TECTONIC CASE STUDY - INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI

Question 1

WHEN ?

Answer 1

26 / 12 / 2004

Question 2

WHERE ?

Answer 2

TSUNAMI

OFF COAST OF SUMATRA (INDONESIA)

MAGNITUDE OF 9.0AND 9.3

THURST HEAVED OCEAN FLOOR BY 15 METRES

GREATEST FAULT LENGTH RECORDED, ESTIMATED 1,500KM (900MILES)

WAVE SPEEDS UP TO 800KM/HOUR (500MPH)

BANDA ACHE 15 MINUTES FROM ORIGIN HAD 17METRE HIGH WAVES

IN COMPARISON, THE MALDIVES HAD A 4 METRE HIGH “SEA SWELL” RATHER THAN CRASHING WALL OF WATER

Question 3

WHY SO DESTRUCTVE ??

Answer 3

LARGE EARTHQUAKE CAUSED TSUNAMI

EPICENTRE CLOSE TO DENSELY POPULATED COASTAL COMMUNITIES AREA

THE SHOCK WAVES WERE UNNOTICED UNTIL HIT LAND THEREFORE NO TIME TO REACT

LOW LYING COASTLINES OF MANY INDIAN OCEAN COUNTRIES = TRAVELLED INLAND EASILY AND FAR

NO ADEQUATE WARNING SYSTEMS WERE IN PLACE

SINCE = INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION SYSTEM FORMED TO DETECT AND PROVIDE WARNING OF APPROACHING WAVES

LOW INCOME COUNTRIES AFFECTED = NO MONEY TO SPEND ON TSUNAMI PROTECTION

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT = MANGROVE FORESTS HAD BEEN DESTROYED ALONG THE COAST eg SRI LANKA = LESS NATRUAL PROTECTION

Question 4

IMPACTS

Answer 4

AFFECTED = 5 MILLION PEOPLE

DEATHS = 300,000 DIED (70% OF VILLAGERS)

SOCIAL DAMAGES =

1.7 MILLION HOMELESS

COASTAL SETTLEMENTS DESTROYED

CIVIL WAR RAGED

TOURISM INDUSTRY AFFECTED eg THAILAND
= 120,000 LOST JOBS AND COST $25 MILLION/MONTH

ECONOMIC DAMAGES =

ECONOMIES DEVESTATED eg FISHING,TOURISM
eg SRI LANKA LOST 60% OF FISHING FLEET AND INFRASTRUCTURE

OVER $10 BILLION COST

ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES =
ECOSYSTEMS SEVERLEY DESTROYED
MOST VEGETATION AND TOPSOIL WAS REMOVED 800METRES INLAND

CONTAMINATION BY SALT WATER TO FRESHWATER SUPPLIES AND AGRICULTURAL SOIL