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. [1] Such events are a result of relatively slow rupture velocities. They are particularly dangerous as a large ...

Sep 27, 2023 · November 1, 1755, Lisbon, Portugal - A magnitude 8.5 (estimated) earthquake in the Atlantic Ocean generated a tsunami that affected the coasts of Portugal, Spain, North Africa, and the Caribbean. The earthquake and tsunami killed an estimated 50,000 people and caused widespread destruction.

A tsunami triggered by an earthquake along the AASZ would cross the Pacific Ocean and cause extensive damage along highly populated U.S. coasts, with ports being...

Dec 26, 2024 · Tsunami, catastrophic ocean wave usually caused by a submarine earthquake, by a landslide, or by a volcanic eruption. In deep water it travels as fast as 800 km (500 miles) per hour, with enormous wavelengths of more than 500 km (310 miles) but small wave amplitudes of about 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet).

Dec 6, 2024 · About 80% of all known tsunamis are triggered by earthquakes. These seismic events move Earth's surface, displacing the water above and generating waves that rapidly travel in all directions across the ocean or body of water. Not all earthquakes create tsunamis.

A tsunami is a series of waves caused by earthquakes or undersea volcanic eruptions. On September 29, 2009, a tsunami caused substantial damage and loss of life in American Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga. The tsunami was generated by a …

Jul 15, 2020 · Learn about the earthquakes that triggered recent tsunami events, and watch computer simulations of each tsunami from different angles. Background information and links to our other tsunami research projects. Could It Happen Here? The scope of tsunami research within the USGS, however, is broader than the topics covered here.

Mar 27, 2013 · In most cases, the first sign of a potential tsunami is an earthquake. Seismic waves travel about 100 times faster than tsunamis, so information about an earthquake is available before information about any tsunami it may have generated.

Apr 2, 2007 · A tsunami is a series of great sea waves caused by an underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption. More rarely, a tsunami can be generated by a giant meteor impact with the ocean.

The tsunami generated by the M 8.8 earthquake carried many boats onto land - in some cases hundreds of meters inland. The tsunami wave height at this location in Concepcion Harbor (Talcahuano), Chile was about 4-5 meters (12-15 feet).