The Most Dangerous

Country

By Mathias M.

Introduction

In science we are learning about earthquakes and

volcanoes. In this presentation I will show you my

understanding of earthquakes and volcanoes. After looking

at some volcano and earthquake charts, I will also compare

two countries and decide which one is more dangerous to

live in in terms of natural disasters.

Tectonic PlatesEach continent is set on tectonic plates. These plates

are part of the Earth’s crust, and consist out of mainly

two substances: oceanic crust, and continental crust.

Oceanic crust carries, like the name suggests, a little bit

of dirt and a thick sheet of water. Continental crust,

carries land. Over time, tectonic plates move (to be

exact, 2cm per year). Also, they are directly above the

mantle. The temperature is so high in this layer, that the

mantle is just magma. Sometimes tectonic plates

interfere in a negative way with each other, disturbing

the magma flowing underneath them. These interactions

provoke natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic

eruptions and tsunamis.

How Earthquakes Occur

Sometimes two different tectonic plates slide against each other. This is called

transform movement, and is what causes earthquakes to happen.

Here is what happens exactly:

The plates meet, and rub slowly against each other

The plate edges are rough and uneven. Instead of the plates sliding smoothly

against each other, one plate gets caught in the other’s unkempt ridges.

The tectonic plates are stuck, and because they cannot move, pressure builds

up over time.

Once the pressure is very high, the trapped plate can break off the piece that

is holding it in place.

The tectonic plates shift in a sudden movement, causing a disturbance in the

otherwise passive environment.

As a reaction of the sudden action, an earthquake happens.(Of course, earthquakes also happen during other tectonic plate boundaries. This is just one

example).

How Volcanoes Erupt

Other times one or more oceanic plates and one or more continental plates

push against each other. This interaction is called subduction.

Here is how it happens:

Two plates meet head on.

The oceanic plate gets pushed under the continental plate, because it is more

dense.

There is a gap, and water meets the magma.

The water immediately goes through a phase change and changes into the form

of gas: steam.

Because steam rises, it presses against the continental plate that is right above

it.

A bump starts to grow as pressure gets stronger under the continental plate.

Finally, the pressure cannot be withheld by the continental plate anymore, and

the plate gives way.

The steam and magma rises, and the volcano erupts.

Tectonic Plate Boundaries (recap)

Indonesia- Volcanic Eruptions

This chart showed volcano eruptions from

1815 to 2004. As time passed, there were a

lot less volcano eruptions and when there

were, they were a lot less serious. As you

can see, in 1815 the volcano Tambora

erupted, and there were 92,000 deaths. Fast

forward to 1997, and the volcano Semeru

erupted, with only 1 person dying. There

were no other volcanic eruption in Indonesia

until 2004.

Deaths Volcano Country

Year

Of course, Indonesia is a dangerous country to live in, but not

nearly as dangerous as it used to be. Today, there are

organisations that help prevent people dying during volcanic

eruptions by predicting when active volcanoes are going to erupt.

Also, Indonesia had to adapt to its environment over the years: it

now has stronger and more resistant buildings, and advanced

technology specialized for active volcanoes. Also, the citizens

have more education than before, they know how to react when

a volcano erupts.

Japan- Volcanic Eruptions

When comparing Japan’s volcanic eruptions with Indonesia’s

volcanic eruptions I can tell that Indonesia has a worse history. One

big eruption happened in 1792, when Unzen erupted, 15000 people

died in the process. The latest volcanic eruption I found on this chart

was one that happened in 1993. As you can see, the same volcano

erupted. This time however, only 1 person died. Again, this can be

explained by today’s modern technology preventing natural disasters

from being too dangerous and catastrophic.

Deaths Volcano Country

Year

Indonesia- Earthquakes

In terms of earthquakes, Indonesia fortunately does not

have such a rich history. I used a chart that displayed

earthquakes that had more than 1000 deaths ranging from

1990 to 2014. There was an earthquake in Indonesia in

2006 that had a magnitude of 6.3 and that killed 5749

people.

Date Country Deaths

Magnitude

Indonesia’s Biggest Earthquakes

1.Sumatra-Andaman Islands Magnitude 9.2 Deaths 225,000

2.1833/11/25 Sumatra 8.9 6000

3.Java 6.3 5,780

4.Papua 7.3 5,000

5.Ceram 7.8 3000

6.Flores Region 7.8 2,500

7.Northern Sumatra 8.6 1,346

8.2009/09/30 Sumatra 7.6 1,117

9.Papua 6.7 305

10.Sumatra 8.4 300

Japan- Earthquakes

Compared to Indonesia, there were a lot more earthquakes

in Japan in the past as well as recently. Also, when we look

at the magnitude of the earthquakes and how many people

they killed, there is a huge difference. The earthquake that

took place in Japan in 2011 had a magnitude of 9 (that’s

HUGE!) and killed a total of 20,896 people. The earthquake

in Indonesia on 2006 only had a magnitude of 6.3 killed 5749

people.

Obviously it is much harder to predict when an earthquake is

going to happen than when a volcano is going to erupt.

Many people still die today from sudden earthquakes.

Date Country Deaths

Magnitude

Japan’s Biggest Earthquakes

earthquakes

1. Tohoku earthquake magnitude 9.0 deaths 29,000

2. Hoei earthquake 8.6 5,000

3. Meiji-Sanriku 8.5 27,000

4.Ansei-Nankai earthquake 8.4 10,000

5.Sanriku earthquake 8.4 more than 3,000

6. Kuril Islands earthquake 8.4 19,000

7.Aomori earthquake 8.2 52

8. Nankaido earthquake 8.1 1,362

9.Genroku earthquake 8.0 100,000

10.Great Kanto earthquake 7.9 142,800

Indonesia or Japan?After a reasonable chunk of research, I think that Japan is the most dangerous

country to live in because of all the recurring earthquakes and its few active

volcanoes. It is much easier for experts to predict when a volcano is going to

erupt rather than when an earthquake is going to happen. Indonesia had a lot

more volcanic eruptions, but these have become easy to avoid today. Some

villages may have to be evacuated, but no one (or very few) die. So both Japan

and Indonesia don’t have to worry as much about volcanic eruptions as they

should for earthquakes. Earthquakes occur a lot more in Japan because it is

situated on more than one tectonic plate. Also, it is right next to the ocean, and

it has recently suffered a very big tsunami. Based on this, I think Japan is

more dangerous to live in because it has many earthquakes, some active

volcanoes and is right next to the ocean, meaning it is also prone to tsunamis.

Citations:"Earthquakes with 1,000 or More Deaths 1900-2014." Earthquakes with 1,000 or More Deaths 1900-2014. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

<http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/world_deaths.php>.

"Plate Tectonics." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics>.

Staff, By. "Japan's Biggest Earthquakes." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 8 Apr. 2011. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

<http://www.livescience.com/30312-japan-earthquakes-top-10-110408.html>.

"Volcano Live." Volcano Eruption Fatalities. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.volcanolive.com/fatalities.html>.

Picture Citationshttps://www.pinterest.com/VicnJR/earth-core-projects/

http://www.maps.com/ref_map.aspx?pid=12871

http://www.subductionzone.us/science/

http://powerlisting.wikia.com/wiki/Eruption_Inducement

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/05/photogalleries/china-earthquake-anniversary-ruins/