Mount St. Helens---
Stratovolcano
Mount St. Helens is an active stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is 96 miles (154 km) south of Seattle, Washington and 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Portland, Oregon. Portland, Oregon is the nearest major city from Mount St. Helens. It is 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Mount St. Helens with a population of 582,130
This volcano is located in the Cascade Range and is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire that includes over 160 active volcanoes. This volcano is well known for its ash explosions and pyroclastic flows.
(Date of most destructive eruption) Mount St. Helens is most famous for its catastrophic eruption on May 18, 1980, at 8:32 am PDT[2] which was the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the United States. Fifty-seven people were killed; 250 homes, 47 bridges, 15 miles (24 km) of railways, and 185 miles (298 km) of highway were destroyed. A massive debris avalanchetriggered by an earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale, caused an eruption, reducing the elevation of the mountain's summit from 9,677 ft (2,950 m) to 8,365 ft (2,550 m) and replacing it with a 1 mile (1.6 km) wide horseshoe-shaped crater. The earthquake was caused by a sudden surge of magma from the Earth's mantle.[3] The debris avalanche was up to 0.7 cubic miles (2.9 km3) in volume.
(Date of most recent eruption) On January 16, 2008, steam began seeping from a fracture on top of the lava dome. Associated seismic activity was the most noteworthy since 2004. Scientists suspended activities in the crater and the mountain flanks, but the risk of a major eruption was deemed low.[37] By the end of January, the eruption paused; no more lava was being extruded from the lava dome. On July 10, 2008, it was determined that the eruption had ended after more than six months of no volcanic activity.[38]
(Other events associated with the last eruption) On May 18, with little warning, a second earthquake, of magnitude 5.1, triggered a massive collapse of the north face of the mountain. It was the largest known debris avalanche in recorded history. The magma inside of St. Helens burst forth into a large-scale pyroclastic flow that flattened vegetation and buildings over 230 square miles (600 km2). More than 1.5 million metric tons of sulfur dioxide were released into the atmosphere.[25] On the Volcanic Explosivity Index scale, the eruption was rated a five (a Plinian eruption).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_St._Helens
(Major hazards to humans) Volcanic gases were directly responsible for approximately 3% of all volcano-related deaths of humans between 1900 and 1986.[1] Some volcanic gases kill by acidic corrosion; others kill by asphyxiation. The greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, is emitted from volcanoes, although volcanic emissions account for less than 1% of the annual global total.[3] Some volcanic gases including sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen fluoride react with other atmospheric particles to form aerosols. [1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_gas
Volcanic eruptions are one of Earth's most dramatic and violent agents of change. Not only can powerful explosive eruptions drastically alter land and water for tens of kilometers around a volcano, but tiny liquid droplets of sulfuric acid erupted into the stratosphere can change our planet's climate temporarily. Eruptions often force people living near volcanoes to abandon their land and homes, sometimes forever. Those living farther away are likely to avoid complete destruction, but their cities and towns, crops, industrial plants, transportation systems, and electrical grids can still be damaged by tephra, ash, lahars, and flooding.
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hazards/index.php
(Minimising risk to the population)
• participates in volcano-emergency planning workshops and emergency-response exercises
• convenes international, regional, and local workshops focused on volcano-hazard issues
• prepares educational materials with partners, including exhibits, fact sheets, booklets, video programs, and maps
• collaborates with emergency-management specialists to develop effective warning schemes
• meets with community leaders and residents wanting information about potentially dangerous volcanoes in their area
• works with the news media and media producers
• leads educational field trips to active and potentially dangerous volcanoes for the public, officials, local residents, educators, and students
• helps educators and students with classroom presentations, teacher workshops, field trips, and activities
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hazards/planning.php
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Earthquake! ~
What caused the earthquake to happen:
Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval because of its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.
http://www.nysun.com/foreign/powerful-earthquake-rattles-indonesia/85600/
Date of Incident
Monday, November 17, 2008
Situation Analysis
Time: 00:02 hours local time (BMG) / 01:02 hours local time (USGS) / (+7 GMT)
Richter scale: 7.7 (USGS & BMG)
Epicenter: 136 Northwest of Gorontalo Province
Depth: 21 kilometers under sea level
Tsunami Warning: Alerted by BMG & Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami warning Center (PTWC) to residence,
1,000 km – living near epicenter in coastal areas to move to higher ground. It was lifted at 02:30 hour’s local
time.
After shocks: 5.6 RS at 01:34 hours and 5.5 RS at 02:20 hours local time (USGS)
Place: The earthquake affected 4 districts & 1 municipality in three provinces in Sulawesi Island. Details are
as follows: 1. Nossa District, Gorontalo Province.
2. Buol, Poso and Toli-Toli Districts, Central Sulawesi Province.
3. Manado City, North Sulawesi Province.
Earthquake also affected Toli-Toli District, 250 km away from Gorontalo City
Affected Areas
IDP
• There are 9,750 IDPs in Bokat District and 6,000 IDPs in Biau District, Central Sulawesi
Province.
• IDPs were evacuated to Mt. Onone, Mt. Modo and Mt. Laeka, constructed makeshift tents
made out of plastic sheets and sarung clothings. Many families are now going back to their
homes.
Communication
Communication links with Buol District, Central Sulawesi was disrupted during the quake.
Transportation
Local transportation disrupted by the earthquake.
Tsunami Alert System
• The sea level rose briefly in some areas but no large waves were detected.
• Indonesia launched a new hi-tech tsunami alert system which able to detect an earthquake at
sea and predict the Tsunami within five minutes.
• It was built by German Technology, which include 23 or 24 buoys linked by cables to
detectors on the ocean floor.
• The system that cost 1.4 trillion rupiah ($ 130.2m) will be fully operational by 2010.
Government, Indonesia
• Identification teams (Rapid Assessment Teams) were created by Buol District Administration,
consisting of administration employees, disaster board members, police, soldiers and
journalist. The teams were tasked to identify fatalities and destruction in Buol’s 11 Districts.
• Social Service Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to support Rp 400 billion
(US$ 33 million) for food and shelter, including funds to rebuild homes.
• Indonesian Government will provide funds to rebuild homes to the value of Rp 15 million per
home, and Rp 2 million in compensation for families of deceased victims.
• Government also granted permission to regents and governors of affected provinces to
distribute between 50 and 200 tons of rice from the Ministry Emergency’s stockpiles.
MOH – WHO, Indonesia
- Rapid Assessment team formed and deployed.
- Injured and ill cases referred to Puskesmas and District hospitals.
- Local health facilities alert to provide necessary health services base on needs.
- MOH provided 150 million rupiah for operational funds in Central Sulawesi Province, and 50
million rupiahs for Gorontalo Province.
- WHO and MOH up-dating the situation and filling the gaps in collaboration with District and
Provincial Coordination Units for Disaster Management (BPBD).
- WHO is in close communication with MOH in monitoring the situation through Regional Crisis
Center of Manado, North Sulawesi as well as District and Provincial Health Office of Gorontalo,
Central Sulawesi as well as North Sulawesi and Crisis Center, Jakarta.
http://www.ino.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Emergency_and_humanitarian_action_ESR_Gorontalo.pdf
What more do you think can be done to reduce the impact of such earthquakes in the future?
Government
Create a detector to detect earthquake
Since technology is so advance nowadays, the government can employ people that can create a detector to detect the plate movements under the ground so as to prevent earthquake and other natural disaster such as floods and tsunamis, etc.
Educating the public
The government can also introduce an earthquake safety education for not only the students but also the public.
Use good quality materials for buildings
Instead of using low quality construction materials for buildings, the government should invest in good quality ones or use advanced techniques for building tall buildings which allow them to move with the earthquake rather than against it.
Public
Secure appliances
Appliances like televisions, computers, stereo equipment, and the like should likewise be properly secured. There are a number of materials available to do just that. You may use adhesive-backed latches, nylon cords, wires, elastic guardrails, and shelf edges to stop these from sliding down to the floor.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand
Fire extinguishers are very useful to have on hand in the event of an earthquake. Small fires may ignite here and there, and the best way to prevent further damage is to nip those fires in the bud.
Store hazardous materials in a safe place
Hazardous chemicals such as paints, acids, and pesticides are extremely dangerous when spilled and mixed inadvertently. This could ignite fires and lead to severe losses. To prevent such damage, hazardous materials should be placed in appropriate containers, sealed tightly, and stored in a dry and secure area where the container is less likely to overturn if earthquake strikes
How do you feel about the situation? Do you think enough haas been done to reduce the impact of the earthquake?
I feel bad and devastated for the residents, especially to those who lost their family members in the earthquake and are homeless. I think the government had done enough for his people such as, Indonesian Government will provide funds to rebuild homes to the value of Rp 15 million per home, and Rp 2 million in compensation for families of deceased victims, etc.
Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval because of its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.
http://www.nysun.com/foreign/powerful-earthquake-rattles-indonesia/85600/
Date of Incident
Monday, November 17, 2008
Situation Analysis
Time: 00:02 hours local time (BMG) / 01:02 hours local time (USGS) / (+7 GMT)
Richter scale: 7.7 (USGS & BMG)
Epicenter: 136 Northwest of Gorontalo Province
Depth: 21 kilometers under sea level
Tsunami Warning: Alerted by BMG & Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami warning Center (PTWC) to residence,
1,000 km – living near epicenter in coastal areas to move to higher ground. It was lifted at 02:30 hour’s local
time.
After shocks: 5.6 RS at 01:34 hours and 5.5 RS at 02:20 hours local time (USGS)
Place: The earthquake affected 4 districts & 1 municipality in three provinces in Sulawesi Island. Details are
as follows: 1. Nossa District, Gorontalo Province.
2. Buol, Poso and Toli-Toli Districts, Central Sulawesi Province.
3. Manado City, North Sulawesi Province.
Earthquake also affected Toli-Toli District, 250 km away from Gorontalo City
Affected Areas
IDP
• There are 9,750 IDPs in Bokat District and 6,000 IDPs in Biau District, Central Sulawesi
Province.
• IDPs were evacuated to Mt. Onone, Mt. Modo and Mt. Laeka, constructed makeshift tents
made out of plastic sheets and sarung clothings. Many families are now going back to their
homes.
Communication
Communication links with Buol District, Central Sulawesi was disrupted during the quake.
Transportation
Local transportation disrupted by the earthquake.
Tsunami Alert System
• The sea level rose briefly in some areas but no large waves were detected.
• Indonesia launched a new hi-tech tsunami alert system which able to detect an earthquake at
sea and predict the Tsunami within five minutes.
• It was built by German Technology, which include 23 or 24 buoys linked by cables to
detectors on the ocean floor.
• The system that cost 1.4 trillion rupiah ($ 130.2m) will be fully operational by 2010.
Government, Indonesia
• Identification teams (Rapid Assessment Teams) were created by Buol District Administration,
consisting of administration employees, disaster board members, police, soldiers and
journalist. The teams were tasked to identify fatalities and destruction in Buol’s 11 Districts.
• Social Service Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to support Rp 400 billion
(US$ 33 million) for food and shelter, including funds to rebuild homes.
• Indonesian Government will provide funds to rebuild homes to the value of Rp 15 million per
home, and Rp 2 million in compensation for families of deceased victims.
• Government also granted permission to regents and governors of affected provinces to
distribute between 50 and 200 tons of rice from the Ministry Emergency’s stockpiles.
MOH – WHO, Indonesia
- Rapid Assessment team formed and deployed.
- Injured and ill cases referred to Puskesmas and District hospitals.
- Local health facilities alert to provide necessary health services base on needs.
- MOH provided 150 million rupiah for operational funds in Central Sulawesi Province, and 50
million rupiahs for Gorontalo Province.
- WHO and MOH up-dating the situation and filling the gaps in collaboration with District and
Provincial Coordination Units for Disaster Management (BPBD).
- WHO is in close communication with MOH in monitoring the situation through Regional Crisis
Center of Manado, North Sulawesi as well as District and Provincial Health Office of Gorontalo,
Central Sulawesi as well as North Sulawesi and Crisis Center, Jakarta.
http://www.ino.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Emergency_and_humanitarian_action_ESR_Gorontalo.pdf
What more do you think can be done to reduce the impact of such earthquakes in the future?
Government
Create a detector to detect earthquake
Since technology is so advance nowadays, the government can employ people that can create a detector to detect the plate movements under the ground so as to prevent earthquake and other natural disaster such as floods and tsunamis, etc.
Educating the public
The government can also introduce an earthquake safety education for not only the students but also the public.
Use good quality materials for buildings
Instead of using low quality construction materials for buildings, the government should invest in good quality ones or use advanced techniques for building tall buildings which allow them to move with the earthquake rather than against it.
Public
Secure appliances
Appliances like televisions, computers, stereo equipment, and the like should likewise be properly secured. There are a number of materials available to do just that. You may use adhesive-backed latches, nylon cords, wires, elastic guardrails, and shelf edges to stop these from sliding down to the floor.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand
Fire extinguishers are very useful to have on hand in the event of an earthquake. Small fires may ignite here and there, and the best way to prevent further damage is to nip those fires in the bud.
Store hazardous materials in a safe place
Hazardous chemicals such as paints, acids, and pesticides are extremely dangerous when spilled and mixed inadvertently. This could ignite fires and lead to severe losses. To prevent such damage, hazardous materials should be placed in appropriate containers, sealed tightly, and stored in a dry and secure area where the container is less likely to overturn if earthquake strikes
How do you feel about the situation? Do you think enough haas been done to reduce the impact of the earthquake?
I feel bad and devastated for the residents, especially to those who lost their family members in the earthquake and are homeless. I think the government had done enough for his people such as, Indonesian Government will provide funds to rebuild homes to the value of Rp 15 million per home, and Rp 2 million in compensation for families of deceased victims, etc.
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