Earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions and other disturbances can cause tsunamis by displacing large amounts of water. Tsunamis are a series of long sea waves that can travel across entire oceans within hours. Three-quarters of tsunamis occur in the Pacific Ocean due to high seismic activity along subduction zones that make up the Pacific Ring of Fire. When tsunamis reach land, they can devastate coastal areas by destroying homes and infrastructure and endangering human life. On average, two tsunamis occur globally each year, with about 80% originating in the Pacific Ocean.