Our tsunami scientists work on international teams to study the aftermath of tsunamis around the world, to gain a better understanding the impact of potential tsunamis on coastal communities of the United States. Their work helps inform local, state, and federal coastal planning, protection, and resiliency.
Japan tsunami, March 11, 2011
![Next to a road, a tall, two-story structure stands heavily damaged and ripped to shreds with a smashed upside-down boat.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/Japan2011Natori-damage-10m_1.jpg?itok=PttdSosj)
Includes older field photos from before the big tsunami (April 2010); eyewitness accounts in California after the tsunami had propagated across the Pacific (March 11, 2011); and reports from USGS scientists who visited Japan after the tsunami (May 2011).
Samoa and American Samoa tsunami, September 29, 2009
![Image: Tsunami Recovery in American Samoa](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/06_Bruce_Jaffe_standing_next_to_a_boat_.jpg?itok=DZei30ng)
USGS scientists study impacts of tsunami
A rapid-response team of USGS scientists traveled throughout American Samoa and Samoa in October and November, 2005, to collect data prior to its degradation or destruction by recovery activity and natural processes.
Sumatra tsunamis, December 26, 2004 and March 28, 2005
USGS scientists traveled twice to Sumatra, the first time in January 2005 immediately after the first earthquake and tsunami, and again in April of 2005 after the second event.
Initial findings on tsunami sand deposits, damage, and inundation in Sumatra:
January 2005
Initial findings on tsunami sand deposits, damage, and inundation in Sri Lanka:
January 2005
![Rubble lies in a layer of sand covering the ground of a village, and a wrecked boat transported by tsunami lies on its side.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/str_5652.jpg?itok=pyYft15K)
Field study of the effects of the December 2004 and March 2005 earthquakes and tsunamis:
April 2005
![Collage of photos showing damage in Sumatra in April 2005.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/media/images/SumatraApril2005.jpg?itok=IfQE3Y31)
Peru tsunami, June 23, 2001
![Photo of an area after it was hit by a tsunami, showing building reinforcements still standing but not much else.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/lapunta11.jpg?itok=pKz2W6iB)
Preliminary analysis of sedimentary deposits from the tsunami
In early September 2001, a group of scientists from the United States and Peru cooperated in a study of sediment deposited by the tsunami.
Papua New Guinea tsunami, July 17, 1998
![Photograph of the side of a hole dug into wet sediment that shows a boundary between sand brought in by a tsunami and the soil.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/Fig4rev_0.jpg?itok=Uw2_1Tix)
Preliminary analysis of sedimentary deposits from the tsunami
In September and October, scientists collected data, assessed damage to buildings and structures, and examined the sediments left behind by the tsunami. The group included representatives from Japan, the United States, Korea, and Papua New Guinea.
Tsunami Hazards, Modeling, and the Sedimentary Record
Tsunami and Earthquake Research
Our tsunami scientists work on international teams to study the aftermath of tsunamis around the world, to gain a better understanding the impact of potential tsunamis on coastal communities of the United States. Their work helps inform local, state, and federal coastal planning, protection, and resiliency.
Japan tsunami, March 11, 2011
![Next to a road, a tall, two-story structure stands heavily damaged and ripped to shreds with a smashed upside-down boat.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/Japan2011Natori-damage-10m_1.jpg?itok=PttdSosj)
Includes older field photos from before the big tsunami (April 2010); eyewitness accounts in California after the tsunami had propagated across the Pacific (March 11, 2011); and reports from USGS scientists who visited Japan after the tsunami (May 2011).
Samoa and American Samoa tsunami, September 29, 2009
![Image: Tsunami Recovery in American Samoa](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/06_Bruce_Jaffe_standing_next_to_a_boat_.jpg?itok=DZei30ng)
USGS scientists study impacts of tsunami
A rapid-response team of USGS scientists traveled throughout American Samoa and Samoa in October and November, 2005, to collect data prior to its degradation or destruction by recovery activity and natural processes.
Sumatra tsunamis, December 26, 2004 and March 28, 2005
USGS scientists traveled twice to Sumatra, the first time in January 2005 immediately after the first earthquake and tsunami, and again in April of 2005 after the second event.
Initial findings on tsunami sand deposits, damage, and inundation in Sumatra:
January 2005
Initial findings on tsunami sand deposits, damage, and inundation in Sri Lanka:
January 2005
![Rubble lies in a layer of sand covering the ground of a village, and a wrecked boat transported by tsunami lies on its side.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/str_5652.jpg?itok=pyYft15K)
Field study of the effects of the December 2004 and March 2005 earthquakes and tsunamis:
April 2005
![Collage of photos showing damage in Sumatra in April 2005.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/media/images/SumatraApril2005.jpg?itok=IfQE3Y31)
Peru tsunami, June 23, 2001
![Photo of an area after it was hit by a tsunami, showing building reinforcements still standing but not much else.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/lapunta11.jpg?itok=pKz2W6iB)
Preliminary analysis of sedimentary deposits from the tsunami
In early September 2001, a group of scientists from the United States and Peru cooperated in a study of sediment deposited by the tsunami.
Papua New Guinea tsunami, July 17, 1998
![Photograph of the side of a hole dug into wet sediment that shows a boundary between sand brought in by a tsunami and the soil.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/Fig4rev_0.jpg?itok=Uw2_1Tix)
Preliminary analysis of sedimentary deposits from the tsunami
In September and October, scientists collected data, assessed damage to buildings and structures, and examined the sediments left behind by the tsunami. The group included representatives from Japan, the United States, Korea, and Papua New Guinea.