Krakatau Volcano: Eruption November 2018

Krakatau volcano: activity during 19-23 Nov 2018

The 2018 eruption of Anak Krakatau continued in November at strongly fluctuating levels, ranging from almost complete absence of activity to mild to strong explosions of strombolian to vulcanian type, ash emissions of varying size, as well as rare phases of intermittent lava fountaining and the effusion of lava flows on the southern flank of the summit cone (see also our activity report).
We organized two Krakatau Volcano Special tours from 11-17 and 18-24 Nov (missing the paroxysmal phase exactly occurring between the two...). Here is a selection of the activity observed by Tom during the group's stay on the island from 19-23 Nov:

We managed to arrive at Krakatau at the end of a very intense phase of activity between 17-19 Nov, which produced a new lava flow that reached the sea along a 150 m wide stretch on the southern shore of Anak Krakatau. At the time of our arrival, the effusion rate must have stopped just hours before at most, but the flow front was still active: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: lava flow into the sea (25 Images)

Expedition organizer Galih observed the activity of the volcano during 12-16 Nov. It was characterized by strong ash emissions and occasional vulcanian-type explosions often accompanied by rare volcanic lightning: (Photo: Galih Jati)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia): eruption Nov 2018 - volcanic lightnings (8 Images)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia): Nov 2018 videos (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia): Nov 2018 videos (1 Image)

At the end of the paroxysm during 17-19 Nov, we spent several hours on the boat in about 700 m straight-line distance from the crater, to observe near-continuous explosive activity in the afternoon and evening of 19 Nov. It ranged from weak fountaining to mild to strong strombolian explosions with or without significant ash emissions: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: continuous activity on 19 Nov (32 Images)

Our latest tour to Krakatau during 18-24 Nov rewarded participants with a night filled with fireworks, observed from a paradise beach. What a view! (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: a night on the beach (28 Images)

The activity observed on 19 Nov continued in a more or less similar way during 20 Nov, although the frequency of explosions had decreased to typically 30 seconds to 1-2 minutes. As the size of explosions observed during the 36 hours we had been on the island group did not exceed a certain threshold (ejecting bombs to the sea), a part of our group decided to take the calculated risk and spend some time on a favorable viewing spot behind the forest and near the shore of Anak Krakatau.
When eruptions eventually started to increase significantly, we left.
Disclaimer: visiting such spots during eruptive phases of Krakatau is very risky and you should be aware that no place on the island of Anak Krakatau is safe from bombs - unexpected large explosions can occur with no warning at any time. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: a magic night on the island (44 Images)

During 20-21 Nov, activity changes significantly: explosions became more rich in ash and contained much less and much less brighter lava bombs. As well, the intervals between individual events gradually increased overall, reaching up to about 2 hours by 22 Nov afternoon although phases of more frequent activity still occurred.
The most likely cause is that the magma column continued to drop internally and thus favored the formation of a more robust blockage, which in turn favored the occurrence of strong vulcanian-style explosions with less fresh incandescent material, but many fragments of the plug. This process is possibly helped at depth by water seeping into the walls of the conduit (so-called phreatomagmatic activity) as the interior pressure dropped.
Visible activity almost completely ceased during the night 22-23 Nov and picked up only again in the afternoon of 24 Nov, when we saw it from the volcano observatory on our way back. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: vulcanian activity (36 Images)

Various images taken between 20-23 Nov, showing various activity decreasing from very strong (20 Nov) to almost absent at the end of our stay (23 Nov). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: miscellaneous (20 Images)

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