Though tsunamis had certainly touched down before, the sheer damage and death that this one wrought over the Asian continent brought them to the forefront of the international consciousness. Unfortunately, as with any disaster, the message tends to get diluted with time.

In other words, people tend to forget.

Still, those in the scientific community have debated whether or not global warming was one of the compelling forces in causing the underwater earthquake that eventually made that tsunami. For example, in a Cybercast News Service article back in 2005, Sir David King- the chief scientific adviser for the government of the United Kingdom- indicated the following to BBC radio after the disaster.

"What is happening in the Indian Ocean underlines the importance of the earth's system to our ability to live safely. And what we are talking about in terms of climate change is something that is really driven by our own use of fossil fuels, so this is something we can manage."

On the other hand, Patrick J. Michaels, an environmental sciences professor at the University of Virginia, has called the tsumani- global warming link, "abject rubbish."

Regardless, what we know for sure is that tsunamis are not a new occurrence, even if the one that set down in Asia was one of rare ferocity. In fact, tsunamis are hardly a rarity in the United States, despite popular opinion. Since the mid 1900's, over tens of these have done damage in America along the west coast, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Thus, it would first seem prudent to discuss what they are.


What are tsunamis?

Tsunamis are ocean waves mostly produced by earthquakes and underwater landslides. Though the popular misconception is that tsunamis are tidal waves, this is incorrect. Actually, tsunamis comprise a series of waves that travel at outlandish speeds ( they can move as fast as 600 miles per hour in the open ocean ).

One of the truly crazy things about tsunamis is that in the open ocean they could literally pass right under ships and be undetected. This is because they are only a few feet high out at sea, even if they are hundreds of miles long.

Though earthquakes and underwater landslides are usually the precursors to tsunamis, really anything that causes great movement or impact on the ocean floor can cause them ( an asteroid impact, for example ). Further, the first wave to hit home on land usually isn't the worst of them.

Despite the fact that the amplitude of a tsunami is usually very small in the open ocean ( making tsunamis hard to detect with the naked eye ) when they are about to touch down on land, their height increases. Oftentimes upon landfall they reach 10-20 feet in height, but severe tsunamis have reached heights greater than 100 feet. Of course, a tsunamis' speed decreases as it is about to impact with the land.

Last, low lying communities are at most risk for damage from these natural disasters waiting to happen. In fact, the word tsunami comes from the Japanese word for "harbor wave." Thus, they are quite well known in that area of the world for destroying many of Japan's low lying harbors throughout their history.


How to survive a tsunami

First, know whether you are in an area that has been hit by tsunamis before. Oftentimes, you can do this by contacting your local Red Cross. However, if you live in a coastal area in California, Alaska, Washington, British Columbia, or Oregon, you are probably in at-risk location.

In such instances, you should realize that The West Coast / Alaska Tsunami Warning Center ( WC/ATWC ) is there to help warn you about impending tsunamis. The website and information is put out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Further, you can sign up for updates via email at the website.

Simply put, the WC/ATWC looks for earthquakes or activity with the potential to cause tsunamis and then contacts appropriate emergency personnel in affected areas. Thus, having a radio on you when out may not be a bad idea if you live in a tsunami zone. 


Beyond that, here's what you should do in the case of a tsunami warning when on land

1. You should contact friends and family immediately within the problematic zone. Have a system for doing this in place in advance ( in other words, know the phone chain and how to contact ).

Then proceed as emergency personnel have told you to ( usually outside the problematic area or to an evacuation shelter of some sort ). It is important to stay calm during evacuation. Further, it is also important to remember that you should evacuate to a place of higher ground.

2. If you are in a school, do what the school staff tell you to. This would seem obvious, but apparently isn't always so.

3. If you are on the beach or somewhere within a tsunami zone and feel an earthquake, do not wait for a warning. Immediately move away from the low lying area to a higher one. Keep in mind that if this occurs, you may have only minutes to move to higher ground.

In other words, stay calm but be quick! If there is a regional earthquake, sometimes a warning will not be posted before the tsunami hits home.

4. Another well known precursor to a tsunami is that the tide will often roll out extremely quickly and far. Know this. However, if this occurs you likely have very little time before the tsunami hits. So, evacuate to higher ground immediately.

5. If you are on the beach and an earthquake or some other tsunami warning sign occurs, it may be prudent to keep in mind that multi story hotels with concrete reinforcement may provide a safe haven.


What to do if a tsunami is about to hit and you are on a boat

1. If you are in the open ocean, do not return to port. Harbors and the coast are often dangerous places during a tsunami.

2. If you are in port, it might be advisable to communicate with the harbor authority ( if there is one ) on what to do.

3. If you are in port and there is no harbor authority to rely on, owners of small boats might be advised to leave their vessels and move to higher ground. Owners of bigger boats will have to decide whether they have the time and desire to move their boat to deeper water in a calm and orderly manner.

In the end, tsunamis can be very dangerous to coastal communities. Thus, it is important to think about an evacuation plan with friends and family in advance of occurrences. Know that place on higher ground you can evacuate to; have a phone notification system in place with those you love.

The fact is, we know that weather patterns have been changing recently. Further, we know it is tied to global warming. Whether or not global warming could cause more tsunamis in the future is unclear.

Still, better safe than sorry.

Disclaimer - This article is meant to point you in the right direction regarding resources only. It is not to be taken in place of professional opinions and advice regarding tsunamis. Please contact your local emergency centers or Red Cross for further vital information.


References

Tsunami Disaster Center

The Facts about Tsunamis