Network of Radon Gas Concentration Monitoring of Research and Development Centre – BMKG for Earthquake Precursor Research in Indonesia

Abstract

The geographical position of Indonesia, which is flanked by several subduction zones and the presence of active faults in the sea and land make Indonesian territory prone to earthquakes and tsunamis which can result in many deaths and damaged. There are several efforts we can do to minimize the occurrence of earthquakes, including developing earthquake resistant buildings, increasing the ability/capacity of the community, and predicting earthquakes or better known as earthquake precursors. The BMKG Research Centre began conducting research on earthquake prediction using several methods, including the Radon monitoring method. Monitoring of Radon gas concentrations for earthquake precursors has several advantages, including the presence of radioactive gas which is abundant in ground water that has a half-life of 3.2 days. Radon is the result of decay of uranium 278U which is abundant in the earth’s crust rock so that when rock friction occurs, the Radon gas can be detached. Based on the results of Radon monitoring at Tadulako and Palolo stations - Southeast Sulawesi province, there was a change in the pattern of radon gas concentration and water level rising up and down drastically and a gradual decrease in ground water temperature before the earthquake on 28 September 2018. In addition to Central Sulawesi, since 2012 the Centre for Research and Development of BMKG has been conducting research to monitor radon gas concentrations in the DI Yogyakarta region precisely in Piyungan and Pundong districts with the aim of monitoring radon gas concentrations in the Opak fault. In 2021, the BMKG Research and Development Centre added a new radon gas monitoring network in the active fault areas of Cimandiri and Lembang in the West Java province. There are 1 station in the Cimandiri fault segment and 2 stations in the Lembang fault section. It is hoped that in the future the results of monitoring can reduce the impact caused by the earthquake disaster in Indonesia.