Report on Karangetang (Indonesia) — 22 July-28 July 2015
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 22 July-28 July 2015
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2015. Report on Karangetang (Indonesia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 22 July-28 July 2015. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Karangetang
Indonesia
2.781°N, 125.407°E; summit elev. 1797 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
Based on observations conducted at the Karangetang Volcano Observation Post in the village of Salili, PVMBG reported that white plumes rose as high as 200 m above the Main Crater and 25 m above Crater II during 15 and 19-22 July; foggy conditions prevented views during 13-14 and 16-18 July. Incandescence from the lava dome was observed at night. Incandescent avalanches from the fronts of 75-m-long lava flows traveled as far as 2.3 km E down the Batuawang and Kahetang drainages. Seismicity was dominated by signals characteristic of avalanches, with rare volcanic earthquakes. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4); visitors and residents were warned not to approach Karangetang within a 4-km radius.
Geological Summary. Karangetang (Api Siau) volcano lies at the northern end of the island of Siau, about 125 km NNE of the NE-most point of Sulawesi. The stratovolcano contains five summit craters along a N-S line. It is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, with more than 40 eruptions recorded since 1675 and many additional small eruptions that were not documented (Neumann van Padang, 1951). Twentieth-century eruptions have included frequent explosive activity sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic flows and lahars. Lava dome growth has occurred in the summit craters; collapse of lava flow fronts have produced pyroclastic flows.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)