Saturday, Jul 11, 2009

After a 36 hrs pause in activity between the evening of 30 June and the morning of 2 July, Anak Krakatau started again with powerful vulcanian explosions. The largest of these explosions were preceded by an inflation and shaking of the active cone or lava dome, triggering rock-slides from its flanks, until the plug gave way in giant explosions ejecting a rapdly expanding mass of red-hot lava, solid rocks, and large amounts of ash, forming plumes of up to 2 km heights. Most of these explosions ejected many blocks into the sea and the forest of Anak Krakatau, and on one location, our boat at around 500m distance from the shore, had to make a quick escape from falling blocks, some of which nevertheless fell beyond the boat, but fortunately did not hit... [more]

Monday, Jun 15, 2009

The activity of Anak Krakatau continues with no sign of weakening. As observed during a recent expedition from 4-8 June, strong strombolian activity from the new vent between the old summit vent and the 2007 vent on the S side of the summit cone has filled the collapse crater from 2007 and throws incandescent blocks and bombs to up to 500-700 m above the vent and reaching severl hundreds meters distance. At times, this activity is similar to small lava fountains and at other times, eruptions are more vulcanian-type, rich in ash, producing plumes up to 1 km high. The latter are often accompanied by loud blasts that can be heared many kilometers away and give impressive echoes on the walls of the surrounding caldera. Indivudal explosions are following each other at invervals of 2-5 and rarely more minutes. Photos of this activity can be found here. ... [more]

Friday, May 08, 2009

The activity of Anak Krakatau is increasing. Direct observations of the crater in late April revealed strong strombolian activity from a vent inside the crater of the 2007-2008 eruption building up a new scoria cone inside this crater. We are planning to revisit the volcano in the first week of June for more observations. [more]

Sunday, Apr 05, 2009

As our correspondant from Java reports, new strong strombolian activity has resumed from Anak Krakatau. [more]

Thursday, Aug 21, 2008

According to a news article, explosions and earthquakes from Anak Krakatau averaged 120 per day approximately during 11-17 August. Monitoring personnel observed active lava flows, ejecting rocks, and emissions of "smoke." [more]