Southeast Asia Speaker Series: Gregory F. Moore

Enlarge image

The Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa cordially invites you to a talk with UHM Geology and Geophysics Professor and Chair, Gregory F. Moore. Professor Moore will be giving a 45 minute talk titled, “Historic and Future Earthquakes and Tsunamis in the NE Indian Ocean and Their Effects on People Living in the Coastal Zone” followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A/discussion session. All are welcome to attend this free talk!

More info: The geology of the northeastern Indian Ocean region is dominated by the subduction of the Indian Ocean plate beneath SE Asia. This process leads to great earthquakes and associated mega-tsunamis, such as the Sumatra quake and tsunami of 2004. We now know that subduction zone earthquakes are cyclical: between large quakes, strain accumulates along locked portions of the plate interface. This causes subsidence of offshore islands and uplift of coastal regions. This shifts the shoreline seaward, leaving new ocean-front land for the increasing population to move on to.

During an earthquake, this process is rapidly reversed and coastal regions subside, causing inundation of the shoreline. If a tsunami is also generated, the resulting loss of life can be enormous – witness the 2004 Sumatra and 2011 Tohoku events.

Another geologic hazard is caused by changes in building styles. Older wooden structures usually survive ground shaking during quakes, but more modern brick or cement structures often suffer significant damage.

In this talk, I will present evidence for uplift and subsidence along the west coasts of Sumatra and Myanmar during historic earthquakes and will discuss the likelihood for a large earthquake along the west coast of Myanmar.

Speaker Bio: Greg spent 4 1/2 years on the research staff at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 1 1/2 years as research geologist at Cities Service Research Lab, and 5 years as an associate professor at the University of Tulsa before joining the U.H. faculty in 1989. While at U.H. he has participated in several oceanographic expeditions, including four cruises for the Ocean Drilling Program (one as co-chief scientist). He is a fellow of the Geological Society of America, and a member of the American Geophysical Union, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Event Sponsor
Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Beau Mueller, 956-2688, cseas@hawaii.edu, https://www.facebook.com/events/143509612484982/

Tweet