Hydrographical Effects of the Indian Ocean Tsunami By David Ullman

Co-mentors: Dr. Robin Robertson and Dr. Andreas Thurnherr. Co-mentors: Dr. Robin Robertson and Dr. Andreas Thurnherr. Special thanks to: Mr. Felix Tubiana Special thanks to: Mr. Felix Tubiana Research conducted at Lamont- Doherty Earth Observatory, an institute of Columbia University. Research conducted at Lamont- Doherty Earth Observatory, an institute of Columbia University.

Background On December 26, 2004 at 00:58 GMT, an earthquake of magnitude 9.1 to 9.3 hit the Island of Sumatra and surrounding area. On December 26, 2004 at 00:58 GMT, an earthquake of magnitude 9.1 to 9.3 hit the Island of Sumatra and surrounding area. Called the “Great Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake,” this natural disaster fueled another that would take over 213,000 lives: the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Called the “Great Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake,” this natural disaster fueled another that would take over 213,000 lives: the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Tsunami

The ARGO Data Set A set of measurements taken by buoys all over the world in the mixed layer (surface layer). A set of measurements taken by buoys all over the world in the mixed layer (surface layer). Measurements include depth, temperature, and salinity (salt content). Measurements include depth, temperature, and salinity (salt content).

The ARGO Process

ARGO Map

Methodology Objective: To make use of the Argo dataset to measure the effects of the Indian Ocean Tsunami on hydrographical structure. Objective: To make use of the Argo dataset to measure the effects of the Indian Ocean Tsunami on hydrographical structure. Our sources of data were the temperature and salinity readings taken by 16 Argo floats in the Bay of Bengal between depths of 500 and 1500 meters. Our sources of data were the temperature and salinity readings taken by 16 Argo floats in the Bay of Bengal between depths of 500 and 1500 meters.

Contd. We collected these readings as taken both before and after the Tsunami, generally proximate within eight days. We collected these readings as taken both before and after the Tsunami, generally proximate within eight days. We applied basic statistics, graphs, and oceanographic tests to explore whether or not changes in temperature and salinity were significant. We applied basic statistics, graphs, and oceanographic tests to explore whether or not changes in temperature and salinity were significant.

Contd. This project involved no data acquisition. All data is freely available on the internet. This project involved no data acquisition. All data is freely available on the internet. Much of the project dealt with converting raw data into usable numbers and figures. Much of the project dealt with converting raw data into usable numbers and figures.

Code an/work/matlab/example4.m an/work/matlab/example4.m an/work/matlab/example4.m an/work/matlab/example4.m

Results

Results Our results indicate that the Indian Ocean Tsunami had little or no effect on the Bay of Bengal’s hydrographical properties. Our results indicate that the Indian Ocean Tsunami had little or no effect on the Bay of Bengal’s hydrographical properties.

Conclusions Disruptions of even this extreme magnitude are unlikely to affect the long-term hydrographical properties of the world’s oceans. Disruptions of even this extreme magnitude are unlikely to affect the long-term hydrographical properties of the world’s oceans.