A new NASA study is challenging a conventional theory about how tsunamis form.
Tsunamis are usually created by the movement of the seafloor during earthquakes.
Using a large wave tank, researchers recreated these earthquakes
and found that horizontal seafloor displacement contributes to the formation and power of the wave.
Previously, it was thought that only vertical displacement of the seafloor could trigger tsunamis.
Better understanding how tsunamis develop can improve future forecasts and potentially save lives.