Why are tidal waves now bleedin "Tsunamis" ?

[Loosehead]

They where always tidal waves ok maybe that term did not describe them but neither does "Harbour wave" why has is sudenly become trendy to use a Japanese term? You can almost hear the righteous smirk in the news readers voices when they read the news, It's bloody tidal wave ,OK! Rant over!

[WaldoMcFroog]

Hardly news - tsunami has been the preferred term for nearly two decades! Christ, they even called them that when I was at school in the 80s.

It is due to oceanographers trying to stem the (understandable) misconception that they are caused by tides and thus preferring the less confusing term tsunami.

[Gromit]

Japan is highly vunerable to big waves as it is an island country in a earthquake prone area. Consequently Japan's scientific community have spent a lot of time studying the phenomena and are world leaders in this area of study today. Tsunami became the accepted scientific term decades ago because Japan is leading the research, and the media are just reflecting that. The english language is constantly changing/evolving and foreign words are added all the time.

But if you are eagre to still call it a Tidal Wave then that is fine, you Big Bore.

[Loosehead]

David Icke said Tidal Wave on Wogan, so that good enough for me!

[WaldoMcFroog]

In which case, I recant my former use of Tsunami. Icke is a man who knows what's really going on.

Now, who on here is a giant lizard..?

[Booldawg]

Theres a level on 'Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Coretex' called 'Tsunami' ....However I cant beat the final boss :-(

[coco pops]

Why couldn't Tsunamis been spelt easier?

[maxximus]

been called tsunamis as long as i can remember, check out the cahonie's on this guy ( that's not japanese, is it? ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlPqL7IUT6M

[Haggisdj]

ME ME ME... I'm a giant lizard !!!!

[Avatar]

Tidal waves are caused by tides, (clue is in the name), freak tide, high or whatever but still tidal.
Tsunamis are caused by seismic activity beneath the ocean.
That is why that term is used (correctly) in these cases.

[Loosehead]

I said it wasn't technically correct in the bl00dy question dummy!