Causes of tsunamis
What causes a tsunami?
Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes at This happens where crustal plates move together and one is forced beneath the other.. Here, an oceanic plate is When one crustal plate is forced beneath the other. into the mantle beneath a continental plate. This movement causes friction, which in turn causes the plates to stick. Energy accumulates, like that of a compressed spring. When the energy exceeds the friction, the plates snaps back into position. This movement thrusts the water above causing a wave to form. The waves can travel large distances. When the waves reach shallower water the following happens:
- the shallow water slows the waves
- the height of the waves can increase by several metres
- the waves get closer together
Water retreating is a sign that a tsunami is approaching a coast. Shortly after this happens, the waves reach the shore. This is actually the The bottommost point of a wave. of the wave following behind.
Image caption, A sudden shift in plate movement causes water displacement at the epicentre
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The effects of tsunamis
The main effect of tsunamis is coastal flooding. The force of such large waves can also destroy coastal property.