Tsunamis primarily form due to underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides that displace a large volume of water. This displacement generates a series of waves that can travel vast distances at high speeds, sometimes exceeding 500 miles per hour in deep water, but can grow significantly in height as they approach shore due to shallower ocean depths. The resulting waves can cause catastrophic flooding, damaging infrastructure, and leading to loss of life when they inundate coastal areas [1][3][4][5][6][7][9].

How do tsunamis form and their effects?

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How do tsunamis form?

A map of the Earth visualizing the expected tsunami wave heights from the March 2011 Honshu, Japan earthquake. The highest tsunamis are in the area immediately surrounding the earthquake, but tsunamis reached all the way across the Pacific Ocean to the North and South American coast. (Image credit: NOAA Center for Tsunami Research)

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How do tsunamis form and their effects?

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