Model answer & approach
- What are Tsunamis? How and where are they formed? What are their consequences? Explain with examples. (Answer in 150 words)
Introduction
Tsunamis are large, powerful sea waves generated mainly by sudden disturbances in the ocean floor, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides, causing catastrophic coastal flooding.
Body
1. Formation:
- Seismic Origin: Most tsunamis arise from undersea earthquakes along subduction zones, where one tectonic plate slips beneath another.
- Volcanic or Landslide Origin: Volcanic explosions (e.g., Krakatoa, 1883) and underwater landslides can displace massive water volumes, triggering waves.
- Propagation: The waves travel at high speeds (up to 800 km/h) and increase in height as they approach shallow coasts.
2. Affected Regions: Tsunamis commonly occur in the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, the Indian Ocean, and near island arcs such as Japan, Indonesia, and the Andaman-Nicobar Islands.
3. Consequences: They cause mass destruction, loss of life, salinization of land, and ecological damage, as seen in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Conclusion
Tsunamis, though natural, demand global early-warning systems and coastal preparedness to mitigate their devastating human and environmental impact.
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