Recent scientific advice, given to the UK government regarding the risks to reactor sites following the disaster in Japan, proposes that a tsunami event of the same magnitude is not possible in the UK.
This may be true when we consider tsunamis produced by seismic events, but what about meteor impacts in the seas around our country?
The 1908 Tunguska event was caused by a stony meteorite about 100 metres in diameter. Meteor crater in Arizona was created by an iron meteorite 60 meters in diameter. 60-100m sized objects hit the earth on average once or twice per 1000 years.
The tsunami casued by the impact of a 100m object hitting water would be 27m high at a distance of 50km (Tsunami: the underrated hazard By Edward Bryant).
Scientists should look at all potential causes of tsunami waves when assessing the probability of life-threatening natural events.