Tsunami – Transcript
A tsunami is a series of waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions all have the potential to generate a tsunami. Unlike normal ocean waves, which are generated by wind, or tides, a tsunami is generated by a large event above or below the water.
Tsunami waves do not resemble normal sea waves because their wavelength is far longer. A tsunami may initially resemble a rapidly rising tide. For this reason, they are often referred to as tidal waves, although this term is not used by the scientific community because it gives the false impression of a connection between tides and tsunamis.
Tsunamis generally consist of a series of waves, arriving in a so-called “wave train”. Wave heights of tens of meters can be generated by large events. Although the impact of tsunamis is limited to coastal areas, their destructive power can be enormous. Tsunamis can happen in any ocean or sea, but they are most common in the Pacific Ocean. Countries that routinely experience tsunamis include: Chile, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan.
