Earthquakes and tsunamis are natural disasters of epic ratios that have triggered destruction in terms of deterioration of properties and lives any time they have hit any region of the world. These disasters are not of equal volume all the time, and it is their volume that concludes the status of devastation that occurs in their wake. There are various resemblances between earthquakes and tsunamis, but there is as well difference between earthquakes and tsunamis. This article will point out the characteristics of the two and how they are connected while showing their differences.
What is Earthquake?
An earthquake is described as a sudden trembling and quivering of the earth that occurs when the plates under the planet’s surface alter their direction. The phrase earthquake is defined as an impulsive slip on a fault that leads to the shaking of the earth together with the discharge of seismic energy. Earthquakes are also triggered by volcanic actions and other geological procedures that generate stress underneath the planet’s surface. Although earthquakes can occur anywhere in the world, some regions are more predisposed and prone to encounter earthquakes than others. As earthquakes can happen in any weather, temperature, season and period of the day and night, it tends to be hard to predict with specification the particular location and time. Seismologists are the science experts that study earthquakes. They acquire all the information concerning past earthquakes and examine it to determine the possibility of earthquakes occurring in any region of the earth.
What is Tsunami?
Tsunami is described as a sequence of massive sea waves that move onward at an incredible pace to destroy anything that comes in its way. Tsunamis are triggered by landslides and earthquakes occurring at the bottom of the ocean and even underneath it. This expulsion of the sea bottom triggers the expulsion of the massive magnitude of seawater above it. This expatriation takes the form of incredible surges of water hauling at high velocity, provoking much destruction and harm to life and property, mainly in the coastal regions. Any time a coastline experiences a tsunami, it is usually due to an earthquake close to the coast or any distant location in the ocean. The earthquake triggers no destruction or harm, but the sea waves it produces in the shape of tsunami spell tragedy for those living in coastal regions.
Impulsive motion on the bottom of the sea triggers massive sea waves that we all understand as tsunamis. Now this action of the ocean bed may result from an earthquake, any volcanic explosion, or a landslide underneath the bottom of the ocean. Whatever the cause, massive water displacement occurs from the ocean bed, triggering huge waves that move forward in the open ocean at colossal speed. These waves continue to level up in size every time, becoming hideous before they hit a coastal region. Many tsunamis are triggered by subduction kind of earthquakes in which an oceanic plate is propelled underneath a continental plate. These trigger a massive quantity of stress followed by a minute of mighty shaking which is enough to form enormous tsunami waves.
Difference Between Earthquake and Tsunami
- Earthquakes and tsunamis are described as natural tragedies that bring the destruction of epic ratios.
- Earthquakes that occur on land do not trigger tsunamis; instead, it is the earthquakes that occur at and under the bottom of the ocean that are accountable for tsunamis.
- Oceanic earthquakes result in the expulsion of massive quantities of water-producing waves that move forward at great speed, and by the time they get to the coastal regions, they have turned out to be hideous in volume triggering unparalleled destruction of properties and lives.
- It is impossible to fault tsunamis. However, with the proper prediction of earthquakes on the ocean bed, it is conceivable to sound alert in the regions that incoming tsunamis can destroy.
