Monday, April 9, 2012

Predict A Tsunami

Tsunamis have killed more than 70,000 people during the 20th century, and thousands more since the beginning of the 21st. The ability to predict a tsunami is still in its earliest stages. Predictors range from primitive visual cues to complex satellite data. The best place to predict tsunamis is in an area where earthquakes are likely.


Instructions


1. Run a computer simulation of the effects of earthquakes in various areas of the globe. Run the simulation just after an earthquake with an epicenter in the ocean, in order to predict where the resulting tsunami is likely to occur.


2. Use a pressure sensor at the bottom of the ocean to determine if a tsunami has started, as well as how large it might be.


3. Map the locations of the places most prone to tsunamis. Consult the data currently being compiled by satellite along with geological data for maps of the area.


4. Watch for a retreating shoreline, which is an immediate visual indicator that a tsunami is building. Notice how far the water is receding to gauge how large the tsunami is likely to be.


5. Pay attention to the earthquake hot zones, such as the, "ring of fire," in the Pacific. Check elevation maps after an ocean earthquake, to predict which areas of the coast are likely to be affected by the tsunami.


6. Pay attention to the latest earthquake prediction information, such as new uses for satellite data. Use earthquake predictors to predict a tsunami.







Tags: satellite data, tsunami likely