The biggest tsunami in history

2001/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ozeanografia

According to a study by scientists from the University of California and the Benfield Grieg Risk Research Center, the eruption on the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands can lead to a gigantic movement of land that could lead to the American Atlantic coast and giant waves that can cause parts of Africa and Europe. If it did, it would be the largest tsunami ever.

They are large, large-scale, short-term waves caused by the Tsunami in any seabed process. Although in most cases they occur due to tidal waves, submarine or volcanic eruptions can also occur. They can reach speeds higher than 950 km/h and, although they have negligible heights in the high seas, they can reach 30 m of height when approaching the coast (sometimes hundreds of kilometers from their origin). Therefore, tsunamis are often very destructive on the coast.