This project is a study of the epicentral area of the December 26, 2004 earthquake that caused the tsunami in the northern Indian Ocean. A cruise of the Japanese R/V Natsushima will survey the forearc off northern Sumatra where the tsunamigenic earthquake occurred. The expedition will involve high resolution bathymetric mapping using the Seabat8160 sonar, short-term and long term deployments of several ocean-bottom seismometers, and direct observation and sampling with the ROV Hyper Dolphin.
