Answer: 1. What caused the Christmas Day Tsunami?
The Christmas Day Tsunami was the effect of a 9.3 magnitude underwater earthquake with a 990 mi
long rupture. The earthquake was said to have the same impact as the bombing in Hiroshima, which
was very strong. Therefore we can just imagine the intensity of the waves after a force that big.
2. What kinds of geographic forces were involved in creating the tsunami?
The earthquake caused vertical displacement in the seafloor and it release the stored energy
through the water, resulting in waves that ranged anywhere from 50-100ft high.
3. Why were so many people caught unprepared?
The earthquake that cause this tsunami was underwater so many people didn’t feel it, so they were
unaware of the giant waves that were coming.
The earthquake had a rupture of almost 1000mi long; countries that far away couldn’t feel it so they
didn’t prepare for the tsunami coming. Also the government didn’t notify the public. So the
government didn’t say anything and the people didn’t feel anything; for them that was just another
1. Tsunami Early Warning System
After the Christmas Day Tsunami, the Government of India authorized the Tsunami Early Warning
Project. The Early Warning System for Tsunamis provides advance warnings of Tsunamis likely to affect
the coastal areas of the country. First, a network of seismometers detects the seismic waves. If many
seismometers detect the same earthquake and then the magnitude can be calculated. If the
epicenter is under water, like the Christmas Day Tsunami, and the magnitude greater than a 6.5, also
like the Christmas Day Tsunami, waring is given out to the public virtually around 3minutes after the
earthquake to let them know that a big tsunami might be on its way and to prepare for impact. If the
epicenter is near inland and the probability of a tsunami is high, evacuation procedures will be
initiated immediately. Confirmation comes within about 30-60 minutes of the earthquake. This is by
using a network of tsunami buoys and seafloor pressure recorders. “These detect the series of waves
in the open ocean, and transmit the data by satellite to a regional control center. Tsunami warnings
reach the public via TV, radio, email, text messages, sirens and loudspeakers.”
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