Neotectonics at the Jackson School of Geosciences
Tsunamis
Identifying Causative Faults and Modeling the Resulting Wave
Tsunamis are large waves that are caused by an underwater earthquake or landslide. Understanding the tectonics of the area can help prevent damage that could be caused by an unexpected tsunami.
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The sudden motion from a landslide or a fault rupture resulting from an earthquake displaces water upwards, causing a tsunami. |
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Tsunamis can be extremely powerful and very dangerous. Notice the size of this boulder in Tonga that was thrown nearly 200 meters by a tsunami.
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Image sources:
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/tsunami-formation.gif.