Tsunami Thoughts
Steven N. Ward Research Geophysicist Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics University of California, Santa Cruz
Tsunami research was a fairly sleepy field until the massive tsunamis that hit Chile and the Indian Ocean woke up the public and the research community to the power and destruction caused by these massive events. Come hear Steven Ward, a solid-earth geophysicist who works at the Santa Cruz branch of the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics on the science of tsunamis. Ward, a theoretical seismologist by training, has migrated into the areas of active tectonics and natural hazards, contributing significant research to tsunami flooding calculations. He was quick to grasp the importance of these new technologies in earth science, and had models of the Japanese tsunami racing across the Pacific towards the west coast within hours of the event. You’ll learn why tsunami waves differ from ordinary waves, what causes tsunamis (and it’s not just earthquakes!), where they focus their energy, when the next one might hit, and how we might prepare.
Visit the Seymour Center Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM Sunday, Noon to 5 PM Admission: Adults $6 / Child, Student or Senior (64+) $4 / Child (3 and under) Free