What types of waves are typically generated by seismic activity?

Tsunami waves are typically generated by seismic activity, such as underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. When an earthquake occurs under the ocean, it can displace a large volume of water, creating a series of waves that travel across the ocean at great speeds. Unlike regular ocean waves, which are primarily driven by wind and have shorter wavelengths, tsunami waves can have long wavelengths and are capable of crossing entire ocean basins with minimal energy loss. When these waves reach shallow water near coastlines, their speed decreases, and they increase in height, leading to the potentially destructive impacts often associated with tsunamis.

In contrast, the other types of waves mentioned—storm waves, regular ocean waves, and wind-driven waves—are primarily influenced by atmospheric conditions and do not result from seismic events. Storm waves are generated by high winds during storm conditions, regular ocean waves are typically caused by consistent wind patterns, and wind-driven waves originate from the friction between the wind and the surface of the water.