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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION
In this sub chapter we will tell you about what are the background of the earthquake
and the cause that the earthquake does.
1.1 Background
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface
of the Earth, resulting from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that
creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in size from those that are so weak that they
cannot be felt to those violent enough to toss people around and destroy whole cities.
The seismicity, or seismic activity, of an area is the frequency, type and size of earthquakes
experienced over a period of time. The word tremoris also used for non-earthquake seismic
rumbling.
At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by shaking and displacing or
disrupting the ground. When the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, the seabed
may be displaced sufficiently to cause a tsunami. Earthquakes can also trigger landslides, and
occasionally volcanic activity.
In its most general sense, the word earthquake is used to describe any seismic event—
whether natural or caused by humans—that generates seismic waves. Earthquakes are caused
mostly by rupture of geological faults, but also by other events such as volcanic activity,
landslides, mine blasts, and nuclear tests. An earthquake's point of initial rupture is called
its focus or hypocenter. The epicenter is the point at ground level directly above the hypocenter.

1.2 Formulation Problem


In this sub chapter we will tell you about what kind of problem that earthquake does
and some question about the earthquake
1.2.1 What is an earthquake?
1.2.2 Why the earthquake often occure in Indonesia?
1.2.3 What are the advantage especially to Indonesia that have frequent earthquakes?
1.2.4 What are the disadvantage to Indonesia that have frequent earthquakes?
1.2.5 What are the causes of earthquakes in Indonesia?
1.2.6 What should government do to overcome the earthquakes in Indonesia
1.2.7 As a responsible society, what should we do if an earthquakes happens in
Indonesia?

1.3 Purpose Of The Study


This sub chapter will tell you about our hipothesis about the problem of the earthquakes
that occure happens in Indonesia

1.3.1 The defnition of Earthquakes


1.3.2 The reason earthquakes often happens in Indonesia
1.3.3 The advantage of frequent earthquakes
1.3.4 The disadvantage of frequent earthquakes
1.3.5 The causes of earthquakes
1.3.6 The government role to overcome the earthquakes
1.3.7 Things to do during an earthquake

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Chapter 2
Definition and Further Outlooks

In this chapter we’ll talk about the definition of earthquakes, the reason why Indonesia often
have earthquake, the advantage and the negative effect of having af frequent earthquakes in
Indonesia.
2.1 The Definition Of Earthquakes
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of stored energy in the Earth's crust that
creates seismic waves.Earthquakes are accordingly measured with a seismometer,
commonly known as a seismograph.The magnitude of an earthquake is conventionally
reported using the Richter scale or a related Moment scale (with magnitude 3 or lower
earthquakes being hard to notice and magnitude 7 causing serious damage over large
areas).At the Earth's surface, earthquakes may manifest themselves by a shaking or
displacement of the ground.Sometimes, they cause tsunamis, which may lead to loss of life
and destruction of property.An earthquake is caused by tectonic plates getting stuck and
putting a strain on the ground.The strain becomes so great that rocks give way by breaking
and sliding along fault planes.Earthquakes may occur naturally or as a result of human
activities.
Smaller earthquakes can also be caused by volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts,
and nuclear experiments.In its most generic sense, the word earthquake is used to describe
any seismic event—whether a natural phenomenon or an event caused by humans—that
generates seismic waves.Most naturally occurring earthquakes are related to the tectonic
nature of the Earth.Such earthquakes are called tectonic earthquakes.The Earth's lithosphere
is a patchwork of plates in slow but constant motion caused by the release to space of the
heat in the Earth's mantle and core.The heat causes the rock in the Earth to become flow on
geological timescales, so that the plates move slowly but surely.Plate boundaries lock as the
plates move past each other, creating frictional stress.When the frictional stress exceeds a
critical value, called local strength, a sudden failure occurs.
The boundary of tectonic plates along which failure occurs is called the fault
plane.When the failure at the fault plane results in a violent displacement of the Earth's crust,
the elastic strain energy is released and seismic waves are radiated, thus causing an
earthquake.This process of strain, stress, and failure is referred to as the Elastic-rebound
theory.It is estimated that only 10 percent or less of an earthquake's total energy is radiated
as seismic energy.Most of the earthquake's energy is used to power the earthquake fracture
growth and is converted into heat, or is released to friction.The majority of tectonic
earthquakes originate at depths not exceeding tens of kilometers.
In subduction zones, where older and colder oceanic crust descends beneath another
tectonic plate, Deep focus earthquakes may occur at much greater depths (up to seven
hundred kilometers).These are earthquakes that occur at a depth at which the subducted
lithosphere should no longer be brittle, due to the high temperature and pressure.A possible
mechanism for the generation of deep focus earthquakes is faulting caused by olivine
undergoing a phase transition into a spinel structure.Earthquakes may also occur in volcanic
regions and are caused there both by tectonic faults and by the movement of magma in
volcanoes.Such earthquakes can be an early warning of volcanic eruptions.
A recently proposed theory suggests that some earthquakes may occur in a sort of
earthquake storm, where one earthquake will trigger a series of earthquakes each triggered

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by the previous shifts on the fault lines, similar to aftershocks, but occurring years later, and
with some of the later earthquakes as damaging as the early ones.Such a pattern was
observed in the sequence of about a dozen earthquakes that struck the North Anatolian Fault
in Turkey in the 20th century, the half dozen large earthquakes in New Madrid in 1811-
1812, and has been inferred for older anomalous clusters of large earthquakes in the Middle
East and in the Mojave Desert.
2.2 The Reason Why Indonesia Often Occure Earthquakes

 Indonesia located in the ring of fire

The Pacific Ring of Fire or the Pacific Ring of Fire is an area that often experiences
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that surround the Pacific Ocean basin. Ring Of Fire
is a name for areas that often experience earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that
surround the Pacific Ocean basin. This area is the region most experienced earthquake
in because of continuous plate movement. But this ring of fire can increase the fertility
of the area around the volcano because volcanic ash contains much sulfur and silica is
good for plants that are useful for agriculture in the next few years.

 Located in four tectonics plates

The volcanoes located in Indonesia are influenced by four tectonic plates that collide
with each other. They are such as Eurasian plate, the Indo-Australian plate and the
Pacific plate. The collisions of the three plates eventually form a series of volcanoes.
This is caused by the hot liquid rock (magma) that exits through the slit of the plate and
then hardened on the surface to form cones that cause the emergence of volcanoes in
the plates. That factor causes Indonesia prone to earthquake. Indonesia is a meeting of
the world’s tectonic plates, to the South of the Indo-Australian Plate, to the East of the
Pacific Plate, and to the Eurasian Plate.

 Volcano eruption

An earthquake caused by volcanic activity is called a volcanic earthquake. Volcanism


is the event of the exit of magma to the surface of the earth through magma hole in the
body of a volcano. The existence of inner energy causes the impulse to fluid magma
and rocks to exit to the surface of the earth. At the time of magma and rocks out there
is a friction between the magma with the volcano wall so that the vibrations arise which
then spread to all directions through the earth plate and comes what we feel is called an
earthquake.

 The movement of the plate

Most earthquakes are caused by the release of energy generated by the pressure made
by moving plates. The longer the pressure becomes larger and ultimately reaches a state
where the pressure can’t be retained by the plate edges. That is how an earthquake will
occur. Earthquakes usually occur on the border of the plates and the most severe
earthquakes usually occur on the border of the plate. Some other earthquakes may also
occur due to magma movements inside the volcano. Such an earthquake can be a
symptom of a volcanic eruption.

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 Tropical Country

The tropical climate also causes a lot of unstable soils. Much of the land is damaged.
Tropical climate with high rainfall makes it easier to become soil erosion. Natural
disasters such as landslides, for example, are because the rainfall here is quite high.
Then the landslides can form an earthquake. It’s from the natural side. This country is
densely populated, especially in Java and Sumatra. However, the infrastructure is not
designed according to the conditions of nature.

 Natural Cycle

Nature is moving just like a cycle. For hundreds of years and even millions of years
ago, the cycle is rotating again and again. It only moved 5 cm per year. Next, it will be
crashed. There are three cycles; pressed, collected, removed. It has always been from a
long time ago. Well, coincidentally in this decade of our generation, chap in the phase
of release so many earthquakes. Later, after the magma was loose, yes safe again. Then
enter the process of emphasis again, and gathering and so on.

 An archipelago country

Geographically Indonesia is an archipelago country that located at a meeting of four


tectonic plates of the Asian Continent, the Australian Continent, the Indian Ocean plate,
and the Pacific Ocean. In the southern and eastern parts of Indonesia there is a volcanic
arc stretching from the islands of Sumatra, Java, Nusa Tenggara, and Sulawesi, whose
sides are both old and low volcanic mountains, partly dominated by swamps.
The condition is very potential as well as prone to disasters such as volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and landslides. Data show that Indonesia is one of the
world’s highest seismic states, more than 10 times the level of seismicity in the United
States. Earthquakes caused by plate tectonic interactions can cause tidal waves if they
occur in the oceans.

 A synergy between tectonic and volcanic activity

Inside the earth there are several plates of the world that continue to move mutually
balancing each other. In this balancing process causes friction resulting in tectonic
earthquakes. Steps due to this tectonic activity will be able to trigger active volcanoes
to react to balance also that will cause volcanic earthquakes. Volcanic earthquakes may
not cause major effects, but lava vomit and hot clouds when volcanoes erupt have an
enormous impact on the damage.

 The collapse of land or buildings

This earthquake occurs only in lime digging areas, underground mining areas and the
like. This earthquake is less common and if it occurs only locally. Falling ruins will
cause a less-than-large earth tremor, the greatest vibration being only up to 3 on the
Richter Scale. This also happens occasionally in Indonesia. Such as land sloping and
unstable, the buildings on it are likely to collapse and cause local livelihoods.

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 Located in subduction area

Subduction which is a meeting of two plates is found along the west coast of Sumatra,
the southern coast of the archipelago, and northern Sulawesi. Practically, the regions
along Sumatra, Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and Sulawesi face the threat of earthquakes
due to the subduction of active plates. The devastating earthquake caused by activity in
the subduction zone is an earthquake of Aceh magnitude of 9.1 in 2004. The quake
resulted in a tsunami that killed 230,000 people from 14 countries.

2.3 The Advantage Have Frequent Earthquakes


 Understanding the Earth

Measuring small earthquakes allows geologists to study areas underground.


Geologists can measure the way that the vibrations of earthquakes travel and make
inferences about the type of material the vibrations pass through. Geologists can find
water aquifers, oil and natural gas deposits and other important resources based on
information they gain from earthquakes. Geologists can also measure the size and
extent of these resources to better understand exactly how large the deposits are.

 The Creation of Earth's Topography


Earthquakes are the earth’s way of releasing energy stored in plate tectonics as
they move. If plate tectonics could not move, the world would look dramatically
different, with no mountains and distinctly smaller oceans. As plate tectonics move, it
naturally cycles materials from the mantle of the earth. The seafloor that new material
creates harbors thousands of species of plants and animals, which themselves play
important roles in the human ecosystem by doing things like absorbing carbon dioxide
and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis. Without the movement that allows
earthquakes, none of this could occur on the earth. The stresses which have been
accumulated over long period of time gets released as earthquakes. This means after a
big earthquake chances for another big one reduces considerably. When these stresses
are released they create new fault planes or movement along old planes. This movement
can help oil and gas reservoirs to get punctured and seep through this new structure.
This may bring them to shallower depth where we can exploit them easily. This
movement can create new islands as the block beneath the ocean can get lifted above
mean sea level. They can bring mineral deposits to shallower depth as the block is up
thrown.
2.4 The Disadvantage Of Frequent Earthquakes
 Damage to human structures
Earthquakes cause great damage to human structures such as buildings, roads, rails,
factories, dams, bridges etc, and thus cause heavy damage to human property.
 Landslides
The shocks produced by earthquakes particularly in hilly areas and mountains which are
tectonically sensitive causes landslides and debris fall on human settlements and
transport system on the lower slope segments, inflicting damage to them.
 Fires

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The strong vibrations caused by severe earthquakes strongly shake the buildings and thus
causing severe fires in houses, mines and factories because of overturning of cooking
gas, contact of live electric wires, churning of blast furnaces, displacement of other fire
related and electric appliances.
 Flash Floods
Strong seismic waves cause damage to dams thereby causing severe flash floods. Severe
floods are also caused because of blocking of water flow of rivers due to rock blocks and
debris produced by severe tremors in the hill slopes facing the river valleys. Sometimes
the blockage is so severe that rivers change their main course.
 Deformation of Ground surface
Severe tremors and resultant vibrations caused by earthquakes result in the deformation
of ground surface because of rise and subsidence of ground surface and faulting activity(
formation of faults).
 Tsunamis
The seismic waves caused by earthquake( measuring more than 7 on richter scale)
travelling through sea water generate high sea waves and cause great loss of life and
property.

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Chapter 3

Causes and Prevention Of Earthquakes That often Occure in Indonesia


In this part we will talk about cause and prevention the eartquake disaster in indonesia, how do
in indonesia often occure or happend eartquake and how to overcome the eartquake as we are
indonesia people.
3.1 Causes Of Earthquakes in Indonesia
There are several cause why in indonesia often occure eartquake.
A) Geographycal Location
Indonesia is located between two continents and two oceans. This indeed causes
Indonesia as a strategic place for trade and inter-state relations. However, behind it all
there are adverse effects such as earthquakes that often occur. This happens because
Indonesia is located between the Australian plate, the Eurasian plate and the Pacific
plate. Besides that, Indonesia is also included in the Pacific ring of fire, which is no
other than a group of volcanoes in the world. This then became the reason why
earthquakes often occur in Indonesia, both volcanic and tectonic.

B) Plate Movement

One of the causes of earthquakes is the movement of the earth's plates. The movement
of this plate produces pressure which leads to an earthquake. The size of the earthquake
depends on the amount of pressure that occurs due to the movement of this plate.The
theory of tectonic plates explains that the earth consists of several layers of rock. Most
of the area of the crust layer will turn dry and float in layers like snow. This layer then
moves slowly so that it splits and collides with one another.

C) Ring Of Fire
Indonesia is on the most active earthquake path in the world because it is surrounded
by Pacific fire rings. This geographical condition makes Indonesia an area prone to
volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. The Pacific Ring of Fire or the Pacific
Fire Ring aka Ring of Fire is an area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
that surround the Pacific fire basin. This area is shaped like a horseshoe and covers an
area of 40,000 km. This area is also often referred to as the Pacific earthquake belt.
Because it is located above this magma lane, Indonesia has 127 active volcanoes with
5 million people living in the vicinity. With that much amount, the more volcanic
activity that has the potential to cause an earthquake. The most active volcanoes in
Indonesia are Mount Kelud and Mount Merapi. The International Association of
Volcanology and Chemical Iterior of the Earth also set Mount Merapi as a volcano this
decade. Because of its very high volcanic activity since 1995..

D) Chain reaction from Volcanoes


Our beloved Indonesia has a unique phenomenon that occurs. That is the eruption of
three volcanoes simultaneously. These erupting mountains include, Mount Sinabung in
North Sumatra, Raung Mountain in East Java and Mount Gamalama in Ternate.The
possible cause of this is a chain reaction that occurs in the magma chamber. When
viewed from the Pacific ring ring, we can find out that almost all regions in Indonesia
are right above the magma kitchen.Because it is in one lane, every activity that occurs
in the kitchen of the magma can trigger the eruption of the volcano simultaneously.
This is certainly accompanied by a series of volcanic earthquakes. Because of this,
Indonesia has experienced earthquakes very often.

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3.2 Goverment Role To Overcome The Earthquake

There are several goverment’s role to overcome the eartquake disaster

 Ministry Of Information
Since the disaster that hit the Donggala and Palu areas, the electricity network has not
functioned as it should have caused most communication service operators to be cut
off. Through its twiier account @kemkominfo, the Ministry of Communication and
Information is carrying out a number of steps to deal with communication disruptions,
namely by procuring satellite telephones. "The Komenkominfo through the BAKTI
Satker has sent staff and 30 satellite phones to be used during the emergency response
period," Rudiantara said on his Twitter account.
 Ministry Of Transportation
The Ministry of Transportation also stated the response of the Central Sulawesi disaster.
Through its Twitter account @ Kemenhub151, the Ministry of Transportation formed
a Quick Response Team (QRT) post at the disaster location and at the Ministry of
Transportation's Head Office.
The Ministry of Transportation also stated the response of the Central Sulawesi disaster.
Through its Twitter account @ Kemenhub151, the Ministry of Transportation formed
a Quick Response Team (QRT) post at the disaster location and at the Ministry of
Transportation's Head Office. In addition, the Ministry of Transportation also
dispatched two ships with logistical assistance, namely KN Pasatimpo (PLP Bitung)
and KN Miang Besar (Disnav Samarinda). The two ships headed for Donggala and Palu
to help and relieve the victims of the disaster.
 Ministry Of Social
The ministry provides logistical assistance in the form of beds, family multipurpose
tents, roll tents, multipurpose tents, kitchen utensils and basic necessities to support
daily activities. The Ministry of Social Affairs also coordinated with the Social Service
Office of Central Sulawesi Province to prepare the deployment of Tagana (Disaster
Preparedness Cadets). One of them is establishing six public kitchens for refugees.
 Ministry Of Health
The Ministry of Health provides health assistance for disaster victims in the areas of
Palu and Donggala. Through the @KemenkesRI Twitter account, the ministry has
dispatched several health workers.
 Ministry Of State Owned Enterprise
The Ministry of BUMN also provides assistance to disaster victims. Through its Twitter
account @KemenBUMN, 125 personnel from the PLN Sulawesi joint team have
arrived in Palu, Central Sulawesi. The arrival of this team is the first stage of a number
of PLN Teams that will join in Palu to help efforts to accelerate the recovery of
electricity supply. In addition, through Pertamina it continues to strive for fuel,
especially diesel services at the Hospital, PLN and the Regional Disaster Management
Agency (BPBD), after the earthquake and tsunami natural disasters in Donggala and
Palu, Central Sulawesi.
3.3 Things To Do During An Earthquake
There are several tips what should we do if the eartquake happend
A) Heading to Open Places and Higher Plains
The first thing to do is of course to open space and high ground. Earthquakes do
endanger anyone who is inside a building. Intuitionally, surely humans will

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immediately move to an open place that is free from the possibility of being hit by the
ruins of the building. However, there are still many people who miss doing this.
Especially, for people in big cities and living in tall buildings. They prefer to surrender
because they feel that it will be more dangerous. This should not be done. After the first
earthquake occurs, usually there will be dangerous aftershocks. It is better to
immediately move down from the high-rise building to the open field after the first
earthquake has finished. Besides that, don't forget to go to the highlands. For people
living in coastal areas, the possibility of a tsunami can occur at any time after the
earthquake. Better, immediately save yourself by moving away from the coast and
going to the highlands. Shelter on the 2nd or 3rd floor of the house can still be
dangerous, because the sweeping of the tsunami waves can still destroy the walls of the
house made of stone and cement.
B) Finding Information as Fast as Possible to BMKG

After a few minutes the earthquake occurred, the BMKG, or the Meteorology,
Climatology and Geophysics Agency will usually provide important information about
the earthquake. Less than five minutes, the BMKG should have reported the details of
the earthquake, such as the depth to whether the status has the potential for a tsunami
or not, through social media. That way, it can be predicted what kind of damage and
maybe the danger that will be caused from the earthquake that just happened. But
unfortunately, people often escape to examine this. Panic is usually the main reason
someone forgets essential things like this. So, when you suddenly feel an earthquake,
don't panic! Instantly find out information about the earthquake through BMKG social
media.

C) Contacting Your Closest Family and Relatives


When you save yourself and find out information from BMKG, don't forget to contact
relatives, especially those living close to you and possibly affected by the earthquake
as well. Find out news as well as notify accurate information from BMKG. Besides
being able to save more lives, this can also stop the spread of hoaxes which are often
carried out by irresponsible parties. If the communication channel is cut off, don't panic.
Stay safe and think clearly. When conditions are back to normal, don't forget to keep in
touch with the closest family.

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