Geology News
Indonesia Current Events

You have probably heard of the Richter Scale for measuring earthquakes, the Saffir-Simpson Scale for hurricanes and the Fujita Scale for tornadoes. The Volcanic Explosivity Index is used to compare the size of explosive volcanic eruptions.

“Multinational research team finds that sea floor earthquake zones can act like a “magnifying lens,” focusing and strengthening tsunamis beyond what was through possible.” Quoted from the University of Southern California press release.

Many of the world’s most important energy trade routes pass through the South China Sea. The sea is underlain by significant oil and natural gas deposits, some of which are undeveloped.

Many of the islands in the South China Sea have competing claims of ownership, primarily because ownership of the island brings with it a claim to resources beneath the surrounding seafloor.

Many energy companies would like to export natural gas as LNG from the United States to countries where market prices are much higher. However, United States manufacturers object because they fear that LNG exports will raise domestic prices.

Not mentioned in the FuelFix article are: 1) many new conventional gas discoveries in Africa, Australia, South America and Indonesia that could compete with LNG exports from the United States; 2) the enormous untapped shale gas potential in other parts of the world; and, 3) natural gas throughout the world that is currently being flared. Will LNG export terminals for United States gas make economic sense five years from now?

“Indonesia is the most populous country in Southeast Asia and the fourth most populous country in the world. The country struggles to attract sufficient investment to meet growing domestic energy consumption because of inadequate infrastructure and a complex regulatory environment. At the same time, it was the world’s largest exporter of coal by weight and the eighth largest exporter of natural gas in 2011.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration report.

Night video of explosive eruptions at Batu Tara Volcano, located about 50 kilometers off the cost of Lembata Island, Indonesia. Visit Photovolcanica,com for more information and photos of Batu Tara.

Impact of the Toba Eruption

Spectacular Stream Potholes

The Granites of Yosemite National Park

Ancient Tsunami in Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Glacial Change on Mount Baker, Washington

Wisconsin’s Volcanic Past

A study of Indonesian volcanoes demonstrates how a satellite monitoring changes in the shape of Earth’s surface could be a valuable tool in forecasting eruptions.

The largest volcanic eruption in the past two million years was an enormous blast at Toba volcano in Indonesia about 74,000 years ago. An article on the Phys.org website explores the impact of the eruption.

Melting Glaciers Threaten Bolivia’s Water Supply

Maar-Diatreme Volcanoes

M4.0 Earthquake near Hollis Center, Maine

Something Worse than Lyme Disease?

Asteroids that Travel in Packs

Rupture Process of the April, 2012 Sumatra Earthquake

“The massive earthquake that struck under the Indian Ocean southwest of Sumatra on April 11, 2012, came as a surprise to seismologists and left them scrambling to figure out exactly what had happened. Analysis of the seismic waves generated during the event has now revealed a complicated faulting process unlike anything seen before.” Quoted from the University of Santa Cruz press release.

The Eruptions Blog has a post that explains the Volcano Population Index and why Indonesia has the highest VPI on our planet.

This interesting article reviews some of the world’s important chokepoints for the transport of crude oil.

From the article: “Chokepoints are narrow channels along widely used global sea routes, some so narrow that restrictions are placed on the size of the vessel that can navigate through them. They are a critical part of global energy security due to the high volume of oil traded through their narrow straits.”

“A puff of ash above Batu Tara, a volcano on the tiny Indonesian island of Pulau Komba, is an example of the frequent, mild eruptions that have occurred there since mid 2006. “

Kelimutu is a volcano with three summit lakes on Flores Island, Indonesia. The lakes are typically different colors and often change colors. These color variations are though to be caused by fumaroles below the lakes which causes changes in water chemistry.

Excavations near the base of Tambora volcano reveal furnished buildings with dead occupants buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash.

“A new study, funded by the National Science Foundation, shows that the residents of [the Sumatra] region are at risk from yet another potentially deadly natural phenomenon – major volcanic eruptions.” Quoted from the Oregon State press release.

Today’s M8.6 earthquake off the western coast of Sumatra was exceptionally large for being generated by a strike-slip fault.

Today’s magnitude 8.6 and magnitude 8.2 earthquakes off the western coast of northern Sumatra produced small tsunamis that tested warning systems developed since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Paedophryne amanuensis, a tiny frog found in Papua New Guinea has been judged to be the smallest vertebrate animal in the world. It is just 7.7 millimeters lon