A tsunami is a catastrophic ocean wave that is usually caused by a submarine earthquake, an underwater or coastal landslide, or the eruption of a volcano. Tsunamis can also result from …

Dec 6, 2024 · Large earthquakes below or near the ocean floor are the most common cause, but landslides, volcanic activity, certain types of weather and meteorites can also cause tsunamis.

Jul 30, 2025 · Tsunamis form when a sudden event, like an undersea earthquake, displaces a large volume of water. Their size can vary greatly depending on factors. Tsunamis are most …

Here’s how one of Earth’s most destructive forces come to be, in five steps. A tsunami begins far offshore, with an earthquake, volcanic eruption or landslide. The sudden movement on the …

Oct 3, 2018 · Tsunamis are most often caused by underwater earthquakes. Climate change is making them worse.

The small number of tsunamis that do break often form vertical walls of turbulent water called bores. Tsunamis will often travel much farther inland than normal waves.

Dec 18, 2025 · When vertical displacement exceeds several meters across fault ruptures spanning more than 100 kilometers, massive volumes of seawater are lifted or dropped …

Jun 15, 2025 · In deep water, a tsunami may pass beneath a ship as a barely noticeable swell. But as the wave reaches the continental shelf near land, it rises—sometimes into a towering …

Sep 1, 2025 · A tsunami is a series of powerful ocean waves caused by a large and sudden displacement of a significant volume of water. Unlike typical wind-generated waves that only …

Mar 10, 2024 · A tsunami is a massive, fast-moving wave created by an underwater earthquake or landslide. Displaced ocean water creates waves with speeds of up to 500 miles per hour.