What Is a Tsunami?

By Matthew Williams June 24, 2015
What Is a Tsunami?

The term tidal wave has also been used, which is derived from the most common appearance of a tsunami - an extraordinarily high tidal bore. However, in recent years, the term "tidal wave" has fallen out of favor with the scientific community because tsunami actually have nothing to do with tides, which are produced by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun rather than the displacement of water.

Matthew Williams

Matthew Williams

Matt Williams is a space journalist, science communicator, and author with several published titles and studies. His work is featured in The Ross 248 Project and Interstellar Travel edited by NASA alumni Les Johnson and Ken Roy. He also hosts the podcast series Stories from Space at ITSP Magazine. He lives in beautiful British Columbia with his wife and family. For more information, check out his website.