What Causes A Tsunami?

Question 1

Are massive, terrifying tsunamis created by incredibly heavy ocean winds or massive hurricanes?

Accepted Answer

No, they are almost entirely caused by violent underwater earthquakes or massive volcanic eruptions.

Answer

Yes, huge, incredibly strong hurricanes blow the water into a wall.

Answer

Yes, massive tornadoes hit the open water and spin it up.

Answer

No, they are caused by massive cruise ships moving too fast.

Question 2

What exactly happens at the bottom of the ocean to trigger a tsunami?

Accepted Answer

Two massive tectonic plates violently snap and abruptly shift the seabed up or down, displacing billions of tons of water instantly.

Answer

A massive whale forcefully slaps its tail on the ground.

Answer

The water gets so intensely hot that it explodes upward.

Answer

An underwater cave completely collapses.

Question 3

If you were in a boat directly over a tsunami in the deep, open ocean, what would happen to you?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely nothing! The wave is essentially invisible in deep water, perhaps only a foot tall at the surface.

Answer

Your boat would be violently flipped 100 feet into the air.

Answer

You would be sucked down to the bottom of the ocean.

Answer

Your boat would catch on fire from the energy.

Question 4

Roughly how fast does the invisible tsunami energy race across the deep ocean?

Accepted Answer

It races at absolutely terrifying speeds, often matching a commercial jet plane at 500 mph.

Answer

It moves very slowly, about 10 mph.

Answer

It instantly teleports to the beach.

Answer

It travels exactly at the speed of sound.

Question 5

What terrifying physical change happens when the tsunami finally reaches the shallow coastal beach?

Accepted Answer

The front of the wave forcefully hits the shallow brakes, forcing the massive energy behind it to violently pile straight up into a terrifying wall of water.

Answer

The wave entirely runs out of energy and peacefully stops.

Answer

The wave freezes solid into ice.

Answer

The wave turns into hot steam.

Question 6

Does a tsunami look exactly like a massive, perfectly curling surfing wave?

Accepted Answer

No, it looks and acts much more like a violent, rapidly rising flood or an unstoppable, rushing wall of white water.

Answer

Yes, it forms a perfect, beautiful blue barrel.

Answer

Yes, it looks exactly like the waves in cartoons.

Answer

No, it is entirely made of invisible wind.

Question 7

What is often the terrifying warning sign that a massive tsunami is about to strike the beach?

Accepted Answer

The ocean water will suddenly, bizarrely recede hundreds of feet out to sea, exposing the bare ocean floor.

Answer

The sky will instantly turn totally black.

Answer

Massive lightning bolts will start hitting the sand.

Answer

The water will start boiling and bubbling.

Question 8

Can a tsunami realistically cross an entire ocean to hit a different continent?

Accepted Answer

Yes! An earthquake in Japan can easily send a massive, unstoppable tsunami all the way across the Pacific to hit California.

Answer

No, they always stop after 100 miles.

Answer

Yes, but only if the wind blows the right way.

Answer

No, the islands in the middle always block them completely.

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What Causes A Tsunami?

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