Tsunami occurring prior to the historical record or for which there are no written observations. Paleotsunami research is based primarily on the identification, mapping, and dating of tsunami deposits found in coastal areas, and their correlation with similar sediments found elsewhere locally, regionally, or across ocean basins.

A steep, turbulent, rapidly moving wave front that typically occurs in river mouths or estuaries; bottom friction slows the advancing wave front, and water piles up behind to produce a nearly vertical bore face.

An instrument for the early detection, measurement, and real-time reporting of tsunamis in the open ocean. Developed by the US NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental laboratory, the DART system consists of a seafloor bottom pressure recording system capable of detecting tsunamis, and a moored surface buoy for real-time communications. An acoustic link t [..]

The point on the earth's surface directly above the location in the earth (focus) where an earthquake originates.

A drawing or representation that outlines danger zones and designates limits beyond which people must be evacuated to avoid harm from tsunami waves.

The maximum horizontal distance inland that a tsunami penetrates.

A tsunami that originates close to home, ie., from a nearby source for which its destructive effects occur to coasts within about 100 km (or, alternatively, less than 1 hour tsunami travel time).

The average height of the sea-surface.

The theory that the earth's surface is divided into a number of rigid plates that are either converging, diverging, or slipping past one another; these motions generate volcanism and earthquakes along the plate boundaries.

Tsunamis are relatively rare events and most their evidence is perishable. Therefore, it is very important that reconnaissance surveys be organized and carried out quickly and thoroughly after each tsunami occurs, to collect detailed data valuable for hazard assessment, model validation, and other aspects of tsunami mitigation. This data includes m [..]