Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Volcanic tsunami: a review of source mechanisms, past events and hazards in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Southeast Asia has had both volcanic tsunamis and possesses some of the most densely populated, economically important and rapidly developing coastlines in the world. This contribution provides a review of volcanic tsunami hazard in Southeast Asia. Source mechanisms of tsunami related to eruptive and gravitational processes are presented, together with a history of past events in the region. A review of available data shows that many volcanoes are potentially tsunamigenic and present often neglected hazard to the rapidly developing coasts of the region. We highlight crucial volcanic provinces in Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea and propose strategies for facing future events.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antonopoulos J (1992) The great Minoan eruption of Thera volcano and the ensuing tsunami in the Greek Archipelago. Nat Hazards 5:153–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arculus A, Johnson RW (1981) 1937 Rabaul eruptions, Papua New Guinea: translations of contemporary accounts by German missionaries. Bureau of Mineral Resources Geology and Geophysics, Australia, Report 229, BMR Microform MF 158, 78 pp

  • Auker MR, Sparks RSJ, Siebert L, Crosweller HS, Ewert J (2013) A statistical analysis of the global historical volcanic fatalities record. J Appl Volcanol 2:2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Begét JE (2000) Volcanic tsunamis. In: Sigurdsson H, Houghton B, Mc Nutt SR, Rymer H, Stix J (eds) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic Press, New York, pp 1005–1013

    Google Scholar 

  • Begèt JE, Gardner C, Davis K (2008) Volcanic tsunamis and prehistorical cultural transitions in Cook Inlet, Alaska. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 176:377–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belousov A, Voight B, Belousova M, Muravyev Y (2000) Tsunamis generated by underwater volcanic explosions: unique data from 1996 eruption in Karymskoye Lake, Kamchatka, Russia. Pure Appl Geophys 157:1135–1143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berninghausen WH (1969) Tsunamis and seismic seiches of Southeast Asia. Bull Seismol Soc Am 59:289–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Blong RJ, McKee CO (1995) The Rabaul eruption 1994—destruction of a town. Natural Hazards Research Center, Macquarie University, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Camus G, Gourgaud A, Vincent PM (1987) Petrologic evolution of Krakatau (Indonesia): implications for a future activity. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 33:299–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carey S, Sigurdsson H, Mandeville C, Bronto S (2000) Volcanic hazards from pyroclastic flow discharge into the sea: examples from the 1883 eruption of Krakatau, Indonesia. Geological Society of America Special Publication, vol 345, pp 1–14

  • Carracedo JC, Pérez Torrado FJ, Rodríguez Gonzáles A, Soler V, Fernández Turiel JL, Troll VR, Wiesmaier S (2012) The 2011 submarine volcanic eruption in El Hierro (Canary Islands). Geol Today 28(2):53–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cas RAF, Wright JV (1991) Subaqueous pyroclastic flows and ignimbrites: an assessment. Bull Volcanol 53:357–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casadevall TJ, Pardyanto L, Abas H, Tulus (1989) The 1988 eruption of Banda Api volcano, Maluku, Indonesia. Geol Indonesia 12:603–635

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi BH, Pelinovsky E, Kim KO, Lee JS (2003) Simulation of the trans-oceanic tsunami propagation due to the 1883 Krakatau volcanic eruption. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 3:321–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke RJS (1981) Eruptive history of the volcano at Ritter Island. Geol Surv Papua New Guinea Mem 10:115–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox DC (1970) Discussion of “Tsunamis and seismic seiches of Southeast Asia” by W. H. Berninghausen. Bull Seismol Soc Am 60:281–287

    Google Scholar 

  • de Lange WP, Prasetya GS, Healy TR (2001) Modelling of tsunamis generated by pyroclastic flows (ignimbrites). Nat Hazards 24:251–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deplus C, Bonvalot S, Dahrin D, Diament M, Harjono H, Dubois J (1995) Inner structure of the Krakatoa volcanic complex (Indonesia) from gravity and bathymetry data. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 64:23–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dietz RS, Sheehy MJ (1954) Transpacific detection of Myojin volcanic explosions by underwater sound. Bull Geol Soc Am 65:941–965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dominey-Howes DTM (2004) A re-analysis of the Late Bronze Age eruption and tsunami of Santorini, Greece, and their implications for the volcano-tsunami hazard. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 130:107–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dominey-Howes D (2007) Geological and historical records of Australian tsunami. Mar Geol 239:99–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Everingham IB (1977) Preliminary catalogue of tsunamis for the New Guinea/Solomon Islands region 1768–1972. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra, Australia, Report 180, 78 pp

  • Francis PW (1985) The origin of the 1883 Krakatau tsunamis. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 25:349–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freundt A (2003) Entrance of hot pyroclastic flows into the sea: experimental observations. Bull Volcanol 65:144–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Freundt A, Strauch W, Kutterolf S, Schmincke HU (2007) Volcanogenic tsunamis in lakes: examples from Nicaragua and general implications. Pure Appl Geophys 164:527–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giachetti T, Paris R, Kelfoun K (2011) Numerical modelling of the tsunami triggered by the Güìmar debris avalanche, Tenerife (Canary Islands): comparison with field-based data. Mar Geol 284:189–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giachetti T, Paris R, Kelfoun K, Ontowirjo B (2012) Tsunami hazard related to a flank collapse of Anak Krakatau volcano, Sunda Strait, Indonesia. Geological Society, Special Publication, London, vol 361, pp 79–89

  • Hamzah L, Puspita NT, Imamura F (2000) Tsunami catalogue and zones in Indonesia. J Nat Disaster Sci 22(1):25–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann-Rothe A, Ibs-von Seht M, Knieß R, Faber E, Klinge K, Reichert C, Atje Purbawinata M, Patria C (2006) Monitoring Anak Krakatau Volcano in Indonesia. EOS Trans Am Geophys Union 87(51):581–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ichinose GA, Anderson JG, Satake K, Schweickart RA, Lahren MM (2000) The potential hazard from tsunami and seiche waves generated by large earthquakes within Lake Tahoe, California-Nevada. Geophys Res Lett 27(8):1203–1206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwasaki SI (1997) The wave forms and directivity of a tsunami generated by an earthquake and a landslide. Sci Tsunami Hazards 15:23–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson RW (1987) Large-scale volcanic cone collapse; the 1888 slope failure of Ritter volcano. Bull Volcanol 49:669–679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson RW, Threlfall NA (1985) Volcano town. The 1937-43 Rabaul eruptions. Publ. Robert Brown & Associates, Buranda

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson RW, Tuni D (1987) Kavachi, an active forearc volcano in the western Solomon Islands: reported eruptions between 1950 and 1982. In: Taylor B, Exon NF (eds) Marine geology, geophysics, and geochemistry of the Woodlark Basin, Solomon Islands. Circum-pacific council for energy and mineral resources, earth science series, vol 7, pp 89–112

  • Katili JA, Sudradjat A (1984) The devastating 1983 eruption of Colo volcano, Una–Una Island, central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Geol Jahrb 75:27–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Keating BH, McGuire WJ (2000) Island edifice failures and associated tsunami hazards. Pure Appl Geophys 157:899–955

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelfoun K, Giachetti T, Labazuy P (2010) Landslide-generated tsunamis at Reunion Island. J Geophys Res. doi:10.1029/2009JF001381

  • Kienle J, Kowalik Z, Murty TS (1987) Tsunamis generated by eruptions from Mount St. Augustine Volcano, Alaska. Science 236:1442–1447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lassa J (2009) The forgotten disaster? Remembering the Larantuka and Lembata disaster 1979-2009. J NTT Stud (in Indonesian)

  • Latter JN (1981) Tsunamis of volcanic origin: summary of causes with particular references to Krakatoa, 1883. Bull Volcanol 44(3):467–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lau AYA, Switzer AD, Dominey-Howes D, Aitchison JC, Zong Y (2010) Written records of historical tsunamis in the northeastern South China Sea—challenges associated with developing a new integrated database. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 10:1793–1806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Legros F, Druitt TH (2000) On the emplacement of ignimbrite in shallow-marine environments. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 95:9–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Løvholt F, Kühn D, Bungum H, Harbitz CB, Glimsdal S (2012) Historical tsunamis and present tsunami hazard in eastern Indonesia and the southern Philippines. J Geophys Res 117:B09310

    Google Scholar 

  • Maeno F, Imamura F (2007) Numerical investigations of tsunamis generated by pyroclastic flows from the Kikai caldera, Japan. Geophys Res Lett 34:L23303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maeno F, Imamura F (2011) Tsunami generation by a rapid entrance of pyroclastic flow into the sea during the 1883 Krakatau eruption, Indonesia. J Geophys Res 116:B09205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maramai A, Graziani L, Alessio G, Burrato P, Colini L, Cucci L, Nappi R, Nardi A, Vilardo G (2005) Near- and far-field survey report of the 30 December 2002 Stromboli (Southern Italy) tsunami. Mar Geol 215:93–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maso SJ, Saderra M (1904) Volcanoes and seismic centers of the Philippines Archipelago. Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census of the Philippine Islands, 80 pp

  • Maso SJ, Saderra M (1911) The eruption of Taal volcano, January 30, 1911, Philippines Islands. Department of the Interior, Weather Bureau, Manila

    Google Scholar 

  • Masson DG, Watts AB, Gee MRJ, Urgeles R, Mitchell NC, Le Bas TP, Canals M (2002) Slope failures on the flanks of the western Canary Islands. Earth-Sci Rev 57:1–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCoy FW, Heiken G (2000) Tsunami generated by the Late Bronze age eruption of Thera (Santorini), Greece. Pure Appl Geophys 157:1227–1256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMurtry GM, Watts P, Fryer GJ, Smith JR, Imamura F (2004) Giant landslides, mega-tsunamis and paleo-sea level in the Hawaiian Islands. Mar Geol 203:219–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishiue M, Hinokidani O, Miyamoto K (1999) Study on the Mayuyama tsunami disaster in 1792. Proceedings of the 28th congress of IAHR, CD-R d141.pdf

  • Moore JG, Moore GW (1984) Deposit from a giant wave on the island of Lanai, Hawaii. Science 226:1312–1315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore JG, Nakamura K, Alcaraz A (1966) The 1965 eruption of Taal volcano. Science 151:955–960

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore JG, Clague DA, Holcomb RT, Lipman PW, Normark WR, Torresan ME (1989) Prodigious submarine landslides on the Hawaiian Ridge. J Geophys Res 94:17465–17484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newhall CG, Self S (1982) The volcanic explosivity index (VEI): an estimate of explosive magnitude for historical volcanism. J Geophys Res 87(C2):1231–1238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nishimura Y (2008) Volcanism-induced tsunamis and tsunamiites. In: Shiki T, Tsuji Y, Yamazaki T, Minoura K (eds) Tsunamiites—features and implications. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 163–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishimura Y, Nakagawa M, Kuduon J, Wukawa J (2005) Timing and scale of tsunamis caused by the 1994 Rabaul eruption, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea. In: Satake K (ed) Tsunamis: case studies and recent developments. Springer, New York, pp 43–56

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nomanbhoy N, Satake K (1995) Generation mechanism of tsunamis from the 1883 Krakatau eruption. Geophys Res Lett 22(4):509–512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oehler JF, Labazuy P, Lénat JF (2004) Recurrence of major flank landslides during the last 2-Ma-history of Réunion Island. Bull Volcanol 66:585–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paris R, Giachetti T, Chevalier J, Guillou H, Frank N (2011) Tsunami deposits in Santiago Island (Cape Verde archipelago) as possible evidence of a massive flank failure of Fogo volcano. Sediment Geol 239:129–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelinovsky E, Zahibo N, Dunkley P, Edmonds M, Herd R, Talipova T, Kozelkov A, Nikolkina I (2004) Tsunamis generated by the volcano eruption on July 12–13, 2003 at Montserrat, Lesser Antilles. Sci Tsunami Hazards 22:44–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérez Torrado FJ, Paris R, Cabrera MC, Schneider JL, Wassmer P, Carracedo JC, Rodriguez Santana A, Santana F (2006) The Agaete tsunami deposits (Gran Canaria): evidence of tsunamis related to flank collapses in the Canary Islands. Mar Geol 227(1–2):137–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramos EG (2002) Origin and geologic features of Taal Lake, Philippines. Aquat Ecosyst Health Manag 5(2):155–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rynn J (2002) A preliminary assessment of tsunami hazard and risk in the Indonesian region. Sci Tsunami Hazards 20(4):193–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Self S (1992) Krakatau revisited: the course of events and interpretation of the 1883 eruption. GeoJournal 282:109–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Self S, Rampino MR (1981) The 1883 eruption of Krakatau. Nature 294:699–704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siebert L, Glicken H, Ui T (1987) Volcanic hazards from Bezymianny and Banda type eruptions. Bull Volcanol 49:435–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silver E, Day S, Ward S, Hoffman G, Llanes P, Driscoll N, Appelgate B, Saunders S (2009) Volcano collapse and tsunami generation in the Bismarck volcanic arc, Papua New Guinea. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 186:210–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simkin T, Fiske RS (1983) Krakatau 1883: the volcanic eruption and its effects. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith MS, Shepherd JB (1993) Preliminary investigations of the tsunami hazard of Kick ‘em Jenny submarine volcano. Nat Hazards 7:257–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith MS, Shepherd JB (1995) Potential Cauchy-Poisson waves generated by submarine eruptions of Kick’em Jenny Volcano. Nat Hazards 11:75–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soloviev SL, Go CN (1974) A catalogue of tsunamis on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Nauka Publishing House, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Soloviev SL, Go CN, Kim KS (1992) Catalog of tsunamis in Pacific. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, Translated by Amerind Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Stehn CE (1929) The geology and volcanism of the Krakatau group. Part 1. 4th pacific science congress, Batavia, Guidebook, pp 1–55

  • Stothers RB (1984) The great Tambora eruption in 1815 and its aftermath. Science 224:1191–1198

    Google Scholar 

  • Tinti S, Pagnoni G, Zaniboni F (2006) The landslides and tsunamis of the 30th of December 2002 in Stromboli analysed through numerical simulations. Bull Volcanol 68:462–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torsvik T, Paris R, Didenkulova I, Pelinovsky E, Belousov A, Belousova M (2010) Numerical simulation of explosive tsunami wave generation and propagation in Karymskoye Lake, Russia. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 10(11):2359–2369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuji Y, Hino T (1993) Damage and inundation height of the 1792 Shimabara landslide tsunami along the coast of Kumamoto prefecture. Bull Earthq Res Inst Univ Tokyo 68(2):91–176

    Google Scholar 

  • van Padang N (1951) Indonesia. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome, IAVCEI, vol 1, pp 1–271

  • van Padang M (1953) Philippine Islands and Cochin China. Catalog of active volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome, IAVCEI, vol 2, pp 1–49

  • Verbeek RM (1886) Krakatau. Batavia, Imprimerie de l’Etat, 567 pp

  • Walker GPL (1979) A volcanic ash generated by explosions where ignimbrite entered the sea. Nature 281:642–646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward SN, Day S (2003) Ritter Island volcano—lateral collapse and the tsunami of 1888. Geophys J Int 154:891–902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts P, Waythomas CF (2003) Theoretical analysis of tsunami generation by pyroclastic flows. J Geophys Res 108(12):2563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waythomas CF, Watts P (2003) Numerical simulation of tsunami generation by pyroclastic flow at Aniakchak volcano, Alaska. Geophys Res Lett 30(14):1751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wharton WJL (1888) On the seismic sea waves caused by the eruption of Krakatoa, August 26th and 27th, 1883. In: Symons GJ (ed) The eruption of Krakatau, and subsequent phenomena. Report of the Krakatau Committee of the Royal Society. Publ. Trubner, London, pp 89–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama I (1978) The tsunami caused by the prehistoric eruption of Thera. In: Doumas C (ed) Thera and the Aegean World I, Part one. Geosciences, London, pp 277–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama I (1981) A geophysical interpretation of the 1883 Krakatau eruption. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 9:359–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yokoyama I (1987) A scenario of the 1883 Krakatau tsunami. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 34:123–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are particularly grateful to Dale Dominey-Howes and an anonymous reviewer, who provided very detailed comments and significantly improved the quality of the manuscript, and to Yudhicara, who provided reference on the 1979 Iliwerung landslide tsunami. This research is partially supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore under its Singapore NRF Fellowship scheme (National Research Fellow Award No. NRF-RF2010-04), by the Laboratory of Excellence ClerVolc (Clermont-Ferrand France) and by the FEDER. Additional funding came from EOS which is supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore and the Singapore Ministry of Education under the Research Centres of Excellence initiative. This is Laboratory of Excellence ClerVolc contribution no 70. This is Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) contribution 54.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, BP 10448, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Raphaël Paris & Martina Ulvrova

  2. CNRS, UMR 6524, Magmas et Volcans, 63038, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Raphaël Paris

  3. Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Adam D. Switzer, Marina Belousova, Alexander Belousov & Patrick L. Whelley

  4. Division of Earth Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Adam D. Switzer

  5. BPDP BPPT, Jakarta, 10340, Indonesia

    Budianto Ontowirjo

Authors
  1. Raphaël Paris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adam D. Switzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marina Belousova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alexander Belousov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Budianto Ontowirjo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Patrick L. Whelley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Martina Ulvrova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raphaël Paris.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paris, R., Switzer, A.D., Belousova, M. et al. Volcanic tsunami: a review of source mechanisms, past events and hazards in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea). Nat Hazards 70, 447–470 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0822-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0822-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation