Indonesia’s Volatile Child of Krakatau Collapsed, but Now It’s More Explosive

“The big difference is unlike prior to the collapse, the erupting magma is being exposed directly to seawater, so the eruptions are more explosive and actually creating its own ‘volcano thunderstorm’ from all the steam, ash and volcanic gases,” said Erik Klemetti, a volcano expert at Denison University in Granville, Ohio.

“It is inherently unstable as it’s just made of layers of lava and ash and debris.” On Friday, it was sending ash more than a mile skyward in eruptions as frequently as every minute, officials said. Anak Krakatau has been barely visible from shore for the past week, partly due to storms. But even when the sky clears, the plume of ash generated by the underwater reaction, known as a pyroclastic cloud, smothers the silhouette.

After dark, lightning strikes caused by energy released from the eruption can be seen every few seconds. Perhaps most likely, scientists say, the volcano will erupt slowly and grow foot by foot, piling fresh lava on top of old. Over time, the cone will again push higher above the surface. Officials said Saturday the volcano’s smaller size makes the chance of another large collapse unlikely.

Indonesia’s Volatile Child of Krakatau Collapsed, but Now It’s More Explosive

The Child of Krakatau is still going full steam. The vent is now underwater and causing quite a display.

The forces of mother nature are amazing. The results are not always beneficial to humans though. These forces can kill when they create and change the Earth. It has been going on for millions of years and will continue until the Sun goes supernova.

All humans can do is learn and try to be smart about where they build and live. We can prepare for future events, try to predict them and even spread our race to other planets to ensure it's survival.

Not much we can do to stop the Earth from changing, we are weak compared to the forces of the Earth.

Some recent pics:

Just came across this from the BBC. Looks like close to 3/4 of the lost mass from Child of Krakatau slid into the sea at one time causing 5 meter high waves.

What was once a volcanic cone standing some 340m high is now just 110m tall, says the PVMBG. In terms of volume, 150-170 million cubic metres of material has gone, leaving only 40-70 million cubic metres still in place. Quite how much mass was lost on 22 December itself and how much in the following days is unknown. Scientists may have a better idea once they have had a chance to visit the volcano and conduct more extensive surveys. But with the eruptions still ongoing and a safety exclusion zone in force - no-one is going near Anak Krakatau.

Anak Krakatau: Indonesian volcano's dramatic collapse

a reply to: LookingAtMars

This image gives a better idea of what happened.

a reply to: LookingAtMars

I don't pay for the WSJ so I can't read your source.
Here are some radar images from the BBC that are quite dramatic.

What was once a volcanic cone standing some 340m high is now just 110m tall, says the PVMBG.

In terms of volume, 150-170 million cubic metres of material has gone, leaving only 40-70 million cubic metres still in place.

So roughly 2/3 of the island collapsed.
Can't wait to see actual video of the remains when it clears up.
S&F

I think this (older) picture of the volcano shows the side that collapsed.Extremely steep, and probably more so beneath the surface of the water since the lava would solidify faster.

The mountain has been growing fast, too fast, ever since it first showed up.


en.tempo.co...&view=ok

originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: LookingAtMars

This image gives a better idea of what happened.

Thanks to you and stosh64 for the images and links. I don't pay either If you go to the story from Drudge you can read the whole report. Didn't realize that till it was too late.

Video. Scary video.