CHAOS THEORY AND THE ROLE OF EXPERT ANALYSIS AS A PERIODIC ATTRACTOR DURING THE 2004 INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI

Abstract

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami was epic in scale and scope and will go down as one of the largest natural disasters in human history. This paper presents an analysis of media coverage of the disaster and surveys of 206 local and international tourists in Khao Lak, Thailand, through the framework of chaos theory. Specifically, this paper examines the role of expert analysis as a periodic attractor during and after the tsunami. It will demonstrate how expert analysis brought disparate images and eyewitness testimony into greater focus, creating order in an otherwise chaotic environment.

Keywords

• 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
• chaos theory
• periodic attractors
• expert analysis
• Khao Lak
• Thailan