Tsunamis
What causes a tsunami?
Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes at This happens where crustal plates move together and one is forced beneath the other.. Here, an oceanic plate is When one crustal plate is forced beneath the other. into the mantle beneath a continental plate. This movement causes friction, which in turn causes the plates to stick. Energy accumulates, like that of a compressed spring. When the energy exceeds the friction, the plates snap back into position. This movement thrusts the water above, causing a wave to form. The waves can travel large distances. When the waves reach shallower water, the following happens:
- the shallow water slows the wave
- their height can increase by several metres
- the waves get closer together
A sign that a tsunami is approaching a coast is water retreating. Shortly after this happens, the waves reach the shore. This is actually the The bottommost point of a wave. of the wave following behind.
Image caption, A sudden shift in plate movement causes water displacement at the epicentre
1 of 3
The impacts of tsunamis
The main impact is coastal flooding. The force of such large waves can damage and destroy coastal property as well as endanger lives.
