Complex hazard cascade culminating in the Anak Krakatau sector collapse

Thomas R. Walter (), Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi, Felix M. Schneider, Diego Coppola, Mahdi Motagh, Joachim Saul, Andrey Babeyko, Torsten Dahm, Valentin R. Troll, Frederik Tilmann, Sebastian Heimann, Sébastien Valade, Rahmat Triyono, Rokhis Khomarudin, Nugraha Kartadinata, Marco Laiolo, Francesco Massimetti and Peter Gaebler
Additional contact information
Thomas R. Walter: Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi: Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Felix M. Schneider: Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Diego Coppola: Università di Torino
Mahdi Motagh: Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Joachim Saul: Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Andrey Babeyko: Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Torsten Dahm: Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Valentin R. Troll: Uppsala University, Villavägen 16
Frederik Tilmann: Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Sebastian Heimann: Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Sébastien Valade: Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Rahmat Triyono: Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG), Jl. Angkasa 1 No. 2
Rokhis Khomarudin: LAPAN, Remote Sensing Application Center, Jl. Kalisari N0. 8
Nugraha Kartadinata: CVGHM - Geological Agency of Indonesia, Jl. Diponegoro No. 57
Marco Laiolo: Università di Torino
Francesco Massimetti: Università di Torino
Peter Gaebler: BGR, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Flank instability and sector collapses, which pose major threats, are common on volcanic islands. On 22 Dec 2018, a sector collapse event occurred at Anak Krakatau volcano in the Sunda Strait, triggering a deadly tsunami. Here we use multiparametric ground-based and space-borne data to show that prior to its collapse, the volcano exhibited an elevated state of activity, including precursory thermal anomalies, an increase in the island’s surface area, and a gradual seaward motion of its southwestern flank on a dipping décollement. Two minutes after a small earthquake, seismic signals characterize the collapse of the volcano’s flank at 13:55 UTC. This sector collapse decapitated the cone-shaped edifice and triggered a tsunami that caused 430 fatalities. We discuss the nature of the precursor processes underpinning the collapse that culminated in a complex hazard cascade with important implications for the early detection of potential flank instability at other volcanoes.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12284-5

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