Mahawu

Sulawesi

SUMMARY:

Type: composite
Activity: active
Last Eruption: 1987 AD
Rock Type: ?
Eruptive Volume: ? cu km
Location Map from Xerox PARC
Latitude: 1.36 N
Longitude: 124.86 E

GEOLOGIC HISTORY

The elongated Mahawu volcano immediately east of Lokon-Empung volcano is the northernmost of a series of young volcanoes along a SSW-NNE line near the margin of the Quaternary Tondano caldera. Mahawu is capped by a 180-m-wide, 140-m-deep crater that sometimes contains a small crater lake, and has two pyroclastic cones on its northern flank.

Historic Activity:

  • At least 6 eruptions since 1788. Eurptions in 1788, 1789, 1846, 1904, 1952, 1958, and 1978.

Recent Activity:

  • Increase temperature in crater lake and white plume extending above crater from May 1987 to June 1987. Also increased seismicity from April 1987 to June 1987.
  • Mahawu began to show signs of renewed activity in mid November. Temperatures increased at the solfataras and fumaroles in and around the crater lake.

Data Sources

  • Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin (V. 12, No. 4 to V. 12, No. 8)
  • Global Volcanism Network (V. 16, No. 11 and V. 19, No. 8).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Last Update: 2/29/00