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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.

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Key term

Define a tsunami.

Key term

What is the commonest cause of a tsunami?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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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