The Phenomenon of Tsunamis

Tsunamis are a force to be reckoned with. Every year, tsunamis on small scales and large scales destroy properties and take lives. For such a brutal force of nature, they are truly an interesting one as well. Tsunamis are caused by large amounts of water being displaced within a very short amount of time. Many different things can cause this to happen, and you will see what in a short while. When this water is displaced, it usually rides along the top of the ocean until it violently hits a shore, creating large waves, flash floods, and higher tides.

The main cause for these horrendous tidal waves is natural forces by the earth when the tectonic plates are grinding against each other. When the plates grind it pushes the surface of the sea up, creating more land and more surface area. By doing so, the mass of the sea level rises and creates a swell, which will in some time hit the earth’s land surface creating a massive impact of water onto the ground. And when it does hit the earth’s surface, it usually creates a massive mudslide and can move up to two to ten miles inland. When the landslide occurs it can create a hefty amount of damage, and can be very pricey to repair.

So many people might be curious onto how much would be spent. The question varies on the type and size of tsunami. Some tsunamis can create a minor amount of damage costing up to 2 million in repairs, or a huge amount of damage to about 7 billion in cost - as seen in the 2004 Asian tsunami. It’s very pricey and be very difficult to cover the cost and repairs for such a disaster. Many people create funds and charities for such occasions, and are willing to give out a helping hand when it comes to the amount needed for the funds and other necessities.

Since the tsunamis are such a problem, many scientist want to find out how to such a thing can be foreseen. Many research teams are watching the movements in the water to this day. They are looking at specific locations and seeing whether they might be a problem in terms of long term or short term. These studies might help to indicate where they might be, and where they might hit. But all we know for sure is that, tsunamis are and always will be a problem to be dealt with.