Report on Papandayan (Indonesia) — 1 August-7 August 2007
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 1 August-7 August 2007
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2007. Report on Papandayan (Indonesia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 1 August-7 August 2007. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Papandayan
Indonesia
7.32°S, 107.73°E; summit elev. 2665 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
On 2 August, CVGHM raised the Alert Level at Papandayan from 1 to 2 (on a scale of 1-4) due to increased activity at the volcano. During 15 July-1 August, the number of volcanic earthquakes increased. By 31 July, the temperatures of fumaroles had increased 10 degrees C above normal levels in Mas crater. Temperatures were 3.5 degrees C above normal levels in Balagadama crater since 26 June. On 1 August, a diffuse white plume rose to an altitude of 2.7 km (8,900 ft) a.s.l. Associated with the increase in Alert Level, villagers and tourists were not permitted within a 1 km radius of the active craters.
Geological Summary. Papandayan is a complex stratovolcano with four large summit craters, the youngest of which was breached to the NE by collapse during a brief eruption in 1772 and contains active fumarole fields. The broad 1.1-km-wide, flat-floored Alun-Alun crater truncates the summit of Papandayan, and Gunung Puntang to the north gives a twin-peaked appearance. Several episodes of collapse have created an irregular profile and produced debris avalanches that have impacted lowland areas. A sulfur-encrusted fumarole field occupies historically active Kawah Mas ("Golden Crater"). After its first historical eruption in 1772, in which collapse of the NE flank produced a catastrophic debris avalanche that destroyed 40 villages and killed nearly 3000 people, only small phreatic eruptions had occurred prior to an explosive eruption that began in November 2002.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)