h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Greetings! Long time no see. I'm basically done with Krakatau. I found it so interesting I read up on it and added two numbers - the distance the pyroclastic thingummy traveled, and the distance the tsunamis traveled.

Take a look and see if you don't like what I did.

I also have another question: are you American or British? In other words: do I need to do a spell check?

I'm english.

I'll go and have a look and see what you've done to it. Glad it's captured you!

The Eruption
On 20 May 1883, an 11 kilometres high cloud of ash was seen rising from the uninhabited island of Rakata. This would be the beginning of two months of unstable volcanic activity. During this time, many ships traveling near the island reported seeing similar sights accompanied by explosions. Nearby islanders celebrated the spectacle; nobody guessed at the ferocity of the explosion that was to happen on 26 August and would continue until 27 August of that year.

Traveling should be Travelling.


The Cataclysmic Events That Followed
The initial blast formed a cloud of volcanic ash and rock that rose 25 kilometres above the island. A few hours later, the cloud widened dramatically to the northeast and rose even higher, to around 36 kilometres, and entered the earth’s stratosphere. Frightened, the coastal communities of western Sumatra, western Java and other islands close by began to panic. A few hours later, these villages were devastated by tsunamis.

Pyroclastic Flows and Debris
If 90% of the deaths were due to the tsunamis, 10% of the death toll, roughly 4,500 deaths, were caused by pyroclastic flows and falling debris. To give you an idea of the total amount of ash and debris thrown into the air, Krakatau generated some 20 cubic kilometers of volcanic debris, more than 20 times what Mount St Helens produced when it erupted in 1980.

Kilometers should be kilometres.

The Child of Krakatau

Anak Krakatau has erupted in most years since. Typically, these are rather mild eruptions of basaltic andesine2 lava flows. Though they present little danger to surrounding islands, the eruptions from Anak Krakatau provide an constant reminder of the dreadfulness of 1883, and the remains of Rakata have been evacuated.

….provide a constant….

Finally, footnote 2 is blank.


You've done a great job on it Leo! Thank you so much!

Noted. will be fixed. Footnote 2 is pending a definition which I haven't gotten around to looking up yet.

Thanks hunny

A13346750

Ta da! If you ok it, I send it in.

I'm happy with it

It's in.

YAY!!!