What does a tsunami wave look like far out in the open ocean?

Answer 1

On the way in, they look like a series of waves, but usually really, really big ones. Depending on where you are, it could look like a massive wave or a wall of water coming rapidly your way.

On the way out, they almost don't even look like water sometimes because of all the debris they have picked up.

See the related link below for pictures of one particular tsunami and the aftermath.

Answer 2

The water looks calm initially. However, if a tsunami is caused by an earthquake, a slight rumble can be heard, and the ground might shake. As the waves approach shore, the water near the shore will recede dramatically, following a 'sucking* sound'. A clear rumble should be heard. The fast moving waves will start to get higher as the seafloor gets shallower near the coastline. This forms a tsunami and the waves will crash onto shore and rush inland. *Note that 'sucking' means being sucked in, and is not a vulgarity. Also, the water levels will drop just before the tsunami hits.

Answer 3

A tsunami is a massive wave that is very strong and powerful. It is caused by a major disturbance underwater which causes the water unexpecteldy rise or sink. There was a landslide in Lituya Bay and it caused a 518 tsunami. ( True fact )

Answer 4

In open ocean it doesn't look like anything. At this point it is likely no more than three feet high and is dozens of miles long. A person on a boat would not notice anything unusual. As the tsunami enter shallow water it increases in height, becoming a massive surge of water.

Answer 5

After a 8.9 earthquake struck Japan on March 11, 2011, huge tsunami waves struck the island nation.

When tsunami waves hit the coastal towns of Japan it covered the land and pushed cars, trucks, even houses over like they were small toys.

See the related link below to see live footage of the tsunami hitting Japan.

Answer 6

When tsunamis strike an area, they are usually massive to be seen from human eyes, they are sort of giant waves pouncing in the civilization. The geologists, climatologists, meteorologists have been able to create an ideal structure for the tsunamis which resembles a hyperbola with crests and troughs.

Answer 7

A tsunami looks like a wall of water just before it hits. How tall and how big the wall of water looks like depends on how big the underwater quake was, the geological features of the area, and the distance the wall of water must travel before it hits land. A huge earthquake might only produce small waves.

Answer 8

Tsunamis are giant tidal waves usually caused by earthquakes in the oceans

Answer 9

it looks like a huge wave