Lasting Tsunami Effect On Chart Datum

Created by doina. Last modified on 2005-03-17 13:07:53
Topic: ASIA TSUNAMI
Countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand

Chart Datum Accuracy

After the magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the west coast of north Sumatra on 26 December 2004, GPS receivers with sub-metre accuracy operated by Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang reported in February 2005 that Penang and the northern Malay peninsula have moved 15 centimetres to the west and the movement may be continuing at about 1 cm per week.

Charted Depth Accuracy

In the wake of the tsunami on 26 December 2004, the Royal Malaysian Navy Hydrographic Department and the Jabatan Laut have started checking the depths of port entrances. The Hydrographic Department reported in March 2005 that depths along the fringe of the northern entrance channel to Penang have shoaled by 0.1 – 2.0 metres compared to the charted depth. Before the tsunami, Jabatan Laut had reported shoaling of about 1.0 m in and around Marina Batu Uban.

Bil Hansen, Sailing yacht Zygote

March 2005