Global Volcanism Program

Most Recent Weekly Report: 28 December-3 January 2012 Cite this Report

CVGHM lowered the Alert Level for Sorikmarapi on 30 December from 2 to 1 (on a scale of 1-4).

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)

Most Recent Bulletin Report: August 1996 (BGVN 21:08) Cite this Report

During May, "smoke" in vicinity reaches 10-km altitude

On the morning of 5 May 1996, Qantas Airlines reported "smoke" over Sumatra near Sorikmarapi to just above 10 km altitude. However, in a satellite pass about 2 hours earlier there was no evidence of an eruption.

Information Contacts: Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, P.O. Box 735, Darwin NT 0801, Australia.

Weekly Reports - Index

2011: December

28 December-3 January 2012 Cite this Report

CVGHM lowered the Alert Level for Sorikmarapi on 30 December from 2 to 1 (on a scale of 1-4).

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)

7 December-13 December 2011 Cite this Report

CVGHM reported increased seismicity from Sorik Marapi during 1-12 December and white plumes rose 40-50 m above the summit. CVGHM raised the Alert Level on 12 December from 1 to 2 (on a scale of 1-4) based on seismic data.

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

06/1986 (SEAN 11:06) Dark ash plume

07/1986 (SEAN 11:07) No new explosions

08/1987 (SEAN 12:08) Seismicity and fumarole temperatures increase

07/1989 (SEAN 14:07) Thermal activity; no shallow seismicity

12/1989 (GV11 89:12) Phreatic explosion ejects mud

08/1996 (BGVN 21:08) During May, "smoke" in vicinity reaches 10-km altitude

Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)

June 1986 (SEAN 11:06) Cite this Report

Dark ash plume

. . . on 5 July at 1520, a large dark ash plume was observed from Sibangor Tonga observation post. No additional explosions were recorded on 5 or 6 July.

Information Contacts: L. Pardyanto, Olas, Kaswanda, A. Sudradjat, and T. Casadevall, VSI.

July 1986 (SEAN 11:07) Cite this Report

No new explosions

The ash plume from the 5 July explosion reached 700 m above the summit. No additional explosions have been recorded.

Information Contacts: L. Pardyanto, Olas, Kaswanda, Suratman, A. Sudradjat, and T. Casadevall, VSI.

August 1987 (SEAN 12:08) Cite this Report

Seismicity and fumarole temperatures increase

Temperatures increased at two fumaroles during August: from 104 to 197°C at the N crater, and from 95 to 108°C at Sibangor Julu. White fume was almost continuously present, rising to ~100 m above the crater. In late August, seismic activity began to increase. By early September, near-surface earthquakes averaged ~7/day and deeper, tectonic earthquakes averaged ~40/day.

Information Contacts: VSI.

July 1989 (SEAN 14:07) Cite this Report

Thermal activity; no shallow seismicity

Normal activity continued in late July, with a weak gas plume reaching 5-10 m above the crater. The temperature of the crater solfatara was 185-190°C, while two surrounding solfataric areas measured 108-110°C and 97-115°C. Twenty-nine tectonic earthquakes (but no volcanic shocks) were recorded.

Information Contacts: VSI.

December 1989 (GV11 89:12)

Phreatic explosion ejects mud

[A single phreatic explosion rose 25 m above the Sibangor Tonga crater, spreading mud in a 5-m radius.]

Information Contacts: VSI.

August 1996 (BGVN 21:08) Cite this Report

During May, "smoke" in vicinity reaches 10-km altitude

On the morning of 5 May 1996, Qantas Airlines reported "smoke" over Sumatra near Sorikmarapi to just above 10 km altitude. However, in a satellite pass about 2 hours earlier there was no evidence of an eruption.

Information Contacts: Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, P.O. Box 735, Darwin NT 0801, Australia.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Sorieq Berapi | Seret Berapi | Sorikmerapi

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Kulabu

Cone

0° 41' 0" N

99° 29' 0" E

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Jurang Siunik

Crater

Merah, Danau

Crater

2063 m

Thermal

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Sibangor Julu
Sibanggor Djulu

Thermal

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

261120

1986 CE

2,145 m / 7,037 ft

0.686°N
99.539°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano

Rock Types

Major
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Dacite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

203
1,469
90,257
1,831,957

Geological Summary

Sorikmarapi is a forested stratovolcano with a 600-m-wide summit crater containing a lake and substantial sulfur deposits. A smaller upper SE flank crater (Danau Merah) also contains a crater lake; these two craters and a series of smaller explosion pits occur along a NW-SE line. Several solfatara fields are located on the E flank. Phreatic eruptions have occurred from summit and flank vents during the 19th and 20th centuries.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Kusumadinata K, 1979. Data Dasar Gunungapi Indonesia. Bandung: Volc Surv Indonesia, 820 p.

Neumann van Padang M, 1951. Indonesia. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome: IAVCEI, 1: 1-271.

Rock N M S, Aldiss D T, Aspden J A, Clarke M C G, Djunuddin A, Kartawa W, Miswar S J, Thompson R, Whandoyo, 1983. Geologic map of the Lubuksikaping quadrangle, Sumatra. Geol Res Devel Centre Indonesia, 1:250,000 map and 60 p text.

Rock N M S, Syah H H, Davis A E, Hutchison D, Styles M T, Lena R, 1982. Permian to Recent volcanism in northern Sumatra, Indonesia: a preliminary study of its distribution, chemistry, and peculiarities. Bull Volcanol, 45: 127-152.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 7 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

[ 1996 May 5 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1996 May 5 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
	- - - -	- - - -	Volcanic "smoke"

1986 Jul 5 - 1986 Jul 14 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption

1986 Jul 5 - 1986 Jul 14

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity	weak or small
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)
1986 Jul 5	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1970 Jul 2 ± 182 days Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1970 Jul 2 ± 182 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
1970	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1917 May 20 - 1917 May 20 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1917 May 20 - 1917 May 20

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
1917 May 20	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1893 Jan 4 - 1893 Jan 4 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

East flank (Sibanggor Julu)

1893 Jan 4 - 1893 Jan 4

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at East flank (Sibanggor Julu)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Blocks
1893 Jan 4	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1892 May 21 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

Summit and east flank (Jurang Siunik)

1892 May 21 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at Summit and east flank (Jurang Siunik)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)	Before.
- - - -	- - - -	Lahar or Mudflow
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
1892 May 21	- - - -	Fatalities
1892 May 21	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1888 Feb ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1888 Feb - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Volcanic "smoke"

1879 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1879 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	1879	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1866 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1866 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Volcanic "smoke"
	- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)

1829 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1829 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Bombs
1829 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Sorikmarapi.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Sorikmarapi.

Photo Gallery

Sorikmarapi, seen here from the west, is a forested stratovolcano with a 600-m-wide summit crater containing a crater lake and substantial sulfur deposits. Another crater lake is located on the upper SE flank and several small craters occur within the main crater and on the outer flanks. Small explosive eruptions have been documented from summit and flank vents in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Photo by Tom Casadevall, 1987 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Sorikmarapi volcano rises above older mountains to the north. The truncated summit contains a crater lake and a chain of smaller NW-SE-trending craters. Eruptions have been recorded from both summit and flank vents since the 19th century.

Anonymous, 1991.

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Sorikmarapi in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Sorikmarapi. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Sorikmarapi. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Sorikmarapi

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).