Questions and Answers
How are tsunamis generated?
What is a tsunami?
Why do ships at sea tend not to notice tsunamis?
Why does the wave height of a tsunami increase as the tsunami enters shallow water?
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What type of plate boundary are most tsunamis associated with?
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Which ocean is associated with most tsunamis?
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Will Sumatra experience another tsunami like the destructive one of December 2004?
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Study Notes
Tsunami Generation
- Tsunamis are generated through the displacement of the seafloor underwater.
- This displacement can occur due to seismic activity or volcanic eruptions.
Definition of Tsunami
- A tsunami consists of a series of water waves that travel away from a fault in all directions at high speed.
- These waves can travel across entire ocean basins.
Ships and Tsunami Detection
- Ships at sea typically do not notice tsunamis because, in deep water, tsunamis have small wave height and long wavelength.
- This characteristic allows deep-water tsunamis to pass unnoticed beneath vessels.
Wave Height Increase in Shallow Water
- As a tsunami approaches shallow water, the wave height increases because the energy must be contained within a smaller water column.
- This leads to more destructive waves impacting coastlines.
Plate Boundaries and Tsunamis
- Most tsunamis are associated with convergent plate boundaries, where tectonic plates collide and cause seismic events.
Oceanic Association
- The Pacific Ocean is the ocean most commonly associated with tsunamis due to the presence of subduction zones and tectonic activity.
Future Tsunami Risk for Sumatra
- Sumatra is likely to experience another tsunami similar to the catastrophic event of December 2004, as it is located near several ocean trenches.
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Description
Dive into the key concepts of tsunamis with these interactive flashcards based on Oceanography Chapter 8. Test your knowledge on how tsunamis are generated and their definitions in a fun and engaging way.