Krakatoa Tsunami
By: James Kennedy
What is a Tsunami? How do they Occur? And Where?
A tsunami is a series of large waves generated by an abrupt movement on the ocean floor that can result from an earthquake, an underwater landslide, a volcanic eruption or - very rarely - a large meteorite strike.
Tsunamis occur most often in the Pacific Ocean and Indonesia because the Pacific Rim bordering the Ocean has a large number of active submarine earthquake zones.
Can Tsunamis be predicted? If so, how?
Earthquakes and tsunamis cannot be predicted. However, once a large earthquake does occur, PTWC can forecast the tsunami behavior if one had been generated.
Preventing people from dying. What you can do in your own home.
How to Prevent More Deaths From Tsunamis 3/18/2011 7:05PM Tsunami warning systems have been instrumental in saving lives, but they can only go so far. The crucial element, is to get better at predicting the earthquakes that create tsunamis, says Bruce Parker, former chief scientist at NOAA's National Ocean Service.
- Find out if your home, school, workplace or other frequently visited locations are in tsunami hazard areas.
- Know the height of your street above sea level and the distance of your street from the coast or other high-risk waters. Evacuation orders may be based on these numbers.
- Plan evacuation routes from your home, school, workplace and other places you could be where tsunamis present a risk. If possible, pick areas 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level or go as far as 2 miles (3 kilometers) inland, away from the coastline. If you cannot get this high or far, go as high or far as you can. Every foot inland or upward may make a difference. You should be able to reach your safe location on foot within 15 minutes.
- Find out what the school evacuation plan is. Find out if the plan requires you to pick your children up from school or from another location. Telephone lines during a tsunami watch or warning may be overloaded, and routes to and from schools may be jammed.
- Practice your evacuation routes. Familiarity may save your life. Be able to follow your escape route at night and during inclement weather. Practicing your tsunami survival plan makes the appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring less thinking during an actual emergency.
- If you are a tourist, familiarize yourself with local tsunami evacuation protocols. You may be able to safely evacuate to the third floor and higher in reinforced concrete hotel structures.
KRAKATOA TSUNAMI
The eruption of Krakatoa, August 27, 1883. Krakatoa was dormant until May 20, 1883, when it erupted catastrophically. By August 11, three vents were regularly erupting on the volcano.
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ONE ERUPTION ON AUGUST 27 WAS HEARD 2800 MILES AWAY.
RELEASED 11 CUBIC MILES OF ASH INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.
IT CHANGED THE COLOR OF THE SUNSETS
The Krakatoa Volcano erupted causing massive tsunami waves to break away the island
Death Toll: 36,417
Total fatalities 36,417.
Causes of death: Tsunamis: 32,000
Nuee ardentes: 4,400 Deaths according to area.
Ketimbang (Sumatra) 8,038
Teloeq Betoeng (Sumatra) 2,260
Semangka (Sumatra) 2,160
Tjiringin (Java) 12,022
Anjer (Java) 7,610
Tangerang (Java) 2,340
Serang (Java) 1,933
165 villages were totally destroyed and another 132 damaged.