A tsunami is a series of large ocean waves with extremely long wavelengths and high energy. These waves are typically generated by underwater disturbances, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, or even meteorite impacts, that displace a large volume of water. Tsunamis are sometimes referred to as “tidal waves,” although they have nothing to do with tides or the gravitational pull of the Moon.

Here’s how a tsunami typically forms and propagates:

1. Underwater Disturbance: The initial trigger for a tsunami can be an underwater earthquake along a tectonic plate boundary or a volcanic eruption. It can also be caused by a landslide into the ocean or an asteroid impact.
2. Water Displacement: The sudden movement of the Earth’s crust or a massive displacement of water, as in the case of a landslide, leads to a vertical displacement of the ocean’s surface. This disturbance creates a massive surge of water that moves outward in all directions.
3. Formation of Tsunami Waves: As the displaced water moves outward, it generates a series of waves that can travel across entire ocean basins. These waves are characterized by very long wavelengths (hundreds of kilometers) and relatively low amplitudes (heights) in deep water.
4. Wave Amplification: As the tsunami waves approach shallower coastal areas, their energy becomes concentrated, causing the waves to increase in height. This is when tsunamis can become extremely destructive.
5. Inundation: When a tsunami reaches the coastline, it can produce a rapid and powerful inundation of water onto the land. This can cause widespread flooding, destruction of coastal structures, and loss of life.

Tsunamis are known for their ability to travel long distances across open ocean at high speeds, often reaching speeds of 500 to 800 kilometers per hour (300 to 500 miles per hour) in deep water. Because of this, they can strike coastlines thousands of kilometers away from their source with relatively little warning.

To mitigate the devastating effects of tsunamis, many coastal regions have established warning systems and preparedness plans to evacuate people from vulnerable areas when a tsunami threat is detected. These systems rely on seismic monitoring, ocean buoys, and other technologies to detect potential tsunami-generating events and issue timely warnings to at-risk communities.