Tsunami

Tsunami 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.

Etymology

The term tsunami is a borrowing from the Japanese tsunami 津波, meaning "harbour wave". For the plural, one can either follow ordinary English practice and add an s, or use an invariable plural as in the Japanese.

Generation mechanisms

Tsunamis are generated by any large, impulsive displacement of the sea level. The largest of these disturbances are usually a result of earthquakes, but landslides, volcanic eruptions, calving icebergs, and meteorite impacts can also generate a tsunami.

Characteristics

When the wave enters shallow water, it slows down and its amplitude (height) increases. The wave further slows and amplifies as it hits land. Only the largest tsunamis reach the shore as anything more than a gentle swell.

Tsunami warning systems

The Pacific Tsunami Warning System is based in Hawaii and provides warnings for tsunamis to most countries in the Pacific Ocean as well as to the Hawaii and all other US interests in the Pacific outside of Alaska and the US West Coast. Those areas are served by the National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska.

See also

• Earthquake
• Seismic wave
• Tsunami warning system

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