In “The Deadliest Tsunami in History,” survivors of the tsunami recognized that a receding ocean
Responses
was a sign of danger.
left pollution on shore.
left boats and fish stranded on shore.
signals a coming earthquake.
signals a coming earthquake.
In "The Deadliest Tsunami in History," survivors of the tsunami recognized that a receding ocean was a sign of danger.
The correct response is: "signals a coming earthquake."
To understand why survivors of the tsunami recognized a receding ocean as a sign of danger, we need to know some background information about tsunamis. A tsunami is a series of powerful ocean waves caused by seismic activities, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or even underwater landslides. When a large earthquake occurs under the ocean, it can generate a tsunami.
During an earthquake that generates a tsunami, the initial tremors are often felt on land before the tsunami reaches the coastline. If people living near the coast feel the ground shaking, they might expect a tsunami to follow. However, there is another warning sign that can occur just before a tsunami hits: a receding ocean.
A receding ocean is when the water near the shoreline pulls back, exposing more of the seabed. It creates the illusion that the water is being sucked away from the coast. This phenomenon occurs because the leading edge of the tsunami wave can cause the water to retreat before the main wave arrives.
Survivors of past tsunamis, who have witnessed a receding ocean before the devastating waves hit, learned from their experiences that it is a clear sign of danger. When they see the water suddenly pulling back, it serves as a warning to evacuate immediately because it indicates that a tsunami is imminent. Therefore, in the context of "The Deadliest Tsunami in History," recognizing a receding ocean as a sign of danger refers to the fact that it signals a coming earthquake-generated tsunami.