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The loudest sound ever heard.

10/11/2014

8 Comments

 
PictureTwo thirds of the island was destroyed.


The loudest sound in recorded history occurred when a volcano in Indonesia named Krakatoa erupted. It started on 26th August and continued through 27th August1883. 
The explosion was so loud that sailors 40 miles away suffered from perforated eardrums.




I want to share some of the facts and figures with you.

  • Earthquakes were felt in the region for years before the event.
  • Early eruptions started in May 1883
  • A series of forceful eruptions started on 26th August and intensified on 27th August. An explosion on 27th August at 10.02am was heard 4653 km (3000 miles) away on Rodriguez Island, which lies on the other side of the Indian Ocean.
  • Barographs (An instrument that records air pressure) recorded the change in air pressure around the world and continued to record changes for five days.
  • Ash radiated into the atmosphere and fell on ships 6000 km away.
  • Tsunamis devastated the region. There are reports of waves as high as 40 meters. Killing over 36,000 people, mainly on the islands of Sumatra and Java.
  • Global temperatures dropped and became chaotic. They did not return to normal until 1888.
PictureThis rock expelled from Krakatoa landed 40 km away on Java
I’ve always been fascinated this event. It was the worst volcanic eruption in recorded history. Although there have been similar events. In 536 a volcano under Lake Ilopango, in Central America, erupted. It had global consequences and is believed to be the catalyst that plunged Europe into the Dark Age.

If The Krakatoa event were to happen today the effects would be even more devastating. Air travel and shipping would be disrupted worldwide. But more importantly, there are over 200 million people living in Java and Sumatra today, a significantly larger population than one hundred and thirty one years ago.

I hope to uncover some survivor stories for a future posts. I want to put a human face to the data. This will help me truly understand the cataclysmic events of 1883.


8 Comments
Barbara Bettis
10/11/2014 01:26:49 am

That is fantastic information! I'd no idea of the magnitude of the sound, especially! Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Marlow
10/11/2014 02:57:11 am

Thanks Barbara.

Reply
Jennifer Taylor link
10/12/2014 07:07:01 am

Very interesting blog, Marlowe! I did not know that.

Reply
Marlow
10/12/2014 07:17:28 am

Thanks Jennifer, I didn't know that either until I looked it up.

Reply
Lilly Gayle link
10/12/2014 10:33:25 am

Wow! What a cool post. I love history and I totally understand your fascination with this event and the possibilities of "what if?"

Reply
Marlow
10/12/2014 12:29:37 pm

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Lilly. Yes the 'what if' drives my fascination with history. Thanks.

Reply
Mary M. Forbes link
10/12/2014 11:59:35 pm

What a fascinating post. It is so interesting to know and understand the impact Natural disasters have on the earth and our lives. I really enjoy reading your little known (to me) facts about the world.

Reply
Marlow
10/13/2014 12:11:37 am

Thanks Mary

Reply



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