Eduqas A-Level Geography A110QS
Coastal LandscapesLandscape
Glaciated LandscapesLandscape
Changing Places
Water and Carbon Cycles
Global Migration
Global Governance of the Oceans
Tectonic Hazards
EcosystemsContemporary theme
Economic Growth and Challenge: IndiaContemporary theme
Economic Growth and Challenge: ChinaContemporary theme
Development in an African ContextContemporary theme
Energy Challenges and DilemmasContemporary theme
Weather and ClimateContemporary theme
Geographical Skills
Tectonic Hazards
Tsunami generation and impacts
- 2 things to know
- Component 3 Section A
Overview
Commonest cause of a tsunami, how a tsunami travels across the deep ocean and run-up height.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
What is the commonest cause of a tsunami?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Define a tsunami.
Model answer
A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by the sudden displacement of a large volume of water. The wavelength is very long and the whole water column moves.
- 2
What is the commonest cause of a tsunami?
Model answer
Sudden vertical movement of the sea floor at a subduction zone causes most tsunami. Landslides, volcanic collapse and, very rarely, meteorite impacts can also generate them.
- 3
Why do conservative margins rarely generate tsunami?
Model answer
Movement at a conservative margin is horizontal, so the sea floor is not lifted. Displacement of the water column is therefore small.
- 4
Describe how a tsunami travels across the deep ocean.
Model answer
A tsunami travels at up to 800 km h⁻¹ in deep water, with an amplitude of less than one metre. Ships at sea barely notice it passing beneath them.
- 5
Explain shoaling.
Model answer
As a tsunami reaches shallow water it slows down and its wavelength shortens. Energy is compressed into a smaller volume, so the wave height increases sharply.
- 6
What is drawback, and why does it matter?
Model answer
Drawback is the rapid retreat of the sea before a trough-first tsunami arrives. Drawback is a warning sign that saves lives where no siren system exists.
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