Week 5: Volcanic Activity

Thailand has 2 volcanos Doi Pha Khok Hin Fu, and Phanom Rung. Although, both are extinct and Phanom Rung actually has a temple built on top of it. (pictured below)

 The closest active volcanoes to Thailand is the Barren Island Volcano and the Sinabung Volcano. The Barren is a stratovolcano has minor activity or eruption warning located in the Andaman Sea. It was last updated Feb 3, 2016 with weak thermal hot spot. The Sinabung is a stratovolcano and was last updated Feb 23 2016 as erupting (continuing pyroclastic flows). On February 2, 2014 "At least 16 people were killed when an Indonesian volcano (Sinabung) that had been rumbling for months unleashed a major eruption." These volcanoes can evoke deadly lava, gases, and ash when erupted. 

(Barren Island Volcano)

(Sinabung Volcano)

Thailand is very developed compared to some of it’s neighboring countries and has established a warning system. “Thailand: the Thai Meteorological Department provides updated storm warnings, not just for the country, but for the rest of Southeast Asia as well. Thailand weather varies from north to south, so don't assume the weather is the same from one point of the country to the next.” This center is designed to regulate warnings to other countries about volcanic, seismic, and other activity present. Since there are no active volcanos in Thailand the people there don't necessarily have to worry. 

Sources:

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/erupting_volcanoes.html

http://goseasia.about.com/library/bl-early_warnings.htm

http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1418876/least-16-dead-after-indonesian-volcano-mount-sinabung-erupts

Picture sources:

http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/travel/itind.html

http://www.andamanmangroves.com/InBarren.php

http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1418876/least-16-dead-after-indonesian-volcano-mount-sinabung-erupts

http://guardianlv.com/2013/11/mount-sinabung-volcano-erupts-again-thousands-flee-crops-destroyed/

Week 3: Seismic Activity

Thailand consists of 15 active fault zones (Department). The three Pagoda faults are the biggest threat to central Thailand. There is shallow seismicity in northern Thailand(USGS). Earthquakes rarely occur and if they do they are small scale. "When a fault ruptures, rocks break apart suddenly and violently, releasing energy in the form of seismic waves. These waves radiate outward in all directions from the focus"(Keller 61).

One of the worst earthquakes in Thailand's history was that of Myanmar in 2014. It was a 6.3 and located near a northern city Chiang Mai, with 1 killed and 20 injured (Travelers Today). It left roads cracked and structures broken. Although, technically the epicenter was in Myanmar in Burma and a 6.8, it is so close to Thailand's border that it was felt all the way down in Bangkok the Capital city. 

 

According to Livingthai.org, if a 7.0 earthquake were to occur it would completely flatten Thai structures and the country runs off of tourism. This kind of seismic activity would greatly hurt the countries economy(Living Thai).
 As for a warning system the "Thai Meteorological Department established an Automatic Earthquake Monitoring System to serve all the need of raw ground motion data, sea level changes, displacement and analyzed seismic data for the public interest and multi users. The system consists of 40 seismic stations, 26 accelerograph stations, 9 tidal gauge stations, 4 GPS stations. The operational works are 24/7 basis to continuously monitor, watch and disseminate of relevant information, messages and warning regarding to earthquake and tsunami hazard" (Seismology). This will provide a sense of security and somewhat of a quick response warning that will be sent out so people can prepare and move east or high ground in case of tsunamis.
 

Sources:

Keller, Edward A., Duane E. DeVecchio, and Robert H. Blodgett. Natural Hazards: Earth's Processes as Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2012. Print.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/about/workshops/thailand/downloads/Thailand-workshop-results-new.pdf

http://www.dmr.go.th/main.php?filename=fault_en
http://www.livingthai.org/earthquakes-in-thailand.html
http://www.seismology.tmd.go.th/en/

Picture Sources:

http://www.dmr.go.th/main.php?filename=fault_en

http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/9742/20140506/thailand-earthquake-today-magnitude-6-3-photos-devastates-myanmar-northern.htm
http://www.livingthai.org/earthquakes-in-thailand.html

Week 2: Plate Tectonics

Thailand is located on the Eurasian plate boundary. The plates coming together around Thailand have many different boundary types. If only it were so simple! It looks like the mass of Thailand is on two different blocks which are attached to the Eurasian plate which Asia sits on. To the southwest of Thailand, the plate is subducting ocean floor (line with little triangles). Those other lines on the map mostly look like transform faults (Plates and faults are often confused. Faults are mini versions of plate boundaries; much shallower). Divergent boundaries really only occur on the deep seafloor as it spreads apart and spits out basalt.

Thailand is on the Eurasian plate but it also is in the region of the Sunda Plate. "The Sunda Plate was formerly considered a part of the Eurasian Plate, but GPS measurements have confirmed its independent movement at 10 mm/yr eastward relative to Eurasia"(Wiki). Thailand is not located on a fault line so it rarely experiences earthquakes. The eastern region is completely in green meaning that it is completely safe. "Thailand has a number of active faults with the potential to trigger tremors, many of which are concentrated in the northern and western regions. However, these faults do not have the capability to cause strong quakes like those in the Ring of Fire or in areas directly on top of tectonic plate boundaries"(Chula).

Sources:
http://www.cicc.chula.ac.th/en/2012-04-26-04-31-26/203-likelihood-of-earthquakes-in-thailand.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunda_Plate

Picture Source:
http://mpconline.mpc.edu/pluginfile.php/429774/mod_resource/content/1/Summary%20PlatesBoundaries.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunda_Plate
https://www.e-education.psu.edu/earth520/content/l2_p14.html

Week 1: Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes

My country is Thailand



 If you visit Thailand you could experience tsunamis, floods, cyclones, and droughts. Thailand hardly experiences earthquakes, and doesn't have tornados or volcanic activity(Chiangmai Times). Thailand is known for having a tropical climate and high humidity. This means that during the rainy seasons it comes to be a problem when there is excess rain in the low laying plains causing floods. The two main disasters that occur in this region are Cyclones and Floods. "Flooding in Thailand during this year's monsoon season has killed more than 200 people and affected at least two million more"(Corben, 2011). 1904-2004 Thailand experienced 47 floods causing killing 2,427 people and affecting 27,193,357 lives (Center for Hazards).



The difference between Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes is always good to know when talking about different events. According Dr. Ana Garcia-Garcia, Hazards are natural processes or events that could potentially threaten human life or property. For example: 2015 Northern California wildfire.  Disasters are hazardous events that occur in a limited timeframe. Events are classified Disasters if one or more of these take place: 10 or more people are killed, 100 or more people are affected by the event, the country declares a state of emergency, or if they ask for international assistance. For example: 2010 Guatemala sinkhole killing 15 people. Lastly, Catastrophes is an event that takes place and destroys so much that it takes years and large amounts of money to recover from. For example: 2010 earthquake in Hati, which still hasn't fully recovered.  


Sources:
http://www.chiangraitimes.com/what-natural-disasters-could-you-experience-in-thailand.html
http://www.statravel.com/thailand-climate.htm
http://www.voanews.com/content/thailand--floods-worst-in-five-decades-130972153/146066.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_disaster
https://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/chrr/research/profiles/thailand.html

Picture Sources:
http://whotv.com/2014/11/18/americans-wanted-for-trying-to-ship-thai-infant-body-parts/
http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/new-report-says-many-of-the-worlds-natural-disasters-in-2011-were-the-worst