Brown_O_Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004_Week7Project
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University of Texas *
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Course
100
Subject
Geology
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
7
Uploaded by CommodoreFang12126
Peter King University of Maryland Global Campus
GEOL 100: Physical Geology I. Introduction
a. Name of the geologic event: Indian Ocean Tsunami
b. When did this event occur, and how long did it last?
The Tsunami occurred on December 26, 2004, following a magnitude 9.1 undersea earthquake that struck the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra on December 26, 2004, at 7:59 am local time, according to (Britannica, 2023). The tsunami continued for the next several hours causing immense wave to reach out across the Indian Ocean and impacting areas as far as East Africa. c. What interested you in this event? Why did you choose this event for this project?
Week 7's review of the Krakatoa volcanic eruption highlighted how a volcanic eruption may cause a tsunami. Tsunamis are triggered by volcanic eruptions and landslides; along with earthquakes. The quest for an earthquake that caused a tsunami brought me to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. My fascination with this event sprang from the devastation it caused to the lives of more than 230,000 individuals in 14 different nations.
II. Event Description
a. Where did this event occur? What part of the Earth was impacted? For example, which continent, ocean, and latitude-longitude location?
(The International Tsunami Information Center, 2023) states that the Indian Ocean tsunami was triggered by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake in Sumatra, Indonesia with a latitude-longitude of (3.316 N, 95.854 E) respectively. The Tsunami took place in the Indian ocean region and affected
people across dozens of countries including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, and Thailand (Britannica, 2023).
b. Describe the geologic event. What happened?
According to (U.S Geological Survey, 2014), “The tsunami struck after the magnitude 9.1 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake occurred off the northwest coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, causing catastrophic levels of destruction to countries around the Indian Ocean basin.” The magnitude 9.1 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake occurred near the tectonic plate boundary between India and Burma. According to USGS geologists, the sea bottom surrounding the earthquake was elevated several meters. The tsunami was generated by the displacement of water over the sea floor, which caused catastrophic amounts of devastation in nations in the Indian Ocean basin, reaching as far east as Africa.
III. Significance of the Event
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a. What is the geologic significance of the event?
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was geologically significant because it causes deaths of over 230,000 people and left many others homeless and injured. The earthquake that caused the tsunami was one of the largest in the world in 40 years, the displacement of water triggered the tsunami, which caused catastrophic levels of destruction in countries around the Indian Ocean basin, including the east coast of Africa.
IV. Conclusion
a. What are the most interesting geological aspects of the event in your opinion?
The most intriguing geological features of the Indian Ocean tsunami were the distance traveled by the waves and the impact they had on neighboring nations. The Tsunami reached 3000 miles (approximately 4828.03 km) to Africa and yet had enough force to kill people and damage property. It is estimated that the tsunami possessed the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. The tsunami was produced by tectonic plate movement, which created a 9.1 magnitude earthquake, that caused the ocean bottom to elevate several meters, displacing massive amounts of water and sending tremendous waves in all directions.
b. After conducting research into this event, what were at least two (2) new and interesting pieces
of information that you learned?
In 2004, a large earthquake beneath the seafloor caused the Indian Ocean Tsunami. The earthquake caused massive water displacement, generating waves as high as 30 feet. The tsunami's considerable influence on countries and the humanitarian toll it had on individuals were two notable findings from this investigation. Coastal regions in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives saw morphologic changes, sedimentary deposits, and water-level variations. The tsunami killed more than 230,000 people in a single day and displaced millions more. There was also an economic crisis, in addition to the environmental and humanitarian crises. The tourism and fishing industries lost millions of dollars, not to mention the cost of relief. V. Reference Citations
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia (2023, October 5). Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004
. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Indian-Ocean-tsunami-of-2004
International Tsunami information Center (2023). Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004
. Intergovernmental oceanographic commission. https:// http://itic.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?
option=com_content&view=category&id=1136&Itemid=1373
U.S Geological Survey (2014, December 23).
Indian Ocean Tsunami Remembered – Scientists reflect on the 2004 Indian Ocean that killed thousands
. U.S Department of the Interior. https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/indian-ocean-tsunami-remembered-scientists-reflect-
2004-indian-ocean-killed
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