NEWS & EVENTS

Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami

Latest News - 2005-03-28

On Monday March 28th 2005 a magnitude 8.7 earthquake occurred in Sumatra. The epicenter was located at 2.065°N, 97.010°E at a depth of 30 km (18.6 miles).

Download an interactive visual object of this event. [ Windows: right-click and choose 'save as'; Mac: ctrl-click and choose 'save-as' ]

To view this scene file you will need to install iView3D, the free viewer from IVS.

Visualization Center Links and Resources

On December 26th 2004, a massive earthquake measuring approximately 9.0 on the Richter Scale hit the waters north west of Sumatra . The fourth largest earthquake since 1900 generated a surge of energy in the oceans that struck surrounding land in the form of up to a 40 foot tall tsunami. The ensuing destruction to areas such as Banda Ache in Indonesian, and Sri Lanka left over 283,100 people dead throughout the borders of the Indian Ocean . The approximately 1,126,000 people displaced generated a massive global reconstruction and aid effort that will undoubtedly continue for many years to come.

Below is a collection of links and information that the Scripps Visualization Center has compiled to show various research efforts relating to the Sumatra earthquake and tsunami. Also included is a vast collection of links to outside websites that have further information and images related to the incident. The SIO Visualization Center, IGPP, SIO, UCSD or any of their affiliates are not responsible for the content of any external sites.

The SIO Response


Sumatra Fledermaus Scene File
	This file can be viewed using iView 3D. A series of seismic points were recorded for the Sumatra earthquake and clearly define the rupture zone around Sumatra. The seismic points are color coded so that the darker colored points were chronologically first. This allows a visual sense of how the fault ruptured over time. Click Here to download file. (535MB) Click Here to download iView 3D player. (required) In addition, there is also a movie that flies around the Indian Ocean and highlights the earthquakes below ground in 3 dimensional space. Click Here to view the movie (Quicktime)
Dr. John Orcutt Presenting in the House of Representatives
	Dr. John Orcutt, director of SIO, presented testimony at the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Science's "Tsunamis: Is the U.S. Prepared?" Click Here to view the web cast. Click Here for testimony (.pdf)
Project IDA Seismic Network
	The IDA project (International Deployment of Accelerometers) is a global network of seismometers that are operated by IGPP, SIO, and UCSD, that captured seismic data of the Sumatran event. This links to their page about the Earthquake that triggered the tsunami. Click Here for website
SIO Tsunami Information Page
	This website by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography contains numerous links and resources related to the tsunami. It also contains links to Scripps and UCSD programs that dealt with the Sumatran earthquake and tsunami. Click Here for website
IGPP Broadband Seismic Data Collection Center
	This website run by IGPP is responsible for the collection and distribution of seismic data from several regional networks, small aperture arrays, and portable instrument deployments. Archived data of the Sumatra earthquake and real-time earthquake data can be found at their website. Click Here for website.
Flash Satellite Image Overview
	A simple Flash program that compares Digital Globe's Satellite images of before and after the tsunami struck Banda Ache in Indonesia . Click Here to view.

Scientific Studies

Bathymetry of Sumatra Region around Earthquake
	Thanks to InterMargin's research team, here is a link to some bathymetry of the earthquake region. Click Here for link.
USGS Earthquake Report
	This is the report filed by the USGS giving a thorough outline of the Sumatra earthquake. Also contains a wealth of images, graphs, and related links. Click Here for website.

Multimedia

NASA Earth Observatory
	NASA's Earth Observatory has a collection of satellite images of Asian regions that were impacted by the tsunami. Both a collection of before and after images can be seen at the following links. Earthquake Sri Lanka Northwest Sumatra Lhoknga, Indonesia Phuket, Thailand Aceh Province Gleebruk, Indonesia Thailand East India Lho' Kruet
Digital Globe
	Many of the amazing satellite images that are on the media and websites from Digital Globe's Quick Bird Satellite. Click Here to Digital Globe Website
Amateur Video of Tsunami
	WARNING: Due to the graphic nature of the following links, viewer discression is advised. This video footage was shot with handheld cameras by people that were stuck in the path of the tsunami. Credit goes to the many people who risked their lives for this footage. Phuket Patong Beach Sri Lanka Koh Lanta, Thailand Penang Beach Sri Lanka Resort

Aid and Relief

Sumatra Fledermaus Scene File
	A natural disaster of this magnitude created a flood (no pun intended) of international support that generated millions in aid. Google has compiled a thorough list of reputable organizations that are collecting donations to help in the relief efforts. Click Here for Relief Page

Other Links

The following are a collection of links that have a wealth of information related to the Sumatra earthquake and tsunami NOAA web links -- A list of links compiled by NOAA. Very extensive. Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory: Tsunami Research Program -- Has lots of scientific documents relating to the event. Pacific Disaster Center -- Has lots of comparative images as well as a wealth of links and information. Relief Web -- A site devoted to tracking the relief status of the Indian Ocean regions. Wave of Destruction -- This site is devoted to the Sumatra great tsunami and has large amounts of images, videos, and information. BBC Tsunami Page -- The BBC's Tsunami information page Time Magazine Photo Essay -- A collection of photos from Time Magazine. DISCLAIMER: The SIO Visualization Center, IGPP, SIO, UCSD or any of their affiliates are not responsible for the content of any external sites.