West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

Posted December 31, 2004

(last updated April 25, 2005)

Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26 December, 2004

The December 26 earthquake produced the largest trans-oceanic tsunami in over 40 years, and killed more people than any tsunami in recorded history.

Earthquake Parameters (USGS):

Latitude: 3.3N

Longitude: 95.8E

Origin Time: 00:58:53UTC on December 26, 2004

04:58:53PST on December 25, 2004

Magnitude: 9.0

This page links to sites with earthquake and tsunami analysis of the event, as well as providing tsunami travel time maps and tide gage recordings of the wave.

Tsunami Links Earthquake Links

Pacific Marine Environmental Lab United States Geological Survey

Geological Survey of Japan Model IISEE

Global Security Images CalTech

ITSU Istanbul Technical University

Tsunami Lab � Novosibirsk, Russia

NASA

UNOSAT

Tsunami Videos

PMEL Link Page

National Geophysical Data Center

Japanese Research Group

Tsunami Travel Time Maps (click to enlarge)

West of epicenter

Tsunami propagation directly to Pacific

Tsunami propagation forced south of Australia

Tsunami Model - link to UAF/WCATWC Indian Ocean Tsunami Study

Tsunami Recordings on Tide Gages

The Indian Ocean tsunami was recorded on several tide gages recorded at the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center. The gages are operated by many different agencies including the NOAA/National Ocean Service, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the University of Hawaii, and the National Tidal Facility of Australia. Click on the site name to see a graph of the tsunami. Wave heights are maximum peak-to-trough height in cm. Arrival times are the actual tsunami arrival time in UTC on gages where it can be determined. The sample interval column lists the time between samples. Click on the sample interval to get the raw data. Water levels are given in meters and time in a decimal day format. One minute data is given where available with the time in hour minute format. NOTE: The data is provided as recorded at the WC/ATWC � some gaps and repetitions occur within the data files.

Tide Gage Site	Wave Height (cm p-t)	Arrival Time (UTC)	Sample Int. (min.)
Cocos Is., Australia	42	0320 12/26	6
Jackson Bay, NZ	65	1510 12/26	6
Chatham I., NZ	35	?	2
Port Vila, Vanuatu	15	?	6
Noumea, New Caledonia	10	?	3
Nukualofa, Tonga	10	?	6
King�s Wharf, Fiji	5	0000 12/27	6
Pago Pago, American Samoa	10	?	6
Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia	5	?	4
Hilo, Hawaii, USA	15	?	6 1
Kahului, Hawaii, USA	25	?	6
Kawaihae, Hawaii, USA	10	?	6
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA	5	?	6 1
Adak, Alaska, USA	17	?	6 1
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, USA	12	?	6
Neah Bay, Washington, USA	5	?	6 1
Crescent City, California, USA	42	?	6 1
Arena Cove, California, USA	15	?	6 1
Point Reyes, California, USA	22	?	6 1
San Francisco, California, USA	10	?	6
Monterey, California, USA	7	?	6
Port San Luis, California, USA	45	?	6 1
Santa Monica, California, USA	30	?	6 1
Los Angeles, California, USA	20	?	6
La Jolla, California, USA	5	?	6
San Diego, California, USA	20	?	6 1
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico	20	?	2
Acajutla, El Salvador	30	?	2
Baltra I., Galapagos Is.	30	0625 1427	2
Callao, Peru	65	0520 12/27	6
Arica, Chile	70	0405 12/27	2
Iquique, Chile	20	0440 12/27	2
Antofagasta, Chile	25	?	2
Caldera, Chile	20	?	2
Coquimbo, Chile	35	0200 12/27	2
Valparaiso, Chile	15	?	2
San Antonio, Chile	10	?	2
Talcahuano, Chile	30	0135 12/27	2
Corral, Chile	25	0150 12/27	2
Punta Corona, Chile	5	?	2
Puerto Williams, Chile	29	?	2

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