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During the first few months of 2003
Semeru experienced a period of high activity.
There were numerous white ash plume eruptions every
week, with the larger ones reaching approximately 700 m
above the cone. Pyroclastic flows were also frequently
reported; the largest one traveling nearly 9 km from the
cone. During the later months of the eruptive
period lava avalanches were frequent. The warning
level during this time was at 2 on a scale of 1-4.
VEI: 1 & Vulcanian
I am assigning this eruption a VEI of
1 primarily based on the ash plume height. The
largest eruption sent up an ash column ~700 m above the
cone. VEI 1 eruptions are described as having ash
columns of 0.1-1 km in height.
I classified this eruption as a
vulcanian eruption mainly because that is how Semeru's
eruptions are usually classified. However, the eruption
features also fit the style of vulcanian eruptions.
The constant white ash plumes are characteristic of
vulcanian eruptions. Vulcanian eruptions are also
known to have pyroclastic flows occasionally and lava
avalanches or lava bombs, both of which it did have. |