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.

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Aceh Tsunami Museum

The Aceh Tsunami Museum, located in Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia, is a museum designed as a symbolic reminder of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster, as well as an educational center and an emergency disaster shelter in case the area is ever hit by a tsunami again. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Events that can cause a tsunami

An earthquake – also called a quake, tremor, or temblor – is the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they cannot be felt, to those violent enough to propel objects and people into the air, damage critical infrastructure, and wreak destruction across entire cities. The seismic activity of an area is the frequency, type, and size of earthquakes experienced over a particular time. The seismicity at a particular location in the Earth is the average rate of seismic energy release per unit volume. (Full article...)

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

Selected tsunami article

The 2010 Mentawai earthquake occurred with a moment magnitude of 7.8 on 25 October off the western coast of Sumatra at 21:42 local time (14:42 UTC). The earthquake occurred on the same fault that produced the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. It was widely felt across the provinces of Bengkulu and West Sumatra and resulted in a substantial localized tsunami that struck the Mentawai Islands. (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)