HW_Tsunami Atlantic Ocean
.docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Temple University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
EES0842
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by PresidentFogHamster39
EES 0836
Tsunami in the North Atlantic Ocean
Disasters: Geology vs. Hollywood
Introduction
Following the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004
that killed an estimated 300,000 people,
NOAA updated its tsunami warning systems.
Are tsunami buoys in the Atlantic Ocean
necessary? In this assignment, we will
investigate the tsunami hazards of the North
Atlantic Ocean with regards to both major
population/economic centers. With the help of
Dr. Ilya Buynevich’s reaction to a clip from
the movie Tidal Wave: No Escape (1997) we
will also be able to infer what the wave might
look like if it hit the coast of New Jersey,
given the different trigger events from this
activity.
Learning Objective
●
Identify the potential hazards
associated with tsunamis in the
Atlantic Ocean.
(1, 5, a, b)
●
Discuss the role science plays in helping to shape tsunami-specific policy.
(1, 2, 5, b, c)
Part 1
:
Identification of major ports and population centers.
Below is a list of six major ports or population centers that border the Northern Atlantic Ocean.
Major Ports and Terminals of the Atlantic
LI
Lisbon (Portugal)
DA
Dakar (Senegal)
NY
New York (US)
CA
Casablanca
(Morocco)
HA
Halifax (Nova Scotia)
RK
Reykjavik (Iceland)
Looking at the map, you can see there are several coastal population centers. Think back to the lectures on
tsunami generation. What are the triggers for tsunamis on the
east coast
? For each trigger event you come
up with, explain how that event could trigger a tsunami.
Your list of possible tsunami triggers and explanation of how it could produce a tsunami:
1.
Earthquakes: Tsunamis are often caused by large earthquakes. That happens because large pieces
of rock move past each other on the seafloor and it causes the water above it to be displaced.
2.
Meteorites: When a meteor strikes land, it causes a crater to form. When a meteor
strikes the ocean, the impact would cause a tsunami.
LI
NY
DA
CA
HA
RK
EES 0836
Part 2
:
Calculate travel times for each location.
For the purposes of this part of the assignment, we will concentrate on three distinct locations where the
conditions to produce a catastrophic tsunami exist.
Canary Islands
: volcanic collapse of the west coast of La Palma (28.7 N, 17.9 W)
Antilles Trench
: megathrust earthquake (17.9 N, 61.0 W)
Maritime Continental Shelf
: catastrophic landslide (44.5 N, 57.0 W)
Of concern is the time it would take for a tsunami to reach each of the important ports. We will assume
straight lines to calculate distance. We will also simplify by 1) assuming constant travel velocity, 2)
ignoring effects of seafloor bathymetry or wave refraction, and 3) assuming tsunami waves radiate out
equally in all directions. Using a constant open-ocean tsunami velocity of 700 kilometers / hour and the
equation:
Time =
Distance / velocity
, calculate the time in hours for tsunami waves to reach each port.
Tsunami Travel Times
Canary Islands
Antilles Trench
Maritime Shelf
Location
Distance (km)
Hours
Distance (km)
Hours
Distance (km)
Hours
CA
1,120
1.6
5,550
7.9
4,130
5.9
DA
1,530
2.2
4,640
6.6
4,490
6.4
HA
4,350
6.2
2,970
4.2
510
0.73
LI
1,370
1.9
5,530
7.9
4,030
0.5
NY
5,250
7.5
2,840
4
1,430
2.04
RK
3,970
5.6
5,920
8.5
3,100
4.4
Questions:
1.
Which city averages the closest to all three danger zones? ____HA________
2.
Which city averages the farthest distance? __RK__________
3.
What is the minimum time recorded on your chart?
____0.73 hours________
4.
For which city? ____HA________
5.
Would you support the idea that more tsunami buoys are needed in the Atlantic Ocean? Why or why
not? (
2-3 sentences
)
I do not think that tsunami buoys are needed in the Atlantic Ocean because the chances of a tsunami
occurring is very low. Tsunamis do not happen often on the east coast. That is because they are caused
by strenuous circumstances such as earthquakes, which do not happen in the area.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help