Kerinci (Indonesia): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Kerinci is a stratovolcano located in Indonesia at a tectonic setting characterized by a subduction zone and continental crust exceeding 25 kilometers in depth. Standing at an elevation of 3,800 meters, the volcano has a documented history of eruptive activity captured in the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program records. Official records confirm a total of 38 eruptions spanning from the 19th century CE through the 21st century CE.

Eruption History and Chronology

The earliest recorded eruption in the Smithsonian dataset for Kerinci began on July 2, 1838 CE, with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 2.0, evidenced by reported observations. Historical reporting indicates that eruptive episodes continued intermittently across subsequent decades. For instance, an eruption sequence was documented ending on August 30, 1936 CE, and another notable sequence occurred from February 3, 1968 CE, to March 18, 1968 CE, both registering a VEI of 2.0.

Activity persisted into the 21st century CE, including a confirmed eruption starting on March 24, 2008 CE, with a lower VEI of 1.0. More recently, satellite and visual observations recorded an eruption on May 28, 2024 CE, with a VEI of 2.0. This May 28, 2024 CE event marks the latest confirmed eruption entry in the official collection, aligning with the volcano's last known eruption year of 2024.

Distribution of Eruptions by Century

The confirmed eruption record comprises 38 events evaluated for Volcanic Explosivity Index values, with the largest recorded VEI reaching 2.0. The frequency of documented events varies across centuries:

• 19th century CE: 5 recorded eruptions
• 20th century CE: 20 recorded eruptions
• 21st century CE: 13 recorded eruptions

While the 20th century CE contains the highest number of recorded eruptions in the dataset, these figures reflect reported observations and modern monitoring capabilities available during each respective era rather than a complete count of all prehistoric or unobserved geological events.