The Verge: The Gulf of Alaska recently experienced a 7.9 magnitude earthquake. Tsunami warnings were issued, causing many to flee from their homes. These warnings were later cancelled after waves were less than a foot high. This type of earthquake is known as a strike-slip quake, and is less prone to causing tsunamis. Because the earthquake did not occur exactly on a fault where the ocean seafloor is sliding beneath the North American plate, large waves were unlikely. Only when an earthquake is caused by two plates moving against each other, one pushing up and the other pushing down, do tsunamis pose a real threat. Learn more by reading the full article here.
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