Do tsunamis happen in the Atlantic ocean?

What are Tsunamis? Tsunamis are ocean waves caused by large earthquakes and landslides that occur near or under the ocean. Scientists do not use the term "tidal wave" because these waves are not caused by tides. Tsunami waves are unlike typical ocean waves generated by wind and storms. read more

Yes, tsunamis occur in the Atlantic Ocean, but less frequently than in the Pacific. The most common cause of tsunamis in the world is subduction zone earthquakes (see 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami for starters). read more

Atlantic Ocean Tsunamis: Rare but Possible. A tsunami in the Atlantic Ocean is a rare event. Part of the reason for this low incidence of tsunamis is the lack of subduction zones - the most common source of tsunami-causing earthquakes. read more

By contrast, the Atlantic Ocean is home to much less seismic and volcanic activity than the Pacific and, in particular, lacks subduction zones which are most common source of tsunami-causing earthquakes. read more