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Disaster Impacts: immediate damage | health | basic needs | environmental damage | economic impacts

 

 

In addition to the unfathomable human impact of the tsunami, the event had tremendous environmental impacts that will take decades, even centuries, to recover from. The most obvious effect is the immediate damage caused by the wave itself. Coral reefs were pummeled by the wave both as it approached land and as it receded back into the ocean dragging swaths of debris over the fragile communities. Shorelines and mangrove communities that served as critical habitat for marine and terrestrial life were ravaged as the wave removed massive amounts of soil and vegetation. Besides supporting the biota that was wiped out with the immediate impact, these shoreline systems are critical to the ecology of upland and marine communities.

While this immediate damage is clear and present, other potentially more consequential long-term environmental impacts are difficult to predict. Damage to industrial infrastructure may take time to asses and contain, and in the mean time could be contaminating soil and groundwater. The silt that the receding wave removed is expected to choke out and contaminate coral reefs and near-shore communities. Furthermore, the complete disruption of habitat and breeding ground may have ripple effects on ecosystems far beyond the damaged areas. Finally, these fisheries and productive environments were economically critical, especially in Indonesia and Thailand. Finding ways to mitigate damage and rebuild these ecosystems will be among the foci of our studio.

Image credit:  APImage credit: Reuters.......

Above, from left to right, The ravaged shorleline of Meulaboh, Indonesia. A stand of mangroves sits off the coast of Indonesia. Thousands of turtle eggs were destroyed by the tsunami. A forest of mangroves like this one would have helped to prevent the overwhelming damage caused by the tsunami.

 

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