What Makes a ‘Tsunami’ Different from a Regular Wave?

Tsunamis are like a giant, fast-moving wave that comes from an underwater earthquake or volcano. Regular waves are tiny ripples on the ocean's surface caused by wind. Think of it like this: regular waves are like a kid splashing in a pool, not too big or strong. A tsunami is more like a freight train crashing into the sea, fast, powerful, and hard to stop!

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. A child splashing in the bathtub is like regular waves
  2. A train crashing into a lake is like a tsunami
  3. Regular waves are small ripples from wind, tsunamis are huge walls of water from earthquakes

Ask a question

See also

Discussion

Recent activity