What is the origin of the word tsunamis and why is the word tidal wave the wrong word?

3 comments

1. 

   Elizabeth H on January 29, 2010 at 2:12 pm

   The word "tsunami" comes from the Japanese words tsu (harbor) and nami (waves). A tsunami is formed when a large amount of water is rapidly displaced, tsunamis are often caused by an earthquake, a landslide, an exploding volcano, or even a meteorite impact. Tsunamis have nothing to do with the tides. Tides result from the gravitational attraction of the Moon and Sun.

2. 

   borhan on January 29, 2010 at 2:12 pm

   sea bed earthquake is the source of tsunamis

3. 

   bustersmycat on January 29, 2010 at 2:12 pm

   tsunami is originally the japanese word for the phenomenon (I think it means something like harbor wave, maybe, I dunno really). Tidal wave is just what english speaking people called it in the past, but since the waves have no "tidal" cause, the term really is misleading, and so scientists, who tend to dislike misleading or incorrect terms, adopted the term tsunami as a better reflection of what the phenomenon (event) really is.

   If you call it a tidal wave, we all know what you mean, just as we know what you mean if you call it tsunami. I find it a bit picky to correct people from calling it tidal wave.