2006 Banda Sea earthquake

Last updated
2006 Banda Sea earthquake
Indonesia relief location map.jpg
Bullseye1.png
UTC  time??
ISC  event
USGS-ANSS
Date *January 27, 2006 (2006-01-27)
Local date
Local time
Magnitude 7.6 Mw
Epicenter 5°28′23″S128°07′52″E / 5.473°S 128.131°E / -5.473; 128.131 Coordinates: 5°28′23″S128°07′52″E / 5.473°S 128.131°E / -5.473; 128.131
Areas affected Indonesia
Max. intensity V (Moderate) [1]

The 2006 Banda Sea earthquake occurred in the Banda Sea region, at 16:58 (UTC) on January 27, 2006, with a magnitude of 7.6Mw. The location was 200 km south of Ambon Island, and 445 km north east of Dili, East Timor. Other significant earthquakes occur regularly (2005, 2009 for example), however they are not identified readily due to the isolation of the occurrences, lack of damage to human communities, and dearth of reporting and research. The 2006 Banda Sea earthquake was felt as far away as Northern Australia.

Banda Sea A sea between Sulawesi and Maluku

The Banda Sea is a sea in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, connected to the Pacific Ocean but surrounded by hundreds of islands, as well as the Halmahera and Ceram Seas. It is about 1000 km (600 mi) east to west, and about 500 km (300 mi) north to south.

The moment magnitude scale is a measure of n earthquake's magnitude based on its seismic moment, expressed in terms of the familiar magnitudes of the original "Richter" magnitude scale.

Ambon Island island

Ambon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of 775 km2 (299 sq mi) and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of two territories - the city of Ambon to the south and various districts (kecamatan) of the Central Maluku Regency to the north. The main city and seaport is Ambon, which is also the capital of Maluku province, while those districts of Maluku Tengah Regency situated on Ambon Island had a 2014 population of 132,377. Ambon has an airport and is home to the Pattimura University and Open University, state universities, and a few private universities, which include Darussalam University and Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku (UKIM).

Contents

Tectonics

The hypocenter was located at a depth of around 397 km (247 mi). The earthquake occurred as a result of the past subduction of the Australia Plate beneath the Timor Plate at the Timor Trough. Although subduction no longer occurs between these two plates, the subducted Australian Plate nevertheless remains highly seismic. [2]

Hypocenter site of an earthquake or a nuclear explosion

A hypocenter is the point of origin of an earthquake or a subsurface nuclear explosion. In seismology, it is a synonym of the focus. The term hypocenter is also used as a synonym for ground zero, the surface point directly beneath a nuclear airburst.

Subduction A geological process at convergent tectonic plate boundaries where one plate moves under the other

Subduction is a geological process that takes place at convergent boundaries of tectonic plates where one plate moves under another and is forced to sink due to gravity into the mantle. Regions where this process occurs are known as subduction zones. Rates of subduction are typically in centimeters per year, with the average rate of convergence being approximately two to eight centimeters per year along most plate boundaries.

Indo-Australian Plate A major tectonic plate formed by the fusion of the Indian and Australian plates

The Indo-Australian Plate is a major tectonic plate that includes the continent of Australia and surrounding ocean, and extends northwest to include the Indian subcontinent and adjacent waters. It was formed by the fusion of Indian and Australian plates approximately 43 million years ago.

See also

References

  1. ↑ USGS. "M7.6 - Banda Sea". United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ M7.6 Banda Sea Earthquake of 27 January 2006


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