Wave Propagation and Coastal Impact As the initial waves reached the shallow continental shelf, they began to slow down and increase in height, transforming from long ocean swells into towering walls of water. On December 26, 2004, the world watched in horror as a massive undersea earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunami that struck coastlines across the Indian Ocean.
What Caused Thailand Tsunami 2004: The Undersea Earthquake and Wave Dynamics
The sudden vertical displacement of the seafloor displaced a massive volume of water, creating a series of waves that radiated across the ocean at high speed. When these tsunami waves hit the Thai coast, the energy was concentrated by the shape of bays and inlets, leading to higher run-ups in certain locations.
The Undersea Earthquake: The Primary Trigger The immediate cause of the Thailand tsunami was the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, one of the most powerful ever recorded. For Thailand, situated on the Andaman Sea coast, this energy arrived within minutes, making effective warning systems critically important.
What Caused Thailand Tsunami 2004: The Undersea Earthquake and Wave Dynamics
The absence of sea-level monitoring stations and public alert systems meant that many people had only minutes—or mere seconds—between the strong ground shaking and the arrival of the waves. Tectonic Setting of the Andaman Sea The geography of the Andaman Sea and the orientation of the coastline played a significant role in amplifying the impact.
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