Awu (Indonesia): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Overview of Awu

Awu is a stratovolcano located in Indonesia. The volcano is situated at a latitude of 3.689°N and a longitude of 125.447°E, with an elevation of 1,318 meters. The tectonic setting is classified as a subduction zone with oceanic crust less than 15 kilometers thick. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a record of 16 confirmed eruptions. The most recent confirmed eruption began on June 2, 2004, and ended on August 16, 2004.

Historical Eruption Frequency

The record of confirmed eruptions shows a concentration of activity in the 19th and 20th centuries. The 19th century CE saw 7 recorded eruptions, and the 20th century CE saw 6. The 17th century CE and 18th century CE each had 1 recorded eruption. The 21st century CE has 1 recorded eruption as of the latest data.

Notable Eruptions

The 1966 eruption is the largest recorded event for Awu, reaching a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4. This eruption began on August 12, 1966, and ended on October 16, 1966. The 2004 eruption, which is the most recent in the record, was a VEI 2 event that began on June 2, 2004, and ended on August 16, 2004. The earliest recorded eruption is from 1646, with an uncertainty of 5 years.

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)

The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) is a scale used to measure the size of eruptions based on eruption column height and volume of tephra ejected. A VEI 4 is classified as a sub-Plinian eruption. Awu's largest recorded eruption reached this level.

Recorded Eruptions

The following table lists representative confirmed eruptions from the official record. The record contains 16 total eruptions, and the table includes 5 of these events.