Skip to main content

How are tidal waves and tsunamis similar?

Tidal waves and tsunamis are both types of sea waves. However, they are caused by different forces. Tidal waves are named for the tides, and are a result of the gravitational relationship between the Moon and Earth. Tidal waves begin in shallower waters, but may be as high as 55 feet in some places. Because of the relationship between the Moon and Earth, tidal waves happen on a daily basis. Tusnami, on the other hand,...

Tidal waves and tsunamis are both types of sea waves. However, they are caused by different forces. Tidal waves are named for the tides, and are a result of the gravitational relationship between the Moon and Earth. Tidal waves begin in shallower waters, but may be as high as 55 feet in some places. Because of the relationship between the Moon and Earth, tidal waves happen on a daily basis. Tusnami, on the other hand, are the result of displacement of water. Landslides, glacier activity, earthquakes, and underwater explosions can cause displacement of water up to 100 feet high! Because tsunamis are the results of a major displacement of water, they are relatively rare. 


Tidal waves and tsunamis have a similar general appearance--a large mass of water, typically in a wave wall or arc, moving towards the coastline. Both can also have a profound impact on the lives of people who live near the coast, as unexpected or especially large waves can cause damage to people and property. Tsunamis are a little more frightening in this respect, because they are rarely expected, and can tear down miles of inhabited land and kill thousands of people.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more