Earth

How do earthquakes make tsunamis?

A tsunami starts when the seafloor suddenly pushes a huge amount of water. If an undersea earthquake lifts or drops the seafloor, the water above is shoved out of place. That energy travels across the ocean as long waves, which grow taller when they reach shallow coastlines.

Illustration of earthquakes make tsunamis for the question "How do earthquakes make tsunamis?"
Public mode