Tsunami Interactive

TSUNAMI INTERACTIVE:

On this page there is an interactive movie showing the cause of the tsunami as well as a series of movie clips (2-3 minutes long) explaining the science behind earthquakes which has been used with students aged 10-18!

Many people now know what caused the Indian Ocean Tsunami. A 9.3 magnitude earthquake that released approxiamately the same ammount of energy as 23,000 one megaton nuclear bombs! What also made it trigger a tsunami was its relatively shallow focus or hypocentre, just 10 kilometeres below the surface. The fault also ruptured along approxiamately 1100km of seabed, taking several minutes to do so and continuing to send energy out into the Indian Ocean. What the animation below shows is how energy builds up on the Burma plate, as subduction takes place which is then released as the plates slip and the Burma plate springs up and the energy released coupled with a change in the sea floor causes the tsunami.

	F O R T E A C H E R S ! This animation can be used in conjunction with the power point presentation and teacher resources to explain what occurs and for students in the 11-18 range to have a better understanding of the processes involved. Much of the information can be used in conjunction with previous tsunami resources on this site and the pate tectonics pages: Powerpoint file with images and animations Student Activity (word doc) Teachers Lesson Plan (word doc) Any questions? Click on the envelope to send me an email:
Introduction to plate tectonics using 'egg tectonics'! click on picture to view in a new window!	This clip talks about what fauts are and how stress builds up before an earthquake and what happens when the energy is released! Click on the image to view!
Shows how the tectonic plates get stuck! Click on picture to view in a new window!	How slinky's can be used to show wave propogation. Click on picture to view in a new window!
What caused tsunami! NB motion of Burma plate and Indian Ocean Plate opposite to what is stated here! Click on picture to view in a new window!	Our seismograph reading! Click on picture to view in a new window!