An earthquake occurs on the ocean floor 20 kilometers west of the coast of Peru

Question

An earthquake occurs on the ocean floor 20 kilometers west of the coast of Peru in South America and the resulting sudden earth movement produces a tsunami wave. Estimate the time required for the wave to propagate to Hawaii. (Similar earthquakes are a matter of historical record within the past twenty years.)

a.) 4 hours b.) 0.4 hours c.) 12 hours d.) 2 days

An earthquake occurs 20 kilometers east of the main islands of Japan and the resulting sudden earth movement produces a tsunami wave. Estimate the time required for the wave to propagate west to the main islands of Japan. (Again, this is a matter of historical record, quite checkable online.)

   a.) 4 hours

   b.) 0.4 hours

   c.) 12 hours

   d.) 2 days

Explanation / Answer

Distance between Hawaii and Peru is around 10,000km

Speed of Tsunami waves in deep water can be around 800km/hr.

Therefore time taken will be :

10,000km /800km/he =12.5hours

While speed of Tsunami waves in Shallow water(less water) is around 50km/hr

So, to travel 20km,

Waves will take around 20/50km/hr = 0.4hours

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