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Development of a Tsunami After a large mass of water has been displaced (see Tsunami Creation), waves form
as the mass moves (due to gravity) to regain its balance. The wave moves the
entire depth of the ocean, rather than just the surface. This means it
contains an enormous amount of energy, allowing it to travel great distances
at high speeds. As the wave travels, the energy, is spread over a larger and larger area. In open water, tsunamis have huge
wavelengths (hundreds of km). They are often less than 1 m high out at sea.. The wave travels across the ocean
at speeds up to 1,000 km/h. When the wave is near the shore, the water piles
up on itself and becomes a huge wave and crashes onto the land. |
This
wave also occurred in |
Next Page: Effects of Tsunamis