What are the important facts about the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami?
Fast facts: 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami The tsunami’s waves traveled across the Indian Ocean at 500 mph, the speed of a jet plane. The 2004 Indonesia earthquake caused a shift in the Earth’s mass that changed the planet’s rotation. Total material losses from the tsunami were estimated at $10 million.
How did the Indian Ocean tsunami happen for kids?
On December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake happened off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Tons of water moved when the seabed rose up. The tsunami that hit the coasts of the Indian Ocean was one of the deadliest disasters in known history.
What are some fun facts about the Indian Ocean tsunami?
Indian Ocean tsunami: Facts and figures
- The 9.1 magnitude earthquake that prompted the tsunami was the third strongest since records began in 1899.
- The energy released by the earthquake was equivalent to 23,000 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs.
- The highest waves are thought to have reached 65-100 feet in height.
What caused the tsunami in 2004 for kids?
The Asian tsunami of 2004 was caused by tectonic activity beneath the Indian Ocean. A fault twenty miles below the ocean surface ruptured, forcing one of the plates to be thrust upwards by as much as 40 feet. The ocean above was forced upwards and the displaced water moved out as a series of giant ripples.
What type of earthquake was the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake?
undersea megathrust earthquake
It was an undersea megathrust earthquake that registered a magnitude of 9.1–9.3 Mw, reaching a Mercalli intensity up to IX in certain areas. The earthquake was caused by a rupture along the fault between the Burmese Plate and the Indian Plate.
How many died in the 2004 tsunami?
227,8982004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami / Number of deaths
How the Indian Ocean tsunami was caused?
According to USGS scientists, the sea floor near the earthquake was uplifted several meters. The displacement of water above the sea floor triggered the tsunami, which caused catastrophic levels of destruction in countries around the Indian Ocean basin, reaching as far as the east coast of Africa.
How long did the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake last?
How long did the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 last? The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 lasted for seven hours and reached out across the Indian Ocean, devastating coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, and Thailand, and as far away as East Africa.
How deadly is a tsunami?
Hurricane,Typhoon and Cyclone.
What caused the Christmas Day tsunami?
What caused the christmas day tsunami? A powerful undersea earthquake that struck off the coast of Sumatra island, Indonesia, set off the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, also known as the Christmas or Boxing Day tsunami, on Sunday morning, Dec. 26, 2004.
What damage did the Indian Ocean earthquake cause?
The waves spread throughout the Indian Ocean, causing damage in the coastal communities of 12 countries. By far, the most damaging effects were sustained by Aceh Province, where three devastating waves struck the western shore within about 30 minutes. The tsunami waves ranged from 4 to 39 meters high and destroyed more than 250 coastal communities.
How tall was the Indian Ocean tsunami?
This quake caused the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, which reached out across the Indian Ocean, devastating coastal areas with waves that in some places reached a height of 30 feet (9 metres) or more when they hit the shoreline. How long did the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 last?