Consider the following statements with respect to Tsunami: They are...
- Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that cause the sea-floor to move abruptly resulting in sudden displacement of ocean water in the form of high vertical waves are called tsunamis. Earthquakes cause tsunami by causing a disturbance of the seafloor. Thus, earthquakes that occur along coastlines or anywhere beneath the oceans can generate tsunami. But the sense of displacement is also important. Tsunami are generally formed when an earthquake causes vertical displacement of the seafloor. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- The speed of wave in the ocean depends upon the depth of water. It is more in the shallow water than in the ocean deep. As a result of this, the impact of tsunami is less over the ocean and more near the coast where they cause large-scale devastations. Therefore, a ship at sea is not much affected by tsunami and it is difficult to detect a tsunami in the deeper parts of sea. It is so because over deep water the tsunami has very long wave-length and limited wave-height. Hence statements 2 and 3 are correct.
- When a tsunami enters shallow water, its wave-length gets reduced and the period remains unchanged, which increases the wave- height. Sometimes, this height can be up to 15m or more, which causes large-scale destructions along the shores.
- After reaching the coast, the tsunami waves release enormous energy stored in them and water flows turbulently onto the land destroying port-cities and towns, structures, buildings and other settlements.
Consider the following statements with respect to Tsunami: They are...
The correct answer is option 'A': 1, 2 and 3.
Explanation:
1. Tsunamis are caused by the vertical displacement of oceanic plates:
- A tsunami is a series of ocean waves with very long wavelengths caused by large-scale disturbances of the ocean, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or underwater landslides.
- Most tsunamis are generated by earthquakes occurring in subduction zones, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another.
- The sudden vertical displacement of the ocean floor during an earthquake can result in the overlying water being displaced, generating a tsunami wave.
2. The speed of the tsunami wave depends on the depth of the water:
- Tsunami waves travel at high speeds in the open ocean, typically around 500 to 600 miles per hour (805 to 965 kilometers per hour).
- The speed of the tsunami is determined by the depth of the water. In deeper water, the speed is faster, while in shallower water, the speed decreases.
- As the tsunami wave approaches the coast and encounters shallower water, the wave slows down and the wavelength decreases, causing the wave height to increase.
3. The impact of the tsunami wave is less in the mid-ocean compared to the coast:
- In the open ocean, away from the coast, the height of a tsunami wave is relatively small, often less than a meter.
- As the tsunami wave approaches the coast and enters shallower water, it begins to slow down and pile up, resulting in a significant increase in wave height.
- The wave can reach heights of tens of meters when it reaches the shoreline, causing devastating damage and loss of life.
In summary, tsunamis are caused by the vertical displacement of oceanic plates, the speed of the tsunami wave depends on the depth of the water, and the impact of the tsunami wave is less in the mid-ocean compared to the coast. Therefore, all the given statements are correct, and the correct answer is option 'A': 1, 2 and 3.
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