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Tsunami - what are they?
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Tsunami is the Japanese word used as the scientific term for seismic sea
waves. These are large, ocean waves generated by an undersea earthquake.
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The wave is though to be triggered when the ocean floor is tilted or offset
during the earthquake.
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Another possible cause is an undersea landslide or a volcanic eruption.
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Most tsunami originate along the "Ring of Fire" - a zone of vlocanos in the
Pacific Ocean.
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Tsunami - the damage they cause
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These towering walls of water have struck populated coastlines with such
violent force that entire towns have been destroyed.
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In 1886 Sanriku, Japan, which had a population of 20,000, suffered from such
a devastating tsunami.
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In 1998 Aitape in New Guinea was completely destroyed by a tsunami and the
whole population had to move away from the lagoon because the bodies of
people and animals made the water and land unsafe.
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