The United States Geological Survey recorded
a Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake at a depth of 28 km beneath the island of
Palau Sumba, in the southern Lesser Sunda Islands, slightly after 6.00 pm local time (slightly after 10.00 am GMT) on Friday 12 February 2016. There are no reports of any damage or casualties arising
from this event, though people have reported feeling it as far away as Bali.
The
Lesser Sunda Islands are located on the northern part of the Timor
Microplate. This is trapped between the converging Eurasian and
Australian Plates, both of which are being subducted beneath it. This is
not a smooth process; the two subducting plates continuously stick to
the overlying plate, then break away as the pressure builds up, causing
Earthquakes in the process. In the south the Australian Plate is passing
under the islands, with material from the subducted plate
melted by the friction and the heat of the Earth's interior rising
through the Timor Plate to feed the volcanoes of the islands. In the
north the Eurasian Plate is being subducted in the same way, feeding the
volcanoes there.
The subduction zones beneath the Timor Microplate. Hamson (2004).
Witness
accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events,
and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit
organization Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.
See also...
Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake beneath Palau Alor Island, Indonesia. The United States Geological Survey recorded
a Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake at a depth of 14 km beneath the island of
Palau Alor, at the eastern end of the...
Eruptions on Batu Tara. On 7 April 2015 the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre reported an ash cloud rising 7 km above the island, which then drifted
to the northwest. This is...
Flights from Australia to Indonesia and Southeast Asia have been
severely disrupted and several...
Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.
