Global Volcanism Program

13 March-19 March 2013

Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 26 February an ash plume from Karkar rose to an altitude of 8.5 km (28,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 75 km N and 130 km E.

Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

Available Weekly Reports

13 March 2013 Back to Top

Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 26 February an ash plume from Karkar rose to an altitude of 8.5 km (28,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 75 km N and 130 km E.

Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

20 February 2013 Back to Top

Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 26 February an ash plume from Karkar rose to an altitude of 9.1 km (30,000 ft) a.s.l.

Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

23 January 2013 Back to Top

Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data analyses, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 29 January an ash plume from Karkar rose to an altitude of 4.3 km (14,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted less than 40 km NE.

Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

1 February 2012 Back to Top

Based on analyses of satellite imagery, the Darwin VAAC reported that a possible ash plume from Karkar rose to altitudes of 7.6-10.7 km (25,000-35,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and E on 1 February.

Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

25 November 2009 Back to Top

Based on analyses of satellite imagery, the Darwin VAAC reported that an eruption from Karkar on 25 November produced a plume that rose to an altitude of 13.7 km (45,000 ft) a.s.l. The report also stated that ash had merged with a thunderstorm cloud and had become unidentifiable. Another ash plume identified on 26 November rose to an altitude of 9.1 km (30,000 ft) a.s.l. Confirmation of ash emissions was not available from RVO at the time of the posting of this report. [Note: Further analyses revealed that an eruption had not occurred. Additional information received by RVO indicated dead vegetation S of the active crater (similar observations were made in 2007) and a few new "holes" in the crater area.]

Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

2 January 2008 Back to Top

RVO reported that white vapor emissions from the Bagiai cone in Karkar's inner caldera were observed by a visiting field team during 27-31 December. The resultant white vapor plume was also visible from the mainland. Communities to the W and SW reported hearing roaring noises associated with gas emissions. Images sent to RVO on 11 December indicated that the vegetation on the SE flank was completely withered.

Sources: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO)

Summary of eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

Start Date	Stop Date	Eruption Certainty	VEI	Evidence	Activity Area or Unit
[ 2010 Feb 25 ]	[ 2010 Feb 26 ]	Uncertain	1
[ 2009 May 1 ± 30 days ]	[ Unknown ]	Uncertain
[ 1980 Jan 7 ]	[ 1980 Jan 17 ]	Uncertain	1
1979 Jan 12 (?)	1979 Aug 9	Confirmed	2	Historical	SE foot of Bagiai
1974 Dec 30 (?)	1975 Jun 26	Confirmed	2	Historical	Bagiai
1974 Feb 14	1974 Aug 8	Confirmed	2	Historical	Bagiai
[ 1962 (?) ]	[ Unknown ]	Uncertain	2		Ulumam
1895 Jun 17	1895 Aug	Confirmed	2	Historical
1885	Unknown	Confirmed	2	Historical
[ 1830 ]	[ Unknown ]	Uncertain
1643 Apr 20	Unknown	Confirmed	3	Historical
1070 ± 200 years	Unknown	Confirmed		Radiocarbon (uncorrected)	South flank (Patilo Cone)
730 (?)	Unknown	Confirmed	4	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)
520 ± 100 years	Unknown	Confirmed	4	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)
870 BCE ± 75 years	Unknown	Confirmed		Radiocarbon (uncorrected)
7140 BCE ± 150 years	Unknown	Confirmed	4	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)

Karkar is a 19 x 25 km wide, forest-covered island that is truncated by two nested summit calderas. The 5.5-km-wide outer caldera was formed during one or more eruptions, the last of which occurred 9000 years ago. The eccentric 3.2-km-wide inner caldera was formed sometime between 1500 and 800 years ago. Parasitic cones are present on the northern and southern flanks of basaltic-to-andesitic Karkar volcano; a linear array of small cones extends from the northern rim of the outer caldera nearly to the coast. Most historical eruptions, which date back to 1643, have originated from Bagiai cone, a pyroclastic cone constructed within the steep-walled, 300-m-deep inner caldera. The floor of the caldera is covered by young, mostly unvegetated andesitic lava flows.