teaching - Earth Science Teachers' Association

TEACHING EARTH SCIENCES ● Volume 30 ● Number 1, 2005
Massive Sea Surges Triggered by the Strongest
Earthquake in the World for 40 Years
CALLY OLDERSHAW
This is just one of the many headlines that covered papers and magazines recently. Christmas and New Year
was over-shadowed by the terrible disaster in Asia in which hundreds of thousands people lost their lives and
many more were injured or made homeless. Exact numbers of people killed, injured or missing in the countries
hit, are impossible to confirm. Websites are a useful resource for finding more about the science of tsunamis.
Natural disasters are part of the Earth sciences, but
whether you are discussing tsunamis as part of
the geology syllabus, science, geography, citizenship,
religious studies or any other part of the curriculum,
the following websites may be helpful to give
an insight into the science of these underwater earthquakes
and the resulting tsunamis.
Whether you planned to cover natural disasters or
even tsunamis in your classroom this month, it may be
just the right time to cover not only the science, but
other issues such as risk and hazard, trauma, policies
and strategies to cope with disasters, moral and ethical
issues and global responsibilities – class projects, discussions
and debates can be built around the Earth science
phenomenon which is usually restricted to just a
small part of the curriculum.
Newspaper articles, television programmes and
news items, books and personal experiences can be
used to enhance the learning experience, while research
using websites can give up to the moment news, views
and more:
The main television channels have websites with
news pages and related links in the UK and worldwide:
www.bbc.co.uk
www.itv.com
www.channel4.com
www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/naturaldisasters is a
related site, which gives background information on various
natural disasters, including tsunamis (incorrectly
referred to as tidal waves). The quiz and vote are an interesting
addition and can be useful to initiate classroom
discussion on issues such as risk and hazard as well as
one’s feelings of safety at home or on holiday etc.
Natural Disasters
● Keypoints
● Earthquakes
● Volcanoes
● Tornadoes and hurricanes
● Floods and storms
● Tidal waves and droughts
● Could natural disasters devastate Britain
● Quiz: What do you know about disasters
● Vote: Do you feel at risk
● Timeline of events
Links from this page include pages on the Horizon
programme of October 2000 called ‘Mega-tsunamis’,
where the question ‘Could a huge landslide in the
Canaries cause a tsunami big enough to wipe out New
York’ was explored. A summary, photographs and a full
transcript of the programme can be viewed.
For an information sheet that can be downloaded
for use in classrooms at all levels, download the
Tsunamis title in the Earth in Our Hands series written
by Cally Oldershaw www.geolsoc.org.uk, then
type EIOH in the search box. Hard copies can be
requested from the Geological Society on telephone
020 7434 9944. The information sheet introduces the
topic in clear, easy to understand language, gives clear
definitions, facts and figures and lists useful contacts
and websites for further research.
You may have seen Bill McGuire giving live interviews
on the television and commenting on the science
of tsunamis. Bill McGuire, Simon Day and others at
the Benfield Hazard Research Centre (based in University
College, London) research natural hazards
including tsunamis. The website www.benfieldhrc.org/
SiteRoot/tsunamis defines tsunamis as:
● Large, potentially destructive sea waves, most of
which are formed as a result of submarine earthquakes,
but which may also result from the eruption
or collapse of island or coastal volcanoes and the formation
of giant landslides on marine margins.
BHRC research focuses on:
There are sections on:
● Assessment of global tsunami hazard and risk
● Tsunami hazard and risk in the North Atlantic Basin
● Mega-tsunami formation due to the lateral collapse
of ocean island volcanoes
Roger Musson (British Geological Survey, Murchison
House, Edinburgh) has also been called upon by the
media to give his views on earthquakes and tsunamis.
See www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/ for information on
the recent magnitude 9.0 earthquake of 26 December
2004 near Northern Sumatra. There is also information
about UK earthquakes, hazards and facts and figures
worldwide.
21 www.esta-uk.org