WINDOWS OF THE WORLD

Why was there an earthquake?

Topmost layer of the earth, namely litosfir, is a relatively cold rocks and the top is in solid condition and rigid. Below this layer there is a much hotter rock called the mantle. This layer is so hot, so always in a state is not rigid, so it can move according to the distribution of heat that we know as the convection flow. Tectonic plates that are part of litosfir solid and floating on the mantle moves come to each other. There are three possible movement of one tectonic plate relative to the other, ie when the two plates away from each other (spreading), approach each other (collision) and each slide (transform).

If the two plates meet at a fault, they can move away from each other, approach each other or each shift. Generally, these movements are slow and can not be felt by humans, but measured at 0-15 cm per year. Sometimes, this plate movement stuck and interlock, resulting in the collection of energy continues until at some time in the tectonic plate rock is no longer able to resist the movement, causing a sudden release of which we know as earthquakes.

When an earthquake occurs?

Earthquakes can occur at any time, without knowing the season. Nevertheless, the concentration of earthquakes tend to occur in certain places, such as the Pacific Plate boundary. This place is known as the Ring of Fire because of the many volcanoes.

What is an earthquake ?

The earthquake is a sudden shift of the soil layers beneath the surface of the earth. When this shift occurs, arising vibrations called seismic waves. This wave propagates away from the focus of the earthquake in all directions in the earth. When this wave reaches the earth’s surface, the vibrations can damage or not depends on the power source and the focal length, besides that also the quality of buildings and quality of land where the building stood.

Where earthquakes occur ?

Litosfir layer is composed of tectonic plates are rigid and floating on top of rocks that are relatively rigid. Regional meeting of two or more plates we refer to as plate margins or plate boundaries, also called fault. Earthquakes can occur anywhere on earth, but most earthquakes occur around the plate boundaries and gained a lot of active faults around the plate boundaries. Certain point along the fault where the earthquake is called the focus or the commencement of hyposenter and the point at which the earth’s surface immediately above it called the epicenter.

The day before the earthquake Japan, Friday (11 / 3) ago, scientists internationally – through the medium of the Internet – discuss crowded supermoon phenomenon and its effect. The discussion leads to the conclusion that the phenomenon supermoon would bring “chaos on earth.”

Supermoon is a phenomenon where the moon (moon) looks very big in the sky because it is in its closest approach to Earth. Currently that process is going on. Klimaknya will we can see together on 19 March 2011, where the position of the moon is at closest distance of 356,723 miles from Earth, so the moon will be seen with a size larger than usual.

Supermoon theory has also been associated with superdahsyat magnitude 9.0 earthquake on the Richter Scale (SR) with 10-meter-high tsunami that devastated Aceh on December 26, 2005. When that happens supermoon climax in two weeks after the “little apocalypse of Aceh.”

In the past 50 years, supermoon occurred in 1955, 1974, 1992, 2005, and 2011. Special in 2011, supermoon not only stimulate a large earthquake but also resulted in the high sea waves and bad weather extremes around the world.

However, adherents of the theory supermoon always been denied by most scientists of the world. Those who do not believe in the theory supermoon always argued that the scientific phenomenon of the moon will only result in rising waves of sea water, not affect or stimulate the occurrence of earthquake and volcanic eruption.

Regardless of the polemics supermoon phenomenon, the fact that Japan has luluhlantak SR 8.9 earthquake struck on Friday just past. The quake occurred at 12:46 or 14:46 pm Japan time, with epicenter at 373 km centered northeast of Tokyo. Moments later a tsunami with a height of 4 meters to 10 meters.

There are three provinces with the worst damaged condition Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima. Until yesterday the Japanese government announced the deaths of more than 1000 people and is estimated casualties will continue to increase because there are still about 10,000 people still missing in the port city of Minamisanriku Prefecture Miyagi, Japan,

Mbakyu-in-law that afternoon I was cleaning dishes, glasses, and utensils in the kitchen, when suddenly the house where he lived was swinging hard swing. Falling home furnishings, she began to panic, a large earthquake is going on.

Mbakyu first step I did was call her husband at work. Her husband ordered her to stay indoors and follow developments on television. Mbakyu my brother in law and her husband are Japanese people living in an apartment on the eleventh floor Asakuka Prefecture, Tokyo. His son worked as a secretary to Ambassador of Indonesia to Japan in Tokyo.

At 13:00 pm or 15:00 Tokyo time or a quarter of an hour after the quake, Mbakyu my brother in law then phoned my wife (his brother) in Jakarta, preach what is happening in Japan. Phone calls to Jakarta continues to be done once every half hour to update developments.

Currently there are 31 people my wife’s brother who lives in Japan. They lived in various cities in the land of Sunrise. Some of them are native of Japan, other citizen status who are working there in various professions. Thank God my whole family there are none who are victims of the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011.

An earthquake measuring 8.9 magnitude rocked the tsunami that accompanied last Friday that it was the largest earthquake that struck Japan over the last 140 years. Magnitude is beyond the power of the Great Kanto earthquake which occurred on 1 September 1923 ago. The quake was magnitude 7.9 and killed more than 140 thousand citizens of Tokyo.

From oborolan with my brothers who experienced the greatest natural disaster that I get some interesting images. First, regarding the infrastructure associated with the basic needs of Japanese society. My brothers who lived in Japan told me that there are four things that are guaranteed by the Japanese government will not be affected by the earthquake and other natural disasters as bad as any disaster that happens. The four are: electricity, telephone, water, and gas.

Unlike in Indonesia, which predominantly have to buy LPG by ketengan for their household needs, Japan’s gas needs of households served by the government with network system via a pipeline to supply the entire country. And, the Japanese government has to prove the security of supply is maintained despite being hit by a devastating earthquake measuring it.

Electricity also remains lit in most areas of Sakura. Face-to-clean water flowing to most homes. While the phone, there is absolutely no interference. My family and I stay in touch with my brothers in Japan, since the natural disaster occur until some time when I am typing this article.

Everything proves that the Japanese government succeeded in building the infrastructure that the main intention berkaiatan with people with disaster-resistant qualities as bad as any. We know that Japan is a country prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, storms and hurricanes.

Secondly, regarding the quality of residential buildings, high rise buildings and skyscrapers. Japan managed to find the construction of earthquake resistant buildings. His government is very strict in giving building permits (IMB) with the requirements should be earthquake resistant.

We can see through television shows how buildings skyscrapers still standing strong even if hit by an earthquake with magnitude 8.9 force. Compare this with the impact that occurred in other countries that experienced large earthquake shocks, where the level of damage is much worse.

Third, the Japanese people strongly adhere to the procedures how to deal with earthquakes and natural disasters. Socialization for it continues to be repeated at any time, provided via the schools, offices, enterprises, and households. And all the people adhere to these procedures. Compare with other nation’s level of obedience in the face of natural disasters, especially earthquakes.

It appears that we could pick a useful lesson from natural disasters in the form of earthquakes with magnitude 8.9 tsunami as high as four to ten feet just hit Japan. The lesson is not only to be picked by our government but also to be taken by all Indonesian people, so willing to learn from the Samurai was. Because, like Japan, our country was located on land prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

October of 2009 I visited Japan. During the visit I had the opportunity to meet and shake hands with Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. My meeting with Emperor Akihito took place two weeks after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake that destroyed the West Sumatra.

With a very soft voice the Tenno Heiko told me, “Convey our sympathy and sorrow for all citizens in the affected areas of West Sumatra earthquake.”
It felt – though only through this writing — I now turn to personal and possibly on behalf of us all citizens of East Kalimantan and Indonesian people, to convey to the Emperor and the entire nation of Japan, “We convey our sympathy and sorrow over the earthquake and tsunami disaster that Japan struck. ”

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