1. Tsunami Seismic Sea Wave

3. The Facts about December 26th
A great earthquake occurred at 6:58 a.m. on Sunday, 26 December The magnitude 9.0 quake was located near Northern Sumatra
This is the fourth largest earthquake in the world since 1900 and is the largest since the 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska earthquake.
The earthquake moved crust about 10m

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5. Historical Seismic Activity

6. At Sumatra, the Indian plate was subducted beneath the Burma plate
Page 5 of ESRT
At Sumatra, the Indian plate was subducted beneath the Burma plate
The relative motion of the two plates has been 6cm/yr.

7. Earthquakes cause waves in the water! Tsunami!

8. What is a tsunami?
From the Japanese word tsunami meaning "harbor wave” and are technically called “Seismic Sea Waves”
Often mistakenly called "tidal waves”
They have nothing to do with tidal action!
Seismic sea waves caused by earthquakes or submarine landslides

10. Past Tsunamis

11. A section of the northern shore of Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia, pre- and post-tsunami (by Digital Globe)

12. A section of the northern shore of Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia, pre- and post-tsunami (by Digital Globe)

13. Tsunamis grow as they approach shore. No one notices them at sea
Tsunamis grow as they approach shore! No one notices them at sea! Tsunamis can happen anywhere (especially around the ring of fire)
Japan Tsunami Video
Tsunami Ship View Video
Nat. Geo Tsunamis

14. Tsunamis – “Tidal Wave”
Tsunami - a large water wave caused by an under sea earthquake.
When an earthquake jolts the ocean floor, plate movement causes the ocean floor to rise slightly and push water out of its way.
Tsunamis

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16. Earthquakes cause water to move!

17. A section of the northern shore of Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia, pre- and post-tsunami (by Digital Globe)

18. Links for more information on this event
USGS Sundra Trench Earthquake and Aftershock Map at
Tectonic Summary of Sumatra Earthquake,
2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake graphic
Tsunami Great Waves,
Dr. C’s Remarkable Ocean World

19. Tsunami waves are sent out
radially from the point of thrust. A tsunami wave can travel enormous distances. The Dec. 26th tsunami eventually made its way to the pacific ocean and noticeably affected the sea on the west coast of the US.