WIND OR A TSUNAMI?
The waves you see on a normal day at the beach are
caused by wind moving over the water. The time
from one wave to the next is often approximately
seconds. Tsunami waves are different. When
movement on the ocean floor
displaces
water, it
creates waves that can each last
to
minutes.
Together, these long waves make up a tsunami. As
wind waves move, they get smaller. Tsunami waves
lose their energy more slowly. They grow as they
reach the shore.
Far out at sea, these waves do not
usually cause damage or death. But
when a tsunami strikes land, it can be
incredibly destructive. The waves can
sweep away everything in their path.
12
