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TSUNAMI

A tsunami is a series of waves created when a body of water, such as an ocean, is rapidly displaced by an earthquake, volcanic eruption or other underwater explosion, landslide, or other large impact. Nuclear weapon tests at sea have the potential to generate a tsunami. The effects of a tsunami can range from unnoticeable to devastating.

A tsunami wave has a short height compared to its very long length, often hundreds of miles long. This is why tsunamis can be difficult to see from the land or air.

Learn more by downloading bay area map and tsunami brochure.

Find out more about tsunamis at Ready.gov.

See Frequently Asked Questions about tsunamis at NOAA.gov.