Krakatau volcano – March 2017

20-22th March

Published: 28/03/2017

Updated: 31/03/2017 : updated general observations,  eruption history and added photo no. 5 and 6.

Type of activity observed:

General observations

After the eruption of the 17-18th February, and my visit of 25-26th February, activity at Anak Krakatau remain the same, or have declined slightly.  A steady degassing plume could be observed throughout the 3 day visit, however no eruptions was observed.  Lava-glow was not seen in the crater like was the case during February.

Another small observation, there is a fumarole that emits blue gas, just below the edge of the southern side of the summit.  (see photo 4 and 5 right side of the photo, and photo 6) I have noticed this fumarole since 2013, and it has always been emitting a distinct blue gas. On the photo it can be seen that this gas is distinct in color opposed to the other vents on the summit, which emit more neutral white looking gases. The light blue color of the plume is thought to be caused by a high ratio of sulfuric acidaerosol. The location of this fumarole might actually be on top of the location of the 2007-2008 Southern Crater, which might be the (vent) location of eruptions that happened in March 2013 and October 2013.  On next visit to Krakatau I will have a closer look at this fumarole/vent with the drone.

Correction from last trip report

As a few readers have pointed out, there is now a cone in the summit crater of Anak Krakatau, and probably not a lava-dome, which I wrote in the last trip report in February. The new cone does not seem to have changed since February, and no incandescence was seen during the nights.

Recent Eruption history

 

Eruption events Origin of Eruption Eruption Characteristics Links to documentation
2017 February Central crater Strombolian, lava flow SW flank view article
2013 October Central crater (or vent on S flank ) Strombolian view article
2013 March Northern crater (& vent on S flank) Strombolian, Vulcanian view article
2012 September Central crater Strombolian, lava flow SW and E flanks view article
2012 April Central crater Strombolian view article 
2011 November Central crater Strombolian view article
2011 June Central crater Strombolian, vulcanian view article 
2011 January Central crater Strombolian view article
2010* Central crater Strombolian, Vulcanian Tom Pfeiffer`s photos from November 2010 here
2009* Central crater Strombolian, Vulcanian Tom Pfeiffer`s photos from July 2009: here
2008* Southern crater (old) Strombolian, lava flow SW flank  Photovolcanica from May 2008: here
2007* Southern crater (old) Strombolian, ash venting etc Tom Pfeiffer`s photos from November 2007: here
* Eruption cycle lasted for month\s

*Note: This is my own table of records and gathered sources, other eruption events may have occurred that I’m not aware of.

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2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.1. Krakatau seen on a very clear day. The mountains of the Coast of West-Java can be seen in the far distance. (20th March)
Photo no.2. The islands belonging to Krakatau seen from the North. From the left: Lang Island, Rakata, Anak Krakatau and to the far right, Verlaten island. The yellowish coloring of the sea seen in the forground, is a result of high seas and erosion of the coast of Verlaten Isl. (20th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.3. (20th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.4. The summit, steaming. The central crater, now present with a cone, is emitting the most gas these days.  (20th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.5. (20th March)
Photo no.6. (21th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.7. Summit seen from the NW (20th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.8. The new summit cone, the walls probably being around 3-4m tall. (20th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.9. (20th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.10. The nothern crater vent (20th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.11. The summit area seen at sunset. The island behind is Verlaten Isl. (20th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.12. (20th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.13. Krakatau at night. Note the blinking firefly that decided to fly into the frame when this long-exposure photo was taken. (20th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.14. Summit seen from the North (21th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.15. Summit cone (21th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.16. Cone from a different angle (21th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.17. (21th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.18. Direct view into the cone (21th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.19. (21th March)
Photo no.20. (21th March)
2017 march Krakatau thunderstorm night lightining
Photo no.21. Lightning strike in late night gives the sky a pink color, meanwhile the green color on the left side of the photo are from nearby fishing boats, which use big lamps for fishing during the night. (21th March)
2017 march Krakatau thunderstorm night lightining
Photo no.22. (21th March)
2017 march Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.23. Lightning strike directly behind Anak Krakatau (21th March)
beach 2017 march Krakatau volcano
Photo no.24. (22th March)
2017 march aerial DJI drone Krakatau Anak Krakatau Indonesia Volcano Andersen
Photo no.25. The summit is engulfed with gas. The volcano often looks like it emitts more gas in the mornings than during mid day, however this is usually not the case, the increase in plume size is caused by the higher rate of condensation during lower tempratures, that the mornings tend to offer. Volcanic gas plumes often contain high amounts of water vapor. (22th March)