Is it correct to describe the huge waves that struck Burma "tidal waves"?

Question

Or is it more accurate to call them "storm surges"?

(I know they weren't tsunamis because they weren't caused by an earthquake.)

Answer 1

Generally speaking, "Tidal Waves" and tsunamis are identical in meaning, even if the literal definition of a tidal wave is a wave caused by a tide...what is generally called a tidal bore or surge.

In any case, the difference is the side of the globe that the wave occurs in. If it is in the Atlantic, it is a Tidal Wave. If it occurs in the Pacific or Indian oceans it is generally called a Tsunami.

That having been said, the term tidal wave is being replaced with tsunami in most places.

As for causes, the most common is an earthquake. There are also waves caused by subsidence of the seafloor, underwater landslides, or by large objects falling into the sea. (When a large raft of ice is dropped into the ocean at either pole, it creates a very large wavefront of displaced water, although the affected land would have to be reasonably close for a tsunami to rear it's ugly head.

It is the same with Cyclones and Hurricanes.

In any case, yes it would more likely be accurate to call the waves surges - if they accompanied a storm. If there were no know geological or meterological causes, it could simply have been a freak rouge wave.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Tsunami doesn't necessarily have to have been caused by an earthquake. As to these being tidal waves, in common UK vernacular the phrase "tidal wave" usually just means a very, very large wave. However, scientifically speaking a tidal wave is the surge of water that hits a short and/or heads up river as the tide turns and comes back in. I've heard the phrase "tidal surges" referred to wrt Burma. I guess if the rising tide coincides with a surge of energy from the wind (cyclone) then they are tidal surges in that sense.

Answer 3

A storm surge is an abnormal rise of sea level near the coast caused by a severe tropical cyclone.Cyclones are associated with high pressure gradients and consequent strong winds.These,in turn,generate storm surges.

So, the huge waves that struck Burma are called storm surges only.