Tsunami vs Hurricane
Tsunami and hurricane are nature’s furies. They both lash disasters in the world. Well, tsunami and hurricane are different in their respective ways.
Tsunami is a series of waves, which is caused by displacement of large volume of body of water. Hurricane on the other hand is a powerful storm.
When talking of the origin of Tusanami and hurricane, they are formed because of different forces. Hurricanes are normally formed over warm ocean waters during warm months. Tsunami is caused by volcanic explosions, landslides and other underwater explosions. Any disturbance above or below the water can cause tsunami.
Hurricanes are considered to have a diameter of about 400 to 500 miles and the ‘eye’ or centre of it can be about 20 miles. It is very calm at the eye part with very low winds and clear skies. Tsunami waves normally have low wave height and very long wavelength (sometimes hundreds of kilometres) offshore. This is the reason why tsunami waves are unnoticed in the sea. As they approach the shallow waters, their height increases and when they reach the shore, it grows tremendously. Tsunami can occur at any tidal state.
Tsunamis generally occur in the Pacific Ocean (about 80 per cent). Hurricanes can occur anywhere and they are known in different names. They can be called as storms over North Atlantic or the Caribbean and typhoons in western Pacific Ocean and cyclones over Indian Ocean.
Tsunami word has Japanese origin. In Japan, “Tsu” means harbour and “nami” means wave. It was Australian Met man Clement Wragge who gave the name of Hurricane in the 19th century. He gave the name after people began to dislike these violent storms.
If you notice changes in the sea along the coast or if the water level is increasing, it can be signs of a hurricane. If an earthquake has occurred on the shore or if water has receded dramatically along the shoreline, then there is a possibility of tsunami.
Summary
1 . Hurricanes are normally formed over warm ocean waters during warm months. Tsunami is caused by volcanic explosions, landslides and other underwater explosions. Any disturbance above or below the water can cause tsunami.
2. Tsunamis generally occur in the Pacific Ocean (about 80 per cent). Hurricanes can occur anywhere and they are known in different names.
3. Tsunami word has Japanese origin. In Japan, “Tsu” means harbour and “nami” means wave. It was Australian Met man Clement Wragge who gave the name of Hurricane in the 19th century.