Boxing Day Tsunami Anniversary & Pop Quiz

[macfanken]

1. A tsunami is caused by:

c. a sudden displacement of the water column.


2. A tsunami is considered a:

a. deep-water wave.


3. Why do seismologists not use the Richter scale when calculating the magnitude of subduction-zone quakes?

d. Richter scale values saturate at higher magnitudes.


4. In deep water, a tsunami's wavelength is:

d. unrelated to the water depth.


5. A ship at sea encountering a tsunami:

d. won't notice a thing.


6. In deep water, the velocity of a tsunami is:

b. a function of water depth.


7. What causes the drawdown (or withdrawal of the water) of a tsunami at the shoreline?

d. A leading trough


8. If you see the ocean water at the beach withdraw several hundred
feet, you should:

d. run immediately to higher ground.


9. Tsunami wavelength is:

a. the horizontal distance between successive crests.



10. If the bay empties of water within a matter of minutes, it is probably a sign that:

a. a tsunami has arrived.


11. Tsunami period refers to:

d. the span of time between tsunami events on adjacent coasts.


12. A tsunami is:

c. a wave train (or series of waves).


13. What is the scientific term for a phenomenon that creates a tsunami?

b. Tsunamigenic


14. Tsunamis can occur in:

b. oceans, bays, rivers & lakes.



15. Which of the following numerical values is necessary to compute the speed of a tsunami?

c. The second law of thermodynamics
d. The third law of thermodynamics


16. Which type of undersea faults are the most efficient generators of tsunamis?

d. Thrust faults


17. As a tsunami hits a beach, its height is influenced by:

a. the topography.


18. How many magnitude 9+ great earthquakes have been recorded from 1905 to 2005?

a. Four


19. How many magnitude 9+ great earthquakes since 1905 have generated a tsunami?

d. Four


20. "Tsunami" is a Japanese compound word that means:

c. Killer wave


21. In which ocean is the frequency of tsunamis greatest?

d. Pacific


22. Why did many Indonesians, Thais & Sri Lankans die in last December's tsunami?

c. Beachgoers investigated the receding sea instead of fleeing inland


23. What is the greatest tsunami-producing threat off the West Coast of the United States?

d. The Cascadia subduction zone ( i hope i'm wrong)


24. Which classic literary work told of the great earthquake & tsunami in Lisbon in 1755?

a. Voltaire's "Candide"



25. Some tsunamis are:

b. only centimeters tall upon hitting a coastline.



26. What is the major scientific flaw found in all movie tsunamis?


b. They're all single waves.