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Report on Dieng Volcanic Complex (Indonesia) — August 1998


Dieng Volcanic Complex

Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 23, no. 8 (August 1998)
Managing Editor: Richard Wunderman.

Dieng Volcanic Complex (Indonesia) Plumes and earthquakes in early July

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1998. Report on Dieng Volcanic Complex (Indonesia) (Wunderman, R., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 23:8. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN199808-263200



Dieng Volcanic Complex

Indonesia

7.2°S, 109.879°E; summit elev. 2565 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Seismicity increased in late June and early July. Earthquakes of M ~2 were felt locally three times on 2 July, and once on 4 July. An emission plume of white, moderately thick steam without ash issued from Sileri crater under low pressure to a height of 50 m. There was a moderate smell of sulfur. The crater lake water was clear to gray in color with temperatures varying between 54 and 94°C.

Geological Summary. The Dieng plateau in the highlands of central Java is renowned both for the variety of its volcanic scenery and as a sacred area housing Java's oldest Hindu temples, dating back to the 9th century CE. The Dieng Volcanic Complex consists of multiple stratovolcanoes and more than 20 small Pleistocene-to-Holocene craters and cones over a 6 x 14 km area. Prahu stratovolcano was truncated by a large Pleistocene caldera, which was subsequently filled by a series of cones, lava domes, and craters, many containing lakes. Lava flows cover much of the plateau, but observed activity has been restricted to minor phreatic eruptions. Gas emissions are a hazard at several craters and have caused fatalities. There are abundant thermal features and high heat flow across the area.

Information Contacts: R. Sukhyar, Director, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (VSI), Bandung, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/).