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Kavachi

Stratovolcano · Solomon Islands · 20m (submarine)

A cock’s-tail plume rises above Kavachi volcano during a Surtseyan eruption on 15 March 2004. Projections of individual blocks and ash can be seen at the margins of the plume. The frequently-erupting submarine volcano had been inactive since August 2003.
A cock’s-tail plume rises above Kavachi volcano during a Surtseyan eruption on 15 March 2004. Projections of individual blocks and ash can be seen at the margins of the plume. The frequently-erupting submarine volcano had been inactive since August 2003. · Photo: Photo by Corey Howell, 2004. · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Solomon Islands
Region
Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Solomon Volcanic Province
Elevation
20m (submarine)
Coordinates
-8.991, 157.979
Last eruption
2014
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Crustal thickness unknown
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Geological summary

Named for a sea-god of the Gatokae and Vangunu peoples, Kavachi is located in the Solomon Islands south of Vangunu Island. Sometimes referred to as Rejo te Kvachi ("Kavachi's Oven"), this shallow submarine basaltic-to-andesitic volcano has produced ephemeral islands up to 1 km long many times since its first recorded eruption during 1939. Residents of the nearby islands of Vanguna and Nggatokae (Gatokae) reported "fire on the water" prior to 1939, a possible reference to earlier eruptions. The roughly conical edifice rises from water depths of 1.1-1.2 km on the north and greater depths to the SE. Frequent shallow submarine and occasional subaerial eruptions produce phreatomagmatic explosions that eject steam, ash, and incandescent bombs. On a number of occasions lava flows were observed on the ephemeral islands.

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1939~1947 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21947~1955 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 21955~1963 · 5 eruptions · max VEI 21963~1971 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 21971~1980 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 21980~1988 · 5 eruptions · max VEI 21988~1996 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21996~2004 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 12004~2012 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 12012~2020 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 119391955198019962012

Detailed timeline

  1. 2020VEI ?Observed
    2020-03-16 – 2024-04-24
  2. 2014VEI 1Observed
    2014-01-29 – 2014-01-29
    Submarine
  3. 2007VEI 1Observed
    2007-04-02 – 2007-04-06
  4. 2004VEI 1Observed
    2004-03-15 – Ongoing
  5. 1999VEI 1Observed
    1999-11-16 – 2003-08-16
  6. 1999VEI 1Observed
    1999-02-16 – 1999-05-16
  7. 1998VEI 0Geological estimate
    1998-07-02 – Ongoing
  8. 1997VEI 1Observed
    1997-01-16 – 1997-01-17
  9. 1991VEI 2Observed
    1991-05-04 – 1991-09-16
  10. 1986VEI 1Observed
    1986-07-05 – 1986-07-23
  11. 1985VEI 1Observed
    1985-12-09 – 1986-02-28
  12. 1982VEI 2Observed
    1982-04-07 – 1982-06-02
  13. 1981VEI 0Geological estimate
    1981-09-15 – Ongoing
  14. 1980VEI 1Observed
    1980-10-07 – 1981-02-25
  15. 1978VEI 2Observed
    1978-06-21 – 1978-07-22
  16. 1977VEI 1Observed
    1977-02-22 – Ongoing
  17. 1977VEI 1Observed
    1977-07-17 – 1977-07-22
  18. 1976VEI 1Observed
    1976-08-24 – 1976-10-13
  19. 1975VEI 1Observed
    1975-08-16 – Ongoing
  20. 1974VEI 1Observed
    1974-11-12 – 1974-12-12
  21. 1972VEI 0Observed
    1972-10-24 – Ongoing
  22. 1969VEI 2Observed
    1969-10-28 – 1970-02-06
  23. 1966VEI 2Observed
    1966-03-19 – 1966-03-22
  24. 1965VEI 2Observed
    1965-12-11 – 1965-12-13
  25. 1963VEI 2Observed
    1963-12-14 – 1964-01-31
  26. 1962VEI 2Observed
    1962-01-16 – 1962-02-16
  27. 1961VEI 2Observed
    1961-03-28 – Ongoing
  28. 1958VEI 0Observed
    1958-11-21 – 1958-12-02
  29. 1957VEI 0Observed
    1957-02-08 – Ongoing
  30. 1952VEI 2Observed
    1952-04-16 – 1953-01-31
  31. 1951VEI 2Observed
    1951-12-01 – Ongoing
  32. 1950VEI 2Observed
    1950-12-01 – Ongoing
  33. 1942VEI 1Observed
    1942 – Ongoing
  34. 1939VEI 2Observed
    1939-04-30 – Ongoing

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.