VolcaPot de Samantha Engwell, British Geological Survey

Insight into the December 2018 Anak Krakatau eruption from observations, field and historical perspectives

Eruptive activity at the Krakatau volcanic complex has included large, caldera forming eruptions, through to relatively small, continuous eruptions over the past 150 years. Both types of activity have resulted in the formation of devasting tsunamis, with the 1883 eruption resulting in 30000 fatalities, and the Dec 2018 event killing 426 people. Despite such devastating consequences, there are still gaps in our knowledge regarding the dynamics of these tsunami-forming events, and the associated eruptions. Here, I present an analysis of eruptive activity during the 2018 eruption. Observations from a field campaign to Krakatau in August 2019 are described, alongside an analysis of contemporary eyewitness accounts and imagery, and monitoring information from the local observatory. This information is used to aid understanding of the eruptive activity at Krakatau during the Dec 2018 event, and put it in context with past eruptive activity at this volcano. I also present a longer-term perspective on the setting and growth history of Anak Krakatau, evaluating how this played a role in the magnitude and geometry of the lateral collapse.