Earthquakes & Tsunami
Lesson 6: December 2004 – The Boxing Day Tsunami
Key Content
- Plate tectonics theory.
- How earthquakes affect the land.
- How earthquakes affect people.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Use terminology correctly (eg, tsunami, epicentre, focus, seismic waves).
- Describe how earthquakes affect the land.
- Describe how earthquakes affect people.
Film Archive Footage and Key Questions
20. One News 24/12/2004, TVNZ 2004
One News (24 December 2004)
The biggest earthquake in the world this year has been recorded hundreds of kilometres south of New Zealand (a few days before the Boxing Day earthquake that caused the massive tsunami in the Indian Ocean).
a) Why didn’t this big earthquake do any damage in NZ?
It was too far away. Had it been closer to New Zealand, it could have done considerable damage.
21. TV3 News 27/12/2004, TV3 Network 2004
TV3 News (27 December 2004)
Southern Asia is in turmoil today following a massive Boxing Day Tsunami that has killed at least 13000 people, including one New Zealander. The Boxing Day Tsunami was caused by the fourth biggest earthquake in the last century, measuring 9 on the Richter Scale. The main countries affected are Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
a) Name the countries that were most affected by the Boxing Day tsunami?
The main countries affected are Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
b) How big was the earthquake on the Richter Scale? 9
c) How manypeople are estimated to be left homeless? Two million.
d) Name the well known tourist destination in Thailand affected by the tsunami? Phuket.
22. Tsunami Science, TV3 Network, 2004
TV3 News, (27/12/2004)
Tsunami's like the Boxing Day Tsunami that hit in South East Asia are rare around New Zealand, but they do occur. Vasily Titov (NOAA); Warwick Smith (Seismologist).
a) How big can the wave length of a tsunami be? 100m
b) How long can it take before a tsunami calms down after it hits land? One hour.
c) At what point does a tsunami have its greatest effect?
In shallow water as it hits land - the wave begins to break.
d) How high can a tsunami be? 100 feet (about 35 metres).
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