TSUNAMI HAZARD Matulac, M.A.
BS Geology – III
Caraga State University
Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) March 2024
TOPIC
CONTENT
01 What is a Tsunami?
02 Causes of Tsunami
03 Warnings of a Tsunami
Before, During, and After a Tsunami
04
05 Effects of a Tsunami
06 Extent of a Tsunami
07 Some glimpse of a Tsunami
WHAT IS A
TSUNAMI?
The word tsunami (pronounced tsoo-
nah'-mee) is composed of the Japanese
words "tsu" (which means harbor) and
"nami" (which means wave).
The largest recorded tsunami with a wave 1720 feet tall in The word tsunami was first coined in
Lituya Bay, Alaska in July 9, 1958 Japanese in the Edo period (1603-1868).
WHAT IS
A
A Tsunami is a series of sea waves
TSUNAMI
characterized by a large displacement
of water.
?
It is erroneously called tidal waves and
sometimes mistakenly associated with
storm surges.
TSUNAMI VS STORM
Tsunami - any water displacement caused by the ocean energy (underwater)
SURGE
Storm surge - caused by surface wave energy because of the strong winds brought upon the
storm.
A tectonic plate shifts Waves are generated and Waves compress as they Wave height increases and
abruptly, causing an move out in all directions enter shalow water. They currents intensify. The
earthquake and across the ocean some sow down and build in tsunami’s waves can strike
displacing water. traveling faster than 500 height. with tremendous force and
miles per hour. little warning becoming
threats to life and property
WHAT CAUSES A
TSUNAMI?
• Seismic activities
• Volcanic eruptions
• Submarine landslides
• Mass movement
above or below water
• Ice falls
• Heavy Rainfall
• Cosmic Impacts
Source: Ralls (2024)
TSUNAMI
Any water displacement that is usually caused by an underwater
earthquake in an open ocean.
If inland or in an enclosed body of water, ex. Lake. It is called a
“seiche” pronounced as “seysh”
Soiurce: Trial Exhibits Inc.
Strong ground shaking
Drop or sudden change in the sea
level
Roaring sound of incoming waves
EFFECTS OF TSUNAMI
Consequences of Tsunamis
Social Environmental Economical
• Negative effect on the • Effect on living beings and natural resources
• Destruction of buildings,
health • Loss of biodiversity
boat, bridges, trees, etc.
• Phsychological effects • Effect on landscape
• High good costs
• Reduce access to water and • Effects of poison material on marine life
• Reconstruction and clean
land • Solid waste and disaster debris
up
• Disease spread • Rapid clean up affected area
• Unsafe building demolition
• Salination of water bodies
• Decrease soil fertility
Source: Sharma & Bajar (2017)
EXTENT OF
POTENTIAL
TSUNAMI IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Surrounded by several trenches and offshore active
faults, all of the coastal areas in the Philippines are
susceptible to tsunamis. More than 40 tsunamigenic
earthquakes have occurred here in the past 450
years (Bautista et al., 2012).
The coastal areas in the Philippines especially those
facing the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Sulu
Sea and Celebes Sea can be affected by tsunamis
that may be generated by local earthquakes.
By Earth Shaker adapted from PHIVOLCS Tsunami-Prone Areas Map
EXTENT
OF
POTENT
IAL
TSUNA
MI IN
CAMIGU
SOME GLIMPSE OF TSUNAMIS IN THE
PHIILIPPINES
1992 Eastern Mindanao Tsunami (max: 6m) 1994 Mindoro Tsunami (Max: 7.3m)
Midnight Killer: The 1976 Moro Gulf Tsunami (Max: 9m)
Source: United Nations for Disaster Risk Disaster
REFERENCES
Bautista, M.L.P., Bautista, B.C., Salcedo, J.C. and Narag, I.C., (2012). Philippine tsunamis and seiches, 1589-
2012. Department of Science and Technology, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Civil Defense PH (n.d.). Before, during, and after Tsunami. [Link]
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. (2018). Introduction to tsunami.
[Link]
Ralls, E. (2024, February 18). Tsunami vs. Hurricane: What's the difference? [Link].
[Link]
Sharma, H. & Bajar, S. (2017). Water Related Hazards. E-Content prepared for ePG Pathshala (a MHRD Project)
for Environmental Sciences subject available at: [Link]
University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (n.d.) Tsunami Preparedness. UWI.
[Link]
World Data Info (2017). Tsunami in the Philippines. [Link]
