Tsunamis

Tsunamis are a series of massive waves that ripple out from the earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide or underwater detonation that caused them. These huge waves can travel thousands of miles across ocean basins. While out at sea, wave heights are small, but as a tsunami approaches shore, the rise of the continental slope means water levels are shallower, and the wave begins to narrow and become higher. Read below for the latest news on tsunamis and tsunami research.

Related Topics: Earthquakes, Natural Disasters, Ocean, Volcanoes

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An illustration of an asteroid streaking toward Earth. The asteroid that hit Earth about 66 million years ago triggered a tsunami with mile-high waves.

Tsunami from dinosaur-killing asteroid had mile-high waves and reached halfway across the world

By Laura Geggel published

The dinosaur-killing asteroid triggered mile-high monster waves and waters that reached the world over.

Diagram of plate tectonics showing subduction zone

What is a subduction zone?

By Michael Dhar published

A subduction zone is a collision between two of Earth's tectonic plates, where one plate sinks into the mantle underneath the other plate.

A magnitude-7.3 earthquake just hit Fukushima, with damaged pavement blocks on the ground in front of JR Fukushima Station, shown here on March 17, 2022.

Magnitude-7.3 earthquake strikes Fukushima, tsunami warning issued

By Ben Turner published

A tsunami warning has been issued for Fukushima after a powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the east coast of Japan, according to Japanese government officials.

An aerial view of damage to Sukuiso, Japan, a week after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the area in March, 2011. Also this isn't likely to happen on the East Coast, it's not inconceivable.

Japan earthquake & tsunami of 2011: Facts and information

By Becky Oskin published

Facts and information about the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan.

From its origin point in the South Atlantic, the 2021 tsunami sent ripples all over the world.

'Invisible' earthquake caused mysterious 2021 tsunami, scientists find

By Ben Turner published

Scientists argue that we need to build better monitoring systems to spot earthquakes of this type.

NOAA's GOES West satellite captured the explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, located in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga.

4-foot tsunami hits Tonga after explosive eruption of underwater volcano

By Jeanna Bryner last updated

A tsunami triggered by the explosive eruption of the underwater Tonga volcano in the Pacific Ocean slammed the shoreline of the Pacific nation Saturday (Jan. 15).

Epic 'Terminator' Events Could Result in Gargantuan Solar Tsunamis, New Studies Suggest

By Brandon Specktor published

What causes the sun's 11-year cycle of sunspot activity? According to two new studies, it could be literal tsunamis of plasma.

Asteroid hitting Earth

Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Triggered Mile-High Tsunami That Spread Through Earth's Oceans

By Laura Geggel last updated

In this aerial image, self-defense force members extinguish fire in debris after the tsunami triggered by the magnitude-7.8 earthquake hit Okushiri Island on July 13, 1993.

The Weird Reason 'Tsunami Fires' Broke Out After Japan Earthquake

By Mindy Weisberger published

Here's why the ocean appeared white and bubbling after a tsunami hit Okushiri Island.

Mount Etna

Mount Etna's Slide into the Sea Could Trigger a Catastrophic Collapse

By Stephanie Pappas published

New research raises questions about Mount Etna's dangers.

Indonesian earthquake

Photos: The Devastating Damage from Indonesia Earthquake and Tsunami

By Live Science Staff published

More than 1,200 are estimated to be dead after a powerful earthquake and tsunami ravaged the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

Survivors ride past debris in a devastated area in Palu, in Central Sulawesi, on Oct. 1, 2018, after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit the area on Sept. 28.

7.5-Magnitude Earthquake and Tsunami Devastate Indonesia

By Yasemin Saplakoglu last updated

Rescue efforts continue.

A massive landslide struck Alaska's Tyndall Glacier in 2015.

Warnings Abounded Before Massive Alaska Landslide and Tsunami

By Stephanie Pappas published

A 2015 landslide and tsunami in Alaska came after two decades of warning signs.

The seafloor along the San Mateo County coast, color-coded for depth (reds = shallower, towards the right, blues = deeper, towards the upper left).

Sea Slime Can Trigger 65-Foot Mega-Tsunamis

By Charles Q. Choi published

The corpses of these tiny creatures ooze out a slimy layer that may explain catastrophic undersea landslides and tsunamis.

A major earthquake hit Alaska, about 163 miles (262 kilometers) southeast of Chiniak and 360 miles (578 km) south of Anchorage, on Jan. 23, 2018.

Major Earthquake Strikes Off Alaska

By Megan Gannon published

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Kodiak, Alaska, this morning. A tsunami warning is in effect for parts of Alaska and British Columbia, Canada.

This 6,000-Year-Old Skull May Be from Earliest Known Tsunami Victim

By Mindy Weisberger published

A 6,000-year-old skull found in what is now Papua New Guinea may be the first evidence of a tsunami victim.

In 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Japan and unleashed a massive and deadly tsunami.

Seismic Zone Off Alaska Could Trigger Massive Earthquake and Tsunami

By Charles Q. Choi published

A so-called seismic zone off the coast of Alaska could trigger deadly tsunamis like the one that caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011, a new study finds.

A wild boar is caught in a trap near a residential area in an evacuation zone close to the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture, Japan, on Feb. 28, 2017.

New Fukushima Worry: Potentially Radioactive Wild Boars Settle In

By Kacey Deamer published

The boars are barring people from returning home.

Chistchurch earthquake (New Zealand, 2011)

Biggest Natural Disasters of 2016: Year of the Earthquake

By Kacey Deamer published

Here are some of the headline-grabbing natural disasters that occurred this year.

Asteroid Tsunami still

If an Asteroid Hits the Ocean, Does It Make a Tsunami? (Probably Not)

By Ian O'Neill published

A complex computer simulation has modeled the impact of an asteroid in the ocean and the results may surprise you.