Earthquakes and Tsunamis Quick Check
2 of 32 of 3 Items
Question
Which describes the waves formed by tsunamis?(1 point)
Responses
They cause small waves both in the open ocean and near the shore.
They cause small waves both in the open ocean and near the shore.
They cause large waves in the open ocean, but small ones near the shore.
They cause large waves in the open ocean, but small ones near the shore.
They cause small waves in the open ocean, but large ones near the shore.
They cause small waves in the open ocean, but large ones near the shore.
They cause large waves both in the open ocean and near the shore.
They cause large waves both in the open ocean and near the shore.
The correct answer is:
They cause small waves in the open ocean, but large ones near the shore.
The correct answer is: They cause small waves in the open ocean, but large ones near the shore.
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand how tsunamis form and the behavior of waves in the open ocean and near the shore.
Tsunamis are typically caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. When these events occur, they can displace large amounts of water, resulting in the generation of a series of powerful ocean waves known as tsunamis.
In the open ocean, these tsunamis waves may go unnoticed because they have a long wavelength and low amplitude. Due to the vastness of the ocean, the energy is spread out, causing the waves to appear relatively small.
However, as the tsunami approaches the shore, the seafloor gets shallower, and the energy of the tsunami gets compressed. This causes the wavelength to decrease and the amplitude to increase, resulting in larger and more destructive waves near the coast. These waves can grow to significant heights and cause widespread devastation when they reach the shoreline.
Therefore, the correct answer is: They cause small waves in the open ocean, but large ones near the shore.