Water splash

From Anipedia

In water splashing animations one first must remember that water has a certain consistency and any more than a certain amount will split into smaller drops of water. Another thing is that when the water hits the surface of the lake/pond/ocean/water planet that is will create two things, a splash, and a ripple. the splash usually consists of the water being pushed down then splashing back up, possibly creating smaller scale splashes. The second part, the ripple, is just a fluctuation in the water that spreads out and eventually fades. However at the beginning of the splash if it's a large enough splash then it may even create a small wave that like the ripple spreads out, and, unlike the ripple, will crash on the water and become a ripple, this resulting ripple will spread much faster than a regular one, but shall ease out and eventually fade as a regular one would.

Please note that this water is highly exaggerated to show some of the finer elements of ripple and splash animations.)