Portal:Tsunamis

The Tsunami portal

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami at Ao Nang, Krabi Province, Thailand

A tsunami (/(t)suːˈnɑːmi, (t)sʊˈ-/ (t)soo-NAH-mee, (t)suu-; from Japanese: 津波, lit. 'harbour wave', pronounced [tsɯnami]) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions (including detonations, landslides, glacier calvings, meteorite impacts and other disturbances) above or below water all have the potential to generate a tsunami. 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.

Selected article

This article lists notable tsunamis, which are sorted by the date and location that they occurred. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Events that can cause a tsunami

In seismology, a tsunami earthquake is an earthquake which triggers a tsunami of significantly greater magnitude, as measured by shorter-period seismic waves. The term was introduced by Japanese seismologist Hiroo Kanamori in 1972. Such events are a result of relatively slow rupture velocities. They are particularly dangerous as a large tsunami may arrive at a coastline with little or no warning. (Full article...)

List of events articles
Earthquake Submarine earthquake Submarine eruption Landslide Glacier calving Meteorite impact

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General images

The following are images from various tsunami-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Plate slips, causing subsidence and releasing energy into water. (from Tsunami)
Image 2When the wave enters shallow water, it slows down and its amplitude (height) increases. (from Tsunami)
Image 3One of the deep water buoys used in the DART tsunami warning system (from Tsunami)
Image 4Japanese Tsunami warning sign (from Tsunami warning system)
Image 5Figure 1: Diagram showing how earthquakes can generate a tsunami. (from Tsunamis in lakes)
Image 6Calculated travel time map for the 1964 Alaska tsunami (in hours) (from Tsunami)
Image 7A seawall at Tsu, Mie Prefecture in Japan
Image 8Mast with warning system, and sign detailing escape routes, on the coast of Okumatsushima, Miyagi prefecture, Japan (this coast was severely hit by the 2011 tsunami) (from Tsunami warning system)
Image 9Evacuation route sign on the pavement in Kamakura, Japan (from Tsunami warning system)
Image 10Tsunami aftermath in Aceh, Indonesia, December 2004 (from Tsunami)
Image 11An illustration of the rhythmic "drawback" of surface water associated with a wave. It follows that a very large drawback may herald the arrival of a very large wave. (from Tsunami)
Image 12Drawing of tectonic plate boundary before earthquake (from Tsunami)
Image 13Evacuation route sign in a low-lying coastal area on the West Coast of the United States (from Tsunami warning system)
Image 14The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami at Ao Nang, Krabi Province, Thailand (from Tsunami)
Image 15Over-riding plate bulges under strain, causing tectonic uplift. (from Tsunami)
Image 16The wave further slows and amplifies as it hits land. Only the largest waves crest. (from Tsunami)
Image 17Diagram showing several measures to describe a tsunami size, including height, inundation and run-up (from Tsunami)
Image 18Tsunami warning system in East Timor (from Tsunami warning system)
Image 19The energy released produces tsunami waves. (from Tsunami)
Image 20Satellite image of Lake Kivu (from Tsunamis in lakes)
Image 21Lisbon earthquake and tsunami in November 1755 (from Tsunami)
Image 22Tsunami Early Warning Tower board in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka (from Tsunami warning system)

Selected tsunami article

A convoy of fire engines in the tsunami zone

The aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami included both a humanitarian crisis and massive economic impacts. The tsunami created over 300,000 refugees in the Tōhoku region of Japan, and resulted in shortages of food, water, shelter, medicine and fuel for survivors. 15,900 deaths have been confirmed. In response to the crisis, the Japanese government mobilized the Self-Defence Forces, while many countries sent search and rescue teams to help search for survivors. Aid organizations both in Japan and worldwide also responded, with the Japanese Red Cross reporting $1 billion in donations. The economic impact included both immediate problems, with industrial production suspended in many factories, and the longer term issue of the cost of rebuilding which has been estimated at ¥10 trillion (US$122 billion). (Full article...)

Selected tsunami articles

In the news

3 April 2024 – 2024 Hualien earthquake: A magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes off the coast of Taiwan, prompting tsunami warnings for Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. A large section of the uninhabited Guishan Island collapses into the ocean. Nine people are killed in Taiwan, including four by rockfalls, with more than 930 others injured. (AP) (Al Jazeera)