Volcanoes of the Solomon Islands – Part 2 of 2

Kana Keoki, Coleman Seamount and Rendova Volcano from Google Maps. Kana Keoki is left of center toward the edge of the image with a dual peak. It also looks a bit eroded. Neighboring Coleman Seamount has a clearly defined crater and looks a bit younger. Screen capture from Google Maps

Volcanoes of the Solomon Islands – Part 1 of 2

Map of Solomon Islands and most of its volcanoes. Two active volcanoes are in yellow, Kavachi, center left, and Tinakula, lower right. Recently active volcanoes are in bright green. Dormant / extinct volcanoes are black. Bougainville Island in the upper left is part of Papua New Guinea, but also volcanic. New Georgia Island group center left is home to most of the volcanoes to be discussed in this post. Image screen capture from interactive map in Volcano Discovery

Are there Volcanoes in FIJI 🇫🇯 ?

(https://www.tourismfiji.com)

When the news reported multiple volcanoes erupting in Vanuatu – when new volcanoes appeared near Tonga Islands – when earthquakes shook most of Melanesia left right and center – I have often wondered if, or why, there are no volcanoes on the Fiji Islands? Well, you probably guess the answer – of course there are! They are just not very busy at the moment, so they may escape our attention, and may lull the residents in false security, too. The three that are mentioned by the GVP are Taveuni and Koro Islands, and Nabukelevu which occupies the SW end of Kadavu Island.

Rabaul Caldera – a Most Dangerous System

Tavurvur eruption in Rabaul Caldera. Image courtesy Mountain Forecast.com. https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Rabaul-caldera

Activity Continues at Langila, New Britain, PNG

Langila Volcano. Crater 3 is to the right. Image taken in 1970. Courtesy Smithsonian GVP. https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=252010

TINAKULA 🇸🇧 – New Photos & Update

(© Ryszard Chajęcki, R/V Petrel)

In our post about Tinakula’s October 2017 eruption I wrote: “This island is so remote that exiting news of an eruption may come through within a few days, but we will probably never learn when, how, or if at all the eruption has ended.”

Well, officially the eruption seems to have ended on 26 October 2017, as listed by the GVP. However, National Situation Reports by the NDMO appeared up into the first week of November; a volcanic assessment on Tinakula on Nov. 5 showed numerous eruptions

The July 2012 Eruption of Havre Seamount, Kermadec Islands, NZ

Initial photo of Havre pumice raft taken by Maggie de Grauw. There was a second patch visible that she was unable to get a photo of due to angles of sight and sunlight. Photo courtesy Stuff. http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/8402949/Chance-holiday-snap-alerts-scientists-to-discovery

Between a Volcano and a Hard Place – MANAM (🇵🇬 P.N.G.)

Lava flow from near the top of Manam volcano. 09/2012 (© I. Itikarai, via mapio.net)

Ima Itikarai, RVO, on 29 January 2005:
“… it has been a very eventful week … Tavurvur resumed eruption on Monday evening and Manam produced another paroxysmal eruption on Thursday night … . Our observation post at Warisi village was wiped out completely by what is described as pyroclastic flow … . All our equipment was destroyed by the event. There were about 14 people at Warisi at the time of the eruption and all got injured while trying to escape …” (From “Fire Mountains of the Island”)

Tin Can Island – Niuafo’ou Caldera, Tonga

Satellite photo of Niuafo’ou Volcano. Google Maps screen capture

TINAKULA

Tinakula volcano. (© Lance McC, date unknown but before 12/2009, via Panoramio)

Tinakula volcano of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific ocean started an eruption on 21 October 2017. Whether or not the volcano is still erupting is everybody’s guess as no more official reports were issued after the 6th of November and satellite imagery is inconclusive. Update 17/11: GVP has just listed the eruption as lasting from 21 – 26 Oct. 2017, classified as a VEI=3. However, the reports have stated still ongoing explosions on Nov. 6, so, I expect there might be amendments later.