Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 20 May 2005:
Vol. 308. no. 5725, pp. 1126 - 1127
DOI: 10.1126/science.1113363
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Viewpoint

A Flying Start, Then a Slow Slip

Roger Bilham

The human tragedy caused by the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake (moment magnitude 9.3) on 26 December 2004 and its companion Nias earthquake (moment magnitude 8.7) on 28 March 2005 is difficult to comprehend. These earthquakes, the largest in 40 years, have also left seismologists searching for the words and tools to describe the enormity of the geological processes involved. Four papers in this issue discuss aspects of a rupture process of surprising complexity, the first such event to test the sensitivity and range of many new technologies. A surprising feature of the earthquake is that after the initial rapid rupture, subsequent slip of the plate interface occurred with decreasing speed toward the north.

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences and Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.

E-mail: roger.bilham{at}colorado.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The Energy Radiated by the 26 December 2004 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake Estimated from 10-Minute P-Wave Windows.
G. L. Choy and J. Boatwright (2007)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 97, S18-S24
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Using Earthquake Source Durations along the Sumatra-Andaman Subduction System to Examine Fault-Zone Variations.
S. L. Bilek (2007)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 97, S62-S70
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Aftershock Investigation in the Andaman-Nicobar Islands of India and Its Seismotectonic Implications.
O. P. Mishra, J. R. Kayal, G. K. Chakrabortty, O. P. Singh, and D. Ghosh (2007)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 97, S71-S85
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Simulated Strong Ground Motions for the Great M 9.3 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake of 26 December 2004.
M. B. Sorensen, K. Atakan, and N. Pulido (2007)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 97, S139-S151
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Coseismic Slip and Afterslip of the Great Mw 9.15 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake of 2004.
M. Chlieh, J.-P. Avouac, V. Hjorleifsdottir, T.-R. A. Song, C. Ji, K. Sieh, A. Sladen, H. Hebert, L. Prawirodirdjo, Y. Bock, et al. (2007)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 97, S152-S173
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Rupture Process of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake from Tsunami Waveform Inversion.
A. Piatanesi and S. Lorito (2007)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 97, S223-S231
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The 2004 Parkfield Earthquake, the 1985 Prediction, and Characteristic Earthquakes: Lessons for the Future.
D. D. Jackson and Y. Y. Kagan (2006)
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 96, S397-S409
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Managing extreme natural disasters in coastal areas.
P.C Kesavan and M.S Swaminathan (2006)
Phil Trans R Soc A 364, 2191-2216
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Earthquake rupture stalled by a subducting fracture zone..
D. P. Robinson, S. Das, and A. B. Watts (2006)
Science 312, 1203-1205
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Comment on "The Great Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake of 26 December 2004".
S. Neetu, I. Suresh, R. Shankar, D. Shankar, S. S. C. Shenoi, S.R. Shetye, D. Sundar, and B. Nagarajan (2005)
Science 310, 1431a
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Global Reach of the 26 December 2004 Sumatra Tsunami.
V. Titov, A. B. Rabinovich, H. O. Mofjeld, R. E. Thomson, and F. I. Gonzalez (2005)
Science 309, 2045-2048
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)