Mount Bromo is a volcano in central Java. The last eruption was in 2011, when the volcano was active for many months. The landscape was covered by volcanic ashes. The plants on the fields withered and the airport of Surabaya was closed on several days. But 3 months after the eruption the Kasada celebration was hold. Many Hindus climbed the crater rim and sacrificed animals, vegetables and fruits to their god Brahma.
Marc Szeglat
Merapi
Eruption of volcano Merapi in 2010. Pyroclastic flows destroyed several villages. I visited Merapi together with Chris Weber from VEI.
Chronicle of an eruption
The eruption of the Merapi volcano was one of the most significant eruptions of 2010, which became a natural disaster, killing more than 250 people. The economic damage is enormous and the ash deposits destroyed numerous plantations. It will take years until the palm trees bear fruit again.
The first indications of the volcano awakening were already at the end of August / beginning of September. The Merapi emitted more gas and a slight earthquake activity started. The government began to rehabilitate roads and bridges so that the population could be evacuated quickly in case of emergency. The chronicle shows how the volcanic eruption developed:
September 22nd: Increase of the warning level to yellow.
October 11: First sighting of glowing lava at the dome of the volcano.
October 19: Almost daily activity increases at Merapi on Java. On Monday, 60 lava avalanches were registered, which descended towards Kaliurang. Tremor (357 events) and volcanic quakes (43 events)
October 21: Blocking of the ascent. The volcanologists were concerned about the increasing pressure under the volcano. The inflation rate was exceptionally high.
25 October: Increase of the warning level to orange. This is the highest warning level before an eruption. The magma is now only 1 km below the crater. A 10 km exclusion zone was established and several villages were evacuated.
October 26: First dome collapse triggered pyroclastic flows which destroyed the village of Kinahrey. 7 people died and at least 14 were injured. An eruption cloud rose several kilometers high. There were numerous explosive eruptions that lasted up to 33 minutes. Volcanic bombs struck within a radius of 1.5 km around the dome. In the following days there were more eruptions, but they were smaller. Alarm status red was declared.
3 November: A large explosion followed by a partial collapse of the dome. Pyroclastic flows covered a distance of 10 km and an ash cloud rose several kilometers high. The eruption lasted for over an hour. The safety zone was extended to 15 km and tent camps with the evacuees had to be moved further. Photos showed that a large part of the old dome was blown away. A large block slipped onto the southern slope just below the summit and remained there for the time being.
5 November: Further heavy explosions mobilized the rest of the old cathedral, including the block on the southern slope. A new crater was formed. Pyroclastic flows destroyed the village of Argomolyo, 18 km from the summit. The village burned down in part. The village of Cangkringan 15 km away was also severely affected. More than 250 people died and 66 people were injured. Many victims were only recovered days after the disaster.
The security zone was extended to 20 km, more than 100,000 people were on the run.
09 November: The activity decreased. There were still isolated pyroclastic flows. Rainfall increased the danger of lahar.
11 November: Chris Weber and I reach the Merapi (see report Merapi)
November 14: A lahar flowed through the Bebeng River.
November 17: The activity had decreased so much that we dared to climb up to the steaming crater.
30 November: A lahar caused the river Code to overflow its banks and the mud flooded several houses. 400 people had to flee.
December 04: Activity continued to decline sharply. Downgraded to warning level Orange
A total of 320 people died in this volcanic eruption.
Stromboli: Lighthouse of the Mediterranean
Stromboli is a very popular volcano in the Mediterranean Sea and known by the ancient Roman as “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean”, because of its long-lasting strombolian eruptions.
This picture gallery shows the evolution of the volcano since its last flank eruption in 2007 until 2013.
Nyiragongo: Lava lake close to Goma
Nyiragongo is a high shield volcano in Demokratic Republic Congo. The volcano is located close to the border with Rwanda. The largest city nearby is Goma. The summit crater contains an active lava lake. In 2002 this lava lake drained through a fissure on the flank of the volcano. The lava flowed straight through Goma and ended in Lake Kiwu.
Eyjafjallajoekull: Eruption on Iceland
The eruption of Eyjafjoell-volcano on Iceland started 21st March 2010. The first part took place on a new fissure which opened on a saddle between the glaciers Myrdalsjoekull and Eyjafjallajoekull. The second part began some days after the first eruption ended. This was a powerful sub glacial eruption in the caldera at the summit of Eyjafjallajoekull.
Erta Alé: Lava lake in the Danakil-depression
Erta Alé is a shield volcano in Ethiopian Danakil-depression. Its summit rise just 612 m above the depression. In the Caldera are 2 pitcraters. In one of them a persistent lava lake is boiling. These pictures were made during my second expedition in this area in January 2008.
Strong eruptions of Sakura-jima in Japan. This volcano video was shot in February 2013.
Yellowstone: Pictures of hot springs and geysers
In Yellowstone National Park you can find the majority of the world’s geysers: Old Faithful, Castle, Grand and Steamboat are the most popular Geysers of Yellowstone. Other attractions are the hot springs and pools. Minerals and thermophilic algae and bacteria give the pools a colorful look. The origin of the hot water phenomena is a giant volcano. The Yellowstone volcano is a caldera volcano, which is known for its massive eruptions.
The National Park was founded in 1872 and was America’s first national park. The park prevents some of the largest populations of grizzly bears, wolves and herds of elk and bison.
I visited the Yellowstone two times: in 1991 and 2007. Here are the pictures of my last journey.
Etna: Paroxysm from New Southeastcrater
Volcano footag of a powerful eruption of Mount Etna. Filmed close to the newly formed crater. Consider the stunning lava fountain.
Stromboli: strong explosive eruption
This volcano footage shows a strong explosive eruption on volcano Stromboli. The volcano island is one of the 7 Aeolian Islands, north of Sicily, Italy.