2006-07-27 15:49:50 · 4 answers · asked by hase0987 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It's the volume of water in the wave. Since a wave is essentially the visible transmission of energy through water, the greater the energy, the more water volume. The height of the wave is proportional to the depth of the water the wave travels through. As the wave approaches shore the wave builds height that is proportional to its energy. A tsunami has enormous energy, and high water volume, which pushed the water far inland until the energy dissipates.
2006-07-27 15:54:33 · answer #1 · answered by odu83 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you think about the amount of water that is used by a tsunami and a normal wave, this should answer the question for itself.
Tsunami's are HUGE amounts of water pulled back from a normal coastline due to a shift in the ocean floor and when it does this shift, it pulls not just a little bit of water back, but trillions of gallons of water into a crack and then it tries to correct itself.
Small waves are just due to wind, moon phases, and small environmental changes in the area.
Tsunamis are major changes in the environment of the oceanic floor.
I hope this wasnt too vague. I could explain in more detail but I am sleepy.
Hope this helped some.
2006-07-27 22:59:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The length of the Tsunami waves are much more longer than ordinary tidal waves. It runs into several hundred kilometers where as tidal waves are only in meter length .It takes longer time to pass a particular points. A.Ganapathy researcher of early warning system for earthquake and Tsunami.
2006-08-01 00:00:11 · answer #3 · answered by A.Ganapathy India 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See my answer in the previous question.
A Tsunami wave is propogated right down to the sea floor. This means that when it reaches the shore it has the energy of a wall of water as deep as the ocean.
Normal waves are very much surface phenomena.
2006-07-28 00:29:17 · answer #4 · answered by nick s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋