tidal wave is the crest of a tide as it moves around the Earth. They are caused by the natural gravitational pull of the sun and moon as opposed to ocean surface waves which are caused by wind friction on the surface of the water.
The term tidal wave can refer to: A crest is the section of a wave that rises above an undisturbed position. ... Tides are the cyclic rising and falling of Earths ocean surface caused by the tidal forces of the Moon and the Sun acting on the Earth. ... Ocean waves Ocean surface waves are surface waves that occur at the surface of an ocean. ...
A tsunami. Tidal wave is a common name for the occurrence. However this traditional usage is considered incorrect by oceanographers, seismologists and other scientists, since no tides are involved. "Tidal" can be thought to refer to the magnitude rather than the nature or the origin of the wave. Although the term "tidal wave" was formerly more popular with the general public, news media reporting of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake used the term "tsunami" almost exclusively. As a result, the term "tsunami" is now much better known.
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Waves are formed as the displaced water mass moves under the influence of gravity to regain its equilibrium and radiates across the ocean like ripples on a pond.
The energy per linear meter in the wave is proportional to the inverse of the distance from the source.[citation needed] (In other words, it decreases linearly with distance.) This is the two-dimensional equivalent of the inverse square law, which is followed by waves which propagate in three dimensions (in a sphere instead of a circle).
As the wave approaches land, the sea shallows and the wave no longer travels as quickly, so it begins to 'pile-up'; the wave-front becomes steeper and taller, and there is less distance between crests.
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