Long Island is a complex volcano located in Papua New Guinea at a subduction zone and continental crust tectonic setting. Rising to an elevation of 1,263 meters, the volcano has a total of 11 confirmed eruptions recorded in the official Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program record. The earliest recorded eruption in the collection dates back to 2040 BCE, and the latest confirmed eruption occurred on November 3, 1993.
Overview of Recorded Activity
The historical and prehistoric record for Long Island spans multiple millennia, featuring activity categorized across several centuries. According to the official database, the confirmed eruption count includes events documented through isotopic methods as well as direct historical reports.
The largest recorded eruptions in the official record reached a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6.0. These large-scale events include an uncalibrated radiocarbon-dated eruption around 2040 BCE (with a start year uncertainty of 110 years) and an uncalibrated radiocarbon-dated eruption around 1660 CE (with a start year uncertainty of 20 years). In total, 8 of the 11 confirmed eruptions have recorded VEI values.
Selected Eruption Milestones
The official record documents a variety of eruption scales and locations across Long Island's complex structure, including activity areas such as Lake Wisdom, Motmot, and an east-west fissure north-northeast of Motmot Island:
- 2040 BCE: A confirmed eruption with a VEI of 6.0, determined via uncalibrated 14C isotopic evidence.
- 1660 CE: A confirmed eruption with a VEI of 6.0, determined via uncalibrated 14C isotopic evidence.
- July 2, 1933: A confirmed eruption reported in the Lake Wisdom activity area.
- May 8, 1953 – January 7, 1954: A confirmed eruption at Motmot with a VEI of 3.0.
- November 3, 1993 – November 25, 1993: A confirmed eruption along an east-west fissure north-northeast of Motmot Island, reaching a VEI of 1.0.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Long Island volcano located?
Long Island is a complex volcano located in Papua New Guinea.
How many eruptions have been recorded at Long Island?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program record lists 11 confirmed eruptions for Long Island.
When was the last recorded eruption at Long Island?
The latest confirmed eruption started on November 3, 1993, with the last-known eruption year noted as 1993.
What is the largest recorded VEI for Long Island?
The largest recorded eruptions at Long Island reached a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6.0.
Image credits
- Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC — Wikimedia Commons source — Public domain
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.