A tsunami (from Japanese: 津波, "harbour wave";[1] English pronunciation: /tsuːˈnɑːmi/ tsoo-

NAH-mee[2]) or tidal wave, also known as a seismic sea wave, 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.[3] Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions (including detonations
of underwater nuclear devices), landslides, glacier calvings, meteorite impacts and other
disturbances above or below water all have the potential to generate a tsunami.[4] Unlike normal
ocean waves, which are generated by wind, or tides, which are generated by the gravitational pull
of the Moon and the Sun, a tsunami is generated by the displacement of water.

Tsunami waves do not resemble normal undersea currents or sea waves because their wavelength
is far longer.[5] Rather than appearing as a breaking wave, a tsunami may instead initially
resemble a rapidly rising tide. For this reason, it is often referred to as a "tidal wave", although
this usage is not favoured by the scientific community as tsunamis are not tidal. Tsunamis
generally consist of a series of waves, with periods ranging from minutes to hours, arriving in a
so-called "internal wave train".[6] Wave heights of tens of metres can be generated by large
events. Although the impact of tsunamis is limited to coastal areas, their destructive power can
be enormous, and they can affect entire ocean basins. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was
among the deadliest natural disasters in human history, with at least 230,000 people killed or
missing in 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean.

The Ancient Greek historian Thucydides suggested in his 5th century BC History of the
Peloponnesian War that tsunamis were related to submarine earthquakes,[7][8] but the
understanding of tsunamis remained slim until the 20th century and much remains unknown.
Major areas of current research include determining why some large earthquakes do not generate
tsunamis while other smaller ones do; accurately forecasting the passage of tsunamis across the
oceans; and forecasting how tsunami waves interact with shorelines.

Effect

The effects of a tsunami are devastating. They are one of the world's worst natural disasters that
can hit a country.

Tsunami damage is first caused by the immense force of the tidal wave hitting the shoreline.
Tsunami flooding then continues to cause damage for several more weeks.

The effects of the tsunami on the country during this period range from destruction and
damage, death, injury, millions of dollars in financial loss, and long lasting psychological
problems for the inhabitants of the region.

The initial impact of the tsunami is often publicised across the world through the news media.
However, the actual effects continue for many years after the natural disaster strikes.

For many of the people affected, they will never forget the terrifying ordeal of being caught in a
tsunami. The scars that are inflicted on the land can be present for decades to come, and this only
serves as a reminder to people living in the area of the terrible losses caused by the tsunami, and
the lingering danger that yet another killer tidal wave could strike at any moment with very little
warning.

Causes

A tsunami is a series of large waves generated by an abrupt movement on the ocean floor that can
result from an earthquake, an underwater landslide, a volcanic eruption or - very rarely - a large
meteorite strike.

However, powerful undersea earthquakes are responsible for most tsunamis. Seismologists say only
earthquakes measuring greater than 7.0 on the Richter scale can produce a major tsunami.

Most earthquakes that generate tsunamis - including Friday's jolt off Japan's eastern coast - occur in
areas called subduction zones, where pieces of the Earth's crust press against each other. Subduction
means that one tectonic plate slides beneath another and sinks deep into the Earth's mantle.

The friction between two slow-moving plates of the Earth's crust creates vast amounts of seismic energy
which is released in the form of an earthquake. When a strong undersea earthquake strikes a relatively
short distance below the sea floor, it abruptly pushes up one of the immense plates of the Earth's crust.
That suddenly displaces an enormous amount of ocean water which becomes a tsunami, spreading
outward in every direction from the epicenter of an earthquake - like ripples on a pond, only on a much
larger scale.

Tsunamis generated in the open ocean appear to be only small waves, but they can grow rapidly in size
as they reach shallow water before crashing into seacoast settlements. Waves up to nine meters high
have been recorded on numerous occasions, and tsunamis up to 30 meters high are believed to have
occurred in the past.

Damage is usually worst in areas closest to the undersea quake, often because the fast-moving waves
will hit land so quickly. Tsunamis radiate out from the site of an undersea quake nearly as fast as a jet
airliner can travel, but because the expanse of the Pacific is so wide, alert systems are in place to sound
a warning to those in the path of an advancing wave.

Precautions

 To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family
communications plan.
o Talk to everyone in your household about what to do if a tsunami occurs. Create
and practice an evacuation plan for your family. Familiarity may save your life.
Be able to follow your escape route at night and during inclement weather.
Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring
less thinking during an actual emergency.
o If the school evacuation plan requires you to pick your children up from school or
from another location. Be aware telephone lines during a tsunami alert may be
overloaded and routes to and from schools may be jammed.
o Knowing your community's warning systems and disaster plans, including
evacuation routes.
 If you are a tourist, familiarize yourself with local tsunami evacuation protocols. If you
are concerned that you will not be able to reach a safe place in time, ask your local
emergency management office about vertical evacuation. Some strong (e.g., reinforced
concrete) and tall buildings may be able to provide protection if no other options are
available.
 If an earthquake occurs and you are in a coastal area, turn on your radio to learn if there is
a tsunami warning.