A tsunami is a series of ocean waves typically caused by significant underwater disturbances such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. When these events displace large volumes of water, they generate waves that can travel across entire ocean basins and cause devastating impacts when they reach coastal areas. The phenomenon associated with a tsunami includes:
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Inundation: The flooding of coastal areas as tsunami waves surge inland, which can lead to significant destruction of infrastructure and loss of life.
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Wave Height and Energy: Tsunamis can generate waves that grow significantly in height as they approach shallow coastal waters, resulting in the potential for extreme wave heights that can cause catastrophic damage.
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Multiple Waves: Tsunamis often consist of multiple waves (also called a wave train), with the first wave not always being the largest, leading to further danger for those who may attempt to return to the shore too soon after the initial wave.
Overall, tsunamis are a major geological phenomenon with significant impacts on coastal communities and ecosystems.
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