Mt. Merapi

Mt.
Merapi, Java Indonesia

Mount Merapi is an active Volcano, located in Java, in Indonesia. It rises about 2900 metres, and it is
known for being the most active volcano in Indonesia out of 147 volcanoes, 76 in which are active.
Despite it being the most active volcano, it is also the youngest volcano in the southern area of Java
and is a classified as a super volcano.
(
Google Maps, February 2005, Indonesia [image], Google maps.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Indonesia [accessed 23/03/2022])
A closer image of Mount Merapi. As you

can see, it is south of Central Java.
(Google Maps, February 2005, Indonesia
[image], Google maps.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Indonesia [accessed 23/03/2022])
The last eruption that occurred in Mount Merapi was on the 21st of June in 2020, where it was a minor
eruption, and the last eruption that had a devastating effect on the people of Indonesia living in that
area was in 2010, which had approximately 350 deaths. Despite this danger of living near a volcano,
many people live there, and around 350, 000 people had to flee their homes during the 2010 eruption
of Mount Merapi. Since the 2010 eruption in Mount Merapi, there have only been small eruptions and
the most major eruptions occurred between the 18th and 20th century.
Mount Merapi is a super stratovolcano, which is a volcano that is built up by many layers of solidified
lava. They are formed when a tectonic plate (usually an oceanic plate) sinks into the mantle of another
tectonic plate.
For stratovolcanoes to erupt, the gas

builds up in the magma chamber due to
high pressure and heat. When it reaches the conduit part of the volcano (a pipe that carries magma),
the pressure releases, causing the gases and magma to explode outwards. After the volcano has
erupted, the lava cools and solidifies into magma rock, which makes the volcano larger.
Volcanoes have an impact on the atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. For the atmosphere,
volcanoes can impact the climate, by releasing ash particles in an eruption. This blocks the amount of
sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface, thus lowering global temperatures. However, it also creates lots
of carbon dioxide. The effect on the biosphere is more negative, as the ash particles kill plants and
therefore impact animals that eat plants. The opposite effect is given when rain usually follows an
eruption, which helps the plant instead of killing it. Eruptions can also have both a negative and
positive impact on the lithosphere. Fertilisation takes place in the soil, because of the dead plants,
though parts of the lithosphere a prone to obliteration.
Despite it being such a dangerous place to live, many people still choose to live next to a volcano,
because it can be monitored, so that precautions can be taken for safety. This is seen by how scientists
use seismographic detection, as earthquakes usually lead to an eruption. Technology such as a
tiltmeter (used to measure very small changes in vertical level on the ground.), GPS satellites, and
lasers are used to monitor volcanic eruptions. To predict the location of a volcano, it is useful to know
that volcanos are usually located on the edge of a tectonic plate. In the event of a volcanic eruption,
people are advised to listen for alerts about the situations and follow evacuation orders. It is also a
good idea to prevent ash exposure, by doing things like wearing a mask. However, there isn’t
anything else we can do, and so far, technology hasn’t been able to prevent actual eruptions or make
us safe from eruptions, besides evacuating early. Though there have been attempts at stopping
eruptions, it has not yet been made possible.
Understanding of geological activities and the implementation of different technologies can
potentially save lives and minimise the risk of harm. This is mostly through prevention: technologies
can help us predict eruptions and evacuate quickly, therefore minimising the risk of harm. For
example, it is because of technology that scientists were able to predict the eruption in the Cumbre
Vieja volcano, which helped people evacuate before it was too late. Because of this technology, lives
were saved. Overall, scientific knowledge and use of technology are extremely important in
minimising the impact of volcanic eruptions.
Bibliography
Bagley, M. (2022) Volcano facts and types of volcanoes [online], available at:
https://www.livescience.com/27295-volcanoes.html (accessed 23/03/22)
Lange, A., & Cena, C (n.d), Stratovolcano: Definition, formation & facts [online], available at:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/stratovolcano-definition-formation-facts.html (accessed
23/03/2022)
Pletcher, K. (2019), Mount-Merapi [online], available at: https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-
Merapi (accessed 23/03/2022)
Robock, A. (2004), Volcanism and the Earth’s Atmosphere, American Geophysical Union;
Washington, DC
Salleh, A. (2017), Volcanoes: How often do they erupt and what happens when they do? [online],
available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-11-22/volcanoes-heres-what-
happens-when-they-erupt/8997014 (accessed 23/03/2022)
Sucasas, A., & Yanes, J. (2021), Science for Taming Volcanoes, [online], available at:
https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/environment/science-for-taming-volcanoes/
(accessed 23/03/2022)
Staff Writer (2015), How do Volcanoes Affect the Lithosphere? [online] available at:
https://www.reference.com/science/volcanoes-affect-lithosphere-34439a47a34901b2
(accessed 23/03/2022)
Ready.gov (n.d), Volcanoes [online], available at: https://www.ready.gov/volcanoes (accessed
23/03/2022)
The Central Queensland Herald (1948), Merapi Volcano Activity, The Central Queensland Herald,
Thursday 2 December 1948, page 13

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Mt.

Merapi, Java Indonesia

A closer image of Mount Merapi. As you

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Indonesia [accessed 23/03/2022])

For stratovolcanoes to erupt, the gas

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