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how does an earthquake cause tsunami? |
An earthquake is a sudden shaking or trembling of the earth lasting for a very short time. It is caused by a disturbance deep inside the earth’s crust. Earthquakes occur all the time, all over the earth. They are not even noticed. Major earthquakes are much less frequent. They can cause immense damage to buildings, bridges, dams and people. There can be a great loss to life and property. The earthquakes can cause floods, landslides and tsunamis. Tsunamis are caused when an earthquake causes the seafloor to rise or fall. This is when two tectonics plates collide into each other at a plate boundary. The denser plate would subduct under the other plate, which leads to a rise or fall of the seafloor. This movement of the seafloor will cause a rapid displacement of water, and a wave would form. As the wave approaches the coastline, it would get higher as the seafloor gets shallower, causing a tsunami. The shockwaves produced by the earthquake would radiate out and cause waves to form too. |