How the 2004 Indian Ocean quake transformed tsunami science

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)

20th Anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami

Overview of the 2004 Disaster

• On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, triggering one of the deadliest tsunamis in recorded history.
• The earthquake originated 30 km below the ocean floor in the Sunda Trench, where the Indo-Australian plate subducts beneath the Burma microplate.
• The rupture extended over a 1,300 km stretch of the plate boundary, affecting Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other nations.
• The tsunami impacted 17 countries along the Indian Ocean, causing over 227,000 deaths and displacing 1.7 million people.

Subsequent Disasters and Lessons Learned

• In March 2011, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Japan triggered a tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster, showing the ongoing vulnerability to natural disasters.
• The 2004 tsunami highlighted the unpredictability of such events and underscored the necessity for disaster preparedness and resilience.

Scientific Advancements Post-Tsunami

• The 2004 tsunami was a shock to researchers, as it was the first recorded massive tsunami along India’s eastern seaboard.
• The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) was set up in 2007, improving earthquake and tsunami monitoring.
• ITEWC operates seismological stations and ocean monitoring systems to issue early warnings for the Indian Ocean region, with alerts sent within 10 minutes of detecting potential tsunami-producing earthquakes.

Impact on Tsunami Research

• The tsunami prompted the development of tsunami geology, with significant findings in India and other countries.
• Excavations in Mahabalipuram uncovered evidence of a tsunami from the same period as the 2004 disaster.
• Researchers studied sedimentary deposits along the coast, discovering more ancient tsunamis and establishing a new scientific field focused on tsunami research.

Nuclear Vulnerabilities and Future Risks

• The 2004 tsunami revealed vulnerabilities in nuclear power plants along India’s coast.
• Though the Kalpakkam nuclear power plant withstood the tsunami, it was automatically shut down due to rising water levels, highlighting potential risks to nuclear facilities.
• Following the Fukushima disaster, the risks to nuclear plants from tsunamis became clearer, spurring calls for increased safety measures.

Emerging Tsunami Risks

• The Makran Coast, spanning Iran and Pakistan, poses a potential tsunami threat to India’s west coast, including Mumbai, where nuclear reactors are located.
• Research has also identified other seismic risks, including slow seismic slips that could provide clues about impending earthquakes and tsunamis, enhancing predictive capabilities.

Ongoing Research and Seismological Milestones

• The 2004 event marked a significant milestone in seismological research, offering valuable data on earthquake generation and related hazards.
• Studies on seismic slips at plate boundaries and pre-earthquake phenomena have advanced, offering new insights into earthquake prediction and risk mitigation strategies.

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