Consequences of the Tsunami in Japan 2011

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Recommended: Effects of a natural disaster

1896, Sanriku, Japan: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake rattled Japan, killing more than 26,360 people. In Tangshan, China, 1976, a magnitude 8.0 tsunami killed more than 255,000 people. 2004: The Indian Ocean experienced a 9.0 tsunami, its destruction killing more than 350,000 people. Just last year, Haiti lost 222,570 inhabitants because of a 7.0 earthquake (Brunner and Rowen 1), leaving the country in more trouble than they can dig themselves out of. Earthquakes can be predictable, and unpredictable. They can be harmless, or your worst nightmare. The consequences of natural disasters are unimaginable and it is impossible to fully comprehend the thoughts running through the heads of those left homeless or family less. On March 11, 2011, Japan’s coast was hit by a tsunami, its results affecting almost everywhere in the world.

“A tsunami (pronounced soo-NAHM-ee) is a series of huge waves that occur as the result of a violent underwater disturbance, such as an earthquake or volcanic eruption. The waves travel in all directions from the epicenter of the disturbance. The waves may travel in the open sea as fast as 450 miles per hour. As they travel in the open ocean, tsunami waves are generally not particularly large—hence the difficulty in detecting the approach of a tsunami. But as these powerful waves approach shallow waters along the coast, their velocity is slowed and they consequently grow to a great height before smashing into the shore. They can grow as high as 100 feet.”

“The exact location where the earthquake took place was 373 kilometers (231 miles) northeast of Tokyo, and 130 km (80 miles) east of Sendai, Honshu which is in the Pacific Ocean.” Honshu is one of Japan’s islands, and just so happens to be the bigge...

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...g.” Those still standing may be going through more trouble now than they could have ever imagined.

Works Cited

Brunner, Borgna and Rowen, Beth. Tsunami in Japan 2011: Waves Stirred Up By Earthquakes Cause Wide Destruction. Infoplease. April 2011. 20 April 2011. .

Chung, Dan. Tsunami Aftermath Video--- My Response to the Debate.27 March 2011. 23 April 2011. .

Diep, Francie. “Fast Facts about the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Scientific American 14 March 2011: 1-6.

Smith, Nicolette. A look at the long term, wide-ranging consequences of the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. 15 March 2011. 22 April 2011. .

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