Rabaul caldera

Rabaul caldera

True-colour image of the Rabaul caldera from space. From left to right: Vulcan (twin cones), Rabalanakaia, Tavurvur.
Highest point
Elevation 688 m (2,257 ft) [1]
Listing List of volcanoes in Papua New Guinea
Coordinates 4°16′16″S 152°12′11″E / 4.27111°S 152.20306°E / -4.27111; 152.20306Coordinates: 4°16′16″S 152°12′11″E / 4.27111°S 152.20306°E / -4.27111; 152.20306 [1]
Geography
Geology
Age of rock ~1,400 years
Mountain type Pyroclastic shield/Caldera
Volcanic arc/belt Bismarck volcanic arc
Last eruption August to September 2014 [1]

The Rabaul caldera, or Rabaul Volcano, is a large volcano on the tip of the Gazelle Peninsula in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, and derives its name from the town of Rabaul inside the caldera. The caldera has many sub-vents, Tavurvur being the most well known for its devastating eruptions over Rabaul. The outer flanks of the highest peak, a 688-metre-high asymmetrical pyroclastic shield, are formed by thick pyroclastic flow deposits.[1] There is no sign of a pyroclastic shield along the rim of the caldera, making the location likely underwater, on the caldera's floor.

Tavurvur, a stratovolcano and a sub-vent of the caldera, is the most visibly active, continuously throwing ash. In 1994 it, and nearby Vulcan, erupted and devastated Rabaul; however, due to planning for such a catastrophe, the townsfolk were prepared and only five people were killed. One of the deaths was caused by lightning, a feature of volcanic ash clouds.

In 1937, Vulcan and Tavurvur erupted simultaneously, killing 507 people. This event led to the founding of the Rabaul Volcano Observatory which watches over the many active volcanoes on Papua New Guinea.[2] One eruption over several days in March 2008 released a plume of ash and water vapor that drifted northwest over the Bismarck Sea.[3]

Dunes of volcanic ash near Tavurvur

Subsidiary features

August–September 2014 eruptions

In August 2014, the volcano woke up and smoldered until it climaxed with a VEI 3 eruption.[4]

2013-14 eruptions

The volcano smoldered from January 2013 to March 2014 before taking a break until August.

July 2010 eruptions

Tavurvur (right) and Rabalanakaia (left), as seen from space.
Vulcan, as seen from space.
Ash cloud from Tavurvur's 2009 eruption, as seen from the Solomon Sea.

Eruptions at Rabaul's Tavurvur volcano resumed on 23 July 2010 after nearly seven months without ash emissions. As previously noted, Tavurvur was quiet between 1 January to 8 April 2010 (BGVN 35:02).

On 9 April 2010, the Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO) reported that deformation measurements at Rabaul caldera during the previous 3–4 months had shown an inflationary trend with a total of 4 cm of uplift. During 2–8 April seismicity was low and variable amounts of white vapor rose from Tavurvur cone.

According to RVO, Tavurvur cone erupted on 23 July 2010 after increased seismicity, likely beneath Tavurvur cone, was detected the previous day. The series began with a few small hybrid earthquakes, followed by small low-frequency earthquakes, then continuous volcanic tremor starting at 1034 on 22 July; the eruption followed at 1300 on 23 July.

The eruption began with discharge of diffuse white plumes, followed by pink-gray fumes with low ash content. A strong odor of hydrogen sulfide was noted, and a diffuse cloud rose 1 km and drifted NW. A few hours later, observers saw billowing gray clouds, accompanied by roaring and rumbling noises. Ashfall was reported in areas to the cone's NW and NNW.

RVO reported that, during 23–25 July, seismicity was variable. Ash emissions and ashfall continued in areas to the NW. Visibility remained poor in Rabaul town (3–5 km NW of Tavurvur) due to ash made airborne by the passage of moving vehicles. Ash emissions ceased on 25 July. Later that day and into 26 July only diffuse brown-tinted vapor plumes were emitted and seismicity was very low.

After the eruption of 23–25 July, GPS data showed deflation of Tavurvur cone. Seismicity was very low, and diffuse white plumes were emitted during 26–30 July.[5]

The Mysterious 535 CE mega eruption

There is evidence of a large eruption that may be the one recorded in chronicles of the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I as ruining the climate and helping bring on the Middle Ages. But it is not certain as there are other possible culprits.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Rabaul". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  2. ↑ Smithsonian Institution / SEAN (1989). Lindsay McClelland; Tom Simkin; Marjorie Summers; Elizabeth Nielsen; Thomas C. Stein, eds. Global Volcanism 1975-1985. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs NJ, and American Geophysical Union, Washington DC. pp. 180–189. ISBN 0-13-357203-X.
  3. ↑ "Rabaul Volcano, New Britain". NASA Earth Observatory. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  4. ↑ http://www.volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=252140
  5. ↑ "09/2010 (BGVN 35:09) After Months of Quiet, Ash-Bearing Eruptions on 23–25 July 2010". www.volcano.si.edu. September 2010. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
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