Development of a tsunami

Development of a tsunami, A geologic incident on the ocean floor, at a depth of thousands of meters, causes part of the ocean floor to sink or rise. A shock wave creates enormous waves that move at a velocity of 600 to 800 km/h. This velocity is proportional to the depth and diminishes as the tsunami nears the coast; the gradual upward slope of the ocean floor increases the height of the waves. When the ocean floor becomes shallow, the swell is deformed; the waves slow to about 50 km/h, but their height grows considerably. Finally, these giant waves break on the shore. (Photo by: QAI Publishing/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)