Physics question: is it possible for a tsunami to be supersonic?

[kedrys]

I skipped fluid dynamics (took physical chemistry instead), so, it is even possible for water to travel that fast? I know that some tidal waves can move as fast as 600mph, but what if a catastrophic earthquake generated enough energy to power a really huge tsunami? Could it conceivably move faster than the speed of sound?

[purr]

1. I highly doubt it...

This is speaking from someone who took 1 year of Physics so dont take my word for it :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Interesting question. But through which medium do you mean?

Speed of sound through water is hella faster than through air.

Other than offering that little bit of scientific observation, I couldn't begin to speculate whether a wave could move through water faster than the speed of sound. I assume that it could, on a theoretical basis; but whether any natural process or phenomenon could generate energy of a type that would cause a wave to move that fast, I don't know.

[kedrys]

3. I guess the visible part of the wave

at the water/air interface. Hmm. You put a totally different spin on my question.

What *is* the speed of sound in seawater?

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. But you see, that question requires some data to answer

The speed of sound through the sea water depends on the salinity, the temperature, and the pressure - so the deeper it is (assuming that the temperature goes down and the pressure goes up), the faster the speed of sound.

But, we can roughly set it at 1550 m/s, which is about 3500 mph.

If you are talkin gthe interface, I imagine you are asking if the tidal wave, once it hits the stage of life that is a large column of water, could move faster than sound through the air, I would hazard a guess that it would be damned near impossible; the amount of energy needed for that would probably be enough to actually vaporize, or at least atomize, the water, and it would be incapable of forming a coherent physical wave.

[Lochloosa]

5. Here is your answer

Landslide-generated tsunami:

Tsunamis can also be generated by landslides. This type of tsunami is commonly known as the mega-tsunami. Landslide-generated tsunamis are normally more powerful than earthquake-generated tsunamis. The strength of the mega-tsunami waves depend upon the size of the landslide and also the height of the fall. The larger the area and the higher the fall, the bigger the wave. These gigantic waves are big enough to cross oceans and affect cities. These waves travel at supersonic speed and can rise to over a thousand feet!

Lituya Bay in Alaska was the site of one of the largest tsunamis ever recorded. The giant waves rose to a height of about half a kilometre high, higher than any skyscraper on Earth. On the night of July 7, 1958, a large landslide in the bay produced a mega-tsunami. It caused a lot of destruction in the area.

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01797/dynamics/types.html