A tsunami is a series of huge waves caused by underwater interference. Causes include earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, or meteorites. Tsunamis can travel hundreds of kilometres per hour at sea. Also, they can hit land with waves of 100 feet or more and cause devastating flooding. Drowning is the most common cause of death caused by tsunamis. Throughout history, there have been many tsunamis, for example: in Gulf of Cadiz, Japan, Nicaragua, Indonesia, etc.

How it is originated: Most tsunamis are caused by large earthquakes below the surface of the water. But we talk about tsunami if the seabed suddenly moves vertically to pull a large amount of seawater out of its normal balance. When this piece of water tries to restore balance, it creates ripples. The size of the tsunami will depend on the vertical deformation of the seabed and other parameters, such as the depth of the seabed. Not all earthquakes below the surface of the water cause tsunamis, only those with a magnitude at a suitable depth.

A natural barrier like prevention: A report that was written by the Environment Agency makes clear that December 2004 tsunami caused less damage in areas with natural barriers such as mangroves, coral reefs or coastal vegetation. A Japanese study of the Sri Lanka tsunami established with the help of satellite image models, that coastal resilience parameters change depending on different tree species.

By Manuel Duarte Pelegero 4ºA