How can a earthquake form a tsunami?

Answer 1

Ordinary waves affect the surface layer of ocean water, usually no deeper than several meters. Also, ordinary waves don't move much water, but for the most part just shift relatively small volumes of water alternately ahead and back. Tsunamis are different, because the triggering earthquake causes a massive shift of the entire column of water, from the surface to the ocean floor. This is why tsunamis are so powerful and so destructive. A huge quantity of water washes forward. And if it seems to you that water in general is so 'soft and giving', and you wonder how it can be so destructive, then stop to think that one cubic meter of plain water (very close to one cubic yard) weighs in at very close to one ton. One ton; two thousand pounds. If you have a meter stick or yardstick handy, you can very quickly imagine (or even make) a cubic meter/yard. How fast would one ton of water have to be moving in order to cause some damage? Next time you're watching the surf roll in at the beach, imagine how many tons of water you are looking at.

Answer 2

Tsunami are most often caused by earthquakes that move the seafloor and generate a sudden up shift of a column of water. Other events can also cause them such as underwater landslides or landslides on shore near a large body of water. There are more details about tsunami and earthquakes in the related questions.

It depends on the mass involved in the slide, which determines the size of the subsequent tsunami. The mass of the underwater landslide displaces the water it passes through. It pushes the water in front of it and pulls the water behind it. This difference in pressure, before and aft, will equalize itself within the whole body of water, but a massive pressure wave will be propagated away from the event. The wave will be barely visible on the surface, until it reaches an incline in front of it, like a shorline. This is where and when the wave displays its massive weight.

At eight pounds per gallon, millions of gallons of water comming inland causes devistation unlike any other natural phenomenon.

Answer 3

A earthquake pushes the plates underwater and be forced upquicklyso this pushes the water up rapidly and creates a tsunami.

Answer 4

Because there is so much water in the sea that it could disrupt the water into a huge wave.

Answer 5

It caused a Tsunami because of all the movement caused the water to move and it started a big tital wave which also is a tsunami.

Answer 6

Earthquakes cause tsunamis only when they happen under the ocean. If the sea floor makes a sudden violent movement, that will cause a wave. It's very simple.

Answer 7

earthquakes move the clouds which cause tsunamis to float in the air and attack people

Answer 8

A Tsunami