Context:
December 26, 2024, marks 20 years since a devastating tsunami struck the coasts of several countries bordering the Indian Ocean, including Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India.
What are Tsunamis?
- Tsunamis are different from other waves in that they are normally caused by underground disturbances such as earthquakes.
- These are geological events brought about by earthquakes, submarine volcanic eruptions, landslides, or even asteroid impacts.
- Wavelengths of tsunamis are so long that they can travel amazing velocities across ocean basins.
- These waves can also strike the shore and are dangerous for hours, sometimes like walls of water.
