A tsunami is caused by a(n) _________

A tsunami is caused by a(n) __________.

🔍 Key Concepts

• Tsunami vs. regular wind waves – what makes a tsunami different from normal sea waves you see on a windy day • Weather vs. geologic events – which of these choices are caused by the atmosphere, and which come from movements of the Earth itself? • Vertical displacement of large water volumes – what kind of event can suddenly move the seafloor up or down and push a huge amount of water?

💭 Think About

• Look at each answer choice and decide: is this mainly a weather/atmospheric phenomenon or a geologic/earth-crust phenomenon? • Think about where most tsunamis start: out in deep water or right at the coast? What kind of event out in deep water could create a huge wave that travels across an ocean basin? • Ask yourself which option involves a sudden shift of the seafloor that would lift or drop a massive column of water.

✅ Before You Answer

• Make sure you can explain to yourself the difference between a storm surge and a tsunami – what causes each one? • Check which options are clearly atmospheric events (caused by wind, storms, or pressure) and which involve movement of the Earth’s crust. • Verify which choice actually describes the initial cause, not just another name people sometimes incorrectly use for the phenomenon.

🔍 Key Concepts

💭 Think About

✅ Before You Answer