What is a tidal wave?

Answer 1

Despite the fact that you often hear people refer to a 'Tsunami' as a 'Tidal Wave', they are not the same. Although they are both sea waves, they are totally un-related phenomenon. A Tidal wave is a shallow wave of water caused by the gravitational interactions between the Sun, Moon and Earth. In comparison, a Tsunami is a sea wave caused by an underwater earthquake or landslide displacing the ocean water.

Answer 2

They are properly called Tsunami, the Japanese name for them as that country has the forlorn honour of being victim to so many; and they have nothing to do with the tides.

Most are created by undersea earthquakes within subduction zones, so below the continental shelf.

Occasionally they can be triggered by majorundersea slumps of huge banks of sediment down steep parts of the continental shelf- look up 'Storegga Slide' fora classic example.

Very rarely a major volcanic eruption might create a tsunami if the volcano bursts or collapses in the sea. This appears to have been why Krakatau's late 19C eruption was so catastrophic: it may have collapsed, allowing the sea to flood the hot magma chamber and vent and so create a gigantic steam explosion.

In deepwater tsunamis pass untroubled by normal wave action,with their surface expressions simply being rounded swells that would not hurt adinghy; but when they approach the shore, just as with normal (wind-driven) sea-waves, their roots drag on the shallowing sea-bed causing them to heap and topple forwards as a huge surge of fast-moving water.

Answer 3

A tidal bore is a wave or waves formed when the incoming tide moves up into a river mouth or bay, against the direction of the current. It creates turbulence in the water and can often be noisy.

It works best when the river mouth can act as a funnel for the incoming water, and also when there is a large tidal range, that is, when there is a big difference between water levels at high and low tide.

Answer 4

A tidal wave is a large sea wave caused by the gravitational influence of the moon and sun on the Earth's oceans. It is commonly used interchangeably with the term "tsunami," which is a seismic sea wave caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

Answer 5

A Political Tidal Wave is a major political movement when a state changes from one party to the other. This usually occurs when the economy takes a turn for the worst.

Answer 6

If you mean an abrupt rise of tidal water, it is known as a Bore

Answer 7

yes