how are tsunami waves formed???

Answer 1

when there is an earthquale in the ocean and the land underneath gives way

Answer 2

by a submarine earthquake, by an underwater or coastal landslide, or by the eruption of a volcano.

After an earthquake or other generating impulse occurs, a train of simple, progressive oscillatory waves is propagated great distances over the ocean surface in ever-widening circles, much like the waves produced by a pebble falling into a shallow pool. In deep water a tsunami can travel as fast as 800 km (500 miles) per hour. The wavelengths are enormous, about 100 to 200 km (60 to 120 miles), but the wave amplitudes (heights) are very small, only about 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet).

As the waves approach the coast of a continent, however, friction with the rising sea bottom reduces the velocity of the waves. As the velocity lessens, the wavelengths become shortened and the wave amplitudes increase. Coastal waters may rise as high as 30 metres above normal sea level in 10 to 15 minutes. By a poorly understood process, the continental shelf waters begin to oscillate after the rise in sea level. Between three and five major oscillations generate most of the damage, frequently appearing as powerful “run-ups” of rushing water that uproot trees, pull buildings off their foundations, carry boats far inshore, and wash away entire beaches, peninsulas, and other low-lying coastal formations.

Answer 3

Earthquakes on the oceanic plates. These cause shock waves, which in turn cause physical waves in the lower depths of the ocean. These waves can travel hundreds of miles without causing a ripple on the surface. Then, as the water get shallower (or the ocean floor rises) the surface water becomes more and more disturbed, until it too is part of the shock wave. As the waters get shallower still, the force of the wave does not necessarily subside. This is shown by the force of the shock wave focing the water to rise as a huge swell. When this swell hits land it just keeps coming until the shock has subsided. Unlike the Tidal Wave, which is surface water in the form of a freak wave.

Answer 4

It's when there an earthquake under the sea/ocean. When this happens the lands beneath this, falls and in the process, it pulls water down with it.

What goes down, must come up in this case! When it is pushed back to the surface, this creates a wave which gets bigger and bigger until it gets nearer to the land.

When it closer to the shallow shore, it gets even bigger and stronger, until it is a mega wave - a tsunami.

Hope this helps, it's not a very scientific explanation, but think it gives the general gist!

Answer 5

Earthquakes, mass movements above or below water, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, and large meteorite impacts all have the potential to generate a tsunami. The effects of a tsunami can range from unnoticeable to devastating.

Answer 6

There is an earthquake under the sea. The sudden movement of submerged land, or the creation of sudden break in the seabed, sends a huge long wall of water rushing outwards towards the nearest shore. As this wall of water gets nearer to land, the sea becomes less deep and therefore the wave gets higher and higher as it moves inshore

Answer 7

The Earths plates which naturally move, crash together under the sea, which causes violent waves and end up in a tsunami.

Answer 8

It is a series of waves when a body of water, such as an ocean is rapidly displaced on a massive scale. It can happen with more than earthquakes-it can be volcano erruptions or sub-marine (not the boat, it means underwater) landslides, underwater explosions, meteorite impact in the water,

Answer 9

Many different theorys, but the big one that happened last year was due to underwater earthquakes causing the sae bed to rupture and produce those huge waves.

Answer 10

they are formed durin earthquakes.. the epicentre of the quake is like a subduction zone forcin water into ripples.. at deep sea depths they are no visble,but as they move to the coast, it get bigger with wave movin over 300 miles per hr

Answer 11

A huge, rapid displacement of water, often at the seabed, often caused by an earthquake.