"A tsunami
is
a series of waves
generated
by an impulsive disturbance in the ocean or in a small, connected body of
water." The word comes from Japan and means "harbor wave." Tsunamis, also
called seismic sea waves, or incorrectly called tidal waves, can be cause
by many different events.
Many tsunamis are started by
earthquakes and other seismic movement by the earth's crust. Submarine
volcanic eruptions can cause immense and gigantic tsunamis.
Meteorites can also generate tsunamis.
There are several other ways tsunamis are generated. Underwater
landslides, and the regional uplift of an area underwater both can cause
tsunamis. This movement occurs at the plate boundaries when they abruptly
deform. Huge waves are formed because the water that was displaced moves
with gravity to balance the equilibrium. Tsunamis can occur in any ocean
that has a lot of seismic movement, and usually starts at a plate boundary.
As the wave approaches land it becomes more shallow and the huge amount of
energy that it has becomes concentrated in a very small area. The tsunami
then slows down and rapidly increases in height. Normally the wave
doesn't break and it just is a massive tide sweeping towards
the shore.
There are several other ways tsunamis are generated. Underwater
landslides, and the regional uplift of an area underwater both can cause
tsunamis. This movement occurs at the plate boundaries when they abruptly
deform. Huge waves are formed because the water that was displaced moves
with gravity to balance the equilibrium. Tsunamis can occur in any ocean
that has a lot of seismic movement, and usually starts at a plate boundary.
As the wave approaches land it becomes more shallow and the huge amount of
energy that it has becomes concentrated in a very small area. The tsunami
then slows down and rapidly increases in height. Normally the wave
doesn't break and it just is a massive tide sweeping towards
the shore.