What is tsunami?

Answer 1

A tsunami is any abnormally large wave or waves that surge inland. They can be generated in many different ways. The most well known and recent tsunami was caused by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean. A large offset, caused by two different tectonic plates moving against each other, changed the surface elevation of the on either side of the fault line between the two plates. This caused the ocean level to try and stabilize, generating a tsunami wave. Earthquakes are not the only source that can generate these waves. Underwater or above water landslides of significant preportions can generate these waves as well as "bolide" impacts (comets, asteroids). In these situations waves can be massive sometimes reaching 1000 ft in heigth.

Answer 2

A tsunami is a series of waves created when a body of water, such as an ocean, is rapidly displaced. Earthquakes, mass movements above or below water, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, landslides, large meteorite impacts and testing with nuclear weapons at sea all have the potential to generate a tsunami. The effects of a tsunami can range from unnoticeable to devastating.

Answer 3

A tsunami (soo-nah-mee; IPA: /tsʊˈnɑːmi/) is a series of waves created when a body of water, such as an ocean, is rapidly displaced. Earthquakes, mass movements above or below water, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, landslides, large meteorite impacts and testing with nuclear weapons at sea all have the potential to generate a tsunami. The effects of a tsunami can range from unnoticeable to devastating. The term tsunami comes from the Japanese words (津波、つなみ) meaning harbor ("tsu", 津) and wave ("nami", 波). [a. Jap. tsunami, tunami, f. tsu harbour + nami waves. - Oxford English Dictionary] Although in Japanese tsunami is used for both the singular and plural, in English tsunamis is often used as the plural. The term was created by fishermen who returned to port to find the area surrounding their harbor devastated, although they had not been aware of any wave in the open water. Tsunami are common throughout Japanese history; approximately 195 events in Japan have been recorded.
A tsunami has a much smaller amplitude (wave height) offshore, and a very long wavelength (often hundreds of kilometers long), which is why they generally pass unnoticed at sea, forming only a passing "hump" in the ocean. Tsunami have been historically referred to as tidal waves because as they approach land, they take on the characteristics of a violent onrushing tide rather than the sort of cresting waves that are formed by wind action upon the ocean (with which people are more familiar). Since they are not actually related to tides the term is considered misleading and its usage is discouraged by oceanographers.

Answer 4

Tsunami is a "tidal wave" generated by an under-water upheaval of the earth's crust.Such a wave moves out in all directions from the point of origin and is capable of causing great destruction on arrival at a coast.

Answer 5

After a Big earthquake over 7 to 8 there will big waves that can total a small town that is close to a Beach. That is called a tsunami.

Answer 6

Wrestling Champ is confused.

A tsunami is also called a "seismic sea wave," meaning it is a tidal wave caused by an earthquake that causes the ocean floor to heave or shift. It is not necessarily "giant," but many of them have been unusually large.

Answer 7

When there is an earthquake under the ocean, the water moves. Its like having a bowl of Jello and poking the center the Jello moves away from the spot that you touched. The same thing happens with an earthquake, the title waves move away from the epicenter. (the origin of an earthquake)

Answer 8

Visit my photo album to know more on Tsunami and earthquakes.
My Community in Orkut
http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=26068261
Presentation slides
http://asia.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/quake

http://photos.yahoo.com/quakealert_no1

Answer 9

A tsunami is a giant tidal wave:)

Answer 10

A tsnuami is not a giant tidal wave.
Its just a Hurricane in another part of the world.
I am not sure which part but yeah.
In different parts of the world they are called diferent things they have three names.
Hurricanes
Tsnami's
Typhoons