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Question

Which process is most directly responsible for the generation of tsunamis following underwater earthquakes?

The correct answer is

Sudden vertical displacement of a large mass of seawater

A tsunami is a series of very long ocean waves created when a large volume of water is suddenly displaced.

In an undersea earthquake, especially along a subduction zone, the sea floor suddenly moves up or down. This lifts or drops the entire column of water above it, and the water spreads out as tsunami waves.

Tides come from the Earth-Moon pull, wind creates ordinary surface waves, and slow plate movement does not displace water suddenly. So a sudden vertical displacement of a large mass of seawater is the direct cause.

Hence, Sudden vertical displacement of a large mass of seawater.

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Similar Questions

  1. Match List I (Major ocean floor features) with List II (their distinguishing geomorphological characteristics).

    List IList II
    A. Continental Shelf1. Long, narrow and deepest depressions of the sea floor, with relatively steep sides
    B. Continental Slope2. Submerged extension of the continental landmass, rich in marine resources
    C. Abyssal Plain3. Mid oceanic ridges, trenches, island arcs and sea mounts
    D. Ocean Trench4. Steep transitional zone connecting the continental shelf with the deep ocean basin
  2. Which of the following ocean relief features has pointed summits that rise from the seafloor but do not reach the ocean’s surface, often attaining heights of 3,000–4,500 metres?


Important Questions from Oceanography

  1. The Gulf Stream is found in

  2. Consider the following statements :

    1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds

    2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  3. Which of the following statement is not correct?

    I. Generally, warm ocean currents originate near the equator and flow towards the poles.

    II. Gulfstreams are cold water currents.

  4. Which of the following ocean currents does not flow into the Pacific Ocean?

  5. Which one of the following is a cold ocean current ?

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