INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMIINDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMIVersion with MOVIES on NMWW DVDVersion with MOVIES on NMWW DVD

December 26, 2004December 26, 2004

Krabit, Indonesia

Banda Aceh

TSUNAMI WAVESTSUNAMI WAVES

• Caused by Earthquakes under Ocean, or Caused by Earthquakes under Ocean, or other events – landslides, volcanic other events – landslides, volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts, etc.eruptions, asteroid impacts, etc.

• In Deep Ocean the Tsunami Wave isIn Deep Ocean the Tsunami Wave is

only about 3 feet high but 100 miles only about 3 feet high but 100 miles widewide

and moving at speed of a jet airplane.and moving at speed of a jet airplane.

Alfred Wegner observed that South America Alfred Wegner observed that South America and Africa continents fit like a gig saw and Africa continents fit like a gig saw puzzlepuzzle

Proposed Continental Drift of Plates (Plate Tectonics) and that 200 million Years ago a super continent of Pangaea existed.

SEA FLOOR SPREADING

Occurs along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge pushing the African and European Plates away from the North and South American Plates at about 1 inch/year

This then pushes the Pacific Ocean floor under the Plates on the opposite side of America Plates and Euroasian and Africa Plates

Earthquakes result from Sea Floor Spreading along theMid-Atlantic Ridge that pushes the Continents over thePacific Ocean Floor.

Earthquakes since 1990Earthquakes since 1990

Mag 9, 0.58 GMT, 10 km Deep, 250 km SSWMag 9, 0.58 GMT, 10 km Deep, 250 km SSWof Banda Ache, Indonesia, ~1 m high Tsunami, of Banda Ache, Indonesia, ~1 m high Tsunami, 20-40 min period, ~350 km wavelength, 200 20-40 min period, ~350 km wavelength, 200 m/secm/sec

FACTS Model – PMEL - TitovFACTS Model – PMEL - Titov

Depth Gauge Record of Mercator anchored 1 mile Depth Gauge Record of Mercator anchored 1 mile from coast of Phuket, Thailand. Time in hours, from coast of Phuket, Thailand. Time in hours, Depth in Meters.Depth in Meters.

-2.7, +3.9, -0.5, +1.7, -0.6, +4.9 meters in 41 minutes

ReflectedOff Coast

Jason 1 Altimetry Satellite Jason 1 Altimetry Satellite TracksTracks

TSUNAMI

30 Minute Period, 350 km Wave Length, 200 m/s or 750 30 Minute Period, 350 km Wave Length, 200 m/s or 750 km/hr having traveled 1500 km in 2 hours since km/hr having traveled 1500 km in 2 hours since earthquake – earthquake – 1 meter max wave height.1 meter max wave height.

TSUNAMI

Banda Banda Aceh Aceh City, City, SumartaSumarta

Digital Digital GlobeGlobeSatelliteSatellitePhotosPhotos

Before

After

Damage map of Banda Aceh showing the impact of tsunamis wave fronts from two directions. The numerals indicate the tsunami elevation in meters near the beach (white) and flow depth inland (black). (Damage map source: UNOSAT, Tsunami data: Borrero et al. 2006, Jaffe et al., 2006, Matsutomi et al., 2006).

Tug Boat and BargeTug Boat and Barge

Cement Plant and SurvivorCement Plant and Survivor

Men holding 5 meter staff

___

___

15 meters

Phuket, ThailandPhuket, Thailand

Phi Phi, ThailandPhi Phi, Thailand

Before Tsunami Initial Withdrawal

Phi Phi After TsunamiPhi Phi After Tsunami

Phi Phi After TsunamiPhi Phi After Tsunami

Phi Phi Don Island – Pictures taken from Phi Phi Don Island – Pictures taken from Aragon Yacht ¾ mile from land of other Yachts Aragon Yacht ¾ mile from land of other Yachts and Boatsand Boats

Withdrawal – Rocks normally underwater

First Wave Run-up – 3 minutes later

4 minutes later 5 minutes later

Trinkat, Nicobar-Andaman Trinkat, Nicobar-Andaman IslandsIslands

Khao Lak, Thailand – Pictures taken Khao Lak, Thailand – Pictures taken bybyCanadians – John and Jackie Knill – Canadians – John and Jackie Knill – before they diedbefore they died

Withdrawal

South India After South India After TsunamiTsunami

Digital Globe Satellite Digital Globe Satellite PhotosPhotos

Before

Flooding

Recession

Kalutara, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka After TsunamiSri Lanka After Tsunami

Sri Lanka After TsunamiSri Lanka After Tsunami

Sri Lanka After TsunamiSri Lanka After Tsunami

Train traveling Train traveling from Colombo to from Colombo to Galle hitGalle hitby >30 ft high by >30 ft high Tsunami at Tsunami at Telwatta about 15 Telwatta about 15 miles from Galle.miles from Galle.

Telwatta, Sri Lanka Train Telwatta, Sri Lanka Train

Over 800 were Killed- Train 200 yards from Over 800 were Killed- Train 200 yards from shore. People from town climbed on top of shore. People from town climbed on top of train after first wave then killed by second train after first wave then killed by second wave.wave.

Sri Sri LankaLanka10 10 meter meter RegionRegions s in Redin Red

MALDIVES Islands – B. Keating MALDIVES Islands – B. Keating StudyStudy

Maldive Islands

From Coleman (2000)

Location MapLocation Map

Metal Roofing Cut PeopleMetal Roofing Cut People

Maldives After Tsunami

Walls carried by Walls carried by flood flood injured peopleinjured people

Maldives After Tsunami

Maldives After TsunamiMaldives After Tsunami

Water Catchment Tank

Krabit, Phuket, Indonesia – THEY ALL SURVIVED!

PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTERCENTEREwa Beach, HawaiiEwa Beach, Hawaii

US Department of Commerce / National Weather US Department of Commerce / National Weather ServiceService

WC/ATWC - Palmer, AlaskaWC/ATWC - Palmer, Alaska

WC/ATWCWC/ATWC

Earthquake Data Earthquake Data ProcessingProcessing

• WC/ATWC EarlyBird WC/ATWC EarlyBird Seismic Processing Seismic Processing SystemSystem

• Developed for Fast Developed for Fast evaluation of Big evaluation of Big quakesquakes

• Graphical interaction Graphical interaction to refine automatic to refine automatic resultsresults

• Redundant backup Redundant backup operates concurrently operates concurrently (communications and (communications and hardware).hardware).

Sea Level Data Display Sea Level Data Display and Analysisand Analysis

• Data acquired at Data acquired at WC/ATWC from WC/ATWC from NOS, PTWC, and NOS, PTWC, and other centers’ sitesother centers’ sites

• 200+ tide gage 200+ tide gage signalssignals

• 6 DART stations 6 DART stations • Data displayed Data displayed

with predicted tide with predicted tide and residualsand residuals

• Data real-time, Data real-time, triggered, or triggered, or satellite delayed satellite delayed (hourly).(hourly).

Far-Field Prediction Far-Field Prediction ApproachApproach

• Determine likely fault Determine likely fault parameters for large parameters for large quakes in main tsunami quakes in main tsunami generating zones of the generating zones of the PacificPacific

• Model quakes of different Model quakes of different magnitudes for each magnitudes for each zone (> 200 total zone (> 200 total models)models)

• Save maximum Save maximum amplitudes at tide gages, amplitudes at tide gages, DARTs, and other places DARTs, and other places of interest (100+ of interest (100+ saved/model)saved/model)

TYPES OF TSUNAMI MESSAGESTYPES OF TSUNAMI MESSAGES

• INFORMATION BULLETIN: Large earthquake but no tsunami threat (6.5 <= Mw < 7.5)

• Watch/Warning: Large, Shallow, under water, Earthquake (Mw >= 7.5)

WATCH: First wave is 3-6 hours away

WARNING: First wave is < 3 hours away

• Pacific-Warning: Confirmed destructive waves moving across the Pacific

Sumatra Earthquake

Mw = 9.3

Rupture Length ~ 1200km

Source Duration ~ 600s

Rupture propagated SouthTo North

=> Generated Basin wide Destructive tsunami thatkilled > 300,000 people

Sumatra EarthquakePTWC TIMELINE (GMT)

00:59 Sumatra EQ Starts

01:07 Watchstanders pagedby digital alarm

01:09 Sumatra EQ Stops

01:09 PTWC has location

01:14 PTWC issues TIBwith Mw=8.002:04 TIB issued withRevised magnitude 8.5

No Tide Gauges in Region

05:00 Wire reports of deathsIn Thailand and Sri Lanka

PB

P

S

Travel Time Back Track

Regional and Tele-SurfaceWaves.

Mw = 9.1

Where was the Missing MomentReleased?

SLIP

and

RAKE

Model

Wave Tracing Back to Source

4hr

After having learned thatthere was a destructive tsunami, PTWC set about reaching Nations ahead of the wave.

March 28, 2005Mw=8.2 UpgradedTo 8.5 then to 8.7!! No reports of TsunamiDamage.

One Degree South ofWhere Dec 26 eventStarted.

Aftershock?Faulting continuingSouthwards?

ConclusionsConclusions• The Tsunami caused by the Sumatra EQ killed The Tsunami caused by the Sumatra EQ killed

>300,000 people because there was no >300,000 people because there was no Warning System.Warning System.

• Source region for Sumatra Tsunami extends Source region for Sumatra Tsunami extends from Banda Aceh through the Nicobar Islands.from Banda Aceh through the Nicobar Islands.

• We need a method for estimating size of great We need a method for estimating size of great earthquakes within a time frame useful to the earthquakes within a time frame useful to the Tsunami Warning System.Tsunami Warning System.

Tsunami WarningsTsunami Warnings

• If you are at the beach and feel an If you are at the beach and feel an earthquake – GO TO HIGH GROUND (>100 earthquake – GO TO HIGH GROUND (>100 feet above MSL)feet above MSL)

• If the water level drops below low tide If the water level drops below low tide level – GO TO HIGH GROUNDlevel – GO TO HIGH GROUND

• If you hear a siren near the beach – GO TO If you hear a siren near the beach – GO TO HIGH GROUNDHIGH GROUND

• If in or near multi-storied concrete building If in or near multi-storied concrete building – GO UP IN BUILDING ABOVE THIRD FLOOR– GO UP IN BUILDING ABOVE THIRD FLOOR

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