Tsunamis
![Still from an animation show how seafloor features influenced the March 11 japan tsunami.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bN8fsqeFVn6VPu8c57FviV-320-80.jpg)
Tsunamis are a series of massive waves that ripple out from the earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide or underwater detonation that caused them. These huge waves can travel thousands of miles across ocean basins. While out at sea, wave heights are small, but as a tsunami approaches shore, the rise of the continental slope means water levels are shallower, and the wave begins to narrow and become higher. Read below for the latest news on tsunamis and tsunami research.
Latest about Tsunami
![the tonga eruption, with a mushroom formation, as seen from space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTXHzxts4X82bmRTeZhuyU-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTXHzxts4X82bmRTeZhuyU-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTXHzxts4X82bmRTeZhuyU-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTXHzxts4X82bmRTeZhuyU-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTXHzxts4X82bmRTeZhuyU-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTXHzxts4X82bmRTeZhuyU-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTXHzxts4X82bmRTeZhuyU-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTXHzxts4X82bmRTeZhuyU-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
1st mega-tsunami on record since antiquity was triggered by Tonga volcanic eruption
By Charles Q. Choi published
The eruption was the most powerful natural explosion in over a century, triggering a tsunami hundreds of feet high.
![The 8.1-magnitude earthquake occurred at 8:28 a.m. local time near New Zealand's Kermadec Islands.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rdasDt4BVHGuHVPrQTSPKh-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rdasDt4BVHGuHVPrQTSPKh-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rdasDt4BVHGuHVPrQTSPKh-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rdasDt4BVHGuHVPrQTSPKh-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rdasDt4BVHGuHVPrQTSPKh-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rdasDt4BVHGuHVPrQTSPKh-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rdasDt4BVHGuHVPrQTSPKh-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rdasDt4BVHGuHVPrQTSPKh-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Powerful 8.1-magnitude earthquake off New Zealand triggers tsunami warnings
By Rachael Rettner last updated
The powerful earthquake occurred at 8:28 a.m. local time near New Zealand's Kermadec Islands.
![A magnitude-7.3 earthquake just hit Fukushima, with damaged pavement blocks on the ground in front of JR Fukushima Station, shown here on March 17, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hyDQW2Dg7oCu2QDS4y9L2N-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hyDQW2Dg7oCu2QDS4y9L2N-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hyDQW2Dg7oCu2QDS4y9L2N-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hyDQW2Dg7oCu2QDS4y9L2N-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hyDQW2Dg7oCu2QDS4y9L2N-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hyDQW2Dg7oCu2QDS4y9L2N-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hyDQW2Dg7oCu2QDS4y9L2N-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hyDQW2Dg7oCu2QDS4y9L2N-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Magnitude-7.3 earthquake strikes Fukushima, tsunami warning issued
By Ben Turner published
A tsunami warning has been issued for Fukushima after a powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the east coast of Japan, according to Japanese government officials.
![An aerial view of damage to Sukuiso, Japan, a week after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the area in March, 2011. Also this isn't likely to happen on the East Coast, it's not inconceivable.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zt3S7B7ouWwYdGmNrfjjse-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zt3S7B7ouWwYdGmNrfjjse-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zt3S7B7ouWwYdGmNrfjjse-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zt3S7B7ouWwYdGmNrfjjse-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zt3S7B7ouWwYdGmNrfjjse-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zt3S7B7ouWwYdGmNrfjjse-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zt3S7B7ouWwYdGmNrfjjse-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zt3S7B7ouWwYdGmNrfjjse-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Japan earthquake & tsunami of 2011: Facts and information
By Becky Oskin published
Facts and information about the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan.
![From its origin point in the South Atlantic, the 2021 tsunami sent ripples all over the world.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8EBfoPExUNfQ7N9DQCVgcK-320-80.jpeg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8EBfoPExUNfQ7N9DQCVgcK-450-80.jpeg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8EBfoPExUNfQ7N9DQCVgcK-500-80.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8EBfoPExUNfQ7N9DQCVgcK-650-80.jpeg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8EBfoPExUNfQ7N9DQCVgcK-840-80.jpeg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8EBfoPExUNfQ7N9DQCVgcK-970-80.jpeg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8EBfoPExUNfQ7N9DQCVgcK-1024-80.jpeg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8EBfoPExUNfQ7N9DQCVgcK-1200-80.jpeg 1200w)
'Invisible' earthquake caused mysterious 2021 tsunami, scientists find
By Ben Turner published
Scientists argue that we need to build better monitoring systems to spot earthquakes of this type.
![NOAA's GOES West satellite captured the explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, located in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x3eu4X9dATbbvzY64MmJmd-320-80.gif 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x3eu4X9dATbbvzY64MmJmd-450-80.gif 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x3eu4X9dATbbvzY64MmJmd-500-80.gif 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x3eu4X9dATbbvzY64MmJmd-650-80.gif 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x3eu4X9dATbbvzY64MmJmd-840-80.gif 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x3eu4X9dATbbvzY64MmJmd-970-80.gif 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x3eu4X9dATbbvzY64MmJmd-1024-80.gif 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x3eu4X9dATbbvzY64MmJmd-1200-80.gif 1200w)
4-foot tsunami hits Tonga after explosive eruption of underwater volcano
By Jeanna Bryner published
A tsunami triggered by the explosive eruption of the underwater Tonga volcano in the Pacific Ocean slammed the shoreline of the Pacific nation Saturday (Jan. 15).
![Doggerland once covered a vast swath of land between what is now the east coast of England and the European mainland.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9dbszfXos6rjZPqjycHFrh-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9dbszfXos6rjZPqjycHFrh-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9dbszfXos6rjZPqjycHFrh-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9dbszfXos6rjZPqjycHFrh-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9dbszfXos6rjZPqjycHFrh-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9dbszfXos6rjZPqjycHFrh-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9dbszfXos6rjZPqjycHFrh-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9dbszfXos6rjZPqjycHFrh-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Lost islands beneath the North Sea survived a mega-tsunami 8,000 years ago
By Tom Metcalfe published
Some ancient islands now submerged beneath the North Sea survived a devastating tsunami about 8,000 years ago and may have played a key part in Britain's human prehistory.
![Cascade, Barry and Coxe glaciers, Prince William Sound, Alaska](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QPz7onkujYSbyEAJLwdoYD-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QPz7onkujYSbyEAJLwdoYD-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QPz7onkujYSbyEAJLwdoYD-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QPz7onkujYSbyEAJLwdoYD-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QPz7onkujYSbyEAJLwdoYD-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QPz7onkujYSbyEAJLwdoYD-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QPz7onkujYSbyEAJLwdoYD-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QPz7onkujYSbyEAJLwdoYD-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Ice melt in Alaska threatens to unleash unprecedented 'mega-tsunami,' scientists warn
By Peter Dockrill published
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