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Scientific and education field classification
International Patent Classification
  • HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
      • FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
  • PHYSICS
    • MEASURING (counting G06M); TESTING
      • GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS (detecting or locating foreign bodies for diagnostic, surgical or person-identification purposes A61B; means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried persons A63B29/02; investigating or analysing earth materials by determining their chemical or physical properties G01N; measuring electric or magnetic variables in general, other than direction or magnitude of the earth\'s field G01R; electronic or nuclear magnetic resonance arrangements G01R33/20; radar, sonar or analogous methods in general, detecting masses or objects involving these methods G01S)
Geographical classification
Keywords
TSUNAMI; BENTHOS; SOFT BOTTOM; ACTUOPALEONTOLOGY; INTERTIDAL; INFRALITTORAL; SEDIMENTOLOGY; ANDAMAN SEA; THAILAND

Impact of castrophic events on benthic soft-bottom fauna of the infralittoral and intertidal zones: the case of the coastal area of Khao Lak, Andaman Sea, Thailand.

Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
Abstract
The study of the environmental evolution concomitant with the 26 December 2004 tsunami disaster exhibits a great deal of interest in terms of both purely scientific research and environmental recovery and protection. In this respect, the present project considers the upper infralittoral and intertidal bottoms between Khao Lak and Ban Chao Nam, along the Thai coast of the Andaman Sea. This coastal area, stretching about 40 km, includes tracts that were heavily hit by the tsunami, and other tracts where, according to preliminary observations, the effects were moderate or even locally absent.

The most prominent features of the area are as follows. 1) Erosional coastal regime characterized by strong hydrodynamic conditions. 2) Presence of some river mouths forming coastal lagoons and wetlands, and delivering sediment load to the nearshore marine bottoms. 3) Presence, primarily alongside estuaries, of mangrove forests that have played a protective role and whose actual state is worthy to be considered. 4) Soft bottoms of various kind in terms of textural and compositional features, allowing to compare the effects that have occurred (for the same energy level) depending on the type of substrate. 5) Presence of a 1.5 km wide coral reef some 2 km offshore and roughly parallel to Khao Lak coastline. 6) Dense human development in the coastal zone, primarily for tourism purposes, whose effect on marine benthic communities prior to the tsunami event is to be taken into >>>

Principal Investigator
Elio ROBBA Università degli Studi di MILANO-BICOCCA
Research Objectives
The area addressed by this research project extends for approximately 40 km, from Khao Lak to Ban Chao Nam, along the Thai coast of the Andaman Sea (Phang Nga Province). It is depicted in the northern sector of Sheet 353 "Ban Thai Muang to Chong Pak Ko" of the 1:60000 nautical map issued by the Royal Thai Navy Hydrographic Department.
The study of the environmental changes consequent to the tsunami event of December 26th 2004 will focus on the following objectives and will require sea-based investigations.

A – A detailed bathymetric map encompassing the coastal area to the depth of 15 m will be produced. This is intended as an update of the original surveys (1968), and considered to be a fundamental tool in an inter-tropical area with high sedimentation rate. The map will allow a detailed knowledge of sea bottom morphology in order to locate erosion and deposition sectors. Such background information will be the starting point for the following surveys.

B – Definition and description of the environmental conditions of the intertidal zone and upper infralittoral fringes one year after the catastrophic event. Referring to the bathymetries reported on the presently available nautical map, it is considered feasible to extend the surveys from the coastline to a depth of approximately 15 m. This objective will be accomplished through the following activities.
1. Water and sediments chemical and physical characterization.
2 >>>

Timescale
24 months
National and international background
The 26th December 2004 tsunami heavily hit the Southeast Asian coasts. An evaluation of the possible impact, and its extent, on the marine benthic fauna of the soft bottom most prone to the effects of the catastrophic event, i.e., the intertidal and upper infralittoral fringe, is needed. Damage to this bathymetric range is expected to have been extensive and intensive, especially where coastal ecosystems had already experienced human disturbances such as urbanization, mangrove forest destruction, aquaculture etc. Reports from the Phuket Rajabhat University mention massive marine benthos strandings, thus suggesting a strong mobilization of soft bottoms facing the coastline. Hence, besides the scientific interest for the event and its consequences for marine benthos, the minimization of the seaquake effects and the promotion of the damaged areas restoration is of the foremost importance. In order to do so, however, a suitable database is needed. Thus, the assessment of the present state of the coastal ecosystems and biota bears high priority and represents the starting point for results to be given to environmental managers.

The marine area facing the coastline between Khao Lak and Ban Chao Nam was struck by the violent impact of the 26th December 2004 tsunami. This area is located approximately 180 km south of Ranong in the Phang Nga province, and is of great interest both for basic scientific research and environmental protection and management. The most >>>