The Krakatoa Eruption and Repopulation of Life
by Owen Borville
December 20, 2018
Geology, Biology
The large volcanic eruption on the island of Krakatoa on Sunday, August 26th of 1883, which was one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in modern history, is an example of life returning quickly to land after a major natural catastrophe. The Krakatoa eruption had ten times the magnitude of the Mount St. Helens eruption. The island of Krakatoa is located inside the Sunda Strait between the larger islands of Sumatra and Java of the Indonesian archipelago. Over 70 percent of the island and surrounding archipelago was destroyed as it collapsed into a caldera and most of the island had disappeared except for the southern third. In addition, new islands were formed from the falling ash from the eruption. The final explosive eruption was heard 4,830 km (3,000 miles) away and 20 million tons of sulfur was released into the atmosphere. The eruption also produced a volcanic winter (reducing worldwide temperatures by an average of 1.2 °C (2.2 °F) for five years. More than 36,000 human deaths were reported as a result of the eruption along with much of the life on the island. However, observers discovered that Krakatoa was repopulated with life, including birds, lizards, snakes, mollusks, insects, and earthworms within 25 years. (1) Thick jungles have also grown on the parts of the island that remain since the eruption. The repopulation of life on Krakatoa in such a short time gives evidence that life on earth could have repopulated quickly after the global Genesis Flood, which covered the whole earth, and that repopulation of life does not require long periods of time.
(1) Whitcomb, J. C., & Morris, H. M. (1961). The Genesis Flood: The Biblical record and its scientific implications. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co. (p. 84)
by Owen Borville
December 20, 2018
Geology, Biology
The large volcanic eruption on the island of Krakatoa on Sunday, August 26th of 1883, which was one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in modern history, is an example of life returning quickly to land after a major natural catastrophe. The Krakatoa eruption had ten times the magnitude of the Mount St. Helens eruption. The island of Krakatoa is located inside the Sunda Strait between the larger islands of Sumatra and Java of the Indonesian archipelago. Over 70 percent of the island and surrounding archipelago was destroyed as it collapsed into a caldera and most of the island had disappeared except for the southern third. In addition, new islands were formed from the falling ash from the eruption. The final explosive eruption was heard 4,830 km (3,000 miles) away and 20 million tons of sulfur was released into the atmosphere. The eruption also produced a volcanic winter (reducing worldwide temperatures by an average of 1.2 °C (2.2 °F) for five years. More than 36,000 human deaths were reported as a result of the eruption along with much of the life on the island. However, observers discovered that Krakatoa was repopulated with life, including birds, lizards, snakes, mollusks, insects, and earthworms within 25 years. (1) Thick jungles have also grown on the parts of the island that remain since the eruption. The repopulation of life on Krakatoa in such a short time gives evidence that life on earth could have repopulated quickly after the global Genesis Flood, which covered the whole earth, and that repopulation of life does not require long periods of time.
(1) Whitcomb, J. C., & Morris, H. M. (1961). The Genesis Flood: The Biblical record and its scientific implications. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co. (p. 84)
