SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Tsunami is a two-character Japanese word. “Tsu” means “harbor,” and “”nami” means “wave.” So, the Japanese call tsunamis, “harbor waves.” Tsunamis happen after an earthquake strikes, either near or under the ocean floor. The earthquake displaces a large amount of water. Waves then move inland quickly and powerfully, often causing death and destruction.
Scientists say strong earthquakes under the sea are responsible for eighty to ninety percent of all tsunamis. Volcanic explosions can also cause a tsunami, as can a large piece of land sliding into the water. Tsunamis might also happen when a rock from space strikes the ocean. There have been three major tsunamis worldwide in the past eight years. A major tsunami usually happens only once every ten years.
A tsunami is not just one wave, but a series of waves. Some of the waves can...
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