Deck 6c - Tectonics: Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami Flashcards
What year was the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami?
2004, Boxing Day
What hazards were caused by the Sumatra, Indonesia earthquake?
Ground shaking in nearby areas and a large scale tsunami
What type of plate boundary is Indonesia on and which tectonic plates are involved?
Destructive plate boundary- Indian and Eurasian plates
Why is Indonesia prone to earthquakes and tsunamis?
(FREQUENCY)
The Indian plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian plate off the coast of Sumatra. This caused an earthquake with a sub-marine epicentre which triggered a tsunami. Tsunamis are infrequent in this area.
What magnitude was the Indonesian earthquake and what depth did it occur at?
(MAGNITUDE)
9.1 MMS, shallow focus
What was the duration of the Indonesian earthquake?
(DURATION)
The earthquake lasted around 10 minutes.
What signs were there before the Indonesian earthquake and tsunami occurred?
(PREDICTABILITY)
There was no tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean so they were unable to predict it.
What area did the Indonesian earthquake and tsunami impact?
(AREAL EXTENT)
14 countries were affected.
How quickly did the Indonesian earthquake occur?
(SPEED OF ONSET)
It took 15 to 30 minutes for the tsunami to reach the shore.
What was the GNI of Indonesia during the earthquake?
(ECONOMIC vulnerability)
$5,490 in 2004. Indonesia was categorised as lower middle-income countries.
What was the level of technology available in Indonesia during the earthquake and tsunami?
(ECONOMIC vulnerability)
Limited technology to monitor for the threat of tsunamis and to deliver warning systems.
How educated were the Indonesian population about the risks of earthquakes prior to the earthquake and tsunami?
(SOCIO-ECONOMIC vulnerability)
12 years compulsory education. Literacy rate was 90% in 2004. Schools and universities remain plagued by corruption, poor quality teaching and staff absenteeism. This lead to a low awareness of risks in the general population.
What was the population structure of Indonesia before the earthquake and tsunami?
(SOCIAL vulnerability)
-Youthful population (26.22% under 15 years)
-The areas affected by the tsunami had a very high population density
What time and date did the Indonesian earthquake take place?
(SOCIAL vulnerability)
7:59am on the 25th December 2004 and is commonly referred to as the Boxing Day tsunami.
What was the infrastructure like in Indonesia and how did this impact on the risk posed by the earthquake?
Poor infrastructure meant rural areas were difficult to access to provide aid it. The problem was worsened as Indonesia is a group of islands.