Waves-Forum

Waves-Forum

Question 1 Did you read about the Tsunami Warning System ? What regions of the world are more prone to the threat of Tsunamis ? Why ? In the recent Tsunamis that devastated so many shores in Southeast Asia , why was there little , if any , warnings

The tsunami warning system is a system created to warn people living in tsunami prone areas of impending waves . It consists of a blanket of buoys and sensors all over the ocean to detect incoming waves as well as an efficient communication system to warm endangered coastal regions

br The Pacific Ocean contains the most number of tsunami warning sensors run by the Pacific Warning Center under the NOAA of the United States Tsunami sensors are geared towards first measuring seismic waves since it is the primary cause of tsunamis . Seismic activity in the Ocean produces an effect much like a ripple in a pond . The wave generated has a long wavelength but short amplitude . This means that in open water , a wave that has been generated by n explosion , or seismic disturbance is barely perceptible . Upon reaching land however , this wave falls back upon itself , welling up and becoming a devastating tsunami . Tsunamis travel speedily across the open water , but seismic waves travel even faster . This allows a measurement of a seismic activity to indicate a tsunami as well as gain enough time to issue a warning . The regions most prone to tsunamis are coastal regions near waters in which tectonic plates meet . The meeting of Tectonic plates usually leads to seismic disturbances which in turn produces tsunamis . Most susceptible are the countries in the vicinity of the pacific Ocean since multiple plates converge in the area , leading to earthquakes and multiple volcanic activity , or the pacific ring of fire . The recent 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was one of the most costly in terms of life and property . It killed an estimated 300 ,000 people , 168 ,000 of which was in Indonesia The Indian Ocean has no early warning system unlike the Pacific since no notable tsunami has occurred in the area since the Krakatoa explosion of 1883 . The lack of tsunami occurrence in the area led to unawareness as well as unprepared ness of the inhabitants , who did not know signs of an impending tsunami . Before a tsunami makes landfall , waters around the coastline recede , exposing the underlying beach . People in tsunami prone areas take this receding of water as a clear indication of a tsunami and know that it is time to find higher ground . However , people around the Indian Ocean had no clue as to this phenomenon and thus were caught unaware . ADDIN EN .CITE BBCBBCIndian Ocean tsunami warning system2007March 282005BBC Newshttp /news .bbc .co .uk /2 /hi /scie nce /nature /4524642 .stm (BBC , 2005

Question 2 A much-accepted legend among surfers is the one of `The Ninth Wave` (If you have not heard of it , research it for this discussion Is there a scientific basis for this belief

In Welsh seaman lore...