What Are the Warning Signs of a Tsunami?
After the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, several countries updated their tsunami warning systems and started to educate their citizens about the warning signs of a tsunami and what to do in case a tsunami is approaching. If you live or travel in areas prone to tsunamis, knowing the warning signs and what to do can save your life.
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What Is a Tsunami
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Tsunami is a series of waves caused by a massive landslide or earthquake either on land or at the sea floor. The tsunami wave train comes in as a series of waves that can be separated from five minutes to an hour. The first wave is not necessarily the most dangerous. The size of the waves can be different in different locations. Wait in a safe place until the entire tsunami is over, which can be hours. Never try to surf a tsunami wave.
Tsunami Warning System
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The Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific was established to monitor the seismological and tidal stations to better evaluate the earthquakes able to cause a tsunami. It is intended to warn any country in danger from a tsunami in any part of the region. The system records pressure changes of the sea floor and sends the information to sensors on buoys and then to warning stations via satellites. If necessary, the warning centers issue a tsunami warning via radio and TV stations for the regions in question.
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Ground Shaking
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A local earthquake is often the first warning of a possible tsunami. If you feel an earthquake in a tsunami-prone area, listen to the radio or TV for information or alerts and prepare to go to a higher ground.
Receded Ocean
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Another sign of a tsunami is unexpected and abnormal rise or fall of the ocean water level. The ocean water receding rapidly, exposing the sea floor, coral reefs and fish is a sign that a big wave is on its way. In this case, go to high ground or at least 4 miles inland.
Roaring Sound
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An approaching tsunami creates a loud sound like that of an approaching train or jet aircraft. If you hear this sound without any reason, leave tsunami-prone coastal areas and go to higher ground.
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