The restless earth - a tsunami - Indian Ocean Boxing Day (case study) Flashcards
what year did the tsunami occur?
2004
what caused the tsunami?
the Indo-Australian plate (oceanic) moving towards Eurasian plate (continental) due to convection currents in the mantle below - oceanic subducted below continental, friction between the plates causes them to lock together, pressure built up, was released as plates unlocked and moved at the focus
what did the earthquake measure on the Richter scale?
9.1
where was the epicentre?
Banda Aceh on island of Sumatra, Indonesia
what did the earthquake do?
forced part of the seabed upwards, displacing the seawater, setting the whole depth of the ocean in motion and a series of small waves formed
how high did the waves grow along the shoreline?
30m
effects - how many people died?
220 000 died
effects - how many people injured?
650 000 injured
effects - how many people were made homeless?
2 million
effects - in order, what were the worst hit places?
first Indonesia, then Sri Lanka, then Thailand
effects - how many settlements in Banda Aceh were destroyed?
1500
effects - what percentage of many coastal populations died?
70%
effects - how much land was flooded in the main city?
3km
effects - how many tourists died in Thailand?
1700
effects - what was the economic impact?
tourists stayed away from the devastated resorts