Sri Lanka field survey after the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

Earthquake Spectra
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Abstract

An International Tsunami Survey Team (ITST) consisting of scientists from the United States, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka evaluated the impacts of the 26 December 2004 transoceanic tsunami in Sri Lanka two weeks after the event. Tsunami runup height, inundation distance, morphological changes, and sedimentary characteristics of deposits were recorded and analyzed along the southwest and east coasts of the country. Preliminary results show how local topography and bathymetry controlled the limits of inundation and associated damage to the infrastructure. The largest wave height of 8.71 m was recorded at Nonagama, while the greatest inundation distance of 390 m and runup height of 12.50 m was at Yala. At some sites, human alterations to the landscape increased the damage caused by the tsunami; this was particularly evident in areas of coral poaching and of sand dune removal.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Sri Lanka field survey after the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
Series title Earthquake Spectra
DOI 10.1193/1.2205897
Volume 22
Issue S3
Year Published 2006
Language English
Publisher Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Contributing office(s) Coastal and Marine Geology Program
Description 18 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Earthquake Spectra
First page 155
Last page 172
Country Sri Lanka
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