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Year 8 - Geography

The 2018 Sunda Strait Tsunami

Tectonic hazards: Why is Earth restless?

Unit Summary

This unit teaches pupils about the physical processes that lead to tectonic hazards and investigates the geographical pattern of hazards across the world. Pupils will also learn how tectonic hazards affect people in different places and how people seek to manage hazards.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how a tsunami occurs and what happened in the Sunda Strait in 2018.

Key Notes

  • A tsunami is a series of large, powerful ocean waves caused by a sudden disturbance.
  • Undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides can displace sufficient water to trigger a tsunami.
  • In 2018, a tsunami was caused by the collapse of the Anak Krakatau volcano in the Sunda Strait in Indonesia.
  • Tragically, the tsunami led to the deaths of over 430 people.
  • The impact was devastating due to insufficient warning systems, the Strait funnelling the waves, and the time of day.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • tsunami: a series of large, powerful ocean waves caused by a sudden disturbance
  • displace: to move something from its original position, e.g. ocean water
  • infrastructure: the basic systems in a country, such as transport and power supply

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Tsunamis are just big waves.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.

A tsunami is a series of large, powerful ocean waves caused by a sudden disturbance. Undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides can displace sufficient water to trigger a tsunami.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'tsunami'

a series of large, powerful ocean waves caused by a sudden disturbance.

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: Tsunamis are just big waves. Correction: Tsunamis are caused by displacement of the ocean, not wind blowing over the surface. Tsunami waves don't break, they come as a fast-moving wall of water, which can be far bigger and faster than a normal wave. They can also flood kilometres inland.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 Geography guide library.