LibGuides: Dynamic Earth: Tsunamis

How and Why

Tsunamis Facts and Information
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 they crash ashore.
Tsunami
Tsunami (pron: 'soo-nar-me') is a Japanese word: 'tsu' meaning harbour and 'nami' meaning wave. Tsunami are waves caused by sudden movement of the ocean surface due to earthquakes, landslides on the sea floor, land slumping into the ocean, large volcanic eruptions or meteorite impact in the ocean.
Tsunamis
Tsunamis are just long waves — really long waves. But what is a wave? Sound waves, radio waves, even “the wave” in a stadium all have something in common with the waves that move across oceans...

Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004
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Case Study - Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004
On 26 December 2004 there was a massive and sudden movement of the Earth’s crust under the Indian Ocean. This earthquake was recorded at magnitude 9 on the Richter Scale and as it happened under the ocean, caused a devastating sea wave called a tsunami.

2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami: Facts, FAQs, and How to Help
A powerful undersea earthquake that struck off the coast of Sumatra island, Indonesia, set off the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, also known as the Christmas or Boxing Day tsunami, on Sunday morning, Dec. 26, 2004.

Case Study: Tohoku, Japan
On 11 March 2011, a massive 9.0 earthquake occurred off the Japanese coastline at 14:46. The epicentre was 43 miles east of Tohoku at a depth of 20 miles. The earthquake lasted 6 minutes and caused a tsunami wave that reached heights of over 40 metres.
Japan Earthquake 2011 Case Study
An earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter Scale struck off Japan’s north-east coast, about 250 miles (400km) from Tokyo at a depth of 20 miles...

Tsunami: Japan Tsunami of 2011
The 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake near the coast of Japan created a
tsunami that sent destructive waves traveling across the Pacific Ocean.
Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami 2011 - Case Study
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Japan's Earthquake and Tsunami Case Study
The Japanese earthquake of Friday 11th March 2011 had a magnitude of 9 on the Richter scale. This is equivalent to the energy needed to power every home in the USA for 50 days. It was 600 million times more powerful than the Hiroshima nuclear bomb. The effects of the earthquake were devastating and compounded further by the tsunami (a massive tidal wave) that resulted from it.