A tsunami wave has a trough, which is the lowest point beneath the wave's crest. The trough reaches inland first, and creates a vacuum that sucks up the coastal water near the shoreline away from the land, exposing the sea floor in harbors and inland areas. The is the first indicator that the destructive crest of the wave is on its way and can help save lives-- there is about five minutes from the the time of the coastal water being sucked away and the arrival of the tsunami wave.
As a tsunami waves travel across deep water they may be only a foot or so high and hard to detect. Once it reaches inland, however the surge can reach heights of 100 feet or more, a massive wall of water that when it reaches land that can cause incredible destruction and loss of life. With wavelengths of up to 60 miles long these dangerous phenomenon can destroy long stretches of coastal areas. These waves are often part of a wave train, which is a series of waves and its mandatory to wait for an all clear before returning to the scene of a tsunami.
Learn more about
what causes a tsunami. Stop by The TMBA site where you can find out all about how tsunamis are formed and see several 3d animations that illustrate the wave pattern.
No comments:
Post a Comment