How does a tsunami develop?
when an earthquake occurs near a body of water
when a hurricane's eye has passed
when flooding is combined with windstorms
when the effect of tornadoes lifting up soil cause water to rise
when wind storms that make the soil move around cause disturbances
A tsunami develops when an underwater disturbance, such as an earthquake or volcanic eruption, occurs near a body of water. Here is the step-by-step process of how a tsunami forms:
1. Underwater Disturbance: A significant release of energy occurs due to an earthquake, volcanic activity, or even a landslide beneath the ocean floor. This disturbance displaces a large amount of water vertically.
2. Generation of Waves: The initial energy release causes waves to propagate outward from the disturbance location. These waves move in all directions, not just towards the shoreline.
3. Deep Ocean Waves: In the open ocean, the waves may be barely noticeable as they have long wavelengths and low heights compared to the vast depth of the ocean. They can travel at high speeds, often hundreds of kilometers per hour, covering large distances.
4. Shallow Water Effect: As the tsunami approaches shallower coastal areas, the waves encounter the rising seabed, causing the wave height to increase significantly while the wavelength decreases. The waves slow down and compress, causing the tsunami to "pile up."
5. Inundation: When the waves reach the coastline, they can rapidly inundate the land, causing devastating flooding and significant damage to coastal communities.
It is important to note that tsunamis are not directly caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, or windstorms. While these natural disasters can cause local flooding and coastal erosion, they do not generate tsunamis on their own. Only underwater disturbances, primarily seismic activities, are responsible for the formation of tsunamis.