What caused the 2014 eruption of Mount Tavurvur in Papua New Guinea?

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In summary, the explosion at Mount Tavurvur in Papua New Guinea has caused some stunning footage to go viral on social media.
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Astronuc
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Mt. Tavurvur, located near the town of Rabaul in the eastern region of Papua New Guinea, has erupted again.

Some folks have captured video and images of the eruption.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trendin...otage--images-of-volcano-blast-171516353.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...mount-tavurvur-explodes-in-spectacular-style/

http://www.theguardian.com/world/vi...avurvur-volcano-erupts-papua-new-guinea-video

Tavuvur is a pyroclastic shield volcano.
http://www.volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=252140

The low-lying Rabaul caldera on the tip of the Gazelle Peninsula at the NE end of New Britain forms a broad sheltered harbor utilized by what was the island's largest city prior to a major eruption in 1994. The outer flanks of the 688-m-high asymmetrical pyroclastic shield volcano are formed by thick pyroclastic-flow deposits. The 8 x 14 km caldera is widely breached on the east, where its floor is flooded by Blanche Bay and was formed about 1400 years ago. An earlier caldera-forming eruption about 7100 years ago is now considered to have originated from Tavui caldera, offshore to the north. Three small stratovolcanoes lie outside the northern and NE caldera rims of Rabaul. Post-caldera eruptions built basaltic-to-dacitic pyroclastic cones on the caldera floor near the NE and western caldera walls.

Update: some stunning images and video -
http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/png-volcano-tavurvur-eruption-may-disrupt-australian-flights/story-e6frfq80-1227040827996
 
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  • #2
Only 3 hrs flight from home
so wish I had the funds to travel to these events

thanks for the links :)

cheers
Dave
 
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  • #5
Nice! :thumbs:
 
  • #6
awesome

I wonder why only some eruptions like that produce such an intense shockwave ?

this one at Anak Krakatau didn't with any of its explosive bursts...



Dave
 
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  • #7
davenn said:
awesome

I wonder why only some eruptions like that produce such a shockwave ?

this one at Anak Krakatau didn't with any of its explosive bursts...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DPchWu5GB4MHaven't figured out how to embed the video :frown:Dave
You just need to put the v= section into the YOUTUBE tags (DPchWu5GB4M for yours). Don't include anything else like &t=. On the advanced tab, it's the one that looks like a TV. You can also quote another post that has embedded a video to see how it looks.
 
  • #8
ohh yeah!

I always wondered how to do that

thanks mate

Dave
 

1. What caused the Mount Tavurvur eruption in 2014?

The eruption of Mount Tavurvur in 2014 was caused by a buildup of pressure and magma beneath the surface of the volcano. This pressure eventually became too great, causing an explosive eruption.

2. Was there any warning before the eruption?

Yes, there were several small earthquakes and increased seismic activity leading up to the eruption, which were monitored by scientists. This helped to provide some warning before the actual eruption occurred.

3. How long did the eruption last?

The eruption of Mount Tavurvur lasted for approximately 6 days, from August 29th to September 4th, 2014. However, there were smaller eruptions and ash emissions that continued for several weeks afterwards.

4. What were the effects of the eruption?

The eruption caused significant damage to surrounding communities and infrastructure, including the destruction of homes and buildings, and disruptions to air and sea transportation. The ash plume also affected air quality and visibility in the area.

5. Has Mount Tavurvur erupted since 2014?

No, there have not been any major eruptions from Mount Tavurvur since 2014. However, the volcano is still active and has had smaller eruptions and ash emissions in recent years. Scientists continue to monitor the volcano for any potential activity.

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