What Are Tidal Waves?
The term “tidal wave” is used in several different ways inside and outside the oceanographic community. Technically, tidal waves are the crests of the tides which move across the surface of the Earth, and this is the usage of the term which is preferred by oceanographers and other people who study water and the movement of the ocean. However, many laypeople refer to other types of waves, such as storm surge and tsunamis, as tidal waves. In the case of the tidal crest, tidal waves are constantly moving across the surface of the Earth as the Earth’s water rises and falls, creating the tides. The size of a tidal crest can vary, depending on the relationship between the Earth and the moon and the area. The term “tidal wave” is also used to discuss tidal bore, a phenomenon which occurs in areas with large extremes between low and high tides. In these regions, when tides enter a narrow inlet, a large wave develops as the tide floods in. The tidal bore can flow up rivers and streams as it flo
Essential of Oceanography says “the only true tidal waves are relatively harmless waves associated with the tides themselves.” However the majority of the English speaking public, as well as the English and the American English versions of the Unabridged Webster’s Dictionary and the internet are not aware of such definition and if questioned about tidal waves they all shall point you into the direction of tsunamis. What are Tsunamis? http://planet-hawaii.com/tsunami/ Clicking on the shore-bird on top of this page, up in the right corner will take you back to the first page…
