Tulisan ini dibuat oleh Tim Konsorsium Peneliti Tsunami TDMRC-BPPT-KKP-PT ASR berdasarkan data-data yang terbatas dan dilakukan secara cepat tepat pada hari kejadian gempa pada 11 April 2012. Saat itu, tim sedang melakukan pelatihan simulasi tsunami. Hasil-hasil yang terpapar pada tulisan ini masih bersifat sementara dan masih akan terus berkembang sejalan dengan terkumpunya banyak data.
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1. Background
At 15.38 WIB (local time), a strong earthquake (8.5 RS) was felt almost in the entire Western parts of Sumatera Island, Indonesia started from Aceh in the North until Lampung in the South. The quake was also felt in the city of Medan, Nort Sumatera, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. The locals reported that the quake last for 5 minutes with slow earth motions. In the following hours, several aftershocks were also felt by the locals with similar quake behaviours. Around two hours later, a similar strong earthquake hit the region.
Fig. 1: Records of the shocks around the area, offshore the islands of Sumatera (Sources: usgs)
2. Details of the earthquake
a) Source: Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System (InaTEWS), BMKG, (http://www.bmkg.go.id)
Magnitude : 8.5 RS
Date : 11-Apr-2012
Origin Time: 08:38:33 UTC
Latitude : 2.40 N
Longitude : 92.99 E
Depth : 10 Km
Location : Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
Remarks : 398 km SOUTHWEST of Meulaboh
433 km SOUTHWEST of Banda Aceh
464 km SOUTHWEST of Sabang
465 km SOUTHWEST of Sigli
515 km SOUTHWEST of Bireun
Date : 11-Apr-2012
Origin Time: 08:38:33 UTC
Latitude : 2.40 N
Longitude : 92.99 E
Depth : 10 Km
Location : Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
Remarks : 398 km SOUTHWEST of Meulaboh
433 km SOUTHWEST of Banda Aceh
464 km SOUTHWEST of Sabang
465 km SOUTHWEST of Sigli
515 km SOUTHWEST of Bireun
b) Source: USGS
Epicenter: 2.348 93.072
MW 8.6
USGS/WPHASE CENTROID MOMENT TENSOR
12/ 4/11 8:38:38.00
Centroid: 2.248 92.872
Depth 25 No. of sta:109
Moment Tensor; Scale 10**21 Nm
Mrr= 1.25 Mtt=-5.99
Mpp= 4.74 Mrt= 1.34
Mrp=-0.63 Mtp=-7.03
Principal axes:
T Val= 8.40 Plg= 9 Azm= 63
N = 1.14 79 271
P = -9.54 4 154
Best Double Couple:Mo=9.0*10**21
NP1:Strike=199 Dip=80 Slip= 3
NP2: 108 87 170
The figure above shows a visual representation of the style of faulting (focal mechanism) derived from the estimated moment tensor. Shaded areas show quadrants of the focal sphere in which the P-wave first-motions are away from the source, and unshaded areas show quadrants in which the P-wave first-motions are toward the source. The dots represent the axis of maximum compressional strain (in black, called the "P-axis") and the axis of maximum extensional strain (in white, called the "T-axis") resulting from the earthquake.
3. Tsunami and alerts
Tsunami early warning was initially announced by the BMKG, for many regions along the west coast of Sumatera. The warning was then lifted four hours later or two hours after the 2nd earthquake (19.00 WIB).
4. Simulation
The simulation was run using numerical model COMCOT version 1.7. The source model is developed based on early information released by USGS (see the details above). A 4-hour simulation shows that tsunami smaller than 2 m may reach the coastline of Sumatera Island. Tsunami as high as 5 m may have reached the Island of Simuk (South of Nias).
Fig. 2a: Propagation of tsunami after 1 Hour (in metre)
Fig. 2b: Propagation of tsunami after 2 hours (in metre)
Fig. 2c: Propagation of tsunami after 3 hours (in metre)
Fig. 2d: Propagation of tsunami after 4 hours (in metre)
5. Affected area
BMKG reported that the affected area may reach as far as Lampung province in the South of Sumatera and Southern West Java. Until this report is made, the rise of water was observed in the following places (sources: BMKG):
Fig. 3: Possible affected areas by the tsunami on 11 April 2012 (BMKG)
6. Reported damage
Damage of buildings and infrastructures were reported from the most affected areas around Northern Sumatera. The rise of water level was also observed along the river of Meulaboh causing the damage of some bridges (sources: Harian serambi).
7. Recommendations and remarks
Actions are required to investigate the occurance of tsunami where the simulation shows high waves such as along the coastlines of Mentawai islands and Nias. Pulau Simuk located between Pulau Nias and Pulau Siberut may become the main focus for investigations.
The earthquake did not produce big tsunami like the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami. This occurs due to different mechanism of the earthquakes. The earthquake occurred on 11 April 2012 has strike-slip characteristics. This type of earthquake does not lift the water column in large amount. Thus, large tsunami was not generated. The 2004 Indian ocean tsunami has thrust/normal characteristics where large amount of water mass in the deep sea was lifted and transfered to the shorelines (tsunamis).
8. Useful links and references:
a) BMKG
http://www.bmkg.go.id/BMKG_Pusat/Depan.bmkg
b) USGS
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2012/usc00090da/#details
c) BNPB
http://geospasial.bnpb.go.id/2012/04/11/peta-titik-epicentrum-gempabumi-aceh-11-april-2012/

















