tidal wave

Home > ... > Earth and the Environment > Geology and Oceanography > Geology and Oceanography > ...

tidal wave

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

tidal wave term properly applied to the crest of a tide as it moves around the earth. The wavelike upstream rush of water caused by the incoming tide in some locations is known as a tidal bore . In popular usage the term tidal wave also is often applied to any destructive wave or to high water not related to tidal phenomena. These latter waves are of two types: tsunamis , which are waves caused by earthquakes , and storm surges (see under storm ).

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-tidalwav" title="Facts and information about tidal wave">tidal wave</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"tidal wave." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 22 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"tidal wave." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 22, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-tidalwav.html

"tidal wave." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-tidalwav.html

Learn more about citation styles

tidal wave

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

tid·al wave • n. an exceptionally large ocean wave, esp. one caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption (used as a nontechnical term for tsunami). ∎ fig. a widespread or overwhelming manifestation of an emotion or phenomenon: a tidal wave of crime.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O999-tidalwave" title="Facts and information about tidal wave">tidal wave</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"tidal wave." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 22 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"tidal wave." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (December 22, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-tidalwave.html

"tidal wave." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-tidalwave.html

Learn more about citation styles

The Oxford American College Dictionary | 2009 | © The Oxford American College Dictionary 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O997-tidalwave" title="Facts and information about tidal wave">tidal wave</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"tidal wave." The Oxford American College Dictionary. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 22 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"tidal wave." The Oxford American College Dictionary. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (December 22, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O997-tidalwave.html

"tidal wave." The Oxford American College Dictionary. 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O997-tidalwave.html

Learn more about citation styles

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

News Focus: TIDAL WAVES HIT INDONESIAN COASTAL AREAS.
News Wire article from: ANT - LKBN ANTARA (Indonesia); 5/18/2007; 700+ words ; ...ANTARA) - Fiercely swirling tidal waves hit coastal areas in many...Aceh Darussalam province, tidal waves swept through at...away by three-meter high waves, causing the evacuation...residents of another threat of tidal waves on Friday after at...
Tidal Waves Place Second At Woodridge Classic
Newspaper article from: Intelligencer Journal Lancaster, PA; 6/24/2009; 700+ words ; The Ephrata Tidal Waves swam to a runner-up finish at the annual Woodridge...Joy Lions, 1:13.4; 2. Lia Denlinger, Ephrata Tidal Waves, 1:15.3; 3. Caitlin Davies, Ephrata Tidal Waves, 1:15.4. 50 Meter Freestyle: 1. Brittany...
TIDAL WAVES HIT 183 HOUSES IN WEST PASAMAN, W SUMATRA.
News Wire article from: ANT - LKBN ANTARA (Indonesia); 5/19/2007; 700+ words ; ...Sumatra, May 19 (ANTARA): Tidal waves reaching up to three meters...houses kept on being hit by tidal waves from Thursday up...district to be hit by tidal waves. The two previous tidal...BMG) officials said the tidal waves that happened in...
Tidal Waves Kill More Than 550 in Asia
News Wire article from: AP Online; 12/26/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...regional death toll. Waves crashed into coastal villages...Trincomalee were inundated by waves as high as 20 feet, said...of people caught in the tidal wave being washed ashore...the USGS, said large tidal waves frequently follow quakes...
Tidal-wave deaths unlikely in Los Angeles area, geologists say.
Newspaper article from: Daily News (Los Angeles, CA); 12/28/2004; 700+ words ; ...Jennifer Radcliffe Dec. 28--Large tidal waves could threaten the Southern California...warning to reach high ground before tidal waves arrive from Japan or Hawaii...Northwest, which would cause stronger tidal waves than quakes off the Southern...
TIDAL WAVE HORROR: TIDAL WAVE FEARS FOR UK TOURISTS; Four dead, hundreds missing after quake.(News)
Newspaper article from: Birmingham Evening Mail (England); 12/27/2004; 700+ words ; ...to get in. We raced from the waves. He took us to high ground...police station in Ahangama after waves burst into their third-storey...boat when it was struck by a tidal wave but managed to ride it out...life jackets because a massive tidal wave was heading towards them...
EARTHQUAKE, TIDAL WAVES DEVASTATE JAPAN.(MAIN)
Newspaper article from: Albany Times Union (Albany, NY); 7/14/1993; 700+ words ; ...system for the seismic sea waves that are most common...broadcast their tsunami (tidal wave) warning within five...away. Typically, in tidal wave situations most of the...swept out to sea when the waves recede; some bodies...huge waves. Although tidal waves are ...
Tidal waves strike China coast, leaving three dead.
News Wire article from: PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd.; 3/6/2007; 700+ words ; Tidal waves strike China coast, leaving three...others still missing after giant tidal waves, the worst since 1969, struck...were also hit by the worst tidal wave in 39 years over the weekend. The waves did not cause any fatalities, but...
TIDAL WAVES DESTROY HUNDREDS OF HOUSES AND KIOSKS IN SUKABUMI.
News Wire article from: ANT - LKBN ANTARA (Indonesia); 5/18/2007; 516 words ; ...were damaged as 5-meter-high tidal waves swept through Pelubuhan Ratu coast...district, West Java, on Friday. The tidal waves also destroyed two bamboo villas...police task force Dulkafi said the tidal waves began to hit the area at around...
Tidal waves kill more than 7,000After huge earthquake, shores from Indonesia to India are devastatedCatastrophe in Asia
Newspaper article from: International Herald Tribune; 12/27/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...eclipsed by the impact of tidal waves from two to 10...Maldives. In Sri Lanka, waves swept away fishermen...aftershocks might cause another tidal wave to strike. The Sri Lankan...reportedly destroyed by the wave, apparently enabling...those swept away by the tidal waves ...
Click to see an enlarged picture
tidal wave. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Current tidal wave News:

Scandal Sunders Church of Tiger

(12/5/2009 12:03:01 PM)

Treasury to Squeeze Mortgage Lenders

(11/29/2009 5:00:00 PM)

Hey, Barack: Yes, You Still Can

(11/3/2009 4:24:01 PM)

Obama Team Downplays Risks in Afghan Pullback

(10/12/2009 4:57:00 PM)

New Leader Hails Japanese 'Revolution'

(8/31/2009 9:28:03 AM)