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

The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System was set up to provide warning to inhabitants of nations bordering the Indian Ocean of approaching tsunamis. The tsunami warning system has been in use since the mid-2000s. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Events that can cause a tsunami

A submarine, undersea, or underwater earthquake is an earthquake that occurs underwater at the bottom of a body of water, especially an ocean. They are the leading cause of tsunamis. The magnitude can be measured scientifically by the use of the moment magnitude scale and the intensity can be assigned using the Mercalli intensity scale. (Full article...)

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

Selected tsunami article

Scene of destruction in Carita Beach, Banten after the tsunami struck

The 2018 Sunda strait tsunami (Indonesian: Tsunami Selat Sunda 2018) occurred on 22 December 2018 at around 21:38 local time after large parts of the southwestern side of Anak Krakatoa collapsed onto its caldera. The landslide spawned a massive tsunami wave that struck multiple coastal regions in Banten and Lampung, including the popular tourist destination of Anyer. (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)