Slamet is a stratovolcano located in Indonesia at latitude -7.242 and longitude 109.208, reaching an elevation of 3,428 metres above sea level. Situated in a tectonic setting dominated by a subduction zone over continental crust thicker than 25 kilometres, the volcano has a documented eruption history spanning from 1772 CE through 2014 CE. According to records maintained by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program (volcano number 263180), Slamet has produced 42 confirmed historical eruptions.
Geological Context and Profile
As a stratovolcano, Slamet is constructed from alternating layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Its summit sits at 3,428 metres elevation within Indonesia's island arc setting, where oceanic crust subducts beneath continental crust. All historical events recorded in the volcano's documented dataset have been identified through direct reported observations.
Distribution of Recorded Eruptions by Century
Documented activity at Slamet extends across four calendar centuries, from the late 18th century CE into the 21st century CE. The dataset records 42 confirmed historical events, with the highest concentration of documented activity occurring during the 20th century CE.
| Century | Confirmed Eruption Count |
|---|---|
| 18th century CE | 1 |
| 19th century CE | 9 |
| 20th century CE | 30 |
| 21st century CE | 2 |
The first recorded event in the repository took place in August 1772 CE, while 30 of the 42 total events occurred during the 20th century CE. Only two eruptions have been recorded in the 21st century CE up to the latest record in 2014 CE.
Explosivity and Key Eruption Events
Volcanic explosivity is catalogued using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), a logarithmic magnitude scale ranging from 0 to 8 based on parameters such as ejected material volume and plume height. Across 41 recorded VEI observations for Slamet, the maximum assigned rating is VEI 2.0, indicating modest explosive activity.
Representative examples from Slamet's eruption record illustrate its documented operational timeline:
- August 1772 CE: The earliest recorded eruption began on August 11, 1772, and concluded on August 12, 1772, with a recorded VEI of 2.0.
- July–August 1904 CE: An eruption reported from July 14, 1904, to August 9, 1904, attained a VEI of 2.0.
- March–July 1939 CE: Activity recorded between March 29, 1939, and July 15, 1939, was catalogued at VEI 2.0.
- April–May 1958 CE: An explosive event lasting from April 17, 1958, to May 7, 1958, reached VEI 2.0.
- March–September 2014 CE: The most recent recorded eruption in the dataset began on March 8, 2014, and concluded on September 18, 2014. Centred at the summit crater, this event was assigned a VEI of 2.0.
Historical eruption records document past observations and do not represent safety forecasts or predictions of future activity.
Frequently asked questions
What type of volcano is Slamet and where is it located?
Slamet is a stratovolcano located in Indonesia at coordinates -7.242 latitude and 109.208 longitude, standing at an elevation of 3,428 metres.
How many historical eruptions are recorded for Slamet?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program records 42 confirmed historical eruptions for Slamet between 1772 CE and 2014 CE.
What is the maximum recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Slamet?
The maximum recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Slamet is 2.0, evaluated across 41 documented VEI observations.
When was the most recent eruption recorded for Slamet?
The most recent confirmed eruption in the official record began on March 8, 2014, and ended on September 18, 2014, taking place at the summit crater.
Image credits
- Igan Supriatna (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia) — Wikimedia Commons source — Public domain
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.