Tsunami Study Challenges Long-held Formation Theory
A new NASA study is challenging a long-held theory on how tsunamis form and offering a new method for forecasting the powerful waves.
Most tsunamis result from a massive shifting of the seafloor -- usually from the subduction, or sliding, of one tectonic plate under another during an earthquake.
Using a large wave tank, researchers simulated horizontal land displacements and found that it can contribute significantly to the strength of some tsunamis.
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
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Producer
- Kathryn Mersmann (USRA)
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Writer
- Samson K. Reiny (Wyle Information Systems)
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Scientist
- Yuhe Song (NASA/JPL CalTech)
Release date
This page was originally published on Wednesday, April 26, 2017.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:47 PM EDT.