Global Volcanism Program

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Serua.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Serua.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Serua.

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

Seroea | Sorea | Legatala | Legetala | Legelala

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Wuarlapna, Gunung

Dome

641 m

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

265070

1921 CE

608 m / 1,995 ft

6.312°S
130.017°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano
Lava dome

Rock Types

Major
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Oceanic crust (< 15 km)

Population

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

58
58
58
258

Geological Summary

The 2 x 4 km island of Serua is the emergent summit of a volcano rising 3,600 m above the Banda Sea floor. A truncated central cone surrounded by an old crater wall is capped by the Gunung Wuarlapna lava dome. This andesitic volcano, also known as Legatala, lies near the center of the Banda arc and has had many eruptions recorded since the 17th century.

References

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

Jezek P A, Hutchison C S, 1978. Banda Arc of Eastern Indonesia: petrology and geochemistry of volcanic rocks. Bull Volcanol, 41: 586-608.

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.

Sudradjat A, 1977. (pers. comm.).

Eruptive History

There is data available for 10 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1921 Sep 18 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

Summit and south flank

1921 Sep 18 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at Summit and south flank

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Avalanche	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)	Before.
- - - -	- - - -	Evacuations
1921 Sep 18	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1919 Nov Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1919 Nov - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)	Time and Type Unknown.
- - - -	- - - -	Crater	Summit.
1919 Nov	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1859 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1859 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Uncertain
1859	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1858 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1858 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
1858	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1846 Sep (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1846 Sep (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
	1846 Sep (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1845 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1845 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
	1845	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1844 Aug - 1844 Sep Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1844 Aug - 1844 Sep

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Audible Sounds
- - - -	- - - -	Evacuations
1844 Aug	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1694 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

1694 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	1694	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1693 Jun 4 - 1693 Jul Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

1693 Jun 4 - 1693 Jul

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 8 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava lake
- - - -	- - - -	Ash	violent, strong, or large
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
- - - -	- - - -	Evacuations
1693 Jun 4	- - - -	Fatalities
1693 Jun 4	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1692 Jun 4 (?) ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1692 Jun 4 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain

1687 Jun 15 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

1687 Jun 15 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	1687 Jun 15	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1683 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

1683 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	1683	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Serua.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Serua.

Photo Gallery

The summit of Gunung Serua volcano is seen here from the village of Lesluru on its eastern flank. Serua, also known as Legatala, is elongated in a NW-SE direction and capped by a summit lava dome.

Photo courtesy of Volcanological Survey of Indonesia, 1978.

Gunung Wuarlapna, viewed here from the SW, is a blocky lava dome that marks the 641-m-high summit of Gunung Serua volcano.

Photo by Ruska Hadian, 1975 (published in Kusumadinata, 1979 "Data Dasar Gunungapi Indonesia").

The small 2 x 4 km island of Serua, seen here from off its southern coast, is the emergent summit of a volcano rising 3600 m above the Banda Sea floor. The 641-m-high truncated central cone is surrounded by an old somma wall. A lava dome forms the summit of Gunung Serua, which is elongated in a NE-SW direction. Serua, also known as Legatala, is one of the most active of the Banda Sea volcanoes, with many eruptions recorded since the 17th century.

Photo by Ruska Hadian, 1975 (published in Kusumadinata 1979, "Data Dasar Gununapi Indonesia").

The small, 2 x 4 km island of Serua, seen here from the north, is elongated in a NE-SW direction. An unvegetated lava dome forms the summit of the volcano, which rises 3600 m above the Banda Sea floor. The 641-m-high truncated central cone is surrounded by an old somma wall. Serua, also known as Legatala, is one of the most active of the Banda Sea volcanoes, with many eruptions recorded since the 17th century.

Copyrighted photo by Michael Thirnbeck, 2007.

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Serua 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 Serua. 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 Serua. 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 Serua

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).