Question

A Tsunami can be generated when destructive plate boundries abruptly move and ___________.

• A. Vertically displace the water.
• B. Displace the overlying water.
• C. Vertically displace the overlying water.
• D. Horizontally displace the overlying water.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Vertically displace the overlying water.

• Vertical displacement of overlying water causes a stark difference between the elevation of the ocean floor due to which water from higher elevation quickly move towards lower elevation seafloor.
• This generates very high waves which travel towards the coastal regions and are known as tsunami or harbour waves. Hence option C is correct.
• Note- Horizontal displacement does not cause displacement of a very significant amount of water hence cannot generate tsunamis.