By: Conrad Ricks, Liz Anderson, Melissa Prater & Michelle Carleton
Source: http://cempakanature.blogspot.com/2009/12/indonesias-next-big-quakedue-under.html
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011vg9w
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“On Sunday, 26
December 2004, the
greatest earthquake in 40
years occurred about 150
kilometers off the west
coast of northern Sumatra
Island in Indonesia. The
earthquake generated a
disastrous tsunami that
caused destruction in 11
countries bordering the
Indian Ocean.”
- Dr. George PararasCarayannis
Source:http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Asiaweb/factfi
le/Unique-facts-Asia17.htm
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2004_Indonesia_Tsunami_Complete.gif
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The movement of plates
along their boundaries is
the cause of most
earthquakes. The
process of faulting (a
surface sliding on
another surface) causes
friction which causes
rocks to rupture along
faults. This breaking and
rupturing causes sudden
movement which
produce shock waves
along the fault plane.
This is the cause of
earthquake belts like we
see here.
Source: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/sage/geology/lesson2/concepts.html
A rupture that propagated 1300-1600 km
NW between the Indo-Australian plate
and the Eurasian plate for around 10
minutes was the cause of the quake.
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Source: http://www.kids-fun-science.com/moment-magnitudescale.html
The moment magnitude
scale allows scientists to
measure the size of an
earthquake and report it in
some form of a decimal
number. “[It] is determined
from an estimate of the area
that ruptured along a fault
plane during the quake, the
amount of movement or
slippage along the fault, and
the rigidity of the rocks near
the focus of the quake.”
The Sumatra-Andaman quake
was classified as a (MW) 9.2
The Modified
Mercalli Scale is a
tool used to measure
the effects of an
earthquake in a
qualitative way. It
uses Roman
numerals to describe
the intensity of the
quake. The intensity
can vary depending
on how close you are
to the epicenter of
the quake.
Source: http://www.sanandreasfault.org/feelit.html retrieved Jan.30, 2012
In the Aceh Province shaking lasted for 5-6
minutes and would’ve been classified as
VIII-IX
The epicenter is
the location on the
earth’s surface
above where the
rocks ruptured
(known as the
hypocenter or
focus) causing the
quake.
Source: http://today.caltech.edu/today/images/sumatra_05jan2005_02.jpg
The epicenter was about 250 km off
the west coast of Aceh Province and
the focus was 10 km deep.
An earthquake will
cause shifts in the
surface due to the
types of seismic
waves that are
released. As a result
of this shift in the
ocean floor, massive
ocean waves can
form and cause
Tsunamis.
Source: http://www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org/
The Tsunami waves that
struck Aceh Province
ranged from 4-39 meters
high and destroyed more
than 250 coastal
communities
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Landslides in Sumatra
Mud volcano
Gas emissions
Water level fluctuations
Effects of a single disaster
can cause a handful of
other disasters.
Liquefaction, changes in
land elevation, diseases
and lack of natural
resources are among a
few of the effects that can
occur.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_liquefaction
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Previous Tsunamis in the Bay of Bengal
1881, 1883, 1907and 1941.
Previous Earthquake and Tsunami- 1881
and 1941.
1881 quake measured at (Mw) 7.9 with
Tsunami waves around 1 m high.
1941 quake measured at (Mw) 7.7 with
waves around 1-1.5 m high.
Future ruptures for the area are possible.
There is no historical data of the plate
boundary just north of the Andaman
Islands slipping. However, there is no
evidence of a Quake or Tsunami of this
size occurring for hundreds of years.
Source:
http://historiesofthingstocome.blogspot.com/2010/12/annive
rsaries-lest-we-forget-indian.html
Be Prepared
Intensity from a natural disaster can be
minimized if we take initiative and prepare
for what could happen.
- Building codes can be put in place
- Restrictions on areas in which
construction can occur
- Warning systems can be installed
- Emergency evacuation plan
- Natural blocks such as tree lines planted
on coasts
If we utilize the knowledge that we have
gained from past experiences, we can keep
a disaster from turning into a catastrophe.
“The great tsunami of 2004 was one of the worst disasters in history.”
-Chris Rainier
Reference:http://www.mytvmoments.com/view.php?v=28291
Reference: http://www.nomad4ever.com/wpcontent/uploads/2007/11/destroyed-houses-in-sumatra-afterpowerful-earthquake.jpg
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In total, it is estimated that at
least 283,100 people were
killed, 14,100 are missing, and
1,126,900 were displaced after
the earthquake and tsunami.
Damage in several countries
contributed to this death toll.
Human Toll
Killed
Missing
Displaced
Reference: http://allwomenstalk.com/7-mostdeadly-tsunamis-in-history/
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Source:http://whyfiles.org/shorties/168tsunami_warn/
Damaged was
sustained in 11
countries.
About 250 coastal
communities
damaged or
destroyed.
Source: http://www.defense.gov/home/photoessays/2005-01/p20050103b1.html
Given by Chris Rainier in Banda Aceh, Indonesia for National Geographic News
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“The buildings have been flattened for
miles and entire communities—probably
something like a hundred thousand
people—have been swept out to sea.”
“The medical situation is just as daunting.
Hundreds of thousands of survivors are
refugees, squatting in makeshift camps
wherever you go.”
“Everywhere I go I have to be careful I don't
step on a corpse.”
“People are dying because they are unable
to get this basic medical attention.”
“The survivors are still numb and seemingly
emotionless. They show no emotion in their
eyes. They're still in shock. But it remains an
ordeal for them to come near the ocean.
People are still traumatized. Many will not
go down to the beach. One driver I hired
absolutely refused to go down to the beach.
They're terrified of the ocean.”
Reference: http://laga-handbags.com/blog/indonesiaupdates/indonesia-tsunami-2010
“We've been going through a lot of
aftershocks. What people elsewhere would
consider major earthquakes happen here all
the time now. Magnitude 6 aftershocks wake
us up at night, making everyone rush
outside.”
Quote Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0111_050111_tsunami_sumatra.html
The M=9.2 Sumatra-Andaman
earthquake in December of 2004 was
caused by a subduction zone between
the India and Sudan plates. A resulting
tsunami struck several surrounding
countries, destroying 250+ coastal cities
in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and
Thailand. Nearly 300,000 lives were lost
in total.
Page 1
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Earthquake Hazards Program (2005) “Summary of the Sumatra-Andaman Islands
Earthquake and Tsunami of 26 December 2004.” USGS. Retrieved Jan 30 2012 from
http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2004/eq_041226/neic_slav_summary.html
“Southeastern Asia.” 7.892091’ lon and 95.211055’ lat. Google Earth. Retrieved Jan 30
2012.
Jeffrey J. Park (2006) "Sumatra-Andaman earthquake," in AccessScience, ©McGrawHill Companies. Retrieved Jan 30 2010 from http://www.accessscience.com
Lloyd S. Cluff (2007) “Effects of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake and Indian
Ocean Tsunami in Aceh Province,” National Academy of Engineering. Retrieved Jan
30 2010 from http://www.nae.edu/Publications/TheBridge/Archives/V-371EngineeringfortheThreatofNaturalDisasters/Effectsofthe2004SumatraAndamanEarthquakeandIndianOceanTsunamiinAcehProvince.aspx
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2009, July 16). “Scientists Find
Tsunami 'Shadow' Visible From Space.” ScienceDaily. Retrieved Jan 30, 2012 from
http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/07/090716103849.html
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (2008) “Tsunami Generation from the
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http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/tsunami/sumatraEQ/
Unknown (2007) “Indonesia/Nicobar/Andaman Earthquake.” Retrieved Jan 30 2012
from http://cires.colorado.edu/~bilham/IndonesiAndaman2004.htm
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Perry, Michael. (2009, 21 December). Indonesia’s Next Big Quake Due Under Mentawais. Reuters.
Message posted to http://cempaka-nature.blogspot.com/2009/12/indonesias-next-big-quakedue-under.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011vg9w
Sheppard Software. (2005, February). 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake. Retrieved from
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Asiaweb/factfile/Unique-facts-Asia17.htm
Pararas-Carayannis, George. (2007). The Great Earthquake and Tsunami of 26 December 2004 in
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2004 Indonesia Tsunami Complete.gif. (n.d). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 31, 2011 from
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(Unknown) (Year Unknown) Retrieved January 31, 2012 from
http://www.mytvmoments.com/view.php?v=28291
Skoda, Christian. (2007). Psychic Predicts Devastating Sumatra Earthquake for 23/12/2007. Message
posted to http://www.nomad4ever.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/destroyed-houses-insumatra-after-powerful-earthquake.jpg
Mercy. (Year Unknown). All Women Talk. Message posted to http://allwomenstalk.com/7-mostdeadly-tsunamis-in-history/
Tenebaum, David. (2012). The Why Files: Tsunamis: Warming to a warning system. Posted to
http://whyfiles.org/shorties/168tsunami_warn/
United States Department of Defense. (2005, January 5). Aerial Views of Sumatra. Retrieved from
http://www.defense.gov/home/photoessays/2005-01/p20050103b1.html
Laga Exquisite Handbags with Heart. Roy and Louise. (2010). Indonesia Tsunami 2010. Retrieved
from http://laga-handbags.com/blog/indonesia-updates/indonesia-tsunami-2010
National Geographic News. (2005, January 11). Tsunami Eyewitness Account by Nat Geo
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Ring of Fire Science Company. (2009-2011). Kids Science: Moment Magnitude Scale Measures
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Image retrieved January 30, 2012 from
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