Why do tsunamis (20~ft) cause more damage and flooding than the waves that surfers surf (world record 86ft)?

Question

Why do tsunamis (20~ft) cause more damage and flooding than the waves that surfers surf (world record 86ft)?

In: 2

Answer 1

Simplest answer: **surface waves only move water up and down. Tsunamis move water inland.**

“Waves are created by energy passing through water, causing it to move in a circular motion. However, water does not actually travel in waves. Waves transmit energy, not water” [*—NOAA.gov*](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/wavesinocean.html#:~:text=on%20the%20horizon.-,Waves%20are%20created%20by%20energy%20passing%20through%20water%2C%20causing%20it,across%20an%20entire%20ocean%20basin.)

A fun experiment is to place something that floats on the water. You will see the thing move up and down but it generally returns to the same place as each wave passes.

With a tsunami, you have a huge amount of water moving, not just waves.