• Question: How are tsunamis formed?

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      Asked by cervonedurso to Rob, Martin, James, Elizabeth on 19 Mar 2015.
      • Photo: James Coombs OBrien

        James Coombs OBrien answered on 19 Mar 2015:

        Great question, I had to look this up!

        It turns out that tsunamis are cause when earthquakes happen out at sea. The earthquakes are caused when the plates that make up the earth’s surface suddenly push against each with a HUGE amount of energy. This causes the sea bed to rise upwards very fast and with a lot of power. This creates a huge waves which travel in all directions from the epicentre (where the earthquake happened).

        The largest tsunami ever recorded was off the coast of Alaska in the USA measuring 1720 feet tall, which is about the size of 6 Big Bens on top of each other!!!!

        Thanks!

      • Photo: Elizabeth Cooper

        Elizabeth Cooper answered on 20 Mar 2015:

        Tsunami can be formed form different things:

        It can be caused by an earthquake that happens in the sea, a landslide under the sea or a volcano eruption underwater.

        The displacement of the water causing a tsunami.

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