Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization of Potential Tsunamigenic Earthquake Source Zones in the Indian Ocean

  • Chapter
Book cover Tsunami and Nonlinear Waves

Abstract

The uniqueness of the Indian tectonic plate is manifested in the diverse nature of deformation along its plate margins. The magnificent Himalayan mountain belt to the north represents a continent-continent collision. To the east, a complex, oblique subduction takes place along the Burma and Andaman arc regions that continues further down south, to the Sumatra and Java trenches. A nascent diffuse deformation zone in the northeastern Indian Ocean further south, that formed during the last 7 Ma (Gordon et al., 1990), marks the southern plate margin separating the Indian plate from the Australian plate. A spreading ridge with respect to the African plate to the south-west and a strike-slip environment with respect to the Arabian plate to the west are the other plate boundaries (Fig. 1). The Indian plate has made a remarkably long journey in the geological time scale, with the initial break up from the Gondwanaland about 125 million years ago. Initially the Indian plate moved very rapidly north, at about 10 cm/y until about 53 Ma, when it made the initial contact with Asia. With the closure of the Neo-Tethys Sea during the Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary period, the scenario changed to that of a continent-continent collision with a reduced rate of about 5 cm/y. The gigantic Himalayan mountain range formed from the scraped off Indian crust and is the site of some of the world’s largest and most devastating earthquakes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Ammon et al. (2006) Rupture Process of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake. Science 308:1133–1139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Banerjee, P, Politz FF, Burgman R (2005) The size and duration of the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake from far-field static offsets. Science 308:1769–1772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bendick R, Bilham R (1999) A search for buckling of the SW Indian coast related to Himalayan Collision. In: Macfarlane A, Sorkhabi RB, Quade, J (eds) Himalaya and Tibet: Mountain Roots to Mountain Tops. Geol Soc Amer Special paper 328:313–322

    Google Scholar 

  4. Berninghausen, WH (1966) Tsunamis and Seismic Seiches reported from regions adjacent to the Indian Ocean. Bull Seism Soc Am 56: 69–74

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bijwaard, H, Spakman W, Engdahl ER (1998) Closing the gap between regional and global travel time tomography. J Geophys Res 103:30055–30078

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bilham, R, Engdahl R, Feld N, Satyabala SP (2005) Partial and complete rupture of the Indo-Andaman plate boundary 1847–2004. Seism Res Lett 76:299–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bilham, R (2006) Dangerous tectonics, fragile buildings, and tough decisions. Science 311: 1873–1875

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Borges, JF, et al, (2005) http://www.emsccsem.org/Doc/Sumatra-ruputreprocess-2004.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  9. Briggs, et al. (2006) Deformation and slip along the Sunda megathrust in the Great 2005 Nias-Simeulue earthquake. Science 311:1897–1901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Catherine, JK, Gahalaut VK, Sahu VK (2005) Constraints on rupture of the December 26, 2004, Sumatra earthquake from far-field GPS observations. Earth Planet Sci Lett 237:673–679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chamot-Rooke, N, Jestin F, deVoogd B (1993) Intraplate shortening in the central Indian Ocean determined from a 2100 km long north-south deep seismic reflection profile. Geology 21:1043–1046

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chandra, U (1984) Tectonic segmentation of the Burmese-Indonesian arc. Tectonophysics 105:279–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Curray, JR, Moore D, Lawyer L, Emmel F, Raitt R, Henry M, Kieckhefer R (1979) Tectonics of the Andaman sea and Burma. In: Watkins JS, Montadert L, Dickerson P (eds) Geological and Geophysical Investigations of Continental margins. AAPG Memoir 29:189–198

    Google Scholar 

  14. DeMets, C, Gordon RG, Argus DF Stein S (1990) Current plate motions. Geophys J Int 101:425–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. DeMets, C, Gordon RG, Vogt P (1994) Location of the Africa-Australia-India triple junction and motion between the Australian and Indian plates: Results from an aeromagnetic investigation of the central Indian and Carlsberg ridges. Geophys J Int 119:893–930

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Eittreim, S, Ewing J (1972) Mid-plate tectonics in the Indian ocean. J Geophys Res 77: 6413–6421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Fine, IV, Rabinovich AB, Thomson RE (2006) The dual source region for the 2004 Sumatra tsunami. Geophys Res Lett 32:L16602 doi: 10.1029/2005GL023521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Fitch, TJ (1972) Plate convergence, transcurrent faults and internal deformation adjacent to SE Asia and Western Pacific. J Geophys Res 77:4432–4460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Gahalaut, VK, Nagarajan B, Catherine JK Kumar S (2006) Constraints on 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake rupture from GPS measurements in Andaman-Nicobar Islands. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 242:365–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Geller, CA, Weissel JK, Anderson RN (1983) Heat transfer and intraplate deformation in the central Indian ocean. J Geophys Res 88:1018–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Gordon, RG, DeMets C, Argus DF (1990) Kinematic constraints on distributed lithospheric deformation in the equatorial Indian ocean from present motion between the Australian and Indian plates. Tectonics 9:409–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Han et al. (2006) Crustal Dilatation Observed by GRACE after the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake. Science 313:658–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hashimoto, MN, Choosakul M, Hashizume S, Takemoto H, Takiguchi Y, Fukuda, Frjimori K (2006) Crustal deformations associated with the great Sumatra-Andaman earthquake deduced from continuous GPS observation, Earth Planets and Space 58:127–139

    Google Scholar 

  24. Heck, NH (1947) List of seismic sea waves. Bull Seism Soc Am 37:269–286

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ji, C (2004) http://www.gps.caltech.edu/jichen /Earthquake/2004/aceh/aceh.html

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kreemer, C, Blewitt G, Maerten F (2006) Co-and postseismic deformation of the 28 March 2005 Nias Mw 8.7 earthquake from continuous GPS data. Geophys Res Lett 33:L07307, doi:10.1029/2005GL025566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Kruger, F, Ohnberger M (2005) Spatio-temporal source characteristics of the 26 December 2004 Sumatra earthquake as imaged by teleseismic broadband arrays. Geophys Res Lett 32: L24312, doi:10.1029/2005GL023939

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Kumar, MR, Rao NP (1995) Significant trends related to the slab seismicity and tectonics in Burmeese arc region from Harvard CMT solutions. Phys Earth and Planet Inter 90:75–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Kumar, MR, Rao NP Chalam SV (1996) A Seismotectonic study of the Burma and Andaman arc regions using Centroid Moment Tensor data. Tectonophysics 253:155–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Lay et al. (2005) The Great Sumatra-Andaman earthquake of 26 December 2004. Science 308:1127–1133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Le Dain, AY, Tapponier P, Molnar P (1984) Active faulting and tectonics of Burma and surrounding regions. J Geophys Res 89:453–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Levchenko, OV (1989) Tectonic aspects of intraplate seismicity in the northeastern Indian ocean. Tectonophysics 170:125–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Levchenko, OV, Ostrovsky AA (1992) Seismic seafloor observations: a study of anomalous intraplate seismicity in the northeastern Indian ocean. Phys Earth Planet Inter 74:173–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Lisitzin, E (1974) Sea Level Changes. Elsevier, Oceanographic Series New York

    Google Scholar 

  35. Macmurdo, Captain (1821) Account of the earthquake which occurred in India in June 1819. Edinburgh Phil J 4:106–109

    Google Scholar 

  36. Mathur, SM (1998) Physical Geology of India. National Book Trust of India, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  37. Maung, H (1987) Transcurrent movements in the Burma-Andaman sea region Geology 15:911–912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. McCloskey et al. (2005) Earthquake risk from co-seismic stress. Nature 434:291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Minster, JB, Jordon TH, Molnar P, Haines E (1974) Numerical modelling of instantaneous plate tectonics. Geophys J R Astron Soc 36:541–576

    Google Scholar 

  40. Minster, JB, Jordon TH (1978) Present-day plate motions. J Geophys Res 83: 5331–5354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Mokhtari, M, Farahbod AM (2005) Tsunami Occurrence in the Makran Region. Tsunami Seminar Tehran 26 February 2005

    Google Scholar 

  42. Mukhopadhyay, M, Das Gupta S (1988) Deep structure and tectonics of the Burmese arc: constraints from earthquake and gravity data. Tectonophysics 149:299–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Murty, TS, Bapat A, Prasad V (1999) Tsunamis on the coastlines of India. Science of Tsunami Hazards 17:167–172

    Google Scholar 

  44. Murty, TS (1984) Storm surges-meteorological ocean tides. Bull. Fisheries Research Board of Canada Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  45. Murty, GPS, Subrahmanyam AS, Murthy KSR, Sarma KYLNS (2002) Evidence of fault reactivation off Pondicherry coast from marine geophysical data. Current Science 83:1446–1449

    Google Scholar 

  46. Nelson, Captain (1846) Notice of an earthquake and a probable subsidence of the land in the district of Cutch, near the mouth of Koree, or the eastern branch of the Indus in June 1845. Geol Soc London Quart J 2:103

    Google Scholar 

  47. Neprechnov, YP, Levchenko OV, Merklin LR, Sedov VV (1988) The structure and tectonics of the intraplate deformation area in the Indian Ocean. Tectonophysics 156:89–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Ni, JF, Speziale MG, Bevis M, Holt WE, Wallace TC, Seager WR (1989) Accretionary tectonics of Burma and the three dimensional geometry of the Burma subduction. Geology 17:68–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Ortiz, M, Bilham R (2003) Source area and rupture parameters of the 31 December 1881 Mw = 7.9 Car Nicobar earthquake estimated from tsunamis recorded in the Bay of Bengal. J Geophys Res 108B4 2215 doi: 10.1029/2002JB001941

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Pararas-Carayannis (2006) The potential of tsunami generation along the Makran Subduction Zone in the northern Arabian Sea. Case Study: The Earthquake And Tsunami Of November 28, 1945. Science of Tsunami Hazards 24:358

    Google Scholar 

  51. Paul, J, Burgmann R, Gaur VK, Bilham R, Larson KM, Ananda MB, Jade S, Mukul M, Anupama TS, Satyal G, Kumar D (2001) The motion and active deformation of India. Geophys Res Lett 28:647–650

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Pendse, CG (1945) The Makran earthquake of the 28th November 1945. India Met. Dept. Scientific Notes 10:141–145

    Google Scholar 

  53. Qureshi, RM (2006) Vulnerability of Pakistan coast to tsunami. Possible applications/Role of nuclear techniques RCARO workshop (20–24 February, 2006) Daejon Korea

    Google Scholar 

  54. Rao, NP, Kumar MR (1996) Deformation tectonics of the diffuse Indo-Australian plate boundary using centroid moment tensor data. Current Science 70:238–242

    Google Scholar 

  55. Rao, NP (1999) Active tectonics of the margins and stable parts of the Indian shield. Ph.D. Thesis, Tokyo Univ.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Rao, NP, Kumar MR (1999) Evidences for cessation of Indian plate subduction in the Burmese arc region. Geophys Res Lett 26:3149–3152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Rao, NP, Kalpna (2005) Deformation of the subducted Indian lithospheric slab in the Burmese arc. Geophys Res Lett 32 L05301, doi: 10.1029/2004GL022034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Rao, NP, Chary AH (2005) What caused the Great Sumatran Earthquakes of 26 December 2004 and 28 March 2005? Current Science 89:449–452

    Google Scholar 

  59. Rao, NP, Catherine JK, Kumar RP (2006) Plate junctions junctions and great earthquakes: The Sumatran tectonic puzzle. Geophys Res Lett (submitted)

    Google Scholar 

  60. Rastogi, BK, Jaiswal RK (2006) A catalog of tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. Science of Tsunami Hazards 25:128–143

    Google Scholar 

  61. Satyabala, SP, (1998) Subduction in the Indo-Burma region: Is it still active? Geophys Res Lett 25:3189–3192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Sieh, K (2005) What happened and what’s next?. Nature 434:573–574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. STAAD Pro (2004) A Structural Analysis and Design Software. Research Engineers International

    Google Scholar 

  64. Stein, S, Okal E (1978) Seismicity and tectonics of the Ninety east ridge area Evidence for internal deformation of the Indian plate. J Geophys Res 83:2233–2245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Stein, S, Gordon RG (1984) Statistical tests of additional plate boundaries from plate motion inversions. Earth Planet Sci Lett 69:401–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Stein, S, Okal E (2005) Speed and size of the Sumatra earthquake. Nature 434: 581–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. Sykes, LR, (1970) Seismicity of the Indian ocean and possible nascent island arc between Ceylon and Australia. J Geophys Res 75:5041–5055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Tsai et al. (2005) Multiple CMT source analysis of the 2004 Sumatra earthquake. Geophys Res Lett 32:L17304 doi:10.1029/2005GL023813

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. USGS (2006): http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/10-largestworld.php

    Google Scholar 

  70. Verma, RK, Mukhopadhyay M, Ahluwalia MS (1976) Earthquake mechanisms and tectonic features of northern Burma. Tectonophysics 32:387–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Vigny, C, Socquet A, Rangin C, Chamot-Rooke N. Pubellier M, Bouin M, Bertrand G, Becker M (2003) Present-day crustal deformation around Sagging fault, Myanmar. J Geophys Res 108:ETG 6-1–6-10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Vigny, C, Simons WJF, Abu S, Ronnachai Bamphenyu, Chalermchon Satirapod, Nithiwatthn Choosakul, Subarya C, Socquet A, Omar K, Abidin HZ, Ambrosius BAC (2005) Insight into the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake from GPS measurements in southeast Asia. Nature 436:201–206 doi:10.1038/nature03937

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Walker, KT, Ishii M, Shearer PM (2005) Rupture details of the 28 March 2005 Sumatra Mw 8.6 earthquake imaged with teleseismic P waves. Geophys Res Lett 32:L24303, doi:10.1029/2005GL024395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Weissel, JK, Anderson RN, Geller CA (1980) Deformation of the Indo-Australian plate. Nature 287:284–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Wiens, DA (1986) Historical seismicity near Chagos: A complex deformation zone in the equatorial Indian ocean. Earth Planet Sci Lett 76:350–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Yagi, Y (2004) http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/staff/yagi/eq/Sumatra2004/Sumatra2004.html

    Google Scholar 

  77. Yamanaka, Y (2004) http://www.eri.u-tokyo.ac.jp/sanchu/Seismo-Note/2004/EIC161e.html

    Google Scholar 

  78. Yuan, X, Kind R, Pedersen HA (2005) Seismic monitoring of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Geophys Res Lett 32:L15308, doi:10.1029/2005GL023464

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, 500 007, India

    N. Purnachandra Rao

Authors
  1. N. Purnachandra Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Theory Group & Centre for Applied Mathematics and Computational Science, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sector 1, Block AF, Bidhan Nagar, Calcutta, 700064, India

    Anjan Kundu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rao, N.P. (2007). Characterization of Potential Tsunamigenic Earthquake Source Zones in the Indian Ocean. In: Kundu, A. (eds) Tsunami and Nonlinear Waves. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-71256-5_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation