TECTONICS. 2004 Asian Tsunami

Question 1

what is the date and location of the 2004 Asian Tsunami?

Answer 1

December 26th 2004

epicentre off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, in the Indian Ocean

Question 2

what was the MMS score of the 2004 Asian Tsunami?

what tectonic plates were involved in the 2004 Asian Tsunami?

Answer 2

9.1-9.3 MMS (third largest earthquake ever recorded)

a 1,200 km section of the Indo-Australian plate (continental) was subducted beneath the Eurasian plate (continental)

Question 3

what were the key features of the tsunami event of the 2004 Asian Tsunami?

Answer 3

mega-thrust involved 20m uplift of the sea floor, displacing billions of tonnes of water

speeds of 500km/h were reached
the tsunami reached 30m in height at landfall in Banda Aceh

Question 4

what was the regional significance of the 2004 Asian Tsunami?

Answer 4

economic impacts

human impacts

other
- in some locations waves spread 3km inland carrying debris and salt water with them; the retreating waters then eroded whole shoreline

Question 5

what was the global significance of the 2004 Asian Tsunami?

Answer 5

economic impacts
- the total damage in all countries was $8.71 billion

human impacts
- 275,000 fatalities (more than 100,000 killed in the city of Banda Aceh)