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Quizzes > Science

Tsunami Quiz: Test Your Knowledge and Safety Smarts

Quick tsunami knowledge test with 10 questions. Instant results and safety tips.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Santosh P KandagalUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art tsunami waves rolling onto shore with quiz title text on dark blue background

This tsunami quiz helps you check what you know about causes, warnings, and evacuation steps in 10 quick questions. After you finish, explore more with questions about tsunamis, try some ocean trivia questions, or build your safety know-how with a safety knowledge quiz. Get instant results and simple safety tips.

What is a tsunami?
A strong underwater current.
A seasonal tropical cyclone.
A large earthquake on land.
A large ocean wave caused by underwater disturbances.
Tsunamis are series of ocean waves generated by sudden disturbances on the seafloor, such as earthquakes or landslides. They can travel across entire ocean basins with little energy loss in deep water and grow in height near the shore due to shoaling. This distinguishes them from normal wind-driven waves. Further details can be found at .
Which of the following is the most common cause of tsunamis?
Underwater storms.
Tidal forces of the moon.
Submarine earthquakes at subduction zones.
Volcanic eruptions on land.
Most tsunamis are generated by undersea earthquakes at convergent plate boundaries where one tectonic plate subducts beneath another. This vertical displacement of the seafloor displaces massive volumes of water. Other causes like volcanic eruptions are less frequent. More information at .
Tsunami waves travel fastest in which ocean condition?
Deep ocean.
Coral reefs.
Mangrove forests.
Shallow coastal waters.
Tsunami wave speed is approximated by the square root of the product of gravity and water depth, so waves travel fastest in deep water. As they approach shallower coastal areas, their speed decreases and wave height increases. View more at .
What is the name of the sensor-based system used to detect tsunamis in the deep ocean?
DART (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis).
Coastal Tide Gauge Network.
GPS Buoy Tracking.
Seismic Reflection System.
The DART system uses seabed pressure sensors and surface buoys to detect and relay real-time tsunami data. It provides early warning by measuring slight changes in water pressure associated with passing tsunami waves. Learn more at .
As a tsunami approaches the shoreline, its wave height typically:
Decreases due to friction.
Remains unchanged.
Reverses direction.
Increases due to energy shoaling.
When tsunami waves move into shallower water, the decreasing depth causes the wave speed to slow and energy to concentrate, resulting in an increase in wave height known as shoaling. This is why tsunamis can be only a few centimeters high in deep water but become devastating near shore. Details at .
Which instrument is primarily used to detect the initial earthquake that may trigger a tsunami?
Tide gauge.
Seismometer.
Barometer.
Anemometer.
Seismometers measure the ground motion caused by earthquakes, providing the first indication of a potential tsunami-generating event. Rapid earthquake detection helps to issue timely tsunami warnings. For more, see .
The term "run-up" in tsunami science refers to:
The time interval between tsunami waves.
The maximum vertical height a tsunami reaches onshore above sea level.
The horizontal distance the wave travels in the ocean.
The speed of the tsunami in deep water.
Run-up is defined as the maximum vertical height above sea level that the tsunami reaches when it inundates the shore. It is a key parameter for assessing tsunami impact on coastal areas. More information at .
What is the typical period of a tsunami wave?
A few days.
A few hours.
Several minutes to over an hour.
A few seconds.
Tsunami waves have very long periods, often ranging from several minutes to over an hour, compared to wind-driven waves which have periods of seconds. These long periods are due to the large scale and depth at which they form. See .
Which of these factors does NOT significantly affect tsunami propagation speed?
Water salinity.
Water depth.
Seafloor topography.
Gravity.
Tsunami speed is primarily controlled by water depth and gravity. Seafloor topography can influence wave behavior, but salinity has a negligible effect on propagation speed. More at .
Which fault movement is most likely to generate a tsunami?
Vertical displacement on a thrust fault.
Erosion of continental shelves.
Submarine turbidity currents.
Horizontal slip on a strike-slip fault.
Vertical displacement of the seafloor, especially along thrust faults at subduction zones, efficiently displaces water and generates tsunamis. Strike-slip motion does not move water vertically. See .
In tsunami risk assessments, the term "inundation distance" refers to:
The submerged offshore distance.
The horizontal distance inland that the tsunami reaches.
The height of tsunami waves offshore.
The depth of water at the shoreline.
Inundation distance measures how far inland the tsunami waves travel horizontally, which is essential for hazard mapping and evacuation planning. Details at .
Which method is commonly used to model tsunami behavior for early warning?
Numerical simulation using shallow water equations.
Empirical observation only.
Satellite weather models.
Analog water tank experiments at full scale.
Early warning systems rely on numerical models that solve the shallow water equations to predict tsunami arrival times and wave heights based on earthquake source parameters. See .
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was primarily caused by an earthquake of magnitude:
6.5 - 6.8.
9.1 - 9.3.
7.8 - 8.0.
10.2 - 10.5.
The Sumatra - Andaman earthquake on December 26, 2004, had a magnitude estimated between 9.1 and 9.3, making it one of the largest recorded and generating a devastating tsunami. More information at .
Which coastal feature can amplify tsunami wave heights?
Narrow bay or inlet.
Flat coral reef.
Wide open beach.
Offshore sandbar.
Narrow bays or inlets can focus and amplify tsunami energy, resulting in higher wave heights and more severe damage compared to open coastlines. For details, see .
A "local tsunami" differs from a "distant tsunami" mainly in:
Wave height only.
Time between earthquake and wave arrival.
Water depth offshore.
Type of wave motion.
Local tsunamis can arrive within minutes of the triggering earthquake, leaving little evacuation time, while distant tsunamis may take several hours to travel across an ocean basin. Learn more at .
Why do tsunami waves behave like shallow water waves across the entire ocean?
Because their wavelength is much greater than ocean depth.
Because they are generated by wind.
Because of Coriolis force dominating.
Because of the tide cycle.
Tsunami wavelengths can exceed 100 km, which is always much larger than ocean depth; therefore, they satisfy the shallow water wave condition throughout their propagation. More at .
Which coastal topography is least likely to reduce tsunami impact?
Dense mangrove forest.
Offshore reef system.
Wide intertidal marsh.
Steep, straight rocky cliffs.
Steep, straight cliffs may reflect energy but do not dissipate it effectively, often leading to high run-up, whereas reefs, mangroves, and marshes absorb wave energy and reduce impact. See .
In tsunami hazard mapping, "probabilistic tsunami hazard analysis" (PTHA) primarily assesses:
Tsunami arrival times only.
The likelihood of different tsunami wave heights over a given period.
Real-time wave heights.
Only historical tsunami heights.
PTHA combines seismic source models, wave propagation, and statistical analysis to estimate the probability of various tsunami wave heights and inundation areas over specified timeframes. More info at .
Which factor is critical when designing vertical evacuation structures for tsunami safety?
Height above maximum run-up.
Number of windows.
Color of the building.
Distance from coastline only.
Vertical evacuation structures must be tall enough to exceed the maximum expected run-up height to remain above the highest inundation level during a tsunami. For guidelines, see .
The dispersion effect in tsunami waves is generally:
Dominant in the open ocean.
Irrelevant in all depths.
The main cause for wave height increase.
Negligible in the deep ocean but becomes more significant in shallow coastal areas.
Due to their long wavelengths, dispersion is minor in deep water, but as the wave shoals in shallow waters, dispersion and non-linear effects can modify wave shape and height. Reference .
How can coastal sediment deposition after a tsunami affect future tsunami risk?
It only affects river flooding.
It has no long-term effect.
It can raise or lower the shoreline, altering inundation patterns.
It always protects against future tsunamis.
Tsunami-induced sediment deposition can change coastal topography, potentially increasing or decreasing future tsunami inundation zones by altering beach slopes and barrier configurations. See .
Which early warning system component is most responsible for confirming a tsunami after initial earthquake detection?
Social media posts.
Coastal sirens.
Public announcements.
Tide gauges near the coastline.
Tide gauges measure actual sea level changes and confirm the presence and amplitude of tsunami waves, providing essential data to validate warnings. More at .
In high-resolution tsunami modeling, why is accounting for bottom friction crucial?
It is negligible in all shallow waters.
It only affects deep ocean travel speed.
It determines the tsunami wavelength.
It influences wave energy dissipation, affecting inundation estimates.
Bottom friction reduces tsunami energy as waves interact with the seabed, significantly impacting predicted wave heights and run-up distances in coastal models. Accurate friction coefficients are key for reliable inundation forecasts. Further reading at .
How does Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect) influence long-distance tsunami propagation?
It has no effect.
It drastically reduces wave height.
It reverses tsunami direction.
It deflects the wave path slightly, important for basin-scale modeling.
The Coriolis effect causes a slight deflection of tsunami wave trajectories on large scales, which must be considered for accurate transoceanic propagation models. Details at .
Designing a tsunami early warning network, what key parameter ensures DART sensor reliability?
Integration with radar systems.
Ability to measure wind speed.
Real-time data telemetry and power backup for uninterrupted pressure data.
Proximity to tourist beaches.
DART sensors rely on continuous power and satellite-based telemetry to transmit seabed pressure data in real time, which is vital for early detection and warning. More at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Tsunami Formation -

    Learn the science behind seismic activity, underwater earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions that trigger tsunamis. Gain foundational knowledge to answer tsunami questions with confidence.

  2. Identify Early Warning Signs -

    Recognize natural indicators such as sudden sea-level changes and ground shaking. Prepare to spot warning signals in real-life situations and during the tsunami quiz.

  3. Apply Safety Protocols -

    Use proven tsunami safety tips to develop evacuation and response plans. Enhance your preparedness by practicing clear, actionable steps for coastal emergencies.

  4. Evaluate Coastal Risk Factors -

    Analyze geographical and environmental conditions that increase tsunami vulnerability. Strengthen your ability to assess hazards and recommend protective measures.

  5. Recall Key Awareness Insights -

    Summarize essential takeaways from the World Tsunami Awareness Day quiz. Solidify your understanding of tsunami safety, awareness questions, and best practices.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Generation Mechanisms -

    Tsunamis originate when undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or landslides abruptly displace large volumes of water, transferring seismic energy into waves. A subduction-zone quake that shifts the seafloor by just a meter can create waves hundreds of kilometers long (USGS). Remember "Big Shift, Big Wave" to recall this key concept for your tsunami quiz.

  2. Wave Speed in the Ocean -

    The speed c of a tsunami in deep water follows c = √(g·H), where g = 9.81 m/s² and H is depth in meters (NOAA). In 4,000 m depths, c≈√(9.81·4000)≈198 m/s, roughly jet-plane fast. Use this formula to answer travel-time tsunami questions accurately.

  3. Wave Characteristics -

    Tsunamis have very long wavelengths (up to 200 km) but small amplitudes at sea, growing only upon shoaling near shore (MIT OpenCourseWare). The wave period (T) can exceed 15 minutes, so remember "Long Length, Long Time." Recognizing wavelength vs. amplitude differences is vital for tsunami awareness questions.

  4. Natural and Technological Warning Signs -

    A rapid sea retreat or an unusual roar are natural tsunami warning signals, while DART buoys (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis) provide real-time data (NOAA). Spotting both helps you ace tsunami awareness questions and world tsunami awareness day quiz challenges. Keep in mind the acronym DART to recall this system.

  5. Safety Protocols and Evacuation -

    Follow the "RUN" mnemonic: Retreat to high ground, Upward movement to at least 30 m elevation, Notify authorities (UNESCO-IOC). Evacuate 2 km inland or higher immediately after feeling an earthquake; drills improve response (FEMA). Regular practice of these tsunami safety tips ensures confidence during an actual event.

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