How are tsunami waves different from wind generated waves?
The energy in a wind generated wave is usually half as deep as the wave height. This is why they diminish easily. There is not enough energy to push the water. They also generally have a wave length of a few meters at best. This is why they do not push on shore very far. A tsunami is caused by the up-lifting of the ocean floor, or an underwater volcano, and the energy “fills the entire water column from the ocean floor to the surface; they can have wavelengths of 100 miles or better and travel at speeds upwards of 500mph. As these waves enter shallow water, they slow at the leading edge, which causes the water to “pile up”. With the long wave length, this causes the water to come on shore for extended periods which causes the disaster.
