A tsunami (Japanese: 津波 [tsɯnami], lit.

'harbor wave';[1] English pronunciation: /suːˈnɑːmi/ soo-

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions (including detonations of

The Greek historian Thucydides was the first to relate tsunami to submarine earthquakes,[4][5] but
understanding of tsunami's nature remained slim until the 20th century and is the subject of
ongoing research. Many early geological, geographical, and oceanographic texts refer to
tsunamis as "seismic sea waves."

Some meteorological conditions, such as deep depressions that cause tropical cyclones, can
generate a storm surge, called a meteotsunami, which can raise tides several metres above
normal levels. The displacement comes from low atmospheric pressure within the centre of the
depression. As these storm surges reach shore, they may resemble (though are not) tsunamis,
inundating vast areas of land. Such a storm surge inundated Burma in May 2008.

Tsunamis can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the
overlying water. Tectonic earthquakes are a particular kind of earthquake that are associated with
the earth's crustal deformation; when these earthquakes occur beneath the sea, the water above
the deformed area is displaced from its equilibrium position.[14] More specifically, a tsunami can
be generated when thrust faults associated with convergent or destructive plate boundaries move
abruptly, resulting in water displacement, due to the vertical component of movement involved.
Movement on normal faults will also cause displacement of the seabed, but the size of the largest
of such events is normally too small to give rise to a significant tsunami.

Drawing of tectonic Overriding plate bulges Plate slips, causing The energy released
plate boundary before under strain, causing subsidence and releasing produces tsunami
earthquake. tectonic uplift. energy into water. waves.

Tsunamis have a small amplitude (wave height) offshore, and a very long wavelength (often
hundreds of kilometers long), which is why they generally pass unnoticed at sea, forming only a
slight swell usually about 300 millimeters (12 in) above the normal sea surface. They grow in
height when they reach shallower water, in a wave shoaling process described below. A tsunami
can occur in any tidal state and even at low tide can still inundate coastal areas.
On April 1, 1946, a magnitude-7.8 (Richter scale) earthquake occurred near the Aleutian Islands,
Alaska. It generated a tsunami which inundated Hilo on the island of Hawai'i with a 14 meters
(46 ft) high surge. The area where the earthquake occurred is where the Pacific Ocean floor is
sub ducting (or being pushed downwards) under Alaska.

Examples of tsunami at locations away from convergent boundaries include Storegga about
8,000 years ago, Grand Banks 1929, Papua New Guinea 1998 (Tappin, 2001). The Grand Banks
and Papua New Guinea tsunamis came from earthquakes which destabilized sediments, causing
them to flow into the ocean and generate a tsunami. They dissipated before traveling
transoceanic distances.

The cause of the Storegga sediment failure is unknown. Possibilities include an overloading of
the sediments, an earthquake or a release of gas hydrates (methane etc.)

The 1960 Valdivia earthquake (Mw 9.5) (19:11 hrs UTC), 1964 Alaska earthquake (Mw 9.2), and
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (Mw 9.2) (00:58:53 UTC) are recent examples of powerful mega
thrust earthquakes that generated tsunamis (known as teletsunamis) that can cross entire oceans.
Smaller (Mw 4.2) earthquakes in Japan can trigger tsunamis (called local and regional tsunamis)
that can only devastate nearby coasts, but can do so in only a few minutes.

In the 1950s, it was discovered that larger tsunamis than had previously been believed possible
could be caused by giant landslides. These phenomena rapidly displace large water volumes, as
energy from falling debris or expansion transfers to the water at a rate faster than the water can
absorb. Their existence was confirmed in 1958, when a giant landslide in Lituya Bay, Alaska,
caused the highest wave ever recorded, which had a height of 524 metres (over 1700 feet). The
wave didn't travel far, as it struck land almost immediately. Two people fishing in the bay were
killed, but another boat amazingly managed to ride the wave. Scientists named these waves mega
tsunami.

ear the coast, it transforms. A tsunami travels at a speed that is related to the water depth -
hence, as the water depth decreases, the tsunami slows. The tsunami's energy flux, which is
dependent on both its wave speed and wave height, remains nearly constant. Consequently, as
A tsunami is a series of waves created when a body of water, such as an ocean, is rapidly
displaced on a massive scale. Earthquakes, mass movements above or below water, volcanic
eruptions and other underwater explosions, landslides, large meteorite impacts and testing with
nuclear weapons at sea all have the potential to generate a tsunami.
Tsunami are common throughout Japanese history; approximately 195 events in Japan have been
recorded.
Tsunami can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the
overlying water. Such large vertical movements of the Earth’s crust can occur at plate
boundaries. Subduction earthquakes are particularly effective in generating tsunami.

In the 1950s it was discovered that larger tsunami than previously believed possible could be
caused by landslides, explosive volcanic action, and impact events.
Tsunami occur most frequently in the Pacific Ocean, but are a global phenomenon; they are
possible wherever large bodies of water are found, including inland lakes, where they can be
caused by landslides.
Japan is the nation with the most recorded tsunami in the world. The earliest recorded disaster
being that of the 684 A.D. Hakuho Earthquake. The number of tsunami in Japan totals 195 over a
1,313 year period, averaging one event every 6.7 years, the highest rate of occurrence in the
world.
On December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake measuring 9.3 on the Earthquake Magnitude
scale occurred 160 km (100 mi) off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. It was the second
largest earthquake in recorded history and generated massive tsunamis, which caused widespread
devastation when they hit land, leaving an estimated 230,000 people dead in countries around the
Indian Ocean

the tsunami's speed diminishes as it travels into shallower water, its height grows.
Because of this shoaling effect, a tsunami, imperceptible at sea, may grow to be several
meters or more in height near the coast. When it finally reaches the coast, a tsunami
may appear as a rapidly rising or falling tide, a series of breaking waves, or even a bore.

As a tsunami approaches as they rush onshore - part of the wave energy is reflected
offshore, while the shoreward-propagating wave energy is dissipated through bottom
friction and turbulence. Despite these losses, tsunamis still reach the coast with
tremendous amounts of beaches of sand that may have taken years to accumulate and
undermining trees and other coastal vegetation. Capable of inundating, or flooding,
hundreds of meters inland past the typical high-water level, the fast-moving water
associated with the inundating tsunami can crush homes and other coastal structures.
Tsunamis may reach a maximum vertical height onshore above sea level, often called
eight, of 10, 20, and even 30 meters.

As a tsunami leaves the deep water of the open ocean and travels into the shallower
water near the coast, it transforms. A tsunami travels at a speed that is related to the
water depth - hence, as the water depth decreases, the tsunami slows. The tsunami's
energy flux, which is dependent on both its wave speed and wave height, remains
nearly constant. Consequently, as the tsunami's speed diminishes as it travels into
shallower water, its height grows. Because of this shoaling effect, a tsunami,
imperceptible at sea, may grow to be several meters or more in height near the coast.
When it finally reaches the coast, a tsunami may appear as a rapidly rising or falling
tide, a series of breaking waves, or even a bore.

As a tsunami approaches shore to slow and grow in height. Just like other water waves,
tsunamis begin to lose energy as they rush onshore - part of the wave energy is
reflected offshore, while the shoreward-propagating wave energy is dissipated through
bottom friction and turbulence. Despite these losses, tsunamis still reach the coast with
tremendous amounts of energy. Tsunamis have trees and other coastal vegetation.
Capable of inundating, or flooding, hundreds of meters inland past the typical high-water
level, the fast-moving water associated with the inundating tsunami can crush homes
and other coastal structures. Tsunamis may reach a maximum vertical height onshore
above sea level, often called