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Diagram showing how earthquakes can generate a tsunami. Tsunamis in lakes can be generated by fault displacement beneath or around lake systems. Faulting shifts the ground in a vertical motion through reverse, normal or oblique strike slip faulting processes, this displaces the water above causing a tsunami (Figure 1).
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami at Ao Nang, Krabi Province, Thailand. A tsunami (/(t) s uː ˈ n ɑː m i, (t) s ʊ ˈ-/ (t)soo-NAH-mee, (t)suu-; from Japanese: 津波, lit. 'harbour wave', pronounced) 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.
As early as 426 BC the Greek historian Thucydides inquired in his book History of the Peloponnesian War about the causes of tsunami, and was the first to argue that ocean earthquakes must be the cause. [12] [13] The oldest human record of a tsunami dates back to 479 BC, in the Greek colony of Potidaea, thought to be triggered by an earthquake.
As word of the eruption spread, government agencies on surrounding islands and in places as far away as New Zealand, Japan and even the U.S. West Coast issued tsunami warnings.
A tsunami hitting a coastline. This article lists notable tsunamis, which are sorted by the date and location that they occurred.. Because of seismic and volcanic activity associated with tectonic plate boundaries along the Pacific Ring of Fire, tsunamis occur most frequently in the Pacific Ocean, [1] but are a worldwide natural phenomenon.
Where a continental earthquake will cause damage and loss of life on land from fires, damaged structures, and flying objects; a submarine earthquake alters the seabed, resulting in a series of waves, and depending on the length and magnitude of the earthquake, tsunami, which bear down on coastal cities causing property damage and loss of life.
On August 29 at 05:00, a second and more violent eruption took place on the island and was followed–up by a large tsunami up to 90 m (300 ft). [3] [4] The tsunami engulfed many coastal villages and towns along the shores of the Sea of Japan. While the eruption itself did not result in any casualties, the ensuing tsunami drowned over 2,000 people.
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was a teletsunami.. A teletsunami (also called an ocean-wide tsunami, distant tsunami, distant-source tsunami, far-field tsunami, or trans-ocean tsunami) is a tsunami that originates from a distant source, defined as more than 1,000 km (620 mi) away or three hours' travel from the area of interest, [1] [2] sometimes travelling across an ocean.