TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) will map out the sea floor topography of the Indian Ocean to analyze and recognize fault patterns that may trigger earthquakes in Indonesia. Known as bathymetric mapping, it will be carried during the 2017 Indonesia PRIMA (Program Initiative on Maritime Observation and Analysis) Expedition.

"That way, our experts will know whether the patterns can trigger earthquakes," LIPI head Iskandar Zulkarnain said in Jakarta, Monday, Feb. 20.

The expedition began yesterday, February 20, and will last until March 16, 2017. During the period, LIPI will also conduct oceanographic research to determine sea characteristics, connectivity, water temperature, and profiles of ocean currents that influence oceanographic conditions.

Iskandar said that marine researches based on sea floor observations are important because Indonesia is a meeting point of tectonic plates. Additionally, there are very few marine researches in the Indian Ocean compared with studies in the Pacific Ocean.

The 2017 Indonesia PRIMA Exhibition is organized by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The expedition will take two routes. The first is from Jakarta to the Indian Ocean and Sabang; and the second is from Sabang to Pidie, Malaka Strait, and back to Jakarta.

ANTARA