What is a tsunami run-up?
Quick Answer
Tsunami run-up is the maximum vertical height the water reaches above sea level as the wave comes ashore. It helps measure how far inland the flooding can extend.
The Full Story
Run-up is different from the wave height seen offshore because it describes what happens on land, where topography can amplify flooding. Scientists use it to assess tsunami impact and compare events. A tsunami with a modest offshore wave height can still have a very large run-up in a narrow bay or valley. Historic records from the 1958 Lituya Bay tsunami in Alaska showed an extraordinary run-up of about 524 meters, caused by a landslide rather than an earthquake.
Key Facts
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"The number that shows how high a tsunami can climb"
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