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From the Japanese words tsu (harbor) and nami (waves) A TSUNAMI is a wave train, or series of waves, generated in a body of water by an impulsive disturbance that vertically displaces the water column. Tsunamis can savagely attack coastlines, causing devastating property damage and loss of life. Tsunamis are sometimes incorrectly called as TIDAL WAVES DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TSUNAMI AND TIDAL WAVE Tsunami is caused by underwater earthquake, displacing big amounts of water. A tsunami is a gigantic water wave that is the result of a sudden undersea motion possibly caused by an undersea landslide, earthquake, or volcanic eruption creating a huge wave 100f high or more. These waves can travel thousands of mile and crash into coastlines with catastrophic results. Tidal waves are up and down patterns on the surface of the water pulled by the moon and sun. A tidal wave is the result of the sun and moons constant gravitational pull on the ocean water on the earth. The result of the gravitational pull creates an ocean bulge on opposite sides of the earth. The bulge is the tidal wave that is constantly present on the earth. As the earth rotates it move into the tidal wave (bulge) so that at the ocean coast would experience high tide every (approximately) 12 hours. At the place between the ocean bulges the ocean coast would experience low tide. These occur daily without any threat of danger to people or property.
CAUSES OF TSUNAMI
Tsunamis occur when there is a sudden large displacement of water. There are three main causes of tsunamis: 1. SEISMIC ACTIVITY Seismic activity is the most common cause of tsunamis. Both tectonic and subduction earthquakes in and near the ocean may create tsunamis. During a TECTONIC EARTHQUAKE, the sea floor becomes deformed, forcing a displacement of water. In a SUBDUCTION EARTHQUAKE, tectonic plates slip under each other, creating a massive disturbance, also resulting in a significant displacement of water. HOW DO EARTHQUAKES GENERATE TSUNAMIS? Tsunamis can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water. Tectonic earthquakes are a particular kind of earthquake that are associated with the earth's crustal deformation; when these earthquakes occur beneath the sea, the water above the deformed area is displaced from its equilibrium position. Waves are formed as the displaced water mass, which acts under the influence of gravity, attempts to regain its equilibrium. When large areas of the sea floor elevate or subside, a tsunami can be created. Large vertical movements of the earth's crust can occur at plate boundaries. Plates interact along these boundaries called faults. Around the margins of the Pacific Ocean, for example, denser oceanic plates slip under continental plates in a process known as subduction.
2. SUBMARINE LANDSLIDES Submarine landslides can also cause tsunamis. Submarine landslides occur during earthquakes and the implosion of underwater volcanoes. The falling sediment and rock in these landslides can also trigger massive water movement, resulting in a tsunami. Volcanoes cause tsunamis when there is an eruption. The volcano can either be on land or under the sea, in which case it is known as a submarine volcano. If the volcanic eruption happens on land, the tsunami is caused by debris and lava from the volcano flowing into the sea, which once again causes a bug ripple. If the eruption happens under water, the enormous power of the eruption sends shudders through the earth and disrupts the water. The water in the sea then breaks into waves which travel across the ocean until they come into contact with a coast. Here, a tsunami is formed.
3. COSMIC IMPACTS Cosmic impacts in the ocean are the least frequent cause of tsunamis. This is similar to throwing a rock into a pond, except on a much larger scale. When the rock hits the water, it creates small ripples of water moving away from the point of impact. In a cosmic impact, these ripples would instead be massive tsunamis, increasing in size as they near the shore. Example: Meteorites.
1. TECTONIC Tectonic upthrust in the for, of earthquakes and ocean floor volcanoes cause vasr quantities of very short space of time, generating a massive amount of energy 2. BUILD The energy from the quake or impulse causes a train of simple, progressive oscillatory waves to propagate over the ocean surface in ever-widening circles at speeds as fast as 500mph 3. TRAVEL The wavelengths of the tsunami continue to grow, with the waves periods varying from five minutes to more than an hour. 4. APPROACH As the tsunami waves approach the coastline of a landmass they are slowed dramatically by the friction of their collision with the rising seabed. As the velocity lessens, however, the wavelengths become shortened and amplitude increases. 5. IMPACT Finally, with the wavelength compressed and heightened to large levels, the giant waves collide with the shore causing massive damage. The succeeding outflow of water then continues the destruction, uprooting trees and washing away people and property.