ASK THE METEOROLOGIST
“What is the difference between a Tsunami and a Hurricane?”
Gracie Marical, Hoover Elementary
The short answer to this question would be that a tsunami and a hurricane are two completely different types of phenomena. Hurricanes are an “atmospheric” phenomenon, whereas tsunamis are a phenomenon created by the “geological” processes we know as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. So let’s break down the two.
Hurricanes have many components in their makeup. Components like, wind, rain, and clouds. These are all things that are seen in weather. A hurricane is a large area of low pressure that strengthens due to warm air and water and becomes a large storm. Certain weather conditions will create a hurricane, therefore we classify it as a “weather” phenomenon.
Tsunamis are not created by the weather. Tsunamis are purely created by a “geological” process. When an undersea earthquake happens, or a volcanic eruption takes place, a large area of the earth’s crust (underwater) will change shift vertically. This creates a large wave motion in all directions away from the spot where the crust shifted. Tsunamis can barely be detected in the open ocean because the depth of the water is too great and there is no land nearby to compare the rising and falling motion. Still, it occurs. The closer land is to the crust shift, the worse the tsunami will be. In 2011, a tsunami caused by an earthquake off the coast of Japan made water levels rise rapidly and allowed for water to reach areas 6 miles inland of Japan. Mass flooding destroyed building, picked up cars, and many people lost their livelihood. The same earthquake caused water levels to rise in Crescent City, CA and Brookings, OR, but because the earthquake was much further away, the effects were no where near as catastrophic.
Now that we’ve determined how they are different, there are some similarities between the two. Wind drives ocean waves. Therefore hurricanes bring waves onshore when they near land. Anytime that sea levels rise and brings water further inland than normal, we call this storm surge. Storm surge is not just caused by storms. When a tsunami carries water onshore, we also consider this “storm surge.” Therefore, both hurricanes and a tsunamis have storm surge. They both can create widespread flooding for coastal locations. They both are a cause for concern, and in most cases need mass evacuations for people who live at the coast.
Although both of these phenomena are created from different processes. They are still both very dangerous and should be prepared for as best as possible.
Meteorologist Seth Phillips