- Where and how can tsunamis be triggered in the Andaman Sea and what are the indicators of tsunami-generating mechanisms?
- How often have tsunamis struck the coast of the Andaman Sea in the recent past and how does sedimentary evidence on- and offshore look?
- What are the impacts of tsunamis on the seafloor morphology, sediment cover and on the marine and littoral ecosystems?
- How is tsunami wave energy attenuated in the nearshore zone, beachfront and hinterland, and how is this attenuation influenced by the presence of natural barriers such as coastal forests and artificial barriers?
- What factors determine the tsunami-related vulnerability of low-lying coastal areas, their population, communities and economies?
- What kind of socio-economic, institutional and/or other factors make coastal societies or communities resilient against tsunami impacts, and how can risk management, including early warning, be improved to prevent/mitigate future tsunami disasters along coasts?
The objective of this special issue is to complement individual research issues in such a way that a clear picture can be drawn about the destructive forces and processes of the 2004 tsunami and past tsunamis and to elaborate and to suggest measures on how to avoid or mitigate future tsunami impacts and destructions.