Volcano Merapi Indonesia Flashcards
When?
October and November 2010
Which plate boundary and which zone?
Indonesia, straddles a number of techtonic plates but Merapi lies on a subduction zone that is along the whole archipelago, on the Eurasian and Indo - Australian plate boundary.
What type of volcano is Merapi?
A Stratovolcano.
Describe a stratovolcano and it’s formation?
- Stratovolcanoes have relatively steep sides and are more cone-shaped than shield volcanoes.
- They are formed from viscous, sticky lava that does not flow easily.
- The lava therefore builds up around the vent forming a volcano with steep sides.
VEI
4
What sort of country is Indonesia?
EDC - Emerging and Developing Country
How many people were killed and injured?
367 people killed and 277 injuries
How many refugees left Indonesia in 2010?
350,00 - 410,000 refugees
What type of boundary is Merapi on?
Convergent subduction zone , Oceanic Indo - Australian plate - Continental Eurasian plate
What type of eruption was Merapi and explain it?
- Explosive.
- Pyroclastic flow - 400km per hour 980 degrees
- There was tremors that warned seismologists of an oncoming eruption and an evacuation was ordered
- Lava bombs thrown 4km from the summit
What are characteristics of an Oceanic - Continental plate boundary?
- The oceanic plate is denser, so it undergoes subduction.
- Oceanic plate sinks beneath the continent, forming a deep ocean trench and in this case a volcano.
What is the GDP of someone in Indonesia?
GDP: 12.1k
Why did it take Indonesia so long to recover from the eruption?
Indonisia is a poorer country so has limited resources and little to no infrastructure therefore response to volcanic activity will be slower.
How many active volcanoes does Indonesia have and why?
- Indonesia has 127 active volcanoes because of it being at a convergent plate boundary.
How many people live in danger zones in Indonesia and why?
- 5 million people live within volcanic danger zones
- Fertile land means people live there to farm
- Very remote, and therefore cannot leave
- Poor, therefore cannot afford to leave
- They do not understand the potential impacts
Where?
Located just outside the region of Yogyakarta on the island Java Indonesia.
How is Mount Merapi monitored?
- Extra funding from the USGS
- Constant monitoring from local scientists
- GPS and Radar help monitor movement of lava domes
- Innovation and new tech to check levels of SO2 in the air
If there were tremors why did some not leave? Where did those who left go?
- A Shaman told people not to leave, people who believed him then died
- People evacuated 25km away to yogyakarta
What were the economic impacts of the eruption for the immediate area and the country?
- Ash fall damaged crops which decreased economic output
- Houses are damaged and 200,000 become homeless
- 320,000 displaced
- Thousands become unemployed and the government has to support them
- Urban areas become populated by refugees and house prices in the area
What were the political impacts of the eruption for the immediate area and the country?
- Estimated 41,000 made refugees
- 32 villages were affected by the eruption
- Government spending increases to help those affected, ergo taxes may increase
- Decrease in muslims due to shamans wrong prediction about Mt Merapi
- Increased restriction and practicing of evacuation plans
What were the environmental impacts of the eruption for the immediate area and the country?
- Short term, ash fall destroys crops and kills animals
- Subsequent lahar damages farmland and habitats even more
- Long term ash will make soil more fertile
Why was the Indonesian government criticised, after the eruption?
- Indonesia’s aid effort for survivors of the Mount Merapi volcanic eruption came under growing criticism, as tens of thousands were languishing in cramped and insanitary camps for many weeks.
- Emergency shelters had to be moved to 15km away
- The danger area was extended to 20km from the mountain and 278,000 people living in the area had to flee their homes.
