Velocity of Tsunami
 

Hi......

I need to know the relationship between the Richter scale magnitude and the Velocity of a Tsunami event. And also about the actual energy releases of a tsunami event.

Lasantha..

Re: Velocity of Tsunami
 

Hi,

generally the Tsunami is like longwave, speed is about sqrt(gh) with g gravity, h the ocean depth.

say h =4000m, then sqrt(gh) =200m/sec = 720 km/hr,

and it travels around the earth with about 2pi*6900/720 = 60 hrs, where 6900 is taken as earth radius.

I don't think the speed has a lot to do with magnitude except at really very shallow water region.

The energy release should be proportional to the potential energy of eath quake associated rock displacement. (need to measure how much rock moved from where to where)