2011, Japan was hit by an earthquake with
a 9.0 magnitude on the Richter Scale. This Earth than unleashed a tsunami that hit the land of
Japan destroying the land physically and economically. It also caused a deadly nuclear
meltdown which got released into the Earth’s atmosphere. Till this day, the cities affected by
the tsunami are still recovering from the natural disaster. This tsunami took over thousands of
lives and shook the people of Japan. Millions of people were affected by this mentally and
physically. About 150,000 residents lost their homes, and about 50,000 of people are still living
in temporary homes till this day. Countless of structure and building where destroyed too. On a
rough estimate, over a million building were destroyed or damaged by this disaster. The
estimate cost of damage sums up to 200 billion in united states dollars. This has hurt the land
economy even further and took a huge toll on the crops too. Transportation was limited or
even restricted in some areas. This type of natural disaster is unpredictable and tend to get
overlooked because there are always earthquakes happening every day around the land of
Japan because its situated on the “Ring of Fire” and subduction zone of the world. With climate
changing on the rise each year it alters the way the Earth behaves. To have a better
understanding on how to predict this, scientist should monitor the ocean activity more in depth
and be alert when a tsunami emerges. Whether it be a unharmful too. It at least gives the
people of the Japan some sense of caution, so they can prepare for the worst to come.
Hydrosphere Hazard Mapping Assignment: Tsunami

Work Cited
“Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre.” Australia's Official Weather Forecasts & Weather
Radar - Bureau of Meteorology, Scheme=AGLSTERMS.AglsAgent; CorporateName=Australian
Government - Bureau of Meteorology, www.bom.gov.au/tsunami/info/index.shtml.
Marder, Jenny. “Japan's Earthquake and Tsunami: How They Happened.” PBS, Public
Broadcasting Service, 11 Mar. 2011, www.pbs.org/newshour/science/japans-earthquake-and-
tsunami-how-they-happened.
Oskin, Becky. “Japan Earthquake & Tsunami of 2011: Facts and Information.” LiveScience,
Purch, 13 Sept. 2017, www.livescience.com/39110-japan-2011-earthquake-tsunami-facts.html.
“Tsunami.” Earth Facts and Information, www.basicplanet.com/tsunami/.