Earthquakes affect not only continental areas but also oceanic areas, generating powerful waves in the oceans. By what name are these waves known?
Powerful waves generated in the ocean by seismic activity are known as Tsunamis. While the term “tidal wave” is often used incorrectly, tsunamis have nothing to do with the tides. They are purely the result of geological disturbances—primarily earthquakes—that transfer massive amounts of kinetic energy to the oceanic water column. ANSWER: (B) Tsunami
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When an earthquake affects the oceanic crust, the resulting water displacement creates a wave with a wavelength that can be over 100 kilometers long. In the open ocean, these waves are barely noticeable to ships because their height is low. However, they possess a “deep-water” energy that extends to the seafloor. As this energy enters the shallow continental shelf, “shoaling” occurs—the wave height increases dramatically while the speed drops. This results in a “Tsunami,” a destructive surge that can wash away entire coastal cities, as seen in the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean and 2011 Tohoku events.