You have taken a job in Boston, Massachusetts, a large metropolitan city at a fairly high northern latitude. The metropolitan area surrounding a wide, deep harbor facing northeast

Question

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Describe what you should think about in terms of tsunami danger. Discuss the danger in terms of likelihood, strength, and comparison to other hazards you will experience in this area.
What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER: There is relatively little chance for a tsunami in this area, unless a catastrophic landslide in the Canary Islands due to collapse of the Tenerife Volcano’s flank occurs. An event like this is extremely unlikely, but possible.
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Boston would be a dangerous place to be in a tsunami. The harbor would increase the effects of the wave, and evacuation would be very difficult.
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Boston is pretty far north. The danger of winter weather is much, much more important than tsunami danger. Windstorms and hurricanes can reach that far north, so they would be more important to think about also.