Big Little People Watch out for Giant Waves

Do you enjoy the waves at sea? 

CEBU, Philippines - Most children I know do! When they go to the beach, they look forward to swimming and being washed to the shore by the waves.  Just imagine being in the water one minute and on the sand the next. 

It’s actually fun.  

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That’s because the ordinary waves we enjoy in the beach are tiny ones, and they don’t do us any harm. Well, except for some seawater getting into our ears sometimes.

Now, how about the huge, giant waves we’ve been watching on TV and reading in newspapers recently?  

Those waves are no longer fun, they’re scary—and dangerous. Those horrific waves swept away homes, buildings, an airport, vehicles, and valuables in Japan after a strong earthquake.  

They’re called tsunami or tsunamis (pronounced soo-nahm-ee).

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The word comes from Japanese words meaning “harbor wave.” 

Tsunami(s), also called seismic sea waves, are a series of waves usually caused by large, violent earthquakes occurring near the ocean. 

The waves travel in all directions from the area of disturbance, much like the ripples caused by the throwing of a rock. The waves travel in the open sea as fast as a jet plane! 

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Aside from earthquakes, tsunamis also happen when there is a volcanic eruption or   undersea explosions—landslides and other ocean mass disturbances above or below water. 

All these can shake the earth’s crust under the water, creating tsunami waves which then travel rapidly across the ocean, destroying everything in its path.

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Why are tsunamis so destructive?

As they enter the coast (where water is shallow), their speed decreases but their height increases. They can crest to 100 feet (as tall as a ten-story building!) and strike with very harsh force!

Tsunamis are probably the most terrifying natural hazard. Their smashing strength at high speed, and their extremely large volume have destroyed many lives and properties on earth through the years.

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How can we stop tsunamis?

We can’t. But we can avoid them by running for our safety, far away from it, as soon as we hear the Tsunami Warning Signal which every country has to alert people of tsunami threat. 

When tsunamis hit Japan last month, immediately, all the coastal towns of the Philippines were alerted. And people evacuated far away from the shores.

Let us remember those countries who have been hit by tsunamis in our prayers. Let us ask God to protect and comfort them as they move on to rebuild their homes, and their lives.

My email: [email protected] or visit my website: http://leavesofgrace.blogspot.com (FREEMAN)