Case study of Indian ocean tsunami
Tsunami Case Studies Activities
Attorney-General’s Department 2010
Contents
Chile tsunami 27 February 2010 ............................................. 2
Samoa tsunami 29 September 2009 ....................................... 4
Solomon Islands tsunami 2 April 2007 ................................. 10
Indian Ocean tsunami, December 26, 2004.......................... 13
Papua New Guinea tsunami 17 July 1998 ............................. 20
Chile tsunami 27 February 2010
On the 27 February 2010 an earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean 115 kilometres north, north east of Concepcion. The quake measured 8.8 on the Richter scale and triggered a devastating tsunami. The epicentre of this earthquake was about 279 kilometres north of the largest earthquake ever recorded (9.5 on the
Richter Scale in 1960).
Where did the tsunami occur?
1. Visit the NASA website to see the location of the earthquake.
Natural Hazards
a. How far was the epicentre of the earthquake from the coastline?
b. Which plates were involved?
c. The tectonic plates near Chile meet in a subduction zone. Use a diagram to explain why earthquakes and tsunami can occur in such an area.
d. Describe the shape of the sea bed near the coast line.
2. Visit the NOAA website Chile 2010 tsunami and click on the map showing maximum wave amplitude (you will need to wait for this to appear on the screen before clicking and opening the map). This map is showing wave height and the time it took for the first wave to arrive (blue lines).
Compare Concepcion and Hawai’i in terms of
a. how long it took the tsunami to arrive
b. the height of the waves
3. How long did it take for the tsunami to have an impact on the other side of the
Pacific Ocean along the east coast of Australia? How does this compare to the time it takes to fly across the Pacific? (You may need to do some research here or talk to someone who has made this trip).
What was the impact?
4. Read about and watch accounts of
Attorney-General’s Department 2010
Contents
Chile tsunami 27 February 2010 ............................................. 2
Samoa tsunami 29 September 2009 ....................................... 4
Solomon Islands tsunami 2 April 2007 ................................. 10
Indian Ocean tsunami, December 26, 2004.......................... 13
Papua New Guinea tsunami 17 July 1998 ............................. 20
Chile tsunami 27 February 2010
On the 27 February 2010 an earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean 115 kilometres north, north east of Concepcion. The quake measured 8.8 on the Richter scale and triggered a devastating tsunami. The epicentre of this earthquake was about 279 kilometres north of the largest earthquake ever recorded (9.5 on the
Richter Scale in 1960).
Where did the tsunami occur?
1. Visit the NASA website to see the location of the earthquake.
Natural Hazards
a. How far was the epicentre of the earthquake from the coastline?
b. Which plates were involved?
c. The tectonic plates near Chile meet in a subduction zone. Use a diagram to explain why earthquakes and tsunami can occur in such an area.
d. Describe the shape of the sea bed near the coast line.
2. Visit the NOAA website Chile 2010 tsunami and click on the map showing maximum wave amplitude (you will need to wait for this to appear on the screen before clicking and opening the map). This map is showing wave height and the time it took for the first wave to arrive (blue lines).
Compare Concepcion and Hawai’i in terms of
a. how long it took the tsunami to arrive
b. the height of the waves
3. How long did it take for the tsunami to have an impact on the other side of the
Pacific Ocean along the east coast of Australia? How does this compare to the time it takes to fly across the Pacific? (You may need to do some research here or talk to someone who has made this trip).
What was the impact?
4. Read about and watch accounts of