Tsunami Research

A tsunami is a series of waves generated by the sudden displacement of a large volume of water. They can be initiated by earthquakes, underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, or the impact of a meteorite.

Many scientists are studying tsunamis, partly to develop more accurate systems to warn people who live in coastal regions. Current research includes a numerical model of the devastating tsunamis that struck several coastlines in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. Observations were made of changes in sea height around the globe. These were used to estimate the speed and path by which the waves propagated around the oceans. In addition, the numerical model predicted the amplitudes of the waves in several regions.

Researchers have also modeled a tsunami that struck English Bay, Alaska in 1883. This tsunami was generated by the eruption of Mt. Augustine as a side of the volcano slid into the ocean and displaced a large volume of seawater.