Mount Merapi Flashcards
1
Q
Case study
A
- Java, Indonesia
- 1,700m high and has been erupting regularly since the 1500s.
- Erupted 26th October 2010
- GDP = $3,475.25
- Stage in DTM = 3
- Active stratovolcano
2
Q
Nature of hazard
A
- Caused by the Indo-Australian Plate being subducted beneath the Eurasian Plate.
- The volcano is located on a destructive plate margin at a subduction zone and is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
- Eruptions are getting worse over time
- VEI = 4
3
Q
Volcano facts
A
- Age of Rock: 400,000 years
- A part of an island arc
- tall, conical volcano composed of one layer hardened lava, tephra and volcanic ash.
- These volcanoes have a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions
- Erupt with terrifying force
4
Q
Primary social impacts
A
- villages were under 30cm of ash
- 360,000 people were displaced from their homes
- people lost their homes and livelihoods
- The danger area was extended to 20km from the mountain
5
Q
Primary environmental impacts
A
- Volcanic bombs and hot gases of up to 800°C spread over 11km away
- Pyroclastic flows spread 3km down the mountain
- Ash fell up to 30km away and 5km into the sky.
- Sulphur Dioxide was blown across Indonesia and as far as South Australia.
- crops damaged
6
Q
primary economic impacts
A
- particularly farmers lost their livelihoods
- Lava flows damaged ski lifts.
7
Q
Secondary social impacts
A
- Emergency shelters had to be moved over 15 km away.
- 278,000 people living in this area had to flee their homes.
- The evacuation centres were overcrowded leading to poor sanitation, no privacy and serious disease risk.
- 353 people were killed, including Mbah Maridjan and 577 injured
8
Q
Secondary environmental impacts
A
- Water contaminated with acidic lava and ash.
- Ash, rock and lava deposited on the sides of the volcano was washed away by rainfall into towns creating lahars.
- pyroclastic flows and toxic gas inhalation.
- Sulphur dioxide was blown across Indonesia as far South as Australia.
9
Q
Secondary economic impacts
A
- vegetable price increased because of the damage to crops
- Planes were grounded in Western Australia because of the risk of damage to aircraft from the ash cloud.
- many people cancelled their trips to indonesia
10
Q
Secondary political impacts
A
- Ash caused major disruption to airline industry across Asia also.
11
Q
Positive impacts
A
- Ash from the volcano will eventually lead to more fertile soils in the area
- A conservation area has been set up around the volcano where it is unsafe to live
- The eruption brought volcanic tourism although eruptions can cause tourists to cancel visits. Mineral mining increased.
12
Q
Immediate responses
A
- 10 evacuation centres were set up either as tents, in schools, churches, stadiums or government offices
- 1,600 people, either volunteers or military, were part of the national aid response
- International aid was offered from organisations such as the Red Cross
13
Q
Long-term responses
A
- Formal evacuation centres were eventually set up because buildings, such as schools and government offices, were needed for their official uses
- 2,682 people have had to be moved to new, safer houses permanently.
- The government is making money available to farmers to help replace their livestock
- The government has set up a special task force to support people that have been affected by the volcano either by family issues, or because they have lost their jobs
- in the long term more jobs have been created in the tourism industry
14
Q
Management
A
- Monitoring of the volcano includes 1 seismograph, a set of digital cameras to observe the lava dome and on site sulphur measuring apparatus.
- Small changes in local magnetic fields have been found to coincide with eruptions and tilt measurements show the inflation of the volcano as magma rises.
