A tsunami can be generated by any disturbance that displaces a large water mass from its balanced position. In the case of earthquake-generated tsunamis, the water column is disturbed by the uplift or subsidence of the sea floor. Submarine landslides, which often accompany large earthquakes, as well as collapses of volcanic edifices, can also disturb the overlying water column as sediment and rock slump down slope and are redistributed across the sea floor. Similarly, a violent submarine volcanic eruption can create an impulsive force that uplifts the water column and generates a tsunami. Generally speaking, tsunamis generated from these mechanisms, unlike the Pacific-wide tsunamis caused by some earthquakes, dissipate quickly and rarely affect coastlines distant from the source area.
Throughout recorded history tsunamis have occurred that have radically impacted coastal communities. Here are all the major tsunamis in the world:
1946 Aleutian Tsunami
On April 1, 1946, at 12:29 GMT, an earthquake occurred in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. A Pacific-wide tsunami was triggered by the earthquake, which had a surface-wave magnitude of 7.8, an epicentre of 52.8° N, 163.5° W, and a focal depth of 25 km. Before the tsunami dissipated it took the lives of more than 165 people and cause over $26 million (1946 dollars) in damage.
1952 Kamchatka Peninsula Tsunami
On November 4, 1952, at 16:52 GMT, an earthquake occurred off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. A Pacific-wide tsunami was triggered by the earthquake, which had a surface-wave magnitude of 8.2, an epicenter of 52.8° N, 159.5° E, and a focal depth of 30 km. Six cows died and no human lives were lost in Hawaii where damage estimates ranged from $800,000- $1,000,000 (1952 dollars). The tsunami had caused severe damage to Kamchatka Peninsula and then proceeded throughout the pacific. Midway Island was inundated with 1 m of water, flooding streets and buildings. On the Hawaiian Islands the waves destroyed boats, knocked down telephone lines, destroyed piers, scoured beaches, and flooded lawns.
1957 Aleutian Tsunami
On March 9, 1957, at 14:22 GMT, an earthquake occurred south of the Andréa of Islands, in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. A Pacific-wide tsunami was triggered by the earthquake, which had a surface-wave magnitude of 8.3, an epicenter of 51.5° N, 175.7° W, and a focal depth of 33 km. Even though no lives were lost, the Hawaiian Islands suffered the greatest with damage costs approximately $5 million (1957 dollars).
1960 Chilean Tsunami
On May 22, 1960, at 19:11 GMT, an earthquake occurred off the coast of South Central Chile. A Pacific-wide tsunami was triggered by the earthquake, which had a surface-wave magnitude of 8.6, an epicenter of 39.5° S, 74.5° W, and a focal depth of 33 km. The number of fatalities associated with both the tsunami and the earthquake has been estimated to be between 490 to 2,290. Damage cost estimates were over a half billion dollars.
1964 Prince William Sound Tsunami
On March 28, 1964, at 03:28 GMT, an earthquake occurred in Prince William Sound of Alaska triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami. The earthquake had a surface-wave magnitude of 8.4, an epicenter of 61.1° N, 147.5° W, and a depth of 23 km. The earthquake, local tsunamis due to landslides, and the regional tsunami were responsible for taking the lives of more than 122 people and causing over $106 million in damage.
In conclusion earthquakes cause Tsunamis, which is started of by sliding plates in the earth. Tsunamis can do a tremendous amount of damage. They might look like a wave, but much more dangerous as you saw the damage caused in the those places situated in the map. Tsunamis are able to claim lives with its flooding techniques. Even though tsunamis lose most force when building up, they still have enormous power to destroy. In my opinion Tsunamis are highly hazardous waves that will terminate anything in its way, until it settles down.
