Surface waves are caused by forces of wind and moving objects like boats/ships
Tsunamis are enormous waves caused by not so normal forces.
Forces can include:
Underwater explosive volcanic eruptions.
Earth being hit by an asteroid from outer space.
Earthquakes
Large masses of sediments moving from one place to another (down a hill under water)
It can possibly be "created" by underwater explosion of nuclear fusion or fission material. A tsunami created this way will not likely be of a devastating magnitude compared to when earth itself show its real power.
The major difference is this: A tsunami is caused by an underwater earthquake; a tidal wave is caused by the gravity of the moon.
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People commonly refer to a "tsunami" as a "tidal wave," but this is incorrect: A tsunami has nothing to do with tides.
A tsunami is caused by any large displacement of the sea level, and a tidal wave is caused by the gravity of the moon and the sun.
The wavelengths of a tsunami differ from 5 minutes to an hour, and the wavelengths of a tidal wave differ from 12-24 hours.
The tides are not really a wave. They are a bulge in the level of the water due to the gravity of the moon primarily and of course since the earth is rotating that bulge will appear to move across the ocean. However, if you raise water by a certain amount and then let it subside it has to go somewhere. If this occurs in a bay or inlet where the rate that the water can flow back is restricted, then it will start to build up behind a wavefront as it tries to flow back but is impeded. This is called a tidal bore and these can be really large. Storm surges with hurricanes are similar. the water bulges up under the low pressure center of the hurricane and when that reaches land it pours onto the land as if the level of the ocean had risen. Combined with huge storm waves from the wind and also the fact that the wind can actually push the water in a given direction causing it to build up, this can be really devastating.
The quake raises the level of ground under the ocean, sometimes by many feet which pushes the water up and away. That disturbance then propagates away from the region and just corresponds roughly to an area where the height of the ocean is higher than normal. This may be a region of 20-30 miles or more. Now clearly if you are standing on the beach, the water will flow in to the point where the average height of the ocean is equal to the average height of the land. If the ocean suddenly raises its level by 3 feet, say, then the entire ocean will appear to flood in till it encounters the point where the land has risen by 3 ft on average. In some coastal areas this might be many miles inland. If the raising of the water was very violent as sometimes happens in a huge landslide or it encounters the same type of restrictions that I mentioned in the tidal bore, this is when we might see the classic Hollywood "tidal wave," but it is not really anything to do with tides.
Tsunami is the correct scientific term for a wave (or series of waves) caused by an earthquake, and coming onto land in an area relatively distant from the earthquake.
The wave action in the ocean is often hidden below the surface when in deep water and the full effect of the Tsunami may not be realized until it strikes land.
A Tsunami, or tidal wave, or seismic sea wave may be caused by an earthquake. It is incorrect to refer to giant ocean waves caused by severe storms as tsunamis. Severe storms may cause giant ocean waves referred to as "Rogue Waves" - which are distinct from and NOT the same as Tsunamis.
No. Tsunamis and tidal waves are actually quite different. True tidal waves are just that - tidal waves. Tsunamis are usually triggered by underwater earthquakes, volcanoes or nearby seismic activity.
The temperature changes because high winds take place and tsunamis are huge waves that come from the ocean which would be cold.
Neither. P and S waves are body waves. Tsunamis are a different matter entirely.
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No. Being a landlocked country, Mongolia has no ocean shoreline. Tsunamis are large ocean waves.
Tsunamis or Tidal Waves can happen on any country that borders a Sea or an Ocean.
Yes. They are called Tsunamis.
Stadium waves differ from real ocean waves because ocean waves use water and stadium waves use people.
Giant ocean waves may be the result of constructive interference of smaller waves.
Nothing . . . tsunamis are ocean waves, not volcanoes.
a rouge wave is a wave in the ocean, and a tsunamis is a a wave made near a coast.
The plural noun is spelled tsunamis (destructive ocean waves).
Tsunamis can be caused by earthquakes that occur on the ocean floor. Tsunamis are also referred to as Seismic Sea Waves
the normal waves are produced due to the attractional or gravitational force between the earth and the moon but the tsunamis are caused due to the movement of the tectonic plates undet the ocean.
A Tsunami, or tidal wave, or seismic sea wave may be caused by an earthquake. It is incorrect to refer to giant ocean waves caused by severe storms as tsunamis. Severe storms may cause giant ocean waves referred to as "Rogue Waves" - which are distinct from and NOT the same as Tsunamis.
Water is not the medium for earthquake waves. Earthquake waves travel through the Earth's interior, primarily through solid rock. However, earthquakes can trigger tsunamis in the ocean, which are large ocean waves caused by the displacement of water.