Determination of Hypocenter Using Geiger Method in Sinabung Volcano, April-July 2016 Period

Abstract

Sinabung is a volcano located in the Karo Highlands, Karo District, North Sumatra, Indonesia, with the highest peak of 2460 meters mean sea level. Volcanic earthquake is an earthquake that occurs due to volcanic activity. This is caused by the movement of magma upwards in the volcano. This study aims to determine the type of earthquake, hypocenter position and epicenter of volcanic earthquakes in Sinabung volcano in April-July 2016. The principle of this study was carried out by analyzing volcanic earthquake data in Sinabung volcano in April-July 2016. The data is recorded data (seismogram) or in other words is secondary data from Sinabung volcano on 7 seismometer stations namely Sukanalu, Lau Kawar, Sigarang-Garang, Mardinding, Gamber, Sibayak, and Kebayaken stations. Earthquake data in April-July 2016 revealed that there were 24 earthquake events in a period of 3 months which were the results of picking up the P and S waves, where volcanic earthquakes were obtained only in the form of volcanic earthquake type A and type B volcanic earthquake. Sinabung volcano has an earthquake activity that high enough so that the status of Sinabung volcano is still at level III (standby) status. Based on the hypocenter of several VA and VB earthquakes that occurred in April-July 2016, it can be concluded that the distribution of the hypocenter of the volcanic earthquake shows that the maximum depth of the volcanic earthquake is 10.000 meters and the position of the earthquake is spread at the point between Sinabung volcano and Mount Sibayak.