Most tsunamis are triggered by under the sea. When two tectonic plates (the giant pieces of the Earth’s crust) suddenly slide past each other, a huge amount of water is pushed upwards. This creates the start of a tsunami.
Remarkably, while a tsunami is travelling in deep water, it is usually less than one metre high. Ships sailing on the ocean often do not even notice it passing beneath them.
Most tsunamis are triggered by under the ocean. When tectonic plates (the giant pieces of the Earth’s crust) suddenly slip past each other, a massive amount of energy is released. This energy pushes the entire column of water above it, creating a wave.