Marapi is a complex volcano located in Indonesia at an elevation of 2,885 meters, situated within a subduction zone and continental crust tectonic setting (greater than 25 km). According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a recorded history comprising 68 confirmed eruptions spanning from the late 18th century CE through the 21st century CE. Based on the official record, the earliest recorded eruption started in 1770 CE, and the latest structured eruption record spans from a start date of 2023-12-03 to an end date of 2026-03-24.
Historical Eruption Distribution by Century
The historical record of Marapi shows varying levels of documented activity across different centuries, as captured by reported observations. The 20th century CE contains the highest concentration of confirmed eruptions in the available dataset.
- 18th century CE: 1 confirmed eruption
- 19th century CE: 18 confirmed eruptions
- 20th century CE: 38 confirmed eruptions
- 21st century CE: 11 confirmed eruptions
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) Overview
The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) provides a relative scale for characterizing the size of explosive volcanic eruptions. Out of the 68 confirmed eruptions in Marapi's record, 67 have associated VEI observations. The largest recorded VEI in the official record is 2.0. Representative examples from the historical timeline illustrate the nature of these recorded events:
- 1770 CE: Recorded with a VEI of 2.0 based on reported observations.
- February–March 1888 CE: An eruption occurring from 1888-02-19 to 1888-03-19 with a VEI of 2.0.
- June 1929 CE: An eruption at activity area Kepundan Bongsu on 1929-06-22 with a VEI of 2.0.
- March–May 1982 CE: An eruption spanning from 1982-03-10 to 1982-05-16 with a VEI of 1.0.
- December 2023 to March 2026 CE: An eruption starting on 2023-12-03 and concluding on 2026-03-24 with a VEI of 2.0.
Frequently asked questions
How many confirmed eruptions does Marapi have in its record?
Marapi has 68 confirmed eruptions documented in the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program record, spanning from 1770 CE to 2026 CE.
When did Marapi's earliest recorded eruption take place?
The earliest recorded eruption in the official record started in 1770 CE.
What is the largest recorded VEI for Marapi?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Marapi in the official dataset is 2.0.
Image credits
- Torikutori — Wikimedia Commons source — CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.