In 2004 the Indian Ocean coastline at Sumatra, Indonesia was struck by a devastatingly high magnitude earthquake. The earthquake, which was said to have released the energy of roughly 23,000 Hiroshima style bombs, triggered a tsunami that followed shortly after (Nation Geographic 1). The Tsunami that followed caused mass destruction and is actually considered one of the deadliest natural disasters to ever be recorded (Taylor 1). This Tsunami, known as the 2004 Indonesian Tsunami, struck on December 26 at around 7:58 a.m. tore through and obliterated most of the coastline (Figure 1.1) (Tsunami Devastates 1). It is a notable Tsunami because it had been triggered by the largest earthquake in 40 years and is now considered one of the most destructive,
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Tsunamis are not only fast, but are also known to become extremely tall in height reaching sometimes over a hundred feet up (Tsunami Facts 1). That’s about the size of a ten story building. They are also known to stick close to the Pacific oceans “Ring of Fire”, occurring here about eighty percent of the time (Tsunami Facts 1). The reason for this being is that the “Ring of Fire” rests above tectonic plates that make volcanic eruptions and earthquakes more likely and thus making the chances of tsunamis even higher (Tsunami Facts 1). The reason volcanic eruptions and Earthquakes correlate like this with Tsunamis is because Tsunamis are generally caused by large under-sea movements (Tsunami Facts 1). So when the plates crash together causing either of these the movement easily generates a set of waves, resulting most …show more content…
The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.0 at its epicenter (National Geographic 1). The earthquake was said to be the result of two plates sliding under and above each other for nearly 600 miles (National Geographic 1). The two plates sliding caused movement in the ocean flow bringing about the tsunami. The Tsunami affected people all over the Indian Ocean region. In the article, “The Deadliest Tsunami in History?” they state, “Within hours killer waves radiating from the earthquake zone slammed into the coastline of 11 Indian Ocean countries, snatching people out to sea, drowning others in their homes or on beaches, and demolishing property from Africa to Thailand.”(National Geographic’s 1). In Indonesia roughly 500,000 people were left homeless, with a third of which were children (Tsunami Devastates 1). The tsunami traveled as far as 3000 miles to Africa and waves were reported as high as 50 feet (Figure 1.2) (National Geographic’s 1). Not only was this Tsunami destructive but it was also very rare. Tsunamis in this area are uncommon and are part of the lesser twenty percent that is held outside of the “Ring of Fire” zone (National Geographic
Tsunamis are not only fast, but are also known to become extremely tall in height reaching sometimes over a hundred feet up (Tsunami Facts 1). That’s about the size of a ten story building. They are also known to stick close to the Pacific oceans “Ring of Fire”, occurring here about eighty percent of the time (Tsunami Facts 1). The reason for this being is that the “Ring of Fire” rests above tectonic plates that make volcanic eruptions and earthquakes more likely and thus making the chances of tsunamis even higher (Tsunami Facts 1). The reason volcanic eruptions and Earthquakes correlate like this with Tsunamis is because Tsunamis are generally caused by large under-sea movements (Tsunami Facts 1). So when the plates crash together causing either of these the movement easily generates a set of waves, resulting most …show more content…
The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.0 at its epicenter (National Geographic 1). The earthquake was said to be the result of two plates sliding under and above each other for nearly 600 miles (National Geographic 1). The two plates sliding caused movement in the ocean flow bringing about the tsunami. The Tsunami affected people all over the Indian Ocean region. In the article, “The Deadliest Tsunami in History?” they state, “Within hours killer waves radiating from the earthquake zone slammed into the coastline of 11 Indian Ocean countries, snatching people out to sea, drowning others in their homes or on beaches, and demolishing property from Africa to Thailand.”(National Geographic’s 1). In Indonesia roughly 500,000 people were left homeless, with a third of which were children (Tsunami Devastates 1). The tsunami traveled as far as 3000 miles to Africa and waves were reported as high as 50 feet (Figure 1.2) (National Geographic’s 1). Not only was this Tsunami destructive but it was also very rare. Tsunamis in this area are uncommon and are part of the lesser twenty percent that is held outside of the “Ring of Fire” zone (National Geographic