Once and Future Tsunamis

  • By Lexi Krock
  • Posted 03.29.05
  • NOVA

All tsunamis are big events. Their fuel is a major geologic disturbance—a landslide, volcanic eruption, earthquake, or even meteor impact—that displaces huge amounts of water. But some tsunamis are bigger than others, either in terms of destructive power or because of what they tell scientists about the nature of catastrophic waves. With this map, explore key tsunamis dating from 3.5 billion years ago to a possible future disaster.

Launch Interactive Printable Version

With our world map, explore eight of the deadliest tsunamis of the past and see where the next big one could strike.

This feature originally appeared on the site for the NOVA program Wave That Shook the World.

Credits

Images

(3.5 billion years ago)
© Dr. Gary Byerly, LSU Geology Department
(1645 B.C.)
© NASA
(1700)
© Dr. Brian Atwater, University of Washington
(1883)
© Corbis Images
(1946)
© NOAA
(1958)
© Corbis Images
(1960)
Copyright NOAA
(2004)
© NASA
(Future)
© USGS

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