What is a Tsunami?
Tsunamis are caused by large, undersea earthquakes or other seismic events. During these events a section of the ocean floor will suddenly rise or sink, the mass of water above the affected area also rises or sinks, taking the shape of its holder, and this unexpected movement of the water creates a series of powerful waves. These waves join together to create long and high sea wave that is increadibly powerful. In the deep ocean, tsunami waves may appear only a foot or so high however as tsunamis approach shoreline and enter shallow water they slow down and begin to grow in energy and height.
Facts
- Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning "harbour wave".
- The length of a tsunami from wave crest to wave crest range from 10 to 500 km. As a result of their long wavelengths, tsunamis act as shallow-water waves.
- Around 80 percent of tsunamis occur within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” a geologically active area where tectonic shifts make volcanoes and earthquakes quite common.
- A tsunami is not just one wave but a series of waves called a “wave train.”
- The top of the wave moves much faster than the bottom, causing the sea to rise quite significantly.
- In 2004, An Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by an earthquake that is believed to
have had the energy of 23,000 atomic bombs. This tsunami hit the coastline of 11 countries, damaging countries from east Africa to Thailand, the final death toll was of this one tsunami was 283,000.
- Tsunamis have also been referred to as "tidal waves" however this term is misleading; even though a tsunamis impact on a coastline is dependent on the tidal level at time of stricking, tsunamis are completely unrelated to the tides.
- More than 75 per cent of tsunami are caused by undersea earthquakes.
- A tsunami can travel as fast as 950 kilometres per hour, the same speed as a passanger jet.
- Tsunamis are very different from normal waves. Normal waves are generated by the wind and it is only the water close to the surface that is moving. In a tsunami all the water from surface to sea bed is moving and the movement has been generated by something.
- Tsunami can last for several hours or even days on some occasions.
- The length of a tsunami from wave crest to wave crest range from 10 to 500 km. As a result of their long wavelengths, tsunamis act as shallow-water waves.
- Around 80 percent of tsunamis occur within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” a geologically active area where tectonic shifts make volcanoes and earthquakes quite common.
- A tsunami is not just one wave but a series of waves called a “wave train.”
- The top of the wave moves much faster than the bottom, causing the sea to rise quite significantly.
- In 2004, An Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by an earthquake that is believed to
have had the energy of 23,000 atomic bombs. This tsunami hit the coastline of 11 countries, damaging countries from east Africa to Thailand, the final death toll was of this one tsunami was 283,000.
- Tsunamis have also been referred to as "tidal waves" however this term is misleading; even though a tsunamis impact on a coastline is dependent on the tidal level at time of stricking, tsunamis are completely unrelated to the tides.
- More than 75 per cent of tsunami are caused by undersea earthquakes.
- A tsunami can travel as fast as 950 kilometres per hour, the same speed as a passanger jet.
- Tsunamis are very different from normal waves. Normal waves are generated by the wind and it is only the water close to the surface that is moving. In a tsunami all the water from surface to sea bed is moving and the movement has been generated by something.
- Tsunami can last for several hours or even days on some occasions.