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How long can the interval between tsunami wave crests last?
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tsunami
Aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia.
The time interval between successive tsunami wave crests, known as the wave period, typically ranges from five minutes to more than an hour.123
These long periods, combined with the waves' low height and extreme wavelength in the open ocean, often make them imperceptible to ships at sea. As these waves approach a coastline, their velocity decreases while their amplitude increases, leading to the destructive oscillations that characterize a tsunami event.123