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What is a large wave caused by an earthquake?
Tsunamis are ocean waves triggered by: Large earthquakes that occur near or under the ocean. Volcanic eruptions. Submarine landslides. Onshore landslides in which large volumes of debris fall into the water.
Do earthquakes occur on the ocean floor?
Earthquakes commonly occur in the ocean and can range from small trembles to as high as 9.2 on the Richter scale. Subduction earthquakes form when plates of the earth’s crust stack on top of one another. When earthquakes happen underwater, it can result in a tsunami wave.
What causes earthquakes and where do they happen?
An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the earth’s crust and cause the shaking that we feel. In California there are two plates – the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.
What causes tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean?
Most tsunamis–about 80 percent–happen within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” a geologically active area where tectonic shifts make volcanoes and earthquakes common. Tsunamis may also be caused by underwater landslides or volcanic eruptions.
How dangerous is the first wave of a tsunami?
They are also dangerous as they return to the sea, carrying debris and people with them. The first wave in a tsunami may not be the last, the largest, or the most damaging. Stay out of the tsunami hazard zone until local officials tell you it is safe, as the danger may last for hours or days.
What is the difference between a tsunami and an underwater earthquake?
These destructive surges of water are caused by underwater earthquakes. A tsunami is a series of ocean waves that sends surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 feet (30.5 meters), onto land. These walls of water can cause widespread destruction when they crash ashore.
Where do the largest earthquakes occur in the world?
Because subduction occurs primarily in off shore regions of the seafloor around the Pacific Ocean’s so-called Ring of Fire, most of the largest earthquakes also occur deep below the ocean surface. Earthquakes can also occur in the middle of tectonic plates for a variety of reasons.