An International Tsunami Survey Team studying the effects of the December 26, 2004 tsunami on Indonesia“‘’’s island of Sumatra documented wave heights of 20 to 30 m (65 to 100 ft) at the island's northwest end and found evidence suggesting that wave heights may have ranged from 15 to 30 m (50 to 100 ft) along at least a 100-km (60 mi) stretch of the northwest coast.
Images
![View from the sky overlooking a severely flooded town with lingering pooled water and heavily damaged structures and roadways.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/IMG_1200-GG28Jan05.jpg?itok=AM2iwyaP)
An International Tsunami Survey Team studying the effects of the December 26, 2004 tsunami on Indonesia“‘’’s island of Sumatra documented wave heights of 20 to 30 m (65 to 100 ft) at the island's northwest end and found evidence suggesting that wave heights may have ranged from 15 to 30 m (50 to 100 ft) along at least a 100-km (60 mi) stretch of the northwest coast.
In Leupueng, Indonesia, on the island of Sumatra, Dr. Guy Gelfenbaum measures the height of snapped-off tree trunks and sea level changes shortly after the December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
In Leupueng, Indonesia, on the island of Sumatra, Dr. Guy Gelfenbaum measures the height of snapped-off tree trunks and sea level changes shortly after the December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
As part of an international tsunami survey team, Andy Moore of Kent State University takes measurement of a snapped-off tree trunk in Leupueng, Aceh in 2005, shortly after the deadly tsunami struck the island of Sumatra.
As part of an international tsunami survey team, Andy Moore of Kent State University takes measurement of a snapped-off tree trunk in Leupueng, Aceh in 2005, shortly after the deadly tsunami struck the island of Sumatra.
A severely damaged home, or a portion of one, sits atop debris in Banda Aceh on the island of Sumatra. Damage was caused by a massive, highly destructive tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake just offshore of Sumatra, on December 26, 2004.
A severely damaged home, or a portion of one, sits atop debris in Banda Aceh on the island of Sumatra. Damage was caused by a massive, highly destructive tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake just offshore of Sumatra, on December 26, 2004.
Boat carried inland by tsunami that struck Sumatra on December 26, 2004.
Boat carried inland by tsunami that struck Sumatra on December 26, 2004.
![Rubble lies in a layer of sand covering the ground of a village, and a wrecked boat transported by tsunami lies on its side.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/str_5652.jpg?itok=Gz9exI0n)
Photo taken about 100 meters inland at Kalmunai on Sri Lanka's east coast.
Photo taken about 100 meters inland at Kalmunai on Sri Lanka's east coast.
Tsunami sand deposit at Nilaveli Beach on the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka following the December 26th, 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The sand deposited by the tsunami is light colored and overlies a pre-tsunami darker sandy soil.
Tsunami sand deposit at Nilaveli Beach on the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka following the December 26th, 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The sand deposited by the tsunami is light colored and overlies a pre-tsunami darker sandy soil.
Large-scale poster describing USGS work.
The USGS studied air photos of the Big Sur coast taken in 1942 and 1994, in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC).
Large-scale poster describing USGS work.
The USGS studied air photos of the Big Sur coast taken in 1942 and 1994, in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC).
![Panoramic view of Weedon Island Preserve in Florida, showing the wide range of aquatic and upland ecosystems on the coast](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Weedon-Island_panoramic.jpg?itok=p53DLoP3)
The Weedon Island Preserve is a 3,190-acre coastal system in Tampa Bay, Florida that is comprised of aquatic and upland ecosystems.
The Weedon Island Preserve is a 3,190-acre coastal system in Tampa Bay, Florida that is comprised of aquatic and upland ecosystems.
![Diagram of deep-seated landslide, from USGS Fact Sheet 3004–3072, “Landslide Types and Processes.”](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/BigSur10DeepSlideDiagDES.jpg?itok=1evKzlBd)
Diagram of deep-seated landslide, from USGS Fact Sheet 3004–3072, “Landslide Types and Processes.”
Diagram of deep-seated landslide, from USGS Fact Sheet 3004–3072, “Landslide Types and Processes.”
Large-scale poster describing USGS work.
The USGS, in cooperation with Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, mapped the slopes of the Santa Barbara Channel using sonar. We combined this with deep sea drilling records and seismic records to make these maps.
Large-scale poster describing USGS work.
The USGS, in cooperation with Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, mapped the slopes of the Santa Barbara Channel using sonar. We combined this with deep sea drilling records and seismic records to make these maps.
Large-scale poster describing USGS work.
Large-scale poster describing USGS work.
![A woman in a brown coat emerges from the hatch of an orange submarine.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/ChrisDeltaSub.png?itok=OxMCQhH_)
Dr. Christina Kellogg emerges from the submersible Delta after collecting coral samples in the Aleutian Islands in 2004.
Dr. Christina Kellogg emerges from the submersible Delta after collecting coral samples in the Aleutian Islands in 2004.
![Aerial photo shows homes on the Florida coastline damaged during Hurricane Jeanne](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/post-Jeanne-0027.jpg?itok=TRCYiAix)
Photograph of the Florida coastline shows storm damage after Hurricane Jeanne's passage.
Photograph of the Florida coastline shows storm damage after Hurricane Jeanne's passage.
Here are shown a series of photographs of a rice coral (Montipora capitata) shaded with light filters during a natural “coral bleaching” event observed during anomalously high ocean temperatures in Autumn of 2004 on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.
Here are shown a series of photographs of a rice coral (Montipora capitata) shaded with light filters during a natural “coral bleaching” event observed during anomalously high ocean temperatures in Autumn of 2004 on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.
![Close up aerial photo of storm-damaged home](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Jeanne-DSC_2578.jpg?itok=_kyVpHon)
Zoomed in aerial photograph of a home on the beach near Stuart, Florida, severely damaged by Hurricane Jeanne in September 2004.
Zoomed in aerial photograph of a home on the beach near Stuart, Florida, severely damaged by Hurricane Jeanne in September 2004.
The Great Barrier Reef arches over 2000 kilometers along the northeast coast of Australia. The white calcium carbonate that coats the coral reflects light, making the water above the reef appear bright blue from space.
The Great Barrier Reef arches over 2000 kilometers along the northeast coast of Australia. The white calcium carbonate that coats the coral reflects light, making the water above the reef appear bright blue from space.
Storage vans, referred to as the "Freezer Farm" sit outside the Woods Hole Science Center
Storage vans, referred to as the "Freezer Farm" sit outside the Woods Hole Science Center
![Illustration of Airborne Lidar Acquisition Platform](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/plane-fig-final-blue5x6.jpg?itok=WniSvaKb)
Airborne lidar is a surveying method that measures distance to a target from a survey plane by illuminating that target with a pulsed laser light, and measuring the reflected pulses with a sensor. Differences in laser return times and wavelengths can then be used to make digital 3D-representations of the target.
Airborne lidar is a surveying method that measures distance to a target from a survey plane by illuminating that target with a pulsed laser light, and measuring the reflected pulses with a sensor. Differences in laser return times and wavelengths can then be used to make digital 3D-representations of the target.
![Swath bathymetric map of the Cape Fear submarine slide](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/slide-at.jpg?itok=OoaWjWl3)
Swath bathymetric map of the Cape Fear submarine slide, the largest slide on the US Atlantic coast. Data were collected on the R/V Atlantis in 2003.
Swath bathymetric map of the Cape Fear submarine slide, the largest slide on the US Atlantic coast. Data were collected on the R/V Atlantis in 2003.
Large-scale poster describing USGS work.
Large-scale poster describing USGS work.