Tsunami - Wikipedia
Unlike normal ocean waves, which are generated by wind, or tides, which are in turn generated by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun, a tsunami is generated by the displacement of water from a large event. Tsunami waves do not resemble normal undersea currents or sea waves because their wavelength is far longer. [7] .
The science behind tsunamis | National Oceanic and Atmospheric ...
Dec 6, 2024 · The speed of tsunami waves depends on ocean depth: The deeper the water, the faster the wave travels. Tsunami waves may travel as fast as jet planes through deep waters, only slowing down when reaching shallow waters. While tsunamis are often referred to as tidal waves, this name is discouraged by oceanographers because tides have little to do ...
Tsunamis - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Oct 1, 2018 · A tsunami is a series of extremely long waves caused by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean, usually the result of an earthquake below or near the ocean floor. This force creates waves that radiate outward in all directions away from their source, sometimes crossing entire ocean basins.
Tsunami | Definition, Meaning, & Facts | Britannica
2 days ago · Tsunami, catastrophic ocean wave usually caused by a submarine earthquake, by a landslide, or by a volcanic eruption. In deep water it travels as fast as 800 km (500 miles) per hour, with enormous wavelengths of more than 500 km (310 miles) but small wave amplitudes of about 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet).
Indian Ocean Tsunami Was the Deadliest in History. 20 Years Later ...
2 days ago · The Deadliest Tsunami Set Off Work to Be Ready for the Next Big Wave Experts said they were “blind” to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Twenty years later, working toward a world without ...
What are tsunamis? | U.S. Geological Survey - USGS.gov
Tsunami waves are unlike typical ocean waves generated by wind and storms, and most tsunamis do not "break" like the curling, wind-generated waves popular with surfers. Tsunamis typically consist of multiple waves that rush ashore like a fast-rising tide with powerful currents.
Tsunami Facts and Information - National Geographic
A tsunami is a series of ocean waves that sends surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 feet (30.5 meters), onto land. These walls of water can cause widespread destruction when...
What is a tsunami? - NOAA's National Ocean Service
A tsunami is a series of waves caused by earthquakes or undersea volcanic eruptions. On September 29, 2009, a tsunami caused substantial damage and loss of life in American Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga. The tsunami was generated by a …
20 Years Since the Deadly Tsunami in Asia - The New York Times
2 days ago · The wave surged and rushed. It sent water as high as 160 feet slamming onto land with a force far outstripping that of an atomic bomb. When the tsunami inundated the coasts of more than a dozen ...
Tsunamis | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Aug 15, 2023 · Tsunamis are a series of long waves generated by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean. Large earthquakes below or near the ocean floor are the most common cause, but landslides, volcanic activity, certain types of weather, and meteorites can also cause a tsunami.