Tsunami

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Tsunami

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For other uses, see Tsunami (disambiguation).

Tsunami striking Thailand on December 26, 2004A tsunami (津波?) (English

pronunciation: /(t)suːˈnɑːmi/) is a series of water waves (called a tsunami wave
train[1]) that is caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water,
such as an ocean. The original Japanese term literally translates as "harbor
wave." Tsunamis are a frequent occurrence in Japan; approximately 195 events
have been recorded.[2] Due to the immense volumes of water and energy
involved, tsunamis can devastate coastal regions. Casualties can be high
because the waves move faster than humans can run.

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions (detonations of

nuclear devices at sea), landslides and other mass movements, bolide impacts,
and other disturbances above or below water all have the potential to generate a
tsunami.

The Greek historian Thucydides was the first to relate tsunami to submarine
earthquakes,[3][4] but understanding of tsunami's nature remained slim until the
20th century and is the subject of ongoing research. Many early geological,
geographical, and oceanographic texts refer to tsunamis as "seismic sea waves."

Some meteorological conditions, such as deep depressions that cause tropical

cyclones, can generate a storm surge, called a meteotsunami, which can raise
tides several metres above normal levels. The displacement comes from low
atmospheric pressure within the centre of the depression. As these storm surges
reach shore, they may resemble (though are not) tsunamis, inundating vast
areas of land. Such a storm surge inundated Burma (Myanmar) in May 2008.