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Why do ships in the open ocean not notice passage of a tsunami wave?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Seismic waves moving through the ocean do not form tsunami's until they approach land. At that point the forward motion of the waves pile up on the land and form a series of forward flows that do not have an opportunity to recede due to the following waves. As a result, the waves keep coming on top of the previous waves and come farther inland. Ships at sea do not notice the tsunami until they are over the continental shelf.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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How do tsunamis differ from other ocean waves?
wave anatomy 101The energy in a wind generated wave is usually half as deep as the wave height. This is why they diminish easily. There is not enough energy to push the water. They also generally have a wave length of a few meters at best. This is why they do not push on shore very far. A tsunami is caused by the up-lifting of the ocean floor in an earthquake at sea, and the energy fills the entire water column from the ocean floor to the surface. Tsunamis can have wavelengths of 100 miles or better and travel at speeds upwards of 500mph. As these waves enter shallow water, they slow at the leading edge, which causes the water following to "pile up". With the long wave length, this causes the water to come on shore for extended periods which causes the disaster.
What are some adjectives that describe the ocean and begin with the letter S?
saltysaline;solubrious;salvageable;sunk.
What is burmuda taiangle?
The Bermuda Triangle is actually a big triangle in the ocean that corners three islands and is a place where many ships and plains crash and are never found. You are considered lucky if you make it out alive. The Bermuda Triangle is also found for unexplained mysteries.
What does Q A W T D mean on a drawing?
In marine usage, QAWTD (generally without spaces) would be the acronym for Quick-Acting Water-Tight Door. Such doors are used on ships and submarines where the ability to quickly seal a doorway to block passage of water is required. (Follow the link for an illustration.)
What were the names of Jacques Cartier's ships?
The ships Jacques Cartier traveled on were TheGrance Hermine, Calypso, and Emerillion.
What is the name for inland passage for ocean going ships?
seaway
What provides passage for ships between and Pacific Ocean?
Your question is missing a word.
Why do ships at sea tend not to notice tsunamis?
Seismic waves moving through the ocean do not form tsunami's until they approach land. At that point the forward motion of the waves pile up on the land and form a series of forward flows that do not have an opportunity to recede due to the following waves. As a result, the waves keep coming on top of the previous waves and come farther inland. Ships at sea do not notice the tsunami until they are over the continental shelf.
How many ships sunk on open ocean by tsunamis?
None in the open ocean because in the open ocean the tsunami waves are not very large. They only build as they hit shallow water.
What canal permits passage between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean?
The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. It was created to shorten trips of ships.
Are tsunamis typically noticed by ships out to sea?
No. In open ocean a tsunami is hundreds of miles long and no more than a few feet high.
What is the nonexistent path through North America that early explorers searched for that would allow ships to sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean?
Northwest Passage
What is the Panama Canal used for?
so ships can get from the pacific to the Atlantic or vice versa, without having to travel around the continents
Did the conquistadors find the north west passage?
No, and the Spanish "conquistadors" never looked for the Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage was the - mythical - passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. The explorers who searched for it were primarily English. No navigable passage was ever discovered. With modern icebreaking ships, it's SOMETIMES possible to transit the "Northwest Passage" along the northern edge of the North American continent, but this is more like sailing through the Arctic Ocean than a true "passage". It is rarely ice-free.
What traveled on the middle passage?
Ships
What stretch of ocean off the South American coast is considered one of the most treacherous to ships?
The drake passage is the stretch of the ocean off the South American coast is considered one of the most treacherous to ships. Easter Island is the South American possession that lies farthest from the mainland.
What did ships transport in the middle passage?
slaves
