The difference between tsunami and a tidal wave?

Question

My friend always think she's knows best and its really hard to convince her otherwise. The other day we both disagreed on the fact whether or not tsunami's and tidal wave's are the same things,(thats what i thought) or whether tsunami's just have great force and power, and tidal wave's are extrememly large.(thats what she thought.)

Does any one actually know whos right? Or whether we're both wrong? Please answer me?

Thanks

Answer 1

Sorry, but you're both wrong. But it's a common mistake.  

Officially, tidal waves are the wave motions of the tides. They're the ones that happen approximately every 12 hours for high and low tide.

A tsunami, or storm surge, is caused by an undersea earthquake, landslide or volcanic eruption. It's a series of travelling waves of extremely long length and period (from link below).

Answer 2

no- they are the same

Answer 3

tidal waves are created by the moon usually full moon and tsunamis is a j*p word but it is created when the continential plates push against each other and when one gets on top of another there is a big earthquake underwater and then big waves are formed resulting in a tsunami

Answer 4

tsunami is j*p for tidal wave

Answer 5

Tsunami is A Giant Wave Mostly Caused By Earth Quakes

and as such tidal waves are one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid especially across a large body of water

Answer 6

Tsunami is a long  wave which travels unnoticed(under the water level) in a ocean and emerges near the shore.It is usually caused by an earthquake under water.

Tidal wave  refers to any destructive type of wave motion(usually above sea level) in seas and oceans associated with strong winds, moon's gravitational pull and under-water earthquakes.Even a storm surge due to tropical revolving storms and the waves near the shore due to tsunami can also be called tidal waves.

Answer 7

tidal wave are caused by the gravitational force of the Moon. Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes,  volcano eruptions, etc. Tsunamis can be really vilent, whereas tidal waves are not

Answer 8

japanese language

engilsh language

Answer 9

A tsunami is a long high sea wave caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide, or other disturbances.

A tidal wave is an exceptionally large ocean wave, especially one caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption.

In a way the two are different , but tidal waves are found in tsunamis. Also tidal wave is actually a nontechnical term for a tsunami