Karkar (Papua New Guinea): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Karkar is an active stratovolcano located in Papua New Guinea at a tectonic subduction zone with a continental crust greater than 25 km. Rising to an elevation of 1,839 meters, the volcano has a recorded history consisting of 11 confirmed eruptions spanning from ancient isotopic dates to the 20th century. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the largest recorded eruptions reached a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4.0, while the latest confirmed eruption began on January 12, 1979, and ended on August 9, 1979.

Overview of Recorded Eruptions

The historical and pre-historical record for Karkar includes 11 confirmed eruptions distributed across several centuries and millennia. Of these events, nine include VEI observations. The earliest recorded eruption in the official dataset dates back to 7140 BCE (with a start year uncertainty of 150 years) and carried a VEI of 4.0, determined via uncalibrated carbon-14 isotopic evidence. Subsequent confirmed eruptions occurred across various centuries, including the 9th century BCE, 6th century CE, 7th century CE, 8th century CE, 11th century CE, and 17th century CE, before transitioning into more thoroughly observed events in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Distribution by Century

The confirmed eruptions at Karkar are distributed across multiple centuries of activity:

• 72nd century BCE: 1 eruption (starting around 7140 BCE)
• 9th century BCE: 1 eruption
• 6th century CE: 1 eruption (starting around 0520 CE with a 100-year uncertainty)
• 7th century CE: 1 eruption (starting around 0730 CE)
• 8th century CE: 1 eruption
• 11th century CE: 1 eruption
• 17th century CE: 1 eruption (starting April 20, 1643, with a VEI of 3.0)
• 19th century CE: 2 eruptions
• 20th century CE: 3 eruptions, concluding with the activity in 1979

Latest Recorded Activity

The most recent activity in the official record occurred in 1979. This confirmed eruption began on January 12, 1979, took place at the southeast foot of Bagiai, reached a VEI of 2.0, and concluded on August 9, 1979. The volcano's last known eruption year is recorded as 1979.