Meanwhile in Indonesia:
Krakatau is erupting. Again.
Krakatau erupted so fiercely in 1883 that it destroyed itself while wrecking devastation. This is Anak Krakatau, “Child of Krakatau” rebuilt by subsequent eruptions
This eruption is not unusual but it is dangerous. Stay away
Krakatau is erupting. Again.
Krakatau erupted so fiercely in 1883 that it destroyed itself while wrecking devastation. This is Anak Krakatau, “Child of Krakatau” rebuilt by subsequent eruptions
This eruption is not unusual but it is dangerous. Stay away
That embedded tweet is the most viral describing the eruption, but it’s also not accurate.
Anak Krakatau is in (exactly) the same place as it’s deadly namesake, so similar magma geochemistry, thus similar eruptive style.
But it’s been restless for years: volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn…
Anak Krakatau is in (exactly) the same place as it’s deadly namesake, so similar magma geochemistry, thus similar eruptive style.
But it’s been restless for years: volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn…
This isn’t the first eruption of Krakatau since the 1900s because:
1. Krakatau & Anak Krakatau are similar but not the same.
2. Anak Krakatau erupted in 2019.
It’s also unsurprising as Anak Krakatau is erupting now as it was sending up warning plumes last month.
1. Krakatau & Anak Krakatau are similar but not the same.
2. Anak Krakatau erupted in 2019.
It’s also unsurprising as Anak Krakatau is erupting now as it was sending up warning plumes last month.
Related:
Q: Why be so picky about names?
A: Krakatau is a monster of history-became-myth instantly triggering fear.
Anak Krakatau has potential to be scary & had a 2018 flank collapse that generated a deadly tsunami, but not every eruption will have global impact.
A: Krakatau is a monster of history-became-myth instantly triggering fear.
Anak Krakatau has potential to be scary & had a 2018 flank collapse that generated a deadly tsunami, but not every eruption will have global impact.
That 2018 flank collapse took out a large chunk of Anak Krakatau. It’s less dangerous now simply because it’s still smaller so has less volcano that can fall.
That viral video is from 2018 when it still had a summit.
Reliable webcams: magma.esdm.go.id
That viral video is from 2018 when it still had a summit.
Reliable webcams: magma.esdm.go.id
Q: Wait, if the original quoted tweet is inaccurate name, inaccurate eruption history, and old footage, is Anak Krakatau actually erupting?
A: Yes, you can see it erupting on reliable webcams and the local geologic survey confirmed the eruption with CNN: m.cnnindonesia.com/teknologi/2020…
A: Yes, you can see it erupting on reliable webcams and the local geologic survey confirmed the eruption with CNN: m.cnnindonesia.com/teknologi/2020…
Q: Wait, is that lightning in the 2018 viral eruption footage??
A: Yes! Volcanic lightning is totally a Thing as ash particles rub together in dense eruption clouds, generating static electricity.
More:
nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/0…
bbc.com/news/science-e…
A: Yes! Volcanic lightning is totally a Thing as ash particles rub together in dense eruption clouds, generating static electricity.
More:
nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/0…
bbc.com/news/science-e…
Related:
Initial press release by @vulkanologi_mbg specifies this is a Stromboli-type eruption spitting up incandescent lava & short ash plumes but is overall small scale. It’ll likely keep this up, but isn’t currently showing signs of intensifying.
Details: magma.esdm.go.id/v1/press-relea…
Details: magma.esdm.go.id/v1/press-relea…
Q: Stromboli style eruptions sound bad?
A: It’s the least-terrifying option in geologic context.
Indonesia’s volcanoes are fed by subduction (one plate going under another), so have a lot of silica that traps gas for explosive eruptions.
Details: britannica.com/science/volcan…
A: It’s the least-terrifying option in geologic context.
Indonesia’s volcanoes are fed by subduction (one plate going under another), so have a lot of silica that traps gas for explosive eruptions.
Details: britannica.com/science/volcan…
A Stromboli-style eruption means the danger is monstly confined to Anak Krakatau.
Don’t go on the island, don’t sail nearby in case of extra-exuberant lava bombs, don’t huff ash plumes since it’s glass shards & toxic gas, but outside a few kilometers is fine.
Don’t go on the island, don’t sail nearby in case of extra-exuberant lava bombs, don’t huff ash plumes since it’s glass shards & toxic gas, but outside a few kilometers is fine.
Q: Can we lick Anak Krakatau?
A: You may only lick rocks once they fully solidified & cooled. Licking molten rock is an instant & scorching Fail. If it cools too fast into obsidian or pumice, it’s a sharp glass that can cut your tongue.
But it has gypsum! So, uh, lick drywall?
A: You may only lick rocks once they fully solidified & cooled. Licking molten rock is an instant & scorching Fail. If it cools too fast into obsidian or pumice, it’s a sharp glass that can cut your tongue.
But it has gypsum! So, uh, lick drywall?
Q: That's it! 2020 is doomed! Pandemics and earthquakes and eruptions and and and!!
A: 🎶Confirmation bias.🎶
About 50-70 volcanoes worldwide erupt a total of 60-80 times a year (some have multiple eruptions). You're just very aware of bad news right now.
A: 🎶Confirmation bias.🎶
About 50-70 volcanoes worldwide erupt a total of 60-80 times a year (some have multiple eruptions). You're just very aware of bad news right now.
Q: Is this video from the current eruption? How about this video? This one??
A: Does Anak Krakatau look like a nice, pointy volcano? 2018 or earlier.
Does it looks like a weird flat glowy hillside of strangeness that's kinda a volcano if you squint at it? Possibly 2020.
A: Does Anak Krakatau look like a nice, pointy volcano? 2018 or earlier.
Does it looks like a weird flat glowy hillside of strangeness that's kinda a volcano if you squint at it? Possibly 2020.
Another hint?
If it's a pretty with decent image quality, it's highly likely it's from an earlier eruption.
Today's eruption was at 21:58 local time for under 2 minutes, then at 22:35 for 45 minutes. Sunset was at 18:25. It was dark with little warning to set up decent shots.
If it's a pretty with decent image quality, it's highly likely it's from an earlier eruption.
Today's eruption was at 21:58 local time for under 2 minutes, then at 22:35 for 45 minutes. Sunset was at 18:25. It was dark with little warning to set up decent shots.
Q: What do you mean Krakatua & Anak Krakatua blew themselves up?
Krakatua before & after 1883 eruption
Krakatua vs Anak Krakatua
Anaka Krakatua before & after 2018 flank collapse
It is Not Subtle.
📷 London Times, USGS, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia
Krakatua before & after 1883 eruption
Krakatua vs Anak Krakatua
Anaka Krakatua before & after 2018 flank collapse
It is Not Subtle.
📷 London Times, USGS, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia
Anak Krakatau is continuing to erupt today. It’s still small, not very photogenic, and harmless as long as no one gets close enough to poke the volcano.
Other nearby volcanoes are also erupting. This is normal.
Reasonable article (photo is Mt Merapi): thejakartapost.com/news/2020/04/1…
Other nearby volcanoes are also erupting. This is normal.
Reasonable article (photo is Mt Merapi): thejakartapost.com/news/2020/04/1…
Q: Hey, why are you spelling the name differently than I expect?
A: Because I’m not an 1800s British journalist scared of unfamiliar vowel pairings, so I’d rather use the real name.
Détails & more FAQs:
A: Because I’m not an 1800s British journalist scared of unfamiliar vowel pairings, so I’d rather use the real name.
Détails & more FAQs:
