Thursday, 13 October 2011

How do tsunamis relate to Earthquakes

Tsunami is a set of ocean waves caused by any large, abrupt disturbance of the sea-surface. If the disturbance is close to the coastline, local tsunamis can demolish coastal communities within minutes.

A tsunami, also called a tsunami wave train, and at one time referred to as a tidal wave, is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, usually an ocean, though it can occur in large lakes. Owing to the immense volumes of water and the high energy involved, tsunamis can destroy coastal regions.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, landslides, underwater landslides and meteorite ocean impacts or similar impact events have the potential to generate a tsunami.