Why don't earthquakes on transform faults trigger tsunamis?
A) The earthquakes aren't strong enough.
B) The earthquakes aren't in the ocean.
C) The earthquakes don't vertically displace the water in the ocean.
D) The earthquakes don't move fast enough.
E) The earthquakes don't horizontally displace the water in the ocean.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Transform faults are horizontal motion faults, and therefore do not cause enough vertical displacement of the water in the ocean to generate a tsunami. Tsunamis require significant vertical movement of the ocean floor, which is typically found in subduction zones or large earthquakes that occur under the oceanic crust.

Why Don't Earthquakes on Transform Faults Trigger Tsunamis