Mount Merapi Eruption
The theory behind Plate tectonics isn't widely known but because of natural disasters like volcanoes and earthquakes the concept should be widely educated. Within the Earth lies the mantle, a semi-solid dense material made from molten rock. Hot currents from the core are carried up to the crust where it drifts and sinks back down. The colossal heat waves second after second causes the crust to move, causing volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
<------------- Mount Merapi
On October 26th 2012, Indonesian Volcano Mount Merapi had erupted. After several weeks of a build ups of plumes of smoke exhausting out of the peaks had finally lead to the major eruption.
The eruption was caused converging plates causing a subduction zone of the Indian ocean floor and the Sunda shelf which lies under the Sumatran fault which had in turn caused the island arc eruption.
NASA SATELLITE Images
Pyroclastic lava flows as seen from space from NASA Terra Satellite, October 20 2010
Impacts
The eruption had caused wide spread fear through out Indonesia. Not only to the loss of lives but then also to the damage to the environment and the economy. As we know today, volcanoes are deadly and hard to prepare for. The only way to escape is to run from the gases and ash. However even due to multiple warnings of smoke plumes and small eruptions, the citizens of Yogyakarta wouldn't budge before it was too late.
The Social Impacts
About 38 people were killed and more than 60 were injured during the eruption. The volcano continued to erupt after a few days, which then caused The Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation declared the safe zone 10 kilometer radius from the peak. In turn resulted in the evacuation of 13000 soon to be refugees. At the 3rd of November the safe zone was then changed from 10 to 15 kilometer radius of the peak which made the evacuated count 26000 who were left homeless and with no work. The eruptions were growing tremendously and a 5km more was extended to the safe zone meaning a 20km safezone. 270000 were evacuated to a safer area. But nobody could get in or out of the island as the government decided to take down all flights to and from Yogyakarta. Approximately 30,000 were then left homeless and living the life as a permanent refugee. Some got mentally ill after not having work to take the reality off their mind.
The Social Impacts
About 38 people were killed and more than 60 were injured during the eruption. The volcano continued to erupt after a few days, which then caused The Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation declared the safe zone 10 kilometer radius from the peak. In turn resulted in the evacuation of 13000 soon to be refugees. At the 3rd of November the safe zone was then changed from 10 to 15 kilometer radius of the peak which made the evacuated count 26000 who were left homeless and with no work. The eruptions were growing tremendously and a 5km more was extended to the safe zone meaning a 20km safezone. 270000 were evacuated to a safer area. But nobody could get in or out of the island as the government decided to take down all flights to and from Yogyakarta. Approximately 30,000 were then left homeless and living the life as a permanent refugee. Some got mentally ill after not having work to take the reality off their mind.
The Environmental Impacts
Not only has the loss of lives or high amounts of refugees effects Indonesia but huge death to the environmental world have occurred. 12 rivers which lead to Mount Merapi have been covered with volcanic rush and ash killing all fish and poisoning their corpses. Kali Code, a river which was 3m deep is now half a meter deep. Major amounts of Carbon Dioxide released from the volcanic eruption added to the greenhouse effect. 1% of all fossil fuels burnt by humans is the equivalent of a volcanic eruption. Mount Merapi National Park is now a desolate landscape, home to the ghosts of at least 200 bird species and all the fungi, ferns and bamboo. Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said "We're waiting for the volcanic activity to subside before we start reforesting the area, which will take at least 5 years until it's back to normal" "It will cost about Rp 15 million [$1700] to restore each hectare of damaged forest." 3500 of 6400 of the park was destroyed by the eruption.
Not only has the loss of lives or high amounts of refugees effects Indonesia but huge death to the environmental world have occurred. 12 rivers which lead to Mount Merapi have been covered with volcanic rush and ash killing all fish and poisoning their corpses. Kali Code, a river which was 3m deep is now half a meter deep. Major amounts of Carbon Dioxide released from the volcanic eruption added to the greenhouse effect. 1% of all fossil fuels burnt by humans is the equivalent of a volcanic eruption. Mount Merapi National Park is now a desolate landscape, home to the ghosts of at least 200 bird species and all the fungi, ferns and bamboo. Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said "We're waiting for the volcanic activity to subside before we start reforesting the area, which will take at least 5 years until it's back to normal" "It will cost about Rp 15 million [$1700] to restore each hectare of damaged forest." 3500 of 6400 of the park was destroyed by the eruption.
The Economic Impacts
Due to the eruption businesses and shops would have been covered in ash and destroyed resulting in them being shut down. Banks would be shut down and people would not be able to get their money out or put money in. Due to the volcanic ash and debris in the rivers, the exports of fish. One of Indonesia's main export's mining of gas and gold, copper, nickle and Tin as Indonesia is the world's largest Tin market would have slowed down a bit due to the shock from the eruption. Farms would have also been destroyed in the process, destroying vegetables and livestock. Tourism was at an all time low. Fear of more eruptions due to the fact that the eruption lasted days after days had covered the idea a bit.
Due to the eruption businesses and shops would have been covered in ash and destroyed resulting in them being shut down. Banks would be shut down and people would not be able to get their money out or put money in. Due to the volcanic ash and debris in the rivers, the exports of fish. One of Indonesia's main export's mining of gas and gold, copper, nickle and Tin as Indonesia is the world's largest Tin market would have slowed down a bit due to the shock from the eruption. Farms would have also been destroyed in the process, destroying vegetables and livestock. Tourism was at an all time low. Fear of more eruptions due to the fact that the eruption lasted days after days had covered the idea a bit.
Electrical Storms
Lightning striking as Mount Merapi spews out smoke and gas into the atmosphere
Effects to an LEDC
Less economically developed countries aren't as well prepared for a disaster when trying cope with it and protect it's citizens. An MEDC on the other hand have more money and better health and buildings when coping. For example, Afghanistan; an LEDC have poor roads, basically dirt tracks which wind up and down through mountainous areas which has cold climates and are located in valleys. Afghanistan doesn't have the technology to predict earthquakes or volcanic eruptions and can only rely on primitive ways of prediction. Animal behavior and different levels of water in wells or caverns. An MEDC like Japan have strong supports under buildings and rubber padding to let the building sway with the tremor instead of against it. Computerized weights on the roofs of high buildings will keep the buildings on the ground and stable. Automated covers will drop over the windows of office buildings to prevent the collapse of glass onto pedestrians. Indonesian houses aren't built to the same quality to an MEDC, mainly because the lacking of materials to build safely structured buildings. Also the lacking of transport like helicopters will find it difficult to evacuate. Indonesia also struggled to support the 30000 permanent refugees with food and quality hygiene and temporary homes or medical assistance. The Kobe eruption and earthquakes in Japan, MEDC was able to teach Japanese residents to invest in earthquake proof building and be ready for tremors of volcanic activity. However an LEDC may know what to do, but can't afford the money to create earthquake proof buildings. The video below show us that an LEDC believes in religion to save them while an MEDC will put their 'faith' in science.
Build up to the event
Religion vs Science
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