Tsunami earthquake: 26 December 2004

The Indonesian tsunami earthquake of 26 December 2004 (00:58:53, UT 3.308 N, 95.874 E, magnitude 9.3) is a classic example of how indirect traction applies to an affected area. The diagram (Figure 7) shows the significant positions of the astronomical bodies. The arrows indicate the direct position of the planets, and the tangent lines show the lines of indirect traction, where the planets are rising or setting.

There was an unusual combination of effects at that time:

• The earth was almost at its nearest position to Saturn.
• The earth was also near its closest position to the sun.
• It was near the time of the Full Moon and there would be a high Spring Tide.
• The position of the planets would add to this and help to create an extra high tide mound of water. Variations of tide height in that area are sometimes more than five meters.   
• The moon was close to its highest orbital position and this would help to direct the mound of water into that area.
• The moon had set two hours earlier and after pulling the plates westwards was now releasing its pull and the sun and rising planets now pulled in the opposite direction.
• Jupiter was overhead and would help to cancel out the pull of the earth’s mass on the affected plates.

 Figure 7

© Frank Glasby