Tsunamis are long-wavelength, low-amplitude sea waves generated by large, impulsive disturbances of the ocean, most commonly co-seismic seafloor displacement along subduction zones, but also volcanic eruptions, landslides, or submarine mass failures. They propagate as shallow-water gravity waves with phase speeds governed primarily by ocean depth, enabling rapid trans-oceanic travel with minimal energy loss. In deep water they exhibit small surface amplitudes and long periods (minutes to tens of minutes), amplifying dramatically through shoaling, refraction, and resonance effects on continental shelves and in coastal basins. Scientific research focuses on source characterization, wave propagation modeling, inundation mapping, and hazard assessment for early warning and coastal risk mitigation.
As earthquakes struck from California to Venezuela to Japan, millions of people received warnings on their mobile phones, providing critical seconds to seek protection.
Earth Sciences
Jun 26, 2026
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In 1938 and 1944, two major hurricanes struck Long Island, and after the initial winds subsided, the surges came back unexpectedly hours later, leading observers to wonder whether this was a tsunami. In a study appearing ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 23, 2026
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A 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook part of central Indonesia's Sulawesi island Tuesday, injuring at least eight people, causing scattered damage and rattling residents of a city devastated by a quake and tsunami eight years ...
Environment
Jun 16, 2026
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Following the devastating urban fire that broke out in Wajima City after Japan's 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, investigators struggled to identify a clear ignition source, despite widespread destruction and unusual reports ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 9, 2026
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On the evening of Aug. 9, 2025, passengers on the Hanse Explorer finished taking selfies and videos of the South Sawyer Glacier, and the ship headed back down the fjord. Twelve hours later, a landslide from the adjacent mountain ...
Earth Sciences
May 10, 2026
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On July 29, 2025, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake occurred near the Kamchatka Peninsula. It was so powerful that it ranks as the sixth-largest earthquake ever recorded by modern instruments. Using this giant earthquake as a learning ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 30, 2026
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A 7.7 magnitude earthquake Monday off northern Japan sparked a short-lived tsunami alert and an advisory of a slightly higher risk of a possible megaquake for its coastal areas.
Environment
Apr 21, 2026
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An earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 off northern Japan on Monday prompted a short-lived tsunami alert and the advisory of a higher risk of a possible mega-quake for coastal areas there.
Environment
Apr 20, 2026
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Mangrove forests are natural wonders that protect coastal areas, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. They are able to dissipate wave energy and limit flooding, which can even mitigate tsunamis and coastal inundations ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 3, 2026
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Improving tsunami hazard assessments depends on understanding what happens at the moment an earthquake ruptures beneath the seafloor, especially near deep-ocean trenches where measurements are often scarce. When a powerful ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 26, 2026
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