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tidal wave, term properly applied to the crest of a tide as it moves around the earth. In popular usage it is often applied to any destructive wave or to high water not related to tidal phenomena. These latter waves are of two types: tsunami, which are waves caused by earthquakes, and storm surges. Storm surges are floods of ocean or lake water that occur chiefly in areas subject to tropical storms and bordering on shallow waters. In Galveston, Tex., in 1900 a wind velocity of more than 100 mi (160 km) per hr, combined with low barometric pressure, caused tides 15 ft (5 m) above normal that flooded coastal areas, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives and extensive property damage.
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