Tsunami Activity in Indonesia

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Tsunamis destroy lives, landscapes, and alter the people's lifestyle permanently.

 

In 2004, Sumatra was the home to an extremely devastating tsunami disaster. This tidal wave caused more than 200,000 deaths. Indonesia is highly susceptible to tsunamis because of how the tectonic plates are situated. The plate boundaries are constantly shifting and moving on the seafloor, causing disruptions in the level of water on the seafloor. During a earthquake on the seafloor, the tectonic plate will uplift, causing a hortizontal reaction bringing water toward the shore.

 

 

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It is very hard to predict when a tsunami will occur, but the National Tsunami Association recommends that when the ground is shaking, relocate to higher ground. Also, when sea life is exposed, (like fish) that is when a tsunami is going to hit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Volcano Week!

Indonesia's is a volcanic hotspot due to it's geographical location on the four subducting tectonic plates , which is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The main volcano type present here  is a stratavolcano. This type of volcano has steeper sides, and spews out low viscosity magma, toxic gages, and rhyolite rock into the air, and billows up into a large toxic cloud.

Source: Kenrick95

Above is an example of a stratavolcano in Indonesia, notice how steep the sides of the volcano are.

 

Some of the most catastrophic explosions took place on islands in Indonesia. In 1815, Mount Tambora erupted in violent events which was one of the most extreme eruptions in recorded history. As the ash was spewed into the air, the average world temperature dropped about 3 degrees.

 

 

 

There are 76 active volcanoes currently in Indonesia, although there is not enough technology to state exactly when a volcano erupts, there is always preparation. Each province has their own preparedness agency, although their readiness varies. In February alone, two volcanic eruptions left about 130,000 displaced, and many dead. The National Disaster Preparedness agency works with local community governments to plan out risk mapping, identifying threats, and training officials to be ready for these disasters also.

 

 

 

Sources

 

Extremescience.com

 

Volcanodiscovery.come/Indonesia

 

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/26/indonesia-volcano-eruptions-prepare-disasters

 



Indonesia and Earthquake Activity

Indonesia has a very high seismic activity because of the way that it's tectonic plates are situated, four plates constantly going through friction with each other.  The tectonic region of Java is the most unstable. The island is adjacent to a deep sea trench, and is located where tectonic plates meet. Indonesia's most recent earthquake was a 5.3 magnitude just this Wednesday morning. When looking at the map of Indonesia, you can see that where the subduction zone is, that is where there is high seismic activity and volcanoes.
http://www.shipdetective.com/advice/safety/eq_indonesia.htm

Indonesia is also at high risk for Tsunamis, because earthquakes happen along the seafloor, causing the ocean water to rise up and generate devastating power onto the land.

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How Indonesia is Prepared for Disaster

 

You cannot predict when a tsunami, or major earthquake hits, but when one does there is always disaster relief. The American Red Cross plays a major role in aiding people after these catastrophes. They provide food, shelter, and vital medical care to Indonesia's citizens. The Asia Disaster Preparedness Center also helps with Indonesia's recovery. 

 

       The Indonesian Islands lie where the Pacific Plate, Austrailian plate, Eurasian and the Phillipine plate meet. This is a very unique spot because when different tectonic plates are sliding past each other and causing friction, it causes volcanoes and seismically large earthquakes. This means that the Indonesian islands are hitting 4 plate boundaries, which causes great motion and change to the geologic landscape of the seafloor. The plates would be called convergent plate boundaries with subduction. The Indian Oceanic plate is being subducted under the Eurasian plate because the continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust. It is also interesting that a geologic fault line runs the length of Sumatra, The earthquakes here are mostly caused by the converging Australian plate.

How do subducting plates cause volcanoes? As the plate is being subducted, magma from beneath the surface of the earth is being melted from the friction of the tectonic plates. It  reaches the surface, forming a margin within the oceanic crust, forming a volcano.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Talang#mediaviewer/File:Mount_Talang.JPG

Mount Talang is an active stratovolcano in Sumatra. It's most recent eruption occurred in 2004.

Sources:
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/eoc/teachers/t_tectonics/p_map_plate_layers_bath.html

http://www.livescience.com/43220-subduction-zone-definition.html

Mined Minerals in Indonesia

Indonesia's most mined resources are gold, tin, nickel, copper, and bauxite.
Source: U.S. Library of Congress

Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes.

     A hazard, (in geologic terms) are conditions that are dangerous for humans, animals, and wildlife. Hazards may be occur suddenly, like a volcanic explosion for example. Or, they can be slow forming hazards, such as land erosion near property.


A disaster is the outcome of geologic events which cause loss of life, property damage, cause of fire.. etc. Examples of natural disasters include tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and cyclones.

A catastrophe is a violent event that affects immense amounts of people, and it also effects the geological landscape. A catastrophe takes years and mass amounts of years to make a full recovery.

A Little bit about Indonesia...

   Indonesia is located in the "Ring of Fire" which is a geographical feature of the ocean floor which creates explosive volcanism. This makes the land of Indonesia highly unstable and there is always the possibility of a volcanic eruption. These volcanoes form because of the contact between the Indo Australian Plate and the Pacific Plate become subducted under the Eurasian Plate, causing the underlying magma to be pushed out and volcanoes to form.