Introduction
The effects of a tsunami on a coastline can range from unnoticeable to devastating.The effects of a tsunami depend on the characteristics of the seismic event that generated the tsunami, the distance from its point of origin, its size (magnitude) and, at last, the configuration of the bathymetry (that is the depth of water in oceans) along the coast that the tsunami is approaching.This also affects the soil fertility of agricultural lands, due to salination and debris contamination, which will affect yields in the medium and long term.Survivors of the Sri Lankan tsunami of December 2004 were found to have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) when examined by the World Health Organization (WHO): 14% to 39% of these were children, 40% of adolescents and 20% of mothers of these adolescents were found to have PTSD 4 months after the tsunami.These tsunamis make landfall usually in the form of suddenly decreasing and then rapidly increasing water levels (not unlike a tidal bore) a combination of several large waves or bore-type waves.Tsunami Environmental Impact
Image: Tsunami environmental impact
Combined with the issue of waste is that of hazardous materials and toxic substances that can be inadvertently mixed up with ordinary debris.Salination of water bodies such as rivers, wells, inland lakes, and groundwater aquifers can occur in most cases.Always good to prepare for an earthquake
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ExpediaTsunamis have long periods and can overcome obstacles such as gulfs, bays and islands.Generally tsunamis arrive, not as giant breaking waves, but as a forceful rapid increase in water levels that results in violent flooding.Objects and buildings are destroyed by the sheer weight of the water, often reduced to skeletal foundations and exposed bedrock.Once the tsunami waves have knocked down infrastructure on the shore they may continue to travel for several miles inland, sweeping away more trees, buildings, cars and other man made equipment.Recycling and disposal of this waste in an environmentally sensitive manner where possible (crushing concrete, bricks, etc.Rapid clean-up of affected areas can result in inappropriate disposal methods, including air burning and open dumping, leading to secondary impacts on the environment.National institutions, the United Nations, other international organizations, community groups and NGOs , and a variety of other entities come together to provide different kinds of aid and services.However, when tsunami waves become extremely large in height, they savagely attack coastlines, causing devastating property damage and loss of life.Most of the damage is caused by the huge mass of water behind the initial wave front, as the height of the sea keeps rising fast and floods powerfully into the coastal area.Large objects such as ships and boulders can be carried several miles inland before the tsunami subsides.The buildings infrastructure in these poorer nations are not well built and cannot withstand the impact of the tsunami.Buildings collapsing, electrocution, and explosions from gas, damaged tanks and floating debris are another cause of death.Environmental impacts
Tsunamis not only destroy human life, but have a devastating effect on insects, animals, plants, and natural resources.It uproots trees and plants and destroys animal habitats such as nesting sites for birds.Land animals are killed by drowning and sea animals are killed by pollution if dangerous chemicals are washed away into the sea, thus poisoning the marine life.Infrastructure must be replaced, unsafe buildings demolished and rubbish cleared.Small tsunamis, non-destructive and undetectable without specialized equipment, happen almost every day as a result of minor earthquakes and other events.The effects can be further amplified where a bay, harbour, or lagoon funnels the waves as they move inland.Destruction is caused by two mechanisms: the smashing force of a wall of water traveling at high speed, and the destructive power of a large volume of water draining off the land and carrying all with it, even if the wave did not look large.Tsunami waves destroy boats, buildings, bridges, cars, trees, telephone lines, power lines - and just about anything else in their way.Tsunami Destruction
Image: Homes are destroyed by a tsunami
Especially along a high seismic area, known as the Ring of Fire, tsunamis may have dramatic consequences as they hit less developed countries.The tsunami of December 2004 that struck South East Asia and East Africa killed over 31,000 people in Sri Lanka only, leaving 23,000 injured.Tsunami Desperate
Image: Child being carried away
Disease
Tsunami waves and the receding water are very destructive to structures in the run-up zone.