A brown-gray ash plume from Raung rose 100-400 m above the crater rim and drifted E at 0520 on 21 January, prompting PVMBG to raise the Alert Level to 2 (on a scale of 1-4). Gray plumes rose 200-600 m above the crater rim and drifted E on the next day. White-and-gray plumes rose 200-500 m on 23 January and drifted WSW, and crater incandescence was visible in webcam images. During 24-25 January ash plumes rose 500 m and drifted E and S, and Strombolian activity was visible.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
Eruptions confirmed during 2012- 2013; lava fills inner crater in November 2014-August 2015
A massive stratovolcano in easternmost Java, Raung has over sixty recorded eruptions dating back to the late 16th Century. Explosions with ash plumes, Strombolian activity, and lava flows from a cinder cone within the 2-km-wide summit crater have been the most common activity. Visual reports of activity have often come from commercial airline flights that pass near the summit; Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, CVGHM) has installed webcams to monitor activity in recent years. An eruption in 2015 produced a large volume of lava within the summit crater and formed a new pyroclastic cone in the same location as the previous one. Confirmation and details of eruptions in 2012, 2013, and 2014-2015 are covered in this report with information provided by PVMBG, the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), several sources of satellite data, and visitors to the volcano.
Newly available visual and satellite information confirm eruptions at Raung during October 2012-January 2013, June-July 2013, and extend the beginning of the 2015 eruption back to November 2014. The 2015 eruption was the largest in several decades; Strombolian activity was reported for many months and fresh lava flows covered the crater floor. Raung was quiet after the 2015 eruption ended in August of that year until July 2020.
Eruption during October 2012-January 2013. A MODVOLC thermal alert appeared inside the summit crater of Raung on 14 October 2012, followed by another four alerts on 16 October. Multiple daily alerts were reported on many days through 8 November, most within the main crater. Single alerts appeared on 29 November and 1 December 2012 (figure 9). PVMBG raised the Alert Level on 17 October from 1 to 2 due to increased seismicity and raised it further to Level 3 on 22 October. A local news report by Aris Yanto indicted that a minor Strombolian eruption occurred inside the crater on 19 October. Strombolian activity was also observed inside the inner crater on 5 November 2012 by visitors (figure 10); they reported loud rumbling sounds that could be heard up to 15 km from the crater.
The Darwin VAAC issued an advisory of an eruption plume to 9.1 km altitude reported at 0237 UTC on 8 November 2012. In a second advisory about two hours later they noted that an ash plume was not visible in satellite imagery. A press article released by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) indicated that gray ash plumes were observed on 6 January 2013 that rose 300 m above the summit crater rim. Incandescence was observed around the crater and thundering explosions were heard by nearby residents.
Eruption during June-July 2013. Two MODVOLC thermal alerts were measured inside the summit crater on 29 June 2013. A photo taken on 21 July showed minor Strombolian activity at the inner crater (figure 11). A weak SO2 anomaly was detected in the vicinity of Raung by the OMI instrument on the Aura satellite on 27 July. Thermal alerts were recorded on 29 and 31 July. When Google Earth imageryrom 14 March 2011 created by Maxar Technologies is compared with imagery from 29 July 2013 captured by Landsat/Copernicus, dark tephra is filling the inner crater in the 2013 image; it was not present in 2011 (figure 12).
![]() |
Figure 11. Strombolian activity was observed inside the inner crater at the summit of Raung on 21 July 2013. Photo by Agus Kurniawan, courtesy of Volcano Discovery. |
Eruption during November 2014-August 2015. Information about this eruption was previously reported (BGVN 41:12), but additional details are provided here. Landsat-8 imagery from 28 October 2014 indicated clear skies and little activity within the summit crater. Local observers reported steam plumes beginning in mid-November (figure 13). MODVOLC thermal alerts within the summit crater were issued on 28 and 30 November, and then 15 alerts were issued on seven days in December. Thermal Landsat-8 imagery from cloudy days on 29 November and 15 December indicated an anomaly over the area of the pyroclastic cone inside the summit crater (figure 14).
![]() |
Figure 13. Local observers reported steam plumes at Raung beginning in mid-November 2014; this one was photographed on 17 November 2014. Courtesy of Volcano Discovery. |
In January 2015 the MODVOLC system identified 25 thermal anomalies in MODIS data, with a peak of eight alerts on 8 January. Visitors to the summit crater on 6 January witnessed explosions from the inner crater approximately every 40 minutes that produced gas and small amounts of ash and tephra. They reported lava flowing continuously from the inner crater onto the larger crater floor, and incandescent activity was seen at night (figure 15). Landsat-8 images from 16 January showed a strong thermal anomaly covering an area of fresh lava (figure 16).
Satellite images were obscured by meteoric clouds during February 2015, but PVMBG reported gray and brown plumes rising 300 m multiple times and incandescence and rumbling on 14 February. Visitors to the summit crater during the second half of February reported Strombolian activity with lava fountains from the inner crater, at times as frequently as every 15 minutes (figure 17). Loud explosions and rumbling were heard 10-15 km away. MODVOLC thermal alerts stopped on 25 February and did not reappear until late June.
PVMBG raised the Alert Level to 2 in mid-March 2015. Weak thermal anomalies located inside and NW of the pyroclastic cone were present in satellite imagery on 21 March. PVMBG reported gray and brown emissions during March, April, and May rising as high as 300 m above the crater. Landsat imagery from 22 April showed a small emission inside the pyroclastic cone, and on 8 May showed a clearer view of the fresh black lava NW and SW of the pyroclastic cone (figure 18).
Nine MODVOLC thermal alerts appeared inside the summit crater on 21 June 2015 after no alerts since late February, suggesting an increase in activity. The Darwin VAAC issued the first ash advisory for 2015 on 24 June noting an aviation report of recent ash. The following day the Ujung Pandang Meteorological Weather Office (MWO) reported an ash emission drifting W at 3.7 km altitude. The same day, 25 June, Landsat-8 imagery clearly showed a new lava flow on the W side of the crater and a strong thermal anomaly. The thermal data showed a point source of heat widening SW from the center of the crater and a second point source of heat that appeared to be inside the pyroclastic cone. A small ash plume was visible over the cone (figure 19). Strombolian activity and ash plumes were reported by BNPB and PVMBG in the following days. On 26 June the Darwin VAAC noted the hotspot had remained visible in infrared imagery for several days. PVMBG reported an ash emission to 3 km altitude on 29 June.
Activity increased significantly during July 2015 (BGVN 41:12). Ash plumes rose as high as 6.7 km altitude and drifted hundreds of kilometers in multiple directions, forcing multiple shutdowns at airports on Bali and Lombok, as well as Banyuwangi and Jember in East Java. The Darwin VAAC issued 152 ash advisories during the month. Ashfall was reported up to 20 km W during July and 20-40 km SE during early August. Visitors to the summit in early July observed a new pyroclastic cone growing inside the inner crater from incandescent ejecta and dense ash emissions (figure 20). Landsat-8 imagery from 11 July showed a dense ash plume drifting SE, fresh black lava covering the 2-km-wide summit caldera floor, and a very strong thermal anomaly most intense at the center near the pyroclastic cone and cooler around the inner edges of the crater (figure 21). On 12 July, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a view of an ash-and-gas plume drifting hundreds of kilometers SE from Raung (figure 22).
![]() |
Figure 20. A new pyroclastic cone was growing inside the inner crater at the summit of Raung when photographed by Aris Yanto in early July 2015. Courtesy of Volcano Discovery. |
A satellite image on 20 July showed fresh incandescent lava covering the floor of the summit crater and a dense ash plume drifting N from the summit (figure 23). Incandescent ejecta emerged from two vents on the new pyroclastic cone inside the inner crater on 26 July (figure 24). On 27 July a dense ash plume was visible again in satellite imagery drifting NW and the hottest part of the thermal anomaly was in the SE quadrant of the crater (figure 25). Substantial SO2 plumes were recorded by the OMI instrument on the Aura satellite during July and early August 2015 (figure 26).
Significant ash emissions continued into early August 2015 with numerous flight cancellations. The Darwin VAAC reported ash plumes rising to 5.2 km altitude and extending as far as 750 km SE during the first two weeks in August (figure 27). Satellite imagery indicated a small ash plume drifting W from the center of the crater on 12 August and weak thermal anomalies along the E and S rim of the floor of the crater (figure 28). The summit crater was covered with fresh lava on 14 August when viewed by visitors, and ash emissions rose a few hundred meters above the crater rim from a vent in the SW side of the pyroclastic cone (figure 29). The visitors observed pulsating ash emissions rising from the SW vent on the large double-crater new cinder cone. The larger vent to the NE was almost entirely inactive except for two small, weakly effusive vents on its inner walls.
![]() |
Figure 28. Landsat-8 satellite imagery of Raung indicated a small ash plume drifting W from the center of the crater on 12 August 2015. Courtesy of Sentinel Hub Playground. |
The lengthy sequence of multiple daily VAAC reports that began in late June ended on 16 August 2015 with reports becoming more intermittent and ash plume heights rising to only 3.7-3.9 km altitude. Multiple discontinuous eruptions to 3.9 km altitude were reported on 18 August. The plumes extended about 100 km NW. The last report of an ash plume was from an airline on 22 August noting a low-level plume 50 km NW. Two MODVOLC alerts were issued that day. By 28 August only a very small steam plume was present at the center of the crater; the southern half of the edge of the crater floor still had small thermal anomalies (figure 30). The last single MODVOLC thermal alerts were on 29 August and 7 September. The Alert Level was lowered to 2 on 24 August 2015, and further lowered to 1 on 20 October 2016.
Information Contacts: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, CVGHM), Jalan Diponegoro 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/); Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB), National Disaster Management Agency, Graha BNPB - Jl. Scout Kav.38, East Jakarta 13120, Indonesia (URL: http://www.bnpb.go.id/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) - MODVOLC Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/);Google Earth (URL: https://www.google.com/earth/); Sentinel Hub Playground (URL: https://www.sentinel-hub.com/explore/sentinel-playground); NASA Earth Observatory, EOS Project Science Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Goddard, Maryland, USA (URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/, https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/86213/eruption-of-raung-volcano); Tom Pfeiffer, Volcano Discovery (URL: http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/); Aris Yanto (URL: https://www.exploredesa.com/2012/11/mount-raung-produce-of-vulcanic-ash-plume-and-continue-eruption/); DigitalGlobe (URL: https://www.maxar.com/, https://twitter.com/Maxar/status/875449111398547457); Øystein Lund Andersen (URL: https://twitter.com/OysteinVolcano/status/1194879946042142726, http://www.oysteinlundandersen.com).
2021: January
2020: July
| August
| September
| November
2016: October
2015: April
| May
| June
| July
| August
| September
2014: January
| June
2013: April
2012: October
2007: July
| August
2002: May
| June
| August
A brown-gray ash plume from Raung rose 100-400 m above the crater rim and drifted E at 0520 on 21 January, prompting PVMBG to raise the Alert Level to 2 (on a scale of 1-4). Gray plumes rose 200-600 m above the crater rim and drifted E on the next day. White-and-gray plumes rose 200-500 m on 23 January and drifted WSW, and crater incandescence was visible in webcam images. During 24-25 January ash plumes rose 500 m and drifted E and S, and Strombolian activity was visible.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that during 1-3 October dense gray plumes rose 50-300 m above Raung’s summit; neither eruptions nor gas emissions were visible afterwards, through 26 November. Seismicity decreased and deflation was recorded. The Alert Level was lowered to 1 (on a scale of 1-4) on 27 November, and the public was warned to stay away from the summer crater.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that eruptive activity at Raung continued during 28 September-4 October with white-and-gray plumes rising 100-400 m above the crater rim. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that on 21 August white-and-brown emissions rose 100 m above Raung’s summit and drifted N and S. White plumes rose as high as 100 m during 22-26 August; weather conditions prevented visual observations during 27-31 August. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that gray emissions rose 200 m above Raung’s summit and drifted S during 11-12 August. White plumes rose as high as 100 m and drifted N and S on a few days during 13-18 August; weather conditions sometimes prevented visual observations. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that an eruptive event at Raung was detected on 1 August, though weather conditions prevented visual confirmation. Weather conditions continued to obscure of views of the volcano during 5-11 August; white plumes were visible rising 100-200 m above the summit during some of the breaks in cloud cover. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that during 1 January-15 July white plumes at Raung rose as high as 50 m above the summit. Seismicity increased on 13 July and then again on 16 July. At 1052 on 16 July observers noted that the color of the emissions had become brownish white and rose higher. A VONA stated that at 1353 an ash plume rose 100 m above the summit and drifted N. At 1356 the color of the emissions changed to white and gray, and plumes rose to 100 m above the summit. During the rest of the day gray and reddish-colored plumes rose 50-200 m. There were 60 emissions recorded in total. During 0000-0600 on 17 July there were a total of 26 emissions characterized by brownish ash plumes rising 50-200 m. PVMBG raised the Alert Level to 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 2-km radius.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that, although inclement weather conditions often prevented visual observations of Raung during 1 June-19 October, white plumes were occasionally seen rising as high as 300 m above the crater. Seismicity fluctuated but continued to decrease, and then was stable. The Alert Level remained was lowered to 1 (on a scale of 1-4) on 20 October, and the public was reminded not to approach the crater.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that, although inclement weather conditions often prevented visual observations of Raung during 25 August-21 September, white plumes were occasionally seen rising as high as 200 m above the crater. Seismicity fluctuated but continued to decrease. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 2-km radius.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that ash plumes from Raung rose as high as 1 km above the crater during 16-24 August and drifted NW. Seismicity fluctuated but continued to decrease. The Alert Level was lowered to 2 (on a scale of 1-4) on 24 August, and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 2-km radius.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that the eruption at Raung was ongoing during 24 July-10 August. Ash plumes rose 1.5 km above the crater and crater incandescence was visible. Seismicity fluctuated but remained elevated; RSAM values peaked on 4 August (the highest recorded since the beginning of the eruption) and then decreased again. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 3-km radius. Based on satellite observations and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 12-14, 16, and 18 August multiple ash plumes from Raung rose to altitudes of 3.7-4 km (12,000-13,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 20-110 km W and WSW.
Sources: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Based on weather models, webcam views, and information from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 5-11 August ash plumes from Raung rose to altitudes of 4.3-5.2 km (14,000-17,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted as far as 760 km ESE, SE, SSE, and SW.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
On 4 August BNPB reported that during the previous three days the Strombolian eruption at Raung increased in intensity. Ash fell in Sempu, Songgon, Glenmore, Gambiran, and Banyuwangi. On 4 August dense blackish gray ash plumes rose 800 m and drifted SE. Based on satellite-image and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 29 July-4 August multiple ash plumes rose to altitudes of 4.3-4.9 km (14,000-16,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted as far as 240 km in multiple directions. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 3-km radius.
Sources: Badan Nacional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
PVMBG reported that the eruption at Raung was ongoing during 16-23 July. Ash plumes rose 2 km and incandescence at the crater was visible. Seismicity fluctuated but remained elevated. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 3-km radius. Based on PVMBG information, and satellite-image and pilot observations, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 22-28 July ash multiple ash plumes from Raung rose to varying altitudes of 4.3-5.2 km (14,000-17,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted as far as 400 km NW, W, SSW, S, and SSE. A news article from 29 July noted that 18 flights at most had been canceled during the previous few days due to the ash plumes, and that the Notohadinegoro Airport (2,100 km SW) had been temporarily closed.
Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC); Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM); The Jakarta Post
Based on PVMBG information, and satellite-image and pilot observations, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 15-21 July ash multiple ash plumes from Raung rose to varying altitudes of 3.7-6.1 km (12,000-20,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted as far as 340 km in multiple directions. On 16 July BNPB reported that a dense gray-to-black ash plume rose as high as 2 km above Raung's crater rim and drifted WNW. Incandescent lava at the summit was visible and tremor was continuous. Roaring and thumping sounds were reported by residents. Ashfall was reported in areas downwind, including Cumedak (19 km W) and Sumberjambe (13 km NW). According to a news article, the Juanda International Airport in Surabaya reopened on 17 July after on-and-off closures the previous week. BNPB noted that the eruption continued on 18 July with ash plumes rising as high as 1.5 km and drifting N. Tremor continued, although the amplitude had declined during the previous week. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 3-km radius.
Sources: Badan Nacional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC); ch-aviation
PVMBG reported that during 1-8 July gray plumes rose 100-500 m above Raung’s crater rim, crater incandescence was observed, and rumbling and thumping sounds were noted. Seismicity was dominated by high-amplitude tremor; deformation data suggested magma migrating to the surface. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 3-km radius. BNPB reported that gray ash plumes continued to rise as high as 500 m above the crater through 11 July. Ash plumes drifted in various directions depending on the altitude: SE and S at lower altitudes and SE, S, W, and N at higher altitudes.
Based on PVMBG notices, wind data, and satellite images, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 8-12 July ash plumes rose to an altitude of 4.3-5.2 km (14,000-17,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted as far as 1,040 km E, SE, and S. According to news articles, increased activity during 9-10 July caused flight cancelations and several airports to close, including those on Bali and Lombok, and in Banyuwangi and Jember in East Java. The article also noted that dozens of flight had been canceled during the previous week. Another article noted that the Bali airport, in addition to another airport in Java, again closed on 12 July, a day after it had reopened.
Sources: Badan Nacional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC); Agence France-Presse (AFP); The Weather Channel
Based on notices from the Ujung Padang MWO and PVMBG, satellite images, and pilot observations, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 1 and 3-7 July ash plumes from Raung rose to altitudes of 3.7-6.1 km (12,000-20,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 25-110 km E, ESE, and SE. According to news articles, flights in and out of an airport in Bali were cancelled due to ash emissions during 3-4 July. On 5 July BNPB reported that roaring was heard from continuous explosions and Strombolian activity at Raung. Dense white-and-gray plumes rose as high as 400 m and drifted SE. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 3-km radius.
Sources: Badan Nacional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC); WA Today
PVMBG reported that, during times of clear weather during 1-28 June, white plumes were observed rising as high as 300 m above Raung's crater rim. Rumbling was frequently heard at the observation post. Seismic tremor sharply increased on 21 June, and crater incandescence was observed on 25 and 28 June. BNPB reported that increased activity on 28 June was characterized by Strombolian activity, roaring, ash plumes that rose 300 m, and a loud thumping sound heard 20 km away at 2000. Incandescence from the crater was clearly visible from the observation post in Banyuwangi. PVMBG raised the Alert Level to 3 (on a scale of 1-4) on 29 June, and reminded the public not to approach the crater within a 3-km radius.
Sources: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM); Badan Nacional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB)
PVMBG reported that, during infrequent times of clear weather during 1 February-21 May, gray and gray-to-brown plumes were observed rising as high as 300 m above Raung's crater rim. Rumbling was frequently heard at the observation post. Crater incandescence was observed during February and on 12 April. Seismicity fluctuated and was dominated by tremor. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4); residents and tourists were reminded not to approach the craters within a 2-km radius.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that, during infrequent times of clear weather in December 2014 and January 2015, white plumes were observed rising as high as 500 m above Raung's crater rim. In February and during 1-14 March plumes were gray-white and rose to a maximum height of 200 m. Crater incandescence and rumbling was reported. During 15 March-7 April emissions were gray-brown and rose as high as 200 m; rumbling continued to be heard. During 8-15 April gray-brown plumes rose as high as 300 m. Rumbling was heard on 8 April and crater incandescence was observed on 12 April. Continuous tremor was recorded during December 2014-12 January 2015; tremor was not continuous starting on 13 January, and RSAM values declined. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that RSAM values from Raung showed an increase in energy during March-April. Additionally, during March-April, the daily number of volcanic earthquakes was dominated by tremor (with an increase in tremor amplitude); however, since the beginning of May, the number and the amplitude of tremor decreased.
During 1-17 June, when weather permitted, a weak solfatera plume was visible rising up to 100 m above the summit. On 17 June the Alert Level was lowered to 1 (on a scale of 1-4).
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that on 1 January seismicity at Raung increased, on 3 January diffuse white gas plumes rose 100 m and drifted W, and on 4 January diffuse brownish plumes also rose 100 m and drifted W. On 5 January the Alert Level was raised to 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
CVGHM reported that during March white plumes rose at most 400 m above Raung. Seismicity decreased significantly on 25 March, and tremor was absent starting in April. On 5 April the Alert level was lowered to 2 (on a scale of 1-4). Visitors and residents were warned not to approach the crater within a 1.8-km radius.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
Seismicity at Raung increased on 17 October and remained elevated, prompting CVGHM to raise the Alert Level to 2 (on a scale of 1-4) on 18 October. During 18-22 October white plumes rose 50-75 m above the crater. Seismic activity increased significantly on 22 October. That same day the Alert Level was raised to 3. Visitors and residents were warned not to approach the crater within a 3-km radius.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
Based on observations of satellite imagery, the Darwin VAAC reported that an ash plume from Raung rose to an altitude of 4.6 km (15,000 ft) a.s.l. during 26-27 August and drifted E.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Based on a pilot report, the Darwin VAAC reported that an ash plume possibly from Raung rose to an altitude of 1.5 km (5,000 ft) a.s.l. Ash was not visible on satellite imagery.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Based on pilot reports and satellite imagery, the Darwin VAAC reported that an ash plume was visible rising from Raung on 25 August at 1534. The cloud reached a height of ~9.2 km a.s.l. and drifted to the W at high levels and to the E at lower levels.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
The Darwin VAAC received reports stating that on 12 August at 1720 ash was visible drifting NW of Raung around summit level. The summit was partially obscured by meteorological clouds and no ash was identifiable on satellite imagery.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
The Darwin VAAC reported that possible ash clouds emitted from Raung were visible on satellite imagery. The clouds were at heights below 4.6 a.s.l. and were observed on 5 June at 0840 drifting to the S, on 7 June at 0934 drifting to the SW, and on 8 June at 1132 drifting to the NW.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
A pilot reported observing an ash plume that was emitted from Raung on 2 June at 1625. The plume rose to a height of ~4.5 km a.s.l. and drifted to the S. According to the Darwin VAAC, ash was not visible on satellite imagery.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
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.
Eruption cloud on 18 July
Raung erupted 18 July, emitting dark clouds of tephra to 6,000 m. Activity apparently began with a weak earth tremor at about 0300, felt by inhabitants of the tea and coffee plantations on the slopes and in the areas around Kalibaru and Glenmore, at the S foot of the volcano. On 19 July at about 0500 an earthquake was felt, and inhabitants at the foot of Raung reported hearing two consecutive explosions. A seismograph post for Ijen Volcano (8.058°S, 114.242°W) at Pal Tuding, which also monitors Raung, registered vibrations with a maximum amplitude of 3.9 mm.
Two eruptions on 19 July were reported by a Garuda Airlines pilot flying from Jakarta (about 840 km NW of Raung) to Denpasar (on Bali, about 140 km SE) and back. One eruption occurred around 0511 and the other around 1130. The pilot estimated that columns of "smoke" reached 0.6-0.9 km height. Flights have been diverted from near the volcano.
Ash fell lightly all day, leaving a whitish coat on the leaves of tea and coffee plants. An employee of one tea plantation said part of the top leaves were damaged and withered. Light ashfall was reported until 20 July.
Information Contacts: Kompas, Jakarta; AFP.
Many small explosions; light ashfalls
"Raung resumed activity during November with a series of small explosions. The summit crater has not been visited since the start of the latest activity. However, observations begun 1 November from the new Raung observation post about 15 km SE of the summit at 700 m altitude (at Mangaran) indicated that the explosions have been centered along the E side of the large summit crater, near the recently active eruptive vent on the crater floor. At least 44 explosion clouds were observed during November, mostly whitish in color but dark gray ash-laden clouds were also seen. On 15 November, light ashfall was reported from SE flank villages (Bejong, Mangaran, and Seragi) and from Banjuyangi City, 35 km ESE of the volcano. The Mangaran seismometer recorded 52 explosion earthquakes during November. Activity was continuing as of 12 December."
"The last eruption of Raung that produced a lava flow was in 1973. That flow was confined to the summit crater. Explosions similar to the November activity have frequently been reported over the last decade."
Information Contacts: T. Casadevall and L. Pardyanto, VSI; Antara News Service, Jakarta.
Small summit explosions during November
No explosions were recorded in December.
Information Contacts: Suparto S. and T. Casadevall, VSI.
Strombolian activity and seismicity
Strombolian activity in the bottom of the crater was photographed by Michel Halbwach (Univ of Savoie, France) in July/August 1988, during overflights in an ultralight aircraft arranged in cooperation with the Federation Aerosport of Indonesia (FASI). Activity was continuing in March, when brownish plumes that rose 100-150 m above the summit were seen 41 times. Recorded March seismicity included: 1,771 episodes of volcanic tremor and plume emission tremor, 90 strong tectonic earthquakes, one local tectonic earthquake, and one A-type and 11 B-type volcanic earthquakes.
Additional aerial monitoring of activity at Raung and other volcanoes has been proposed by FASI and VSI.
Information Contacts: VSI.
Numerous small explosions
During the last week of July, 45 visible explosions ejected plumes to 75-150 m above the summit before winds carried them S. Between explosions, weak white fumes reached 50 m above the crater. Recorded earthquakes were: distant tectonic (50), local tectonic (2), volcanic A-type (1), volcanic B-type (2), explosions (1,574), and volcanic tremor (1).
Information Contacts: VSI.
Frequent light ash emissions
Raung continued to emit brownish-gray ash clouds to 200-300 m above the crater, with light ashfall NW of the volcano. A daily average of 104 ash pulses, one tremor event, and two tectonic earthquakes were detected during July.
Information Contacts: VSI.
Dense plumes
The crew of Qantas flight 41 (Sydney-Jakarta) observed a very dense black plume emerging intermittently from a flank vent on 10 September at 1508. The plume was drifting N at ~6 km altitude, well below the aircraft's altitude of nearly 12 km. A voluminous, dense, mostly white plume with small pulses of ash in its center was observed from a commercial flight two days later.
Information Contacts: ICAO; J. Post, SI.
Continued ash emission
Vigorous ash emissions, rising to 300-600 m, were observed from an aircraft on 3 October.
Information Contacts: N. MacLeod, Ridgefield WA, USA.
Infrared Space Shuttle photograph shows devegetated summit area
An infrared Space Shuttle photograph (figure 1) taken in May 1992 showed clear views of both Raung and the Ijen volcanic complex. Neither volcano was erupting, but the caldera lake in Kawah Ijen and the devegetated caldera and summit region at Raung were obvious features. The Ijen Caldera was clearly defined, along with some post-caldera cones on its southern margin (Kawah Ijen and Gunung Merapi, Gunung Rante, and Gunung Pendil).
Information Contacts: NASA JSC Digital Image Collection (URL: http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/).
Aviation report of a plume, but not seen on satellite imagery
An aviation report stated that at 1705 on 15 August "smoke" from Raung at an altitude of 6 km was drifting W. Following this report, aviation notices were posted in Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia for the next 24 hours. No plume was observed by Australian meteorologists on satellite imagery from 1800 on 15 August through 2050 the next day.
The last reported eruption, which occurred sometime between January and June 1993, generated an ash column 600 m above the rim and caused ashfall in the surrounding area.
Information Contacts: BOM Darwin, Australia.
Aviators report April ash plume to 5 km and June "smoke" plume to 6 km altitude
On 10 April an ash cloud was reported drifting to the E at 5 km altitude. The Bureau of Meteorology had learned from the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia that the volcano had been erupting continuously, but ash was ejected only ~ 150 m above the crater. On 1 June a Qantas pilot described "smoke" at 6.1 km, drifting W. Similar reports were received on 18 and 22 June, but heavy clouds hampered the detection of ash in satellite imagery.
Information Contacts: Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, P.O. Box 735, Darwin NT 0801, Australia.
9 July ash plume ends 3-year interval without reported eruptions
At 1720 on 9 July 2000 an air report to the Darwin VAAC noted an ash cloud near Raung with a growing plume at an unknown height. The plume discharged from Raung. Visible satellite imagery taken at 1630, hours before the air report was made, disclosed Raung surrounded by scattered low clouds, with a possible low-level ash plume extending 25 km to the NW. There was no evidence of ash in subsequent satellite imagery. No signs of activity were observed at Raung by Lee Siebert when passing nearby on commercial aircraft at about noon on 10 July and mid-morning on 11 July.
Information Contacts: Darwin VAAC, Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina Northern Territory 0811 Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/); Lee Siebert, Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560-0119 USA.
Ash plumes to 4.6 km altitude reported in early June 2002
On 2 June 2002 at 1625, a pilot reported observing an ash plume emitted from Raung. The plume rose to a height of ~4.5 km altitude and drifted to the S. According to the Darwin VAAC, ash clouds were visible on satellite imagery a few days later. The clouds were at heights below 4.6 km altitude and were observed on 5 June at 0840 drifting S, on 7 June at 0934 drifting SW, and on 8 June at 1132 drifting NW.
According to the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (VSI), Raung has been erupting for at least a decade, and recent eruptions are events within a single, broader eruptive period. Thus, the above-noted ash eruptions from June were noteworthy outbursts within a longer sustained eruption.
Information Contacts: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/); Nia Haerani, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (VSI), Jalan Diponegoro No. 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/).
Aviation reports describe ash plumes during 1999 to 2002
Raung volcano was last discussed in BGVN 27:07, when a pilot reported ash plumes to 4.6 km altitude in early June 2002. That issue of theBulletin also noted a Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (VSI) comment that Raung had been erupting for at least a decade, with recent eruptions being events within a single, broader eruptive period.
The Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) subsequently received reports that on 12 August 2002 ash was visible drifting NW of Raung around the summit level. The summit was partially obscured by clouds and no ash was identified on satellite imagery. On 25 August 2002, based on pilot observations and satellite imagery, the VAAC reported a visible ash plume rising to about 9.2 km, drifting to the W at high levels and to the E at lower levels.
The Darwin VAAC has an archive of their reports available on their website. Those for Raung are summarized in table 1. The last set of reports (25 August 2002) discussed a plume becoming increasingly diffuse over a 16.5-hour interval.
Table 1. Dates and principal comments in Darwin VAAC reports concerning Raung, July 1999-February 2004. Dates and times are not local but instead refer to the Prime Meridian, for example 04/2240Z means the fourth day of the stated month at 2240 UMT. Similar or duplicate message are not shown. In general, ash cloud trajectory information has been omitted. In a few cases the VAAC delineated bounding area surrounding an observed ash cloud ("OBS ASH CLOUD"), delineated with a series of latitude and longitude coordinates (eg. S00700, E11000; which translates to 7 degrees S, 110 degrees E). In the original reports, altitudes were given in shorthand (eg. FL 100, which corresponds to 10,000 feet altitude; 3,048.0 m altitude, but typically not known to better than two significant figures and thus here rounded to ~ 3.0 km altitude). Courtesy of the Darwin VAAC.
Date | Text from Volcanic Ash Advisory |
30 Jul 1999 | INFORMATION SOURCE: AIREP reported plume height to FL 150 [~4.6 km altitude] and drifting to SW. ASH CLOUD: 30/1025UTC IR satellite imagery shows cloud in the area with possible extension to the SSW. Nature of this extension not discernable. |
09 Jul 2000 | INFORMATION SOURCE: AIREP QFA123. ERUPTION DETAILS: Ash cloud active with growing plume reported at 09/0920 UTC. Height unknown. ASH CLOUD: Visible satellite imagery at 09/0830 UTC shows Mt. Raung surrounded by scattered low- level clouds with a possible low-level ash plume extending 25 kilometres to the northwest. No evidence is visible on subsequent imagery. |
02 Jun 2002 | INFORMATION SOURCE: AIREP QANTAS, GMS Satellite Imagery. ERUPTION DETAILS: Ash plume to FL150 [~4.6 km altitude] reported 02/0825Z, drifting south at 15 knots. OBS ASH DATE/TIME: 02/0825Z. OBS ASH CLOUD: Ash cloud not identifiable from satellite data. |
05 Jun 2002 | INFORMATION SOURCE: Satellite Imagery. ERUPTION DETAILS: Possible ash cloud below FL150 [~4.6 km altitude] drifting south at 10/15 knots. OBS ASH DATE/TIME: 04/2240Z. OBS ASH CLOUD: Ash cloud identifiable from satellite data. |
07 Jun 2002 | INFORMATION SOURCE: Satellite Imagery. ERUPTION DETAILS: Possible ash cloud below FL150 [~4.6 km altitude] drifting SW at 10/15 knots. OBS ASH DATE/TIME: 06/2334Z. OBS ASH CLOUD: Ash cloud identifiable from satellite data extending SW from Ruang 10NM either side of a line S0800 E11400 S0850 E11360. |
12 Aug 2002 | INFORMATION SOURCE: AIREP QFA29 via QANTAS OPERATIONS, GMS/NOAA satellite. ERUPTION DETAILS: Ash plume to FL120 [~3.7 km altitude] reported at 12/0920Z, drifting northwest. OBS ASH DATE/TIME: 12/0920Z. OBS ASH CLOUD: Ash cloud not identifiable from satellite data. Summit partially obscured by cloud. |
25 Aug 2002 | INFORMATION SOURCE: AIREP QFA29, NOAA16 SATELLITE. ERUPTION DETAILS: Ash plume to FL300 [~9.1 km altitude] reported 25/0734Z drifting west, low-level drift towards the east. OBS ASH DATE/TIME: 28/0611Z. OBS ASH CLOUD: S0807 E11402 S0812 E11342 S0807 E11335 S0800 E11347 S0807 E11402. |
25 Aug 2002 | INFORMATION SOURCE: AIREP QFA29, NOAA16 SATELLITE, GMS SATELLITE. ERUPTION DETAILS: Ash plume to FL300 [~9.1 km altitude] reported 25/0734Z drifting west, low-level drift towards the east. OBS ASH DATE/TIME: 25/1332Z OBS ASH CLOUD: FL100/350 [~10.7 km altitude] S0735 E11122 S0817 E11119 S0805 E11017 S0731 E11031 S0735 E11122. |
25 Aug 2002 | ERUPTION DETAILS: Ash plume to FL300 [~9.1 km altitude] reported 25/0734Z drifting west, low-level drift towards the east. OBS ASH DATE/TIME: 25/1932Z OBS ASH CLOUD: FL100/350 [~10.7 km altitude] S0700 E11000 S0800 E11000 S0800 E10630 S0700E10630 S0700 E11000. Ash cloud getting more diffuse and difficult todefine with satellite imagery. |
25 Aug 2002 | INFORMATION SOURCE: AIREP QFA29. NOAA/GMS SATELLITE. ERUPTION DETAILS: Ash plume to FL300 [~9.1 km altitude] reported 25/0734Z drifting west, low-level drift towards the east. OBS ASH DATE/TIME: 26/0132Z OBS ASH CLOUD: Ash cloud not visible on satellite imagery. |
Information Contacts: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/); Nia Haerani, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (VSI), Jalan Diponegoro No. 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/).
MODIS-MODVOLC infrared hot spots 3 June-8 Oct 2004; aerial photos from 2001
Though frequently active, Raung is seldom the subject of reports from either the news media or the Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (DVGHM). The most recent Darwin VAAC report was issued late on 26 August 2002 (UTC). It noted that aviators had estimated an ash plume at ~ 10 km altitude drifting W (reported 25 August in an AIREP). Ash clouds were not visible on NOAA/GMS satellite imagery. A summary of Darwin VAAC reports of Raung for the period July 1999-August 2002 was given in BGVN 29:01.
There were nine anomalous Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations of volcanic hot spots at Raung during 3 June-8 October 2004 (table 2). The 2004 alerts were the first detected by MODIS at Raung. Minor explosive activity documented intermittently during 1999 to 2002 (BGVN 29:01) did not have a thermal component sufficient to trigger alerts.
Table 2. Thermal anomalies at Raung observed with MODIS during 2004. Some of the UTC times were for the previous date. Spectral radiance for the hot pixels in band 21 (central wavelength of 3.959 µm) are in units of watts per square meter per steradian per micron (W-2 sr-1 µm-1). Courtesy of the Hawaiian Institute of Geophysics and Planetology.
Date | Local Time | UTC | Spectral Radiance |
15 Apr 2004 | 2300 | 1500 | 0.852 |
16 Apr 2004 | 0200 | 1800 (15 Apr) | 0.847 |
22 Apr 2004 | 2310 | 1510 | 0.814 |
02 May 2004 | 0200 | 1800 (01 May) | 0.813 |
03 Jun 2004 | 0200 | 1800 (02 Jun) | 0.677 |
18 Jun 2004 | 2300 | 1500 | 0.729 |
04 Jul 2004 | 2300 | 1500 | 0.795 |
11 Jul 2004 | 2310 | 1510 | 0.814 |
14 Jul 2004 | 0155 | 1755 (13 Jul) | 0.778 |
22 Sep 2004 | 2300 | 1500 | 0.849 |
23 Sep 2004 | 0200 | 1800 (22 Sep) | 0.740 |
29 Sep 2004 | 2305 | 1505 | 0.893 |
08 Oct 2004 | 2300 | 1500 | 0.776 |
No ground observations have been reported during 2004, but in a message from Dali Ahmad (DVGHM), he noted the absence of observed emissions during 2004. With respect to the thermal alerts, he speculated that they could conceivably have originated from brush fires. Rob Wright commented that the levels of radiance in the 2004 alerts were both "too weak and too intermittent to be lava flows" and stood near the system's lower threshold. Similar weak anomalies occur at volcanoes such as Villarrica and during intervals at Anatahan, but the source of the alerts at Raung remains uncertain.
Clear aerial photographs of Raung were taken on 26 and 30 July 2001 (figure 2) by Franz Jeker of Singapore Airlines as he flew past in descent towards, or ascent from, the Bali airport. Jeker also included a detailed map of the Raung area (figure 3).
![]() |
Figure 3. Map showing relative locations of Raung volcano at the SW end of Java, and adjacent Bali. Courtesy of F. Jeker. |
Information Contacts: Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (DVGHM), Jalan Diponegoro 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu); Franz Jeker, Rigistrasse 10, 8173 Neerach, Switzerland.
Uncertain July 2007 ash plume; August 2007 ash plume seen for several hours
Nine anomalous Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations of volcanic hot spots were reported during 3 June-8 October 2004 (BGVN 30:01). No other activity was reported from Raung until 26 July 2007. That day the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) indicated that a pilot had observed an ash plume, possibly from Raung, which their ash advisory reported as follows: "AIREP [an aircraft observation] reported ash cloud observed over volcano on eastern tip of Java. Plume up to 5000 feet [~ 1.2 km] above summit. Volcano assumed to be Raung. Ash not seen on latest satellite pass due to cloud."
Darwin VAAC produced five reports in reference to a Raung ash plume emitted on 26 August 2007. Visible wavelength imagery on MT SAT disclosed a plume at FL 150 (15,000 feet, or 4.6 km altitude) drifting E at ~ 10 km/hr (at 0430 UTC on 26 August). The last view of the cloud was reported at 0833 UTC, still at the same altitude and moving at the same velocity. That plume rose to an altitude of 1.5 km. Ash was not visible on satellite imagery. The Darwin VAAC reported that satellite imagery had detected an ash plume from Raung during 26-27 August that rose to an altitude of 4.6 km and drifted E.
Information Contacts: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center, Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/).
New eruption during 12-17 June sends ash plumes to 4.5 km altitude
In an Antara News report, Balok Suryadi, an observer at the Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) Raung monitoring post at Sumber Arum village, described clouds of "smoke and ash" that occurred on 12 and 13 June. He was also quoted in the 19 June article as saying that activity was "likely" continuing but that it could not be clearly monitored from the observation post.
Another ash eruption was seen rising through the clouds on 17 June 2008 around 1500. This event was photographed by Karim Kebaili while flying from Bali to Jakarta approximately 30 minutes after take-off (figure 4). The same eruption was seen at 1430 by pilot Nigel Demery, who stated that the ash cloud initially rose to about 4.5 km altitude but had dissipated on his return flight about two hours later. The Darwin VAAC was unable to identify the plume in satellite imagery due to meteorological clouds.
Thermal anomalies were detected by the MODIS instrument aboard the Terra satellite on 23 July 2005 and 15 August 2005. No additional thermal anomalies were detected through the end of June 2008. However, ash plumes were reported by pilots on 26 July 2007 and seen in satellite imagery on 26 August 2007 (BGVN 32:09).
Information Contacts: Rebecca Patrick, Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac); Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM), Jalan Diponegoro 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/); Nigel Demery, Indonesia; Karim Kebaili, Indonesia; Antara News (URL: http://www.antara.co.id/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/).
Strong eruptive activity and lava in the summit crater during June-August 2015
Prior to January 2014, the most recent reported activity was during 12-17 June 2008, when ash plumes were seen rising to 4.5 km altitude (BGVN 33:06). Sporadic white and brownish plume emissions were noted between 2012 and early 2015, along with periods of increased seismicity and thermal anomalies. Gray plumes, presumably due to ash, were reported beginning on 1 February 2015. Seismicity and thermal anomalies preceded stronger eruptive activity that began in mid-to-late June 2015; the last reported gray plume was on 22 August 2015. Thermal anomalies also decreased after mid-August 2015.
Activity during 2012-2013. Seismicity increased on 17 October 2012, prompting the Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) to raise the Alert Level to 2 (on a scale of 1-4) on 18 October. During 18-22 October white plumes rose 50-75 m above the crater. Seismic activity increased significantly again on 22 October. That same day the Alert Level was raised to 3; visitors and residents were warned not to approach the crater within a 3-km radius. Strong thermal anomalies identified by MODVOLC, based on MODIS infrared satellite data, began on 14 October and continued through 8 November 2012. Two additional weak anomalies were detected on 29 November and 1 December 2012.
PVMBG reported that during March 2013 white plumes rose to 400 m above the summit. Seismicity decreased significantly on 25 March; tremor was absent starting in April. On 5 April the Alert level was lowered to 2. Despite decreased seismicity, four MODVOLC thermal anomalies, based on MODIS satellite data, were recorded between 29 June and 31 July 2013.
Activity during 2014. PVMBG reported that on 1 January 2014 seismicity increased. On 3 January diffuse white gas plumes rose 100 m and drifted W; on 4 January diffuse brownish plumes also rose 100 m and drifted W. On 5 January the Alert Level was raised to 2.
PVMBG reported that RSAM values showed an increase in energy during March-April 2014. Also during this timeframe, the daily number of volcanic earthquakes was dominated by tremor (with an increase in tremor amplitude). However, beginning in May, the number and the amplitude of tremor decreased.
During 1-17 June 2014, when weather permitted, a weak solfatara plume was visible rising up to 100 m above the summit. On 17 June the Alert Level was lowered to 1. Thermal anomalies, based on MODIS satellite data, were recorded beginning 28 November 2014 and continuing through 25 February 2015.
Activity during 2015. From December 2014 through January 2015, white plumes were observed rising to 500 m above the crater rim. Throughout February and during 1-14 March plumes were gray-white and rose to a maximum height of 200 m. Crater incandescence and rumbling was also reported on 14 February. During 15 March-7 April gray-brown emissions rose to 200 m; rumbling was frequently heard. During 8 April- 21 May gray and gray-brown plumes rose to 300 m. Crater incandescence was observed again on 12 April. Seismicity fluctuated and was dominated by tremor. Rumbling was frequently heard during this interval. The Alert Level remained at 2; residents and tourists were reminded not to approach the craters within a 2-km radius.
Continuous tremor was recorded during December 2014-12 January 2015; tremor was not continuous starting on 13 January, and RSAM values declined. A weak thermal anomaly was recorded on 17 April 2015.
PVMBG reported that during times of clear weather during 1-28 June, white plumes were observed rising as high as 300 m above the crater rim. Rumbling was frequently heard at the observation post. Seismic tremor sharply increased on 21 June, and crater incandescence was observed on 25 and 28 June. BNPB reported that increased activity on 28 June was characterized by Strombolian activity, roaring, ash plumes that rose 300 m, and a loud thumping sound heard 20 km away at 2000. Incandescence from the crater was clearly visible from the observation post in Banyuwangi. PVMBG raised the Alert Level to 3 on 29 June, and reminded the public not to approach the crater within a 3-km radius.
Based on notices from the Ujung Padang Meteorological Watch Office (MWO) and PVMBG, satellite images, and pilot observations, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 1 and 3-7 July ash plumes rose to altitudes of 3.7-6.1 km and drifted 25-110 km E, ESE, and SE. According to news articles, flights in and out of an airport in Bali were cancelled due to ash emissions during 3-4 July. On 5 July BNPB reported that roaring was heard from continuous explosions and Strombolian activity. Dense white-and-gray plumes rose as high as 400 m and drifted SE.
During 1-8 July PVMBG reported that gray plumes rose 100-500 m above the crater rim, crater incandescence was observed, and rumbling and thumping noises were noted. Seismicity was dominated by high-amplitude tremor, and deformation data suggested magma migrating towards the surface. BNPB reported that gray ash plumes continued to rise as high as 500 m above the crater through 11 July (figure 5). Ash plumes drifted in various directions depending on the altitude; plumes drifted SE and S at lower altitudes and SE, S, W, and N at higher altitudes.
![]() |
Figure 5. Volcanic ash and clouds are illuminated by lava from the crater of Mount Raung as seen from Songgon (Banyuwangi, East Java) on 11 July 2015. Courtesy of Reuters/Zabur Karuru/Antara Foto. |
Based on PVMBG notices, wind data, and satellite images, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 8-12 July ash plumes rose to an altitude of 4.3-5.2 km and drifted as far as 1,040 km E, SE, and S. According to news articles, increased activity during 9-10 July caused flight cancelations and several airports to close, including airports on Bali and Lombok, as well as Banyuwangi and Jember in East Java. One article noted that dozens of flight had been canceled during the previous week. Another article noted that the Bali airport, in addition to another airport in Java, again closed on 12 July, a day after it had reopened.
Information from PVMBG along with satellite-image and pilot observations, allowed the Darwin VAAC to report that during 15-21 July ash plumes rose to varying altitudes of 3.7-6.1 km and drifted as far as 340 km in multiple directions. On 16 July BNPB reported that a dense gray-to-black ash plume rose as high as 2 km above the crater rim and drifted WNW. Incandescent lava at the summit was visible, and tremor was continuous. Roaring and thumping sounds were reported by residents. Ashfall was reported in areas downwind, including Cumedak (19 km W) and Sumberjambe (13 km NW). According to a news article, the Juanda International Airport in Surabaya reopened on 17 July after on-and-off closures the previous week. BNPB noted that the eruption continued on 18 July with ash plumes rising as high as 1.5 km and drifting N. Tremor continued although the amplitude had declined during the previous week.
During 16-23 July PVMBG reported ash plumes rising to 2 km, and incandescence was visible at the crater. Seismicity fluctuated but remained elevated. Based on PVMBG information, and satellite-image and pilot observations, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 22-28 July ash multiple ash plumes rose to varying altitudes of 4.3-5.2 km and drifted as far as 400 km NW, W, SSW, S, and SSE. A news article from 29 July noted that 18 flights at most had been canceled during the previous few days due to the ash plumes, and that the Notohadinegoro Airport (2,100 km SW) had been temporarily closed.
On 4 August BNPB reported that during the previous three days the Strombolian eruption had increased in intensity. Ash fell in Sempu, Songgon, Glenmore, Gambiran, and Banyuwangi. On 4 August dense blackish gray ash plumes rose 800 m and drifted SE. Based on satellite-image and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 29 July-4 August multiple ash plumes rose to altitudes of 4.3-4.9 km and drifted as far as 240 km in multiple directions.
PVMBG reported that during 24 July-10 August ash plumes rose 1.5 km above the crater with visible incandescence at the crater. Seismicity fluctuated but remained elevated; RSAM values peaked on 4 August (the highest recorded since the beginning of the eruption) and then decreased significantly after mid-August (figure 6). Based on satellite observations and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 12-14, 16, and 18 August multiple ash plumes rose to altitudes of 3.7-4 km and drifted 20-110 km W and WSW (figure 7).
![]() |
Figure 6. Realtime Seismic Amplitude Measurement (RSAM) measurements at Raung between 1 November and 21 September 2015. Courtesy of PVMBG. |
PVMBG reported that ash plumes rose as high as 1 km above the crater during 16-24 August and drifted NW. Seismicity fluctuated but continued to decrease. The Alert Level, which had remained at 3 since 29 June, was lowered to 2 on 24 August; the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 2-km radius.
Based on weather models, webcam and satellite data, pilot observations, and information from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 19 August ash plumes rose to an altitude of 3.7 km and drifted 65-95 km NW, WNW, and W. On 22 August a low-level ash plume drifted 55 km NW.
PVMBG reported that, although inclement weather conditions often prevented visual observations during 25 August-21 September, white plumes were occasionally seen rising as high as 200 m above the crater. Seismicity fluctuated but continued to decrease. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 2-km radius.
In 2015 the MODVOLC system using infrared MODIS satellite data indicated a small anomaly on 17 April and then steady thermal anomalies beginning 20 June. The last anomaly located at the summit crater, a single weak alert pixel recorded on 29 August 2015, was a full week after the previous anomaly was identified on 22 August.
MODIS data analyzed by the Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) project from February 2015 through January 2016 (figure 8) showed a large spike in power output beginning in mid-June 2015. The slow descent after approximately the first week of August may be due to cooling of lava in the crater rather than to ongoing activity.
![]() |
Figure 8. MODIS data analyzed by MIROVA shows a spike in power output coinciding with the beginning of elevated seismicity and ash plumes in June 2015. Courtesy of MIROVA. |
Information Contacts: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, CVGHM), Jalan Diponegoro 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/); Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB), National Disaster Management Agency, Graha BNPB - Jl. Scout Kav.38, East Jakarta 13120, Indonesia (URL: http://www.bnpb.go.id/); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP), MODVOLC Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/, http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); NASA Earth Observatory, EOS Project Science Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Goddard, Maryland, USA (URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/); ch-aviation GmbH, Quaderstrasse 8, 7000 Chur, Switzerland (URL: http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/38959-surabaya-indonesia-reopens-despite-mt-raung-eruption); WA Today, East Perth, WA, Australia (URL: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/volcano-causes-more-bali-flight-cancellations-20150704-gi56a5.html); The Weather Channel (URL: http://www.weather.com/news/news/indonesia-mount-raung-volcan); The National, Abu Dhabi Media, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (URL: http://www.thenational.ae/world/mount-raung-eruption-causes-closure-of-bali-airport-again); The Jakarta Post, PT Niskala Media Tenggara, Jl. Palmerah Barat No. 142-143, Jakarta 10270, Indonesia (URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/07/29/mount-raungs-eruption-cancels-18-flights-jember.html).
Eruptions confirmed during 2012- 2013; lava fills inner crater in November 2014-August 2015
A massive stratovolcano in easternmost Java, Raung has over sixty recorded eruptions dating back to the late 16th Century. Explosions with ash plumes, Strombolian activity, and lava flows from a cinder cone within the 2-km-wide summit crater have been the most common activity. Visual reports of activity have often come from commercial airline flights that pass near the summit; Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, CVGHM) has installed webcams to monitor activity in recent years. An eruption in 2015 produced a large volume of lava within the summit crater and formed a new pyroclastic cone in the same location as the previous one. Confirmation and details of eruptions in 2012, 2013, and 2014-2015 are covered in this report with information provided by PVMBG, the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), several sources of satellite data, and visitors to the volcano.
Newly available visual and satellite information confirm eruptions at Raung during October 2012-January 2013, June-July 2013, and extend the beginning of the 2015 eruption back to November 2014. The 2015 eruption was the largest in several decades; Strombolian activity was reported for many months and fresh lava flows covered the crater floor. Raung was quiet after the 2015 eruption ended in August of that year until July 2020.
Eruption during October 2012-January 2013. A MODVOLC thermal alert appeared inside the summit crater of Raung on 14 October 2012, followed by another four alerts on 16 October. Multiple daily alerts were reported on many days through 8 November, most within the main crater. Single alerts appeared on 29 November and 1 December 2012 (figure 9). PVMBG raised the Alert Level on 17 October from 1 to 2 due to increased seismicity and raised it further to Level 3 on 22 October. A local news report by Aris Yanto indicted that a minor Strombolian eruption occurred inside the crater on 19 October. Strombolian activity was also observed inside the inner crater on 5 November 2012 by visitors (figure 10); they reported loud rumbling sounds that could be heard up to 15 km from the crater.
The Darwin VAAC issued an advisory of an eruption plume to 9.1 km altitude reported at 0237 UTC on 8 November 2012. In a second advisory about two hours later they noted that an ash plume was not visible in satellite imagery. A press article released by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) indicated that gray ash plumes were observed on 6 January 2013 that rose 300 m above the summit crater rim. Incandescence was observed around the crater and thundering explosions were heard by nearby residents.
Eruption during June-July 2013. Two MODVOLC thermal alerts were measured inside the summit crater on 29 June 2013. A photo taken on 21 July showed minor Strombolian activity at the inner crater (figure 11). A weak SO2 anomaly was detected in the vicinity of Raung by the OMI instrument on the Aura satellite on 27 July. Thermal alerts were recorded on 29 and 31 July. When Google Earth imageryrom 14 March 2011 created by Maxar Technologies is compared with imagery from 29 July 2013 captured by Landsat/Copernicus, dark tephra is filling the inner crater in the 2013 image; it was not present in 2011 (figure 12).
![]() |
Figure 11. Strombolian activity was observed inside the inner crater at the summit of Raung on 21 July 2013. Photo by Agus Kurniawan, courtesy of Volcano Discovery. |
Eruption during November 2014-August 2015. Information about this eruption was previously reported (BGVN 41:12), but additional details are provided here. Landsat-8 imagery from 28 October 2014 indicated clear skies and little activity within the summit crater. Local observers reported steam plumes beginning in mid-November (figure 13). MODVOLC thermal alerts within the summit crater were issued on 28 and 30 November, and then 15 alerts were issued on seven days in December. Thermal Landsat-8 imagery from cloudy days on 29 November and 15 December indicated an anomaly over the area of the pyroclastic cone inside the summit crater (figure 14).
![]() |
Figure 13. Local observers reported steam plumes at Raung beginning in mid-November 2014; this one was photographed on 17 November 2014. Courtesy of Volcano Discovery. |
In January 2015 the MODVOLC system identified 25 thermal anomalies in MODIS data, with a peak of eight alerts on 8 January. Visitors to the summit crater on 6 January witnessed explosions from the inner crater approximately every 40 minutes that produced gas and small amounts of ash and tephra. They reported lava flowing continuously from the inner crater onto the larger crater floor, and incandescent activity was seen at night (figure 15). Landsat-8 images from 16 January showed a strong thermal anomaly covering an area of fresh lava (figure 16).
Satellite images were obscured by meteoric clouds during February 2015, but PVMBG reported gray and brown plumes rising 300 m multiple times and incandescence and rumbling on 14 February. Visitors to the summit crater during the second half of February reported Strombolian activity with lava fountains from the inner crater, at times as frequently as every 15 minutes (figure 17). Loud explosions and rumbling were heard 10-15 km away. MODVOLC thermal alerts stopped on 25 February and did not reappear until late June.
PVMBG raised the Alert Level to 2 in mid-March 2015. Weak thermal anomalies located inside and NW of the pyroclastic cone were present in satellite imagery on 21 March. PVMBG reported gray and brown emissions during March, April, and May rising as high as 300 m above the crater. Landsat imagery from 22 April showed a small emission inside the pyroclastic cone, and on 8 May showed a clearer view of the fresh black lava NW and SW of the pyroclastic cone (figure 18).
Nine MODVOLC thermal alerts appeared inside the summit crater on 21 June 2015 after no alerts since late February, suggesting an increase in activity. The Darwin VAAC issued the first ash advisory for 2015 on 24 June noting an aviation report of recent ash. The following day the Ujung Pandang Meteorological Weather Office (MWO) reported an ash emission drifting W at 3.7 km altitude. The same day, 25 June, Landsat-8 imagery clearly showed a new lava flow on the W side of the crater and a strong thermal anomaly. The thermal data showed a point source of heat widening SW from the center of the crater and a second point source of heat that appeared to be inside the pyroclastic cone. A small ash plume was visible over the cone (figure 19). Strombolian activity and ash plumes were reported by BNPB and PVMBG in the following days. On 26 June the Darwin VAAC noted the hotspot had remained visible in infrared imagery for several days. PVMBG reported an ash emission to 3 km altitude on 29 June.
Activity increased significantly during July 2015 (BGVN 41:12). Ash plumes rose as high as 6.7 km altitude and drifted hundreds of kilometers in multiple directions, forcing multiple shutdowns at airports on Bali and Lombok, as well as Banyuwangi and Jember in East Java. The Darwin VAAC issued 152 ash advisories during the month. Ashfall was reported up to 20 km W during July and 20-40 km SE during early August. Visitors to the summit in early July observed a new pyroclastic cone growing inside the inner crater from incandescent ejecta and dense ash emissions (figure 20). Landsat-8 imagery from 11 July showed a dense ash plume drifting SE, fresh black lava covering the 2-km-wide summit caldera floor, and a very strong thermal anomaly most intense at the center near the pyroclastic cone and cooler around the inner edges of the crater (figure 21). On 12 July, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a view of an ash-and-gas plume drifting hundreds of kilometers SE from Raung (figure 22).
![]() |
Figure 20. A new pyroclastic cone was growing inside the inner crater at the summit of Raung when photographed by Aris Yanto in early July 2015. Courtesy of Volcano Discovery. |
A satellite image on 20 July showed fresh incandescent lava covering the floor of the summit crater and a dense ash plume drifting N from the summit (figure 23). Incandescent ejecta emerged from two vents on the new pyroclastic cone inside the inner crater on 26 July (figure 24). On 27 July a dense ash plume was visible again in satellite imagery drifting NW and the hottest part of the thermal anomaly was in the SE quadrant of the crater (figure 25). Substantial SO2 plumes were recorded by the OMI instrument on the Aura satellite during July and early August 2015 (figure 26).
Significant ash emissions continued into early August 2015 with numerous flight cancellations. The Darwin VAAC reported ash plumes rising to 5.2 km altitude and extending as far as 750 km SE during the first two weeks in August (figure 27). Satellite imagery indicated a small ash plume drifting W from the center of the crater on 12 August and weak thermal anomalies along the E and S rim of the floor of the crater (figure 28). The summit crater was covered with fresh lava on 14 August when viewed by visitors, and ash emissions rose a few hundred meters above the crater rim from a vent in the SW side of the pyroclastic cone (figure 29). The visitors observed pulsating ash emissions rising from the SW vent on the large double-crater new cinder cone. The larger vent to the NE was almost entirely inactive except for two small, weakly effusive vents on its inner walls.
![]() |
Figure 28. Landsat-8 satellite imagery of Raung indicated a small ash plume drifting W from the center of the crater on 12 August 2015. Courtesy of Sentinel Hub Playground. |
The lengthy sequence of multiple daily VAAC reports that began in late June ended on 16 August 2015 with reports becoming more intermittent and ash plume heights rising to only 3.7-3.9 km altitude. Multiple discontinuous eruptions to 3.9 km altitude were reported on 18 August. The plumes extended about 100 km NW. The last report of an ash plume was from an airline on 22 August noting a low-level plume 50 km NW. Two MODVOLC alerts were issued that day. By 28 August only a very small steam plume was present at the center of the crater; the southern half of the edge of the crater floor still had small thermal anomalies (figure 30). The last single MODVOLC thermal alerts were on 29 August and 7 September. The Alert Level was lowered to 2 on 24 August 2015, and further lowered to 1 on 20 October 2016.
Information Contacts: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, CVGHM), Jalan Diponegoro 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/); Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB), National Disaster Management Agency, Graha BNPB - Jl. Scout Kav.38, East Jakarta 13120, Indonesia (URL: http://www.bnpb.go.id/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) - MODVOLC Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/);Google Earth (URL: https://www.google.com/earth/); Sentinel Hub Playground (URL: https://www.sentinel-hub.com/explore/sentinel-playground); NASA Earth Observatory, EOS Project Science Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Goddard, Maryland, USA (URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/, https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/86213/eruption-of-raung-volcano); Tom Pfeiffer, Volcano Discovery (URL: http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/); Aris Yanto (URL: https://www.exploredesa.com/2012/11/mount-raung-produce-of-vulcanic-ash-plume-and-continue-eruption/); DigitalGlobe (URL: https://www.maxar.com/, https://twitter.com/Maxar/status/875449111398547457); Øystein Lund Andersen (URL: https://twitter.com/OysteinVolcano/status/1194879946042142726, http://www.oysteinlundandersen.com).
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 |
||||
Raoeng | Rawon | Ringgit | Roung | ||||
Cones |
||||
Feature Name | Feature Type | Elevation | Latitude | Longitude |
Gadung, Gunung | Former cone | 2300 m | 8° 6' 57" S | 114° 1' 8" E |
Pajungan, Gunung | Cone | 2347 m | 8° 6' 44" S | 114° 0' 37" E |
Suket
Soeket |
Stratovolcano | 2940 m | 8° 5' 6" S | 114° 4' 47" E |
|
|
There is data available for 70 Holocene eruptive periods.
Start Date | Stop Date | Eruption Certainty | VEI | Evidence | Activity Area or Unit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Jul 16 | 2020 Oct 3 | Confirmed | Historical Observations | ||
2015 Feb 1 | 2015 Aug 22 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations | |
[ 2014 Jan 4 ] | [ 2014 Jan 4 ] | Uncertain | 1 | ||
2008 Jun 12 | 2008 Jun 17 (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
2007 Jul 26 | 2007 Aug 26 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
[ 2005 Jul 23 (?) ] | [ 2005 Aug 15 (?) ] | Uncertain | 2 | ||
[ 2004 Apr 15 (?) ] | [ 2004 Oct 8 (?) ] | Uncertain | 2 | ||
2002 Jun 16 (in or before) ± 15 days | 2002 Aug 25 (in or after) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
2000 Jul 9 | 2000 Jul 9 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1999 Jul 30 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1997 Apr 16 (in or before) ± 15 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
[ 1995 Aug 15 ] | [ Unknown ] | Uncertain | 2 | ||
1995 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 1995 Mar 16 ± 15 days | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations | |
1994 Jul 14 | 1994 Jul 14 | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations | |
1993 Apr 1 ± 90 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations | |
1991 Sep 10 | 1991 Nov 12 (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1990 Jan 16 (in or before) | 1990 Dec 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1987 May 16 ± 15 days | 1989 Jul 28 ± 3 days | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations | |
1985 Aug 23 | 1986 Feb 28 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1982 Jul 18 | 1982 Jul 20 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations | |
1978 Jan 16 ± 15 days | 1979 Dec 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations | |
1977 Jun 9 | 1977 Jun 30 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1976 Jun 7 | 1976 Nov 21 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1975 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 1975 May 16 ± 15 days | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations | |
1974 Jun 15 | 1974 Jul 17 (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1973 May 16 ± 15 days | 1973 Oct 16 ± 15 days | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations | |
1971 Sep 14 | 1971 Sep 14 | Confirmed | 1 | Historical Observations | |
1956 Feb 13 | 1956 Mar 25 | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations | |
1955 Jan 18 | 1955 Jan 18 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1953 Jan 31 | 1953 Apr 15 ± 5 days | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations | |
1944 Jun 30 | 1945 Apr 19 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1943 Mar 17 | 1943 Jun 18 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1941 Dec 13 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1940 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1938 Aug 13 | 1939 Jan 10 (in or after) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1937 Oct 27 | 1937 Nov 27 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1936 Aug 22 | 1936 Dec 11 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1933 Nov 21 | 1933 Dec 6 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1929 Apr 27 ± 60 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1928 Nov | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1927 Aug 2 | 1928 Mar (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | Central cone and NW crater wall |
[ 1924 Aug 20 ] | [ Unknown ] | Uncertain | 2 | ||
1924 Feb (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1921 Feb 14 ± 4 days | 1921 Apr | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | 1913 cone |
1917 Feb 22 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1916 Nov | 1916 Dec | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1915 May | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1913 May 10 | 1913 Dec | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1903 Nov 28 | 1904 Jan | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1902 Feb 16 | 1902 Feb 27 (in or after) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1897 Apr | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1896 Aug | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1890 Jul | 1890 Sep 15 ± 2 days | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1885 Jun 21 | 1885 Jun 22 | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1881 | Unknown | Confirmed | Historical Observations | ||
1864 Jul 2 | 1864 Dec | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1860 Sep (in or before) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1859 Dec 14 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1849 Dec 1 ± 30 days | Unknown | Confirmed | Historical Observations | ||
1838 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1817 Jan 16 | 1817 Feb 10 (?) | Confirmed | 4 | Historical Observations | |
1815 Dec 31 ± 365 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1812 | 1814 (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1804 ± 4 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1793 ± 6 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Historical Observations | |
1730 | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations | |
1638 | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Historical Observations | |
1597 Jan 17 | 1597 Feb 2 (in or after) | Confirmed | 3 | Historical Observations | |
1593 | Unknown | Confirmed | 5 | Historical Observations | |
[ 1586 ] | [ Unknown ] | Uncertain | 3 |
There is no Deformation History data available for Raung.
There is no Emissions History data available for Raung.
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. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.
There are no samples for Raung in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.
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. |
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. |
Sentinel Hub Playground
Sentinel Hub EO Browser |
The Sentinel Hub Playground provides a quick look at any Sentinel-2 image in any combination of the bands and enhanced with image effects; Landsat 8, DEM and MODIS are also available. Sentinel Hub is an engine for processing of petabytes of satellite data. It is opening the doors for machine learning and helping hundreds of application developers worldwide. It makes Sentinel, Landsat, and other Earth observation imagery easily accessible for browsing, visualization and analysis. Sentinel Hub is operated by Sinergise |
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 Raung. 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 Raung. 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. |
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. |
Large Eruptions of Raung | 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). |