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When a wave is traveling in deep water, its bottom is at a set depth. As it comes ashore, the wave tries to stay the same wave height. since the land is denser than the water, the water is forced upward. That upward movement is the height of the tsunami.

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Q: Why does tsunami wave grow so high when it reaches the shore?
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How high can a tsunami grow to?

Tsunami's can grow up to 30-50 meters high


Is California going to be under water due to a coming tsunami sometimes soon?

No. While California does sometimes get tsunamis, the whole state will not be flooded. When a tsunami strikes it is the low-lying areas near the shore that will get flooded. Areas that are high up or more than a few miles from shore will be fine.


What is the maximam height of tsunami wave?

It varies considerably. In some cases water level fluctuations from what is technically a tsunami may be as small as a few inches and might not even be noticed by beach-goers. In some cases a tsunami may be over 100 feet high. Megatsunamis triggered by landslides and asteroid impacts may be thousands of feet high. The reason tsunamis are so destructive is more because of their wavelength. A tsunami will have a much longer wavelength than normal ocean waves and so carry a much larger volume of water. While a wind-driven wave usually washes in and out in a matter of seconds, a tsunami can continue to surge inward for several minutes. A normal ocean wave 10 feet high is of little consequence, but a 10 foot tsunami can severely inundate low-lying coastal communities.


Earthquakes that originate beneath the ocean floor produce huge tidal waves called what?

Tsunami is the name of the wave (once known as a tidal wave) that is created by the sudden displacement of a large volume of sea water when an earthquake occurs on the sea floor. As the wave radiate outwards, it can often pass unnoticed by a nearby ship. When the wave reaches a shallow shore, the top of the wave continues at the same speed, while the bottom of the wave is slowed down by friction with the shallow sea floor. This causes the top to grow into a high wave that flows far into land. Damage and loss of life occur as the wave travels inland, picking up debris, then, as the wave retreats, the debris cause further damage as the wave retreats. There is often the case that a further wave(s) may still happen.


How dangerous are tsunami in the open ocean and why?

Tsunamis in the open ocean are not dangerous at all; they aren't even noticeable. In deep ocean water a tsunamis is only a few feet to a few inches high and dozens of miles long. It is only when a tsunami reaches shallow water that it gains height.

Related questions

How high can a tsunami grow to?

Tsunami's can grow up to 30-50 meters high


What prove is there that a cruise ship can survive a tsunami?

When getting word of a tsunami, a cruise ship will head out to the deepest part of the ocean she can reach. In deep water, a tsunami may only be a couple of feet or even inches high. It is not until the tsunami reaches shallow water that the wave reaches any appreciable height. In fact, a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean may be the safest place to be during a tsunami.


Is California going to be under water due to a coming tsunami sometimes soon?

No. While California does sometimes get tsunamis, the whole state will not be flooded. When a tsunami strikes it is the low-lying areas near the shore that will get flooded. Areas that are high up or more than a few miles from shore will be fine.


What is the maximam height of tsunami wave?

It varies considerably. In some cases water level fluctuations from what is technically a tsunami may be as small as a few inches and might not even be noticed by beach-goers. In some cases a tsunami may be over 100 feet high. Megatsunamis triggered by landslides and asteroid impacts may be thousands of feet high. The reason tsunamis are so destructive is more because of their wavelength. A tsunami will have a much longer wavelength than normal ocean waves and so carry a much larger volume of water. While a wind-driven wave usually washes in and out in a matter of seconds, a tsunami can continue to surge inward for several minutes. A normal ocean wave 10 feet high is of little consequence, but a 10 foot tsunami can severely inundate low-lying coastal communities.


Earthquakes that originate beneath the ocean floor produce huge tidal waves called what?

Tsunami is the name of the wave (once known as a tidal wave) that is created by the sudden displacement of a large volume of sea water when an earthquake occurs on the sea floor. As the wave radiate outwards, it can often pass unnoticed by a nearby ship. When the wave reaches a shallow shore, the top of the wave continues at the same speed, while the bottom of the wave is slowed down by friction with the shallow sea floor. This causes the top to grow into a high wave that flows far into land. Damage and loss of life occur as the wave travels inland, picking up debris, then, as the wave retreats, the debris cause further damage as the wave retreats. There is often the case that a further wave(s) may still happen.


How dangerous are tsunami in the open ocean and why?

Tsunamis in the open ocean are not dangerous at all; they aren't even noticeable. In deep ocean water a tsunamis is only a few feet to a few inches high and dozens of miles long. It is only when a tsunami reaches shallow water that it gains height.


Why was it a tsunami in Japan 2011?

there was tsunami because the earthquake had a high magnitude,so made big that caused the tsunami


What is a tsunami short definition?

Tsunami is a series of long, high sea waves.


How high was the tsunami?

it was really high more than 92m high


How high can a tsunami get?

51m is the highest


What do you do in a tsunami?

you get to high ground and hope


What was the high of a tsunami's wave?

It depends on which Tsunami you are talking about. Ask specific questions, please!