Question

12. One type of ocean wave, call a tsunami, is usually produced by submarine earthquakes. These waves travel at very high velocities in deep water. What is the velocity of a tsunami with a wavelength of 125 miles and a period of 15 minutes? E2 6. What effect will the concentrated energy from wa infually have on the shape of the coastline?

Answer 1

Answer A: 8.33 miles/min

The velocity
`V` of a wave is given by:

`V=(\lambda)/(T)`

Where:

`\lambda=125miles` is the wavelength of the waves

`T=15min` is the period of the waves

`V=(125miles)/(15min)`

`V=8.33miles/min`

Answer B: The heigh of the wave will increase when it approaches the coastline

A tsunami is basically the vertical displacement of a large body of water, which produces huge waves driven by a large amount of sustained energy and therefore at high speed.

In this context, when approaching the low waters, the waves suffer of refraction and decrease their speed and wavelength, increasing their height.

In other words:

By decreasing the depth (which happens on the coast), the water column slows down and gains height.