When movement along a fault moves the seafloor upward, water is also pushed upward and becomes tsunami waves. As the waves approach shallower water, they become higher. Click on image for full size (38 Kb) NOAA

A tsunami is a series of waves generated in an ocean or other body of water by a disturbance such as an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption, or meteorite impact. The picture at the left shows how an earthquake can generate a tsunami in the overlying water.

Undersea earthquakes, which typically occur at boundaries between Earth’s tectonic plates, cause the water above to be moved up or down. Tsunami waves are formed as the displaced water, which acts under the influence of gravity, attempts to find a stable position again.

Undersea landslides, which can be caused by large earthquakes, can also cause tsunami waves to form as water attempts to find a stable position.

Undersea volcano eruptions can create enough force to uplift the water column and generate a tsunami.

Asteroid impacts disturb the water from above, as momentum from falling debris is transferred to the water into which the debris falls.

When movement along a fault moves the seafloor upward, water is also pushed upward and becomes tsunami waves. As the waves approach shallower water, they become higher. Click on image for full size (38 Kb) NOAA

A tsunami is a series of waves generated in an ocean or other body of water by a disturbance such as an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption, or meteorite impact. The picture at the left shows how an earthquake can generate a tsunami in the overlying water.

Undersea earthquakes, which typically occur at boundaries between Earth’s tectonic plates, cause the water above to be moved up or down. Tsunami waves are formed as the displaced water, which acts under the influence of gravity, attempts to find a stable position again.

Undersea landslides, which can be caused by large earthquakes, can also cause tsunami waves to form as water attempts to find a stable position.

Undersea volcano eruptions can create enough force to uplift the water column and generate a tsunami.

Asteroid impacts disturb the water from above, as momentum from falling debris is transferred to the water into which the debris falls.

When movement along a fault moves the seafloor upward, water is also pushed upward and becomes tsunami waves. As the waves approach shallower water, they become higher. Click on image for full size (38 Kb) NOAA

A tsunami is several large waves made in an ocean or other body of water by a disturbance. The disturbance could be from an earthquake, landslide, volcano, or meteorite. The picture at the left shows how an earthquake can make a tsunami in the water that lies above.

Earthquakes under the sea
Earthquakes happen when Earth’s tectonic plates move against each other. If an earthquake happens on the ocean floor, the water above can move as well. Tsunami waves are made as the water tries to find a stable position again.

Undersea landslides
Large earthquakes can cause these landslides. The landslide can also cause tsunami waves since the moving debris will cause water the move.

Undersea volcanoes
Did you know there were volcanoes under the sea? Sometimes a strong eruption from one of them can uplift the water above and generate a tsunami.

Asteroid impacts
Falling asteroids disturb the water from above, much like a stone falling into a pond (but much larger!).