A Explaining and Forecasting Tsunami Risk (graded)

A shallow (close to the surface) earthquake of 7.6 magnitudes (strength of earthquake) occurs along a colliding plate boundary. This boundary is in the Pacific Ocean.

Should governments immediately send tsunami warning signals to countries that touch the Pacific Ocean?

Explain why you should or should not send warning signals to those countries, using our scientific ideas about earthquakes and how tsunamis form.

**This is a CER**

Claim- We (should or should not) immediately send tsunami warning signals to countries that touch the Pacific Ocean.

Evidence- In our investigation, (name of investigation), we observed _______.

Reasoning- This means _____________.

Investigations we have completed as a class

Where do tsunamis happen? The story maps

Connecting Earthquakes and tsunamis- graphs

Wave investigation- 3 video simulations

Use the map to take notes and write on this map to show how tsunamis affect places along the coasts.

Place A: This is a busy fishing community on the coast. It is flat and right on the water’s edge with lots of boats and businesses.

Place B: This is a large city near the ocean. Most homes and buildings are in the higher elevations of the hills nearby.

Place C: This is a popular tourist town with hotels on the flat beach and lots of people.

**Consider:

how far it is from the epicenter?

the description of the area in number 3

Use the descriptions of each location and the map to rank which places are most at risk for damage to people and property by this tsunami.

Rank the places by their risk for damage to people and property.

(1 highest - 4 lowest)

Place A

Place B

Place C

1. Place C This is a popular tourist town with hotels on the flat beach and lots of people.
2. Place A: This is a busy fishing community on the coast. It is flat and right on the water’s edge with lots of boats and businesses.
3. Place B: This is a large city near the ocean. Most homes and buildings are in the higher elevations of the hills nearby.

Use the descriptions of each location and the map to rank which places will be impacted by this tsunami first.

Rank the places in order of who would be impacted first.

(1 first- 4 last)

Place A

Place B

Place C

1. Place C This is a popular tourist town with hotels on the flat beach and lots of people.
2. Place B: This is a large city near the ocean. Most homes and buildings are in the higher elevations of the hills nearby.

3. Place A: This is a busy fishing community on the coast. It is flat and right on the water’s edge with lots of boats and businesses.

Based on your rankings in the table, which place would need to take action the fastest to protect people and property from this tsunami?

Explain your choice, considering both the time to impact and the possible risk of damage.

*Be sure to include science ideas.

Claim-

(Place) would need to take action the fastest to protect people and property.

Evidence

As you can see _____. OR Based on ________, you can see . . .

Reasoning-

This means.... (Include your science ideas from this unit)

Using what we understand about forecasting which types of places and communities are most at risk for damage from tsunamis, let’s think about the coast of Japan.

The map below shows an area called Fudai. This is a hilly region, and the darker areas on the map mean there is a steep incline and higher elevation, while the lighter areas are lower elevations or flatter.

If Japan has limited resources for the next year to help keep people and property safe from tsunami damage, which part of the coast is most at risk and needs to receive resources first? 

Circle that area on the map and then explain your reasoning. (scroll down to circle)

**This is a CER**

Claim- The area I circled would need resources first.

Evidence- As you can see in the map, _________________

In our investigation, (name of investigation), we observed _______.

Reasoning- This means _____________.