Question

What does Tsunami mean in Japanese language?
A. Upward tidal waves
B. Spiral waves
C. Destructive waves
D. Downward tidal waves

Answer 1

Hint: The etymology tells us that it is a union of two words, tsu meaning harbor or port and nami meaning waves. They are often described as tidal waves but this practice is factually inaccurate.

Complete answer: In Japanese language, Tsunami means Destructive waves.
- These occur due to tectonic movement on the seafloor that correspondingly moves huge amounts of water, sending them towards land where inhabitants are forced to face a lot of death and destruction. Examples include underwater landslides, submarine volcanic explosions etc.
- As these travel towards land, the depth of the ocean increases, making the water rise higher. Even the speed of its travel is determined by this factor.
- Buoys are placed deep into the ocean to gauge and detect tsunamis and its characteristics, like amplitude. Many believe that constantly monitoring the conversion and transfer of energy that goes on in the ocean can help.
- Some measures taken to battle these include: building elevated houses or seeking shelter places as high up and inland as possible. The Japanese build houses with materials that are easy to be reconstructed with like straw and bamboo, instead of the norm of concrete structures.
- If you are in the water, go out to sea for you risk being carried inland by the waves.

Hence, Option C is correct.

Note: The first Tsunami that was recorded was 4000 years ago in Syria. They are of two categories, local and remote (also referred to as transoceanic).