1. Waves

2. Wave Structure
Amplitude

3. What is a Wave? The transmission of energy through matter
Water, sound and light
Most water waves are caused by wind

4. Waves
Water waves travel from the ocean to the coast by transferring energy from one water molecule to the next.

5. Did You Know?
Waves crash offshore when the height exceeds 1/7th of the wavelength
Result = whitecaps

6. Waves rise right before crashing on the beach because friction slows the wave and packs its energy into a tighter area.

7. Waves Cont’d Storm Surge Tsunami
Forms when high winds push water against the shore
Tsunami
Caused by sudden water displacement from landslide, iceberg falling, a volcanic eruption, or earthquake

9. Tsunami

10. What is a Tsunami?
A destructive wave caused by a sudden water displacement.
Causes: earthquakes (most often) but also landslides, volcanic activity or (rarely) by meteor impact

11. FYI
In the deep ocean, a tsunami wave may only be a few cm high, but may reach speeds of up to ~435mph
Due to their long wavelengths, tsunamis lose little energy as they travel

12. Monitoring
Detection buoys around the world observe and record changes in sea level in the deep ocean
Transmit info via satellite
Upon receipt of tsunami warning messages Emergency Mgmt Officials send out messages to TV, radio, etc.

13. Indonesia (Dec 29, 2004)

14. 9.1 Magnitude Earthquake 3rd most powerful quake ever recorded
Longest duration of faulting ever observed at minutes
It caused the entire planet to vibrate and triggered additional earthquakes as far away as Alaska
230,000 people died in 14 different countries

15. After the Tsunami
Dive boats
CNN Article
What washed up? Pics!

16. Japan (March 11, 2011)

17. 9.0 Magnitude Earthquake off the coast of Japan
5th most powerful earthquake recorded
Waves reached up to 133ft
Caused 3 nuclear reactors to melt down and people within 50 miles were told to evacuate

18. After the Tsunami Nuclear Reactors Video Clip (2:30)
Debris - Tsunami Aftermath: Marine Debris

19. Article: After the Tsunami, Japan’s Sea Creatures Crossed an Ocean
How were so many organisms able to survive the trek across the Pacific to the West Coast of the U.S.?
How was it possible for these invasive organisms with short life spans to survive the journey?
Why are scientists most concerned with the organisms from Japan making their way to our coast?