Tsunami

The term of “tsunami” comes from the Japanese which means harbour
("tsu") and wave ("nami"). A tsunami is a series of waves generated
when water in a lake or a sea is rapidly displaced on a massive scale.

A tsunami will be generated when the seafloor abruptly deforms and

vertically displaces the overlying water. Such large vertical movements
of the earth's crust can occur at plate boundaries.
Subduction of earthquakes are particularly effective in generating
tsunami, and occur where denser oceanic plates slip under continental
plates.

As the displaced water mass moves under the influence of gravity to

regain its equilibrium, it radiates across the ocean like ripples on a pond.

Tsunami always bring great damage. Most of the damage is caused by

the huge mass of water behind the initial wave front, as the height of the
sea keeps rising fast and floods powerfully into the coastal area.

A. Generic Structure

1. General Statement
The term of “tsunami” comes from the Japanese which means harbour ("tsu") and wave
("nami"). A tsunami is a series of waves generated when water in a lake or a sea is rapidly
displaced on a massive scale.

2. Squenced of Explanation
A tsunami can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the
overlying water. Such large vertical movements of the earth's crust can occur at plate boundaries.
Subduction of earthquakes are particularly effective in generating tsunami, and occur where
denser oceanic plates slip under continental plates.
As the displaced water mass moves under the influence of gravity to regain its equilibrium, it
radiates across the ocean like ripples on a pond.

3. Closing
Tsunami always bring great damage. Most of the damage is caused by the huge mass of water
behind the initial wave front, as the height of the sea keeps rising fast and floods powerfully into
the coastal area.

Language Features

• Use simple present tense

A tsunami is a series of waves generated when water in a lake or a sea is rapidly displaced on a
massive scale.

• Use Passive Voice

A tsunami will be generated when the seafloor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the
overlying water.

• Use abstract noun

 Vertical
 Horizontal
 Height

• Conjuction of time
 When
(when the seafloor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water)
(when water in a lake or a sea is rapidly displaced on a massive scale).

• Action Verb
 Movement
 Moves

• Noun Phrases
A tsunami is a series of waves generated when water in a lake or a sea is rapidly displaced on a
massive scale.

• Adverbial Phrases
lake or a sea is rapidly displaced on a massive scale.

• Complex sentences

• A tsunami is a series of waves generated when water in a lake or a sea is rapidly displaced on a
massive scale.
Explanation :
1. A tsunami is a series of waves generated (main clause), while
2. when water in a lake or a sea is rapidly displaced on a massive scale (subordinate clause)

• A tsunami will be generated when the seafloor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the
overlying water.
Explanation :
1. A tsunami will be generated (main clause), while
2. when the seafloor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water (subordinate
clause).

Question
1. What is a tsunami ?

2. Where the word tsunami comes from ?

3. What causes the great damage that the tsunami brought ?

4. when a tsunami will be generated on the text ?

5. Explain the process of the tsunami ?