GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Even if a tsunami wave may have been 1 meter of less in the deep ocean, it may grow into a huge 30-35 meter wave when it sweeps over the shore. Thus, tsunami waves may smash into the shore like a wall of water or move in as a fast moving flood or tide-carrying everything on their path.

Detailed explanation-2: -A tsunami only becomes hazardous when it approaches land. As a tsunami enters shallow water near coastal shorelines, it slows to 20 to 30 mph. The wavelength decreases, the height increases, and currents intensify.

Detailed explanation-3: -When a tsunami reaches shore, it may appear as a rapidly rising or falling tide, a series of breaking waves, or even a tidal bore. Reefs, bays, entrances to rivers, undersea features and the slope of the beach all help to modify the tsunami as it approaches the shore.

Detailed explanation-4: -Shoaling happens because waves experience force from the seabed as the water gets shallower. This slows down the wave – the shallower the water, the slower the wave. In deep water, a tsunami moves very fast and has a long wavelength and a small amplitude.

Detailed explanation-5: -The wave height as it crashes upon a shore depends almost entirely upon the submarine topography offshore. Steeper shorelines produce higher tsunami waves. Because of the factors of low amplitude in deep water and large wavelength, tsunamis are often not noticed in mid-ocean.