In May 2005, Dr. Kate Moran led a team of 27 top scientists to the Indian Ocean to explore the great Sumatra earthquake of 2004 through what it left behind on the ocean floor. They re-created the chain of events by surveying the quake's underwater epicenter, finding massive and dramatic geologic changes that caused overwhelming amounts of ocean water to be displaced in gigantic waves.

Dr. Moran is a leader in marine engineering research. She is the director of the Marine Geomechanics Laboratory at the University of Rhode Island (URI), where she is also an associate professor in the department of ocean engineering and the Graduate School of Oceanography.

Moran has led several major oceanographic expeditions, including the first drilling expedition to the Arctic Ocean in 2004. She has also made major contributions to the assessment of hazards in Canada's large offshore regions and management of applied engineering research projects, including offshore drilling programs. She has authored more than 45 publications, primarily in the field of marine geotechnics.

Moran is a registered professional engineer and an active member of professional societies, including the American Geophysical Union and Society for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. She is currently a Joint Oceanographic Institutions Distinguished Lecturer.

LISTEN

Dr. Moran spoke to Discovery.com about the SEATOSS expedition to the Indian Ocean and the likelihood of a tsunami striking the U.S. (Windows Media Player)

Kate Moran introduction
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Type of earthquake that causes a tsunami
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About SEATOSS
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How to study the ocean floor
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Expedition findings
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Tsunami danger to U.S.
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U.S. tsunami preparation
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Tsunami surfing?
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