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What are the characteristics of tsunamis? A They have a short wavelength and high amplitude - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 5 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 5
What are the characteristics of tsunamis? A They have a short wavelength and high amplitude. They travel at low speed, at around 30 km/h. They decrease in height a... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:What are the characteristics of tsunamis? A They have a short wavelength and high amplitude - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 5 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
B They have a long wavelength and low amplitude. They travel at high speeds, sometimes over 700 km/h. Shallow water and the funnelling effect of bays dramatically increases height.
Answer
Tsunamis are characterized by their long wavelengths and low amplitudes. Unlike regular sea waves, they propagate at high speeds, often exceeding 700 km/h, especially in deep water. As they approach shallow coastal areas, their speed decreases but their height significantly increases due to the funnelling effects of bays and coastal topography.