Unexpected Scale and Impact:
- The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off the Sumatran coast, was the third–largest earthquake since 1900.
- The tsunami impacted 17 countries, with a death toll of 227,000+ and 1.7 million displaced. The event was unprecedented for many affected regions, including India’s eastern seaboard, where no similar historical events were recorded.
Relevance : GS 3(Disaster Management )
Advancements in Tsunami Science:
- Tsunami Warning Systems:
- The Indian government established the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) in 2007, providing real-time monitoring of the Indian Ocean region.
- ITEWC uses seismological stations, bottom pressure recorders, and tidal stations to detect potential tsunami-inducing earthquakes and issue warnings within 10 minutes.
- Tsunami Geology:
- Researchers began using tsunami geology to trace past tsunami events. Evidence of ancient tsunamis was discovered through inspections of mangrove swamps and archaeological sites like Mahabalipuram.
- This led to a surge in studies on historical tsunamis and the application of GPS and earthquake instrumentation to enhance seismic monitoring.
New Research Directions:
- Tsunami Modelling:
- Mathematical tsunami modelling was used to study potential inundation limits, particularly in vulnerable coastal areas and nuclear power plant locations.
- Risk Awareness:
- The 2004 event raised awareness of the vulnerability of nuclear power plants (e.g., Kalpakkam) to tsunami risks, leading to discussions on the potential for nuclear disasters, as highlighted by the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Tsunami Hazard Awareness:
- The earthquake and tsunami prompted focus on understudied regions like the Makran Coast in the northern Arabian Sea and Myanmar coast, both of which could generate significant tsunamis.
- There is growing concern over unbroken subduction zones between Myanmar and India, with the potential for future large-scale earthquakes and tsunamis.
Advances in Earthquake Prediction:
- Slow slips: The study of tectonic fault movements and slow ruptures has provided insights into earthquake behavior and possible precursors to large seismic events.
- The 2004 earthquake provided critical data for seismological research, contributing to a better understanding of seismic slip and the processes of earthquake generation.
Global Tsunami Awareness:
- The tsunami underscored the vulnerability of global coastal regions to natural hazards and the importance of early warning systems.
- It also marked a milestone in earthquake and tsunami research, influencing disaster preparedness and resilience strategies worldwide.
