Tsunamis
A tsunami is a series of huge ocean waves caused by undersea earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruptions.
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A tsunami is a series of huge ocean waves caused by undersea earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruptions.
- Waves travel at jet speeds across oceans
- Warning systems give time to evacuate
- The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was devastating
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Tsunamis?
Within Earth & Environmental Science, which covers our planet, its resources and ecosystems, and how people can protect the environment, this topic explains Tsunamis. Earth and environment topics show how the planet’s systems shape landscapes, climate and life, with models that make these processes visible.
Check that you can explain Tsunamis in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Tsunamis helps you explain the environment around you and weigh up how people can protect it.
Tsunamis in detail
A tsunami is a series of very long ocean waves caused by a sudden displacement of water, usually by an undersea earthquake at a subduction zone, and also by volcanic eruptions, landslides or meteorite impacts. In deep water, a tsunami travels at up to 800 km/h with a small height, but as it reaches shallow water, it slows and grows into a huge wave that can flood far inland.
Examples include the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed over 200,000 people, and the 2011 Japan tsunami. A warning sign is the sea receding suddenly. Detection systems such as buoys and seismometers, warning systems, evacuation routes, education, coastal forests and defences reduce risk.
How the interactive helps you understand Tsunamis
Watch the tectonic plates in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the tectonic plates responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Tsunamis.
Real-life uses and examples
- Use a diagram of Tsunamis to describe the steps of a process in order.
- Discuss how human activity changes Tsunamis, using a named example.
- Explain how Tsunamis affects the landscape or climate near you.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing a process without the timescale it works over.
- Presenting one cause as the only cause of an environmental change.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Tsunamis
What is Tsunamis?
A tsunami is a series of huge ocean waves caused by undersea earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruptions.
What are the most important points about Tsunamis?
The main points are: Waves travel at jet speeds across oceans; Warning systems give time to evacuate; The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was devastating.
Why is Tsunamis useful?
Understanding Tsunamis helps you explain the environment around you and weigh up how people can protect it.
How can I practise Tsunamis?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Tsunamis?
Related topics in Earth & Environmental Science include Green Technology, Environmental Monitoring and Fieldwork, Environmental Careers.