What are the factors causing tsunamis?

What are the factors causing tsunamis?

earthquakes

Earthquakes are generated by movements along faults associated with plate boundaries.

Most strong earthquakes occur in subduction zones where the ocean plate slides under a continental plate or a smaller ocean plate.

Not all earthquakes cause tsunamis. Four conditions are required for an earthquake to cause a tsunami:

1. That the earthquake occurs under the ocean or as a result of sliding materials in the ocean.
2. The earthquake was strong, ie at least a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale.
3. An earthquake rips through the Earth's surface, and it occurs at a shallow depth - less than 70 kilometers below the Earth's surface.
4. The earthquake causes vertical movement of the sea floor (up to several metres)

Landslides

A landslide that occurs along the coast can force large volumes of water towards the sea, causing a disruption in the movement of the water and thus generating a tsunami. Underwater landslides can also lead to tsunamis when floating materials from landslides move violently, forcing water in front of them.

volcanic eruptions

Although relatively rare, violent volcanic eruptions also represent accelerating disturbances, which can displace large volumes of water and generate extremely destructive tsunamis in the vicinity of the source.

On August 26, 1883, the largest and most destructive tsunami ever recorded occurred after the explosion and collapse of the Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia. This eruption generated waves as high as 135 feet, destroying coastal towns and villages along the Sunda Strait on both the islands of Java and Sumatra, killing 36417 people.

Collisions with extraterrestrial bodies

Tsunamis caused by collisions with extraterrestrial objects such as asteroids and meteorites are extremely rare. Although no meteor or asteroid tsunami has been recorded in modern history, scientists know that if these celestial bodies collide with the ocean, they will undoubtedly cause the displacement of large amounts of water and thus cause a tsunami.

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