Discolored water
During aerial inspections 6 and 19 March, a 1-km-long zone of orange sea discoloration was noted at the S shore of Bam Island.
Information Contacts: Acting Senior Volcanologist, RVO.
The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Bam.
Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.
Discolored water
During aerial inspections 6 and 19 March, a 1-km-long zone of orange sea discoloration was noted at the S shore of Bam Island.
Information Contacts: Acting Senior Volcanologist, RVO.
This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.
Synonyms |
Lesson Island | Biam | Biem |
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There is data available for 17 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.
1960 Apr 28 - 1960 Jul 6 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1960 Apr 28 - 1960 Jul 6 | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 4 Events for Episode 1
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1959 Apr 2 - 1959 Oct 31 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1959 Apr 2 - 1959 Oct 31 | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 3 Events for Episode 1
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1958 Sep 5 - 1958 Sep 10 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1958 Sep 5 - 1958 Sep 10 | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 3 Events for Episode 1
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1958 Mar 11 ± 10 days - 1958 Apr 19 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1958 Mar 11 ± 10 days - 1958 Apr 19 (?) | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 3 Events for Episode 1
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1957 Oct 26 - 1957 Oct 26 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1
Episode 1 | Eruption | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1957 Oct 26 - 1957 Oct 26 | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 3 Events for Episode 1
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1954 Aug 3 - 1957 Jan 2 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1954 Aug 3 - 1957 Jan 2 | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 8 Events for Episode 1
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1947 Mar 13 ± 75 days Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1947 Mar 13 ± 75 days - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 5 Events for Episode 1
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[ 1946 Dec 1 ± 30 days ] Discredited Eruption
An eruption at the end of 1946 (CAVW) actually occurred in 1947 prior to a 24 May letter (Johnson et al., 1972).
1944 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1944 - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 4 Events for Episode 1
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[ 1941 - 1942 ] Discredited Eruption
Explosive eruptions in 1941 and 1942 included in Cooke et al. (1976, figure 2) could not be found in other sources, and are apparently in error (Johnson, 1990 p.c.).
[ 1936 Jul - 1939 Apr ] Uncertain Eruption
Episode 1 | Uncertain | ||||||||||||||||||||
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1936 Jul - 1939 Apr | Evidence from Unknown | |||||||||||||||||||
Holtker saw smoke plumes above the summit during July 1936-April 1939. No lava flows or explosive outbursts were seen, but glow was observed from Manam, the mainland, and the sea (Johnson et al., 1972). | ||||||||||||||||||||
List of 2 Events for Episode 1
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1924 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1924 - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 5 Events for Episode 1
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1918 Sep 18 Confirmed Eruption
Episode 1 | Eruption | |||||||||||||||
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1918 Sep 18 - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||
List of 1 Events for Episode 1
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1913 Confirmed Eruption
Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||
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1913 - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||
List of 2 Events for Episode 1
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1909 Apr 19 - 1909 Sep 13 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1909 Apr 19 - 1909 Sep 13 | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 4 Events for Episode 1
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1908 Jul 12 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1908 Jul 12 - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 3 Events for Episode 1
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1907 Nov Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1907 Nov - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 3 Events for Episode 1
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[ 1897 - 1898 ] Uncertain Eruption
Episode 1 | Uncertain | |||||
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1897 - 1898 | Evidence from Unknown | ||||
Hantke (1959) reported activity in 1897 and 1898, and Sapper (1917) records activity in the 1890s. Although Cooke et al. (1976) considered this an eruption, Cooke and Johnson (1981) later discounted these reports. |
[ 1888 ] Uncertain Eruption
Episode 1 | Uncertain | |||||||||||||||
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1888 - Unknown | Evidence from Unknown | ||||||||||||||
Zoller observed small "smoke clouds" in 1888 (Johnson et al., 1972). This eruption is considered uncertain (Cooke and Johnson, 1981). | |||||||||||||||
List of 1 Events for Episode 1
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[ 1885 May 20 ] Uncertain Eruption
Episode 1 | Uncertain | |||||||||||||||
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1885 May 20 - Unknown | Evidence from Unknown | ||||||||||||||
Finsch (1888) reported that he was certain he saw smoke rising through the cloud layers on one occasion during his 20 May 1885 sighting of Bam (Cooke and Johnson, 1981). Oral traditions recount a major eruption leading to many deaths and temporary evacuation of the island about seven generations before 2005 (most probably in the mid-1880s), but it is not known which eruption report this references (Silver et al., 2009). | |||||||||||||||
List of 1 Events for Episode 1
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[ 1884 ] Discredited Eruption
The date of observations by Otto Finsch was May 1885, not 1884.
[ 1883 Mar ] Uncertain Eruption
Episode 1 | Uncertain | |||||
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1883 Mar - Unknown | Evidence from Unknown | ||||
Bam was observed to be "still in activity" during a March 1883 visit by Miklouho-Maclay (1885). This is considered an uncertain eruption report by Cooke and Johnson (1981) and Lowenstein (1982). |
1877 Nov 13 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3
Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||
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1877 Nov 13 - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||
Reported to be "in full eruption" by Miklouho-Maclay (Sentinella, 1975), but the exact nature of activity is uncertain. | ||||||||||||||||||||
List of 2 Events for Episode 1
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1874 May 20 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||
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1874 May 20 - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||
The first reliable report of activity on Bam was a 20 May 1874 observation of large volumes of steam and smoke discharging from the volcano (Moresby, 1875). The inhabitants were undisturbed by the volcano at the time of Moresby's visit, suggesting that this was not the vigorous ca. 1868-1975 eruption that prompted evacuations. Vigorous vapor emission is characteristic of well-documented eruptive periods on Bam, which emits little or no vapor during non-eruptive periods, lending support to the 1874 eruption report (Cooke and Johnson, 1981). | ||||||||||||||||||||
List of 2 Events for Episode 1
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1872 ± 4 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3
Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1872 ± 4 years - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A violent eruption recorded as occurring in 1868 (CAVW), which damaged or destroyed houses and gardens and prompted many of the islanders to flee, was estimated from oral tradition to have occurred sometime between 1868 and 1875 (Johnson et al., 1972; Cooke and Johnson, 1981). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
List of 4 Events for Episode 1
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[ 1700 Apr ] Discredited Eruption
The "smoking island" may have been Kadovar, not Bam (Johnson et al., 1972). Cooke and Johnson (1981) state that the only remark by Dampier on activity in the Schouten Islands during his 1700 visit appears to refer to the neighboring island of Kadovar.
[ 1616 ] Discredited Eruption
Reported to be active by Sapper (1917), but Cooke and Johnson (1981) indicate that Dutch mariners Schouten and Le Maire did not see Bam in eruption, but Manam was active.
There is no Deformation History data available for Bam.
There is no Emissions History data available for Bam.
Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.
The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included.
There are no samples for Bam in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.
Copernicus Browser | The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions. |
MIROVA | Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity. |
MODVOLC Thermal Alerts | Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales. |
WOVOdat
Single Volcano View Temporal Evolution of Unrest Side by Side Volcanoes |
WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.
GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments. |
Volcanic Hazard Maps | The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter. |
IRIS seismic stations/networks | Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Bam. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice. |
UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations | Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Bam. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player. |
DECADE Data | The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO2 to the atmosphere, but installing CO2 monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere. |
Large Eruptions of Bam | Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA). |
EarthChem | EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS). |