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"Tsunami warning center scientists usually measure an earthquake's "size" with the moment magnitude scale rather than the older but more famous Richter magnitude scale. The moment magnitude scale is better suited for measuring the "sizes" of very large earthquakes and its values are proportional to an earthquake's total energy release, making this measurement more useful for tsunami forecasting. Moment magnitude numbers scale such that that energy release increases by a factor of about 32 for each whole magnitude number. For example, magnitude 6 releases about 32 times as much energy as magnitude 5, magnitude 7 about 32 times as much as magnitude 6, and so on. This animation graphically compares the relative "sizes" of some 20th and 21st century earthquakes by their moment magnitudes (according to USGS/NEIC). Each circle's area represents its relative energy release, its color indicates its tsunami potential (see http://ptwc.weather.gov/ptwc/about_me...), and its label lists its moment magnitude, its location, and the year it happened. ----- Los científicos del centro de alertas de tsunamis miden el "tamaño" de un terremoto utilizando la escala de magnitud de momento y no otras escalas más antiguas y famosas como la escala de magnitud de Richter. La escala de magnitud de momento es más adecuada para medir el tamaño de grandes terremotos, y sus valores son proporcionales a la cantidad de energía liberada, lo cual hace esta medida de magnitud más útil para el pronóstico de tsunamis. Los números en la escala de magnitud de momento escalan de manera que la cantidad de energía liberada se incrementa 32 veces por cada número entero de diferencia. Por ejemplo, un evento con magnitud 6.0 libera cerca de 32 veces más energía que uno de 5.0, y uno de magnitud 7.0 libera 32 veces más energía que uno con magnitud 6.0, etcétera. Esta animación compara gráficamente el tamaño relativo de algunos terremotos ocurridos durante los siglos XX y XXI en término

"Images from what remains of the town of Shintona in Miyagi prefecture, one of the areas worst affected by the Tsunami. Please read the accompanying article by reporter Jonathan Watts - guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/13/japan-earthquake-tsunami-miyagi-destruction. For more see guardian.co.uk/world/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami for more info"

"Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) explain how a recent discovery could help tsunami-prone areas reduce the impact of future disasters. Before the Japanese tsunami of 2011, the inland reach of such an event had been drastically underestimated. Soil samples from affected areas have proved to be the key to designing measures that can mitigate future disasters "

"The 2011 Japan tsunami, which killed up to 20,000 people and caused the partial meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear plant, was made worse by an underwater landslide, according to scientists."

"An earthquake of magnitude 8.2 has jolted northern Chile, triggering a tsunami alert and the evacuation of thousands of people from coastal areas. At least five people were killed and more than 300 women escaped from a coastal prison."

You tube clips from Sky news comparing tsunamis

"What are the world's riskiest cities when it comes to natural disasters? A reinsurance company set out to assess 616 cities around the world for their risk of earthquake, hurricanes and cyclones, storm surge, river flooding and tsunami. Here are "

"A powerful magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck off Chile's northern coast on Tuesday night, causing landslides and sparking a tsunami alert that led to an evacuation of coastal areas."