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Tsunamis are giant waves formed in the ocean due to underwater disturbances, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and even asteroid impacts. Unlike common waves caused by wind, tsunamis are generated by the abrupt displacement of a large mass of water.
How is a Tsunami Formed?
Initial Event – ​​An underwater earthquake is the most common cause of tsunamis. When there is a sudden movement in the Earth's crust under the ocean, the ocean floor can rise or sink, displacing huge volumes of water.
Wave Propagation – After the water has moved, seismic waves spread rapidly in all directions, reaching speeds of up to 800 km/h in the open sea.
Increase in Height – In the open sea, waves can be just a few centimeters high and go unnoticed. However, as they approach the coast, where the depth decreases, the speed slows down and the accumulated energy causes the waves to grow, reaching heights of over 30 metres.
Impact on the Coast – The tsunami hits the land with enormous force, flooding coastal areas, destroying buildings and sweeping away everything in its path. Often, there is a sudden retreat of the sea before the waves arrive, which can be a warning sign.

Earthquakes, also called seismic events, are natural phenomena characterized by tremors on the Earth's surface, caused by the movement of tectonic plates. These events can occur anywhere in the world, but are most common in regions located along geological faults, where the Earth's crustal plates meet.
Earthquakes are caused by the accumulation of tension in underground rocks due to the movement of tectonic plates. When this tension reaches a limit, a sudden release of energy occurs, resulting in seismic waves that propagate through the ground. The underground point where the rupture occurs is called the hypocenter, while the area directly above, on the surface, is the epicenter, where tremors are usually most intense.
Earthquakes can range from small, barely noticeable tremors to devastating earthquakes, capable of causing destruction of buildings, tsunamis and other natural disasters. The intensity of earthquakes is measured by scales such as the Richter scale (ranging from 0 to 10), which assesses magnitude, and the Mercalli scale (ranging from I (imperceptible) to XII (total destruction)), which measures the effects of the tremor.
Experts use seismographs to monitor seismic activity and try to predict possible tremors.