Students will understand the following:

1. Tsunami in oceans and fjords can create massive destruction.
2. Ocean tsunami and fjord tsunami behave differently, due to the width of the water area.
3. Ocean tsumani are caused by undersea earthquakes (seismic), volcanic eruptions, or landslides; or by the impact of large meteorite falling into the ocean. Fjord tsunmi are caused by broken portions of icebergs plummeting into the waves.

• Two plastic containers of the same length but different widths. (One should be significantly narrower than the other.)
• Water
• Masking Tape
• Small Rock, ball of clay, or other object that can be dropped into the water-filled containers
• Ruler of tape measure

PROCEDURE

1. Review with your students what they already know about tsunami. In discussion, bring out the possible causes of a tsunami : undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, or meteorite impact.
2. Continue the discussion by letting student know that a tsunami can occur in a fjord - a narrow inlet of the ocean with cliffs on either side. Fjord tsunami are generally caused by portions of icebergs plummeting into the waters.
3. Tell students that they are going to perform an experiment to find out the difference in wave patterns between a tsunami that occurs in the ocean and in a fjord.
4. Divide the class into groups. The groups' first challenge is to design an experiment that will simulate the two types of tsunamis so that the differences in their wave patterns can be observed. Students should come up with a procedure similar to the one that follows.
5. Distribute materials to each group, and have them set up their experiments as follows:

1. Fix a strip of masking tape down the inside of each plastic container.
2. Fill each container with water so that the depth is the same in each one.
3. Trim the strip of tape in each container so that it reaches half a centimeter above the water level.

1. Instruct the student to drop an object from the same height into each container and measure the distance the resulting wave travels from the point of impact to where it drops below the level of the masking tape. Have students record their results.
2. With the whole class, graph the results of the experiment.
3. Hold a class discussion about the experiment. Students should be aware that the wider container represented the ocean and the narrow container, a fjord. The object dropped represented a meteorite falling into the ocean or a huge chuck of ice falling into a fjord. In discussion, ask students how they now that depth of a wave pattern was not due to difference in water depth. (The experiment required the depth of the water in each container to be the same.)
4. Continue the discussion by having students determine which type of tsunami (ocean or fjord) would cause the most destruction.
5. Have each student draw a diagram that shows the experimental design and the results of the experiment. Each diagram should be accompanied by a brief paragraph explaining in words what the diagram shows visually.
6. Have the class recommend safety precautions for both fjord regions and ocean coastal regions based on their finding.