Guntur (Indonesia): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Guntur is a complex volcano located in Indonesia, standing at an elevation of 2,251 meters in a subduction zone and continental crust tectonic setting. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a confirmed record of 24 eruptions spanning from the late 17th century CE through the mid-19th century CE.

Historical Eruption Timeline and Overview

The historical record for Guntur captures 24 confirmed eruptions based on reported observations. These events occurred across three centuries CE, with the earliest recorded eruption beginning in 1690 CE. Activity continued across subsequent centuries before concluding, according to the available historical record, in the mid-19th century CE.

The distribution of Guntur's confirmed eruptions across centuries CE is structured as follows:

• 17th century CE: 1 eruption
• 18th century CE: 3 eruptions
• 19th century CE: 20 eruptions

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) Range

The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) provides a relative scale to describe the size and magnitude of explosive volcanic eruptions. Out of Guntur's 24 confirmed eruptions, 23 have recorded VEI observations in the official dataset. The largest recorded VEI for the volcano is 3.0. Individual historical events demonstrate varying scales of recorded activity, ranging from smaller reported phases to more energetic episodes.

Representative examples of recorded eruptions in the official database include:

• 1690 CE: An eruption with a recorded VEI of 3.0, noted via reported observations.
• 1809 CE: An eruption beginning on May 9, 1809 CE, with a recorded VEI of 2.0.
• 1828 CE: An eruption spanning from May 14, 1828 CE, to July 8, 1828 CE, with a recorded VEI of 2.0.
• 1843 CE: An eruption on January 4, 1843 CE, with a recorded VEI of 3.0.
• 1847 CE: An eruption lasting from October 16, 1847 CE, to October 28, 1847 CE, with a recorded VEI of 2.0. This event aligns with the volcano's latest recorded eruption date in the database.