Kavachi volcano is a shallow submarine volcano located south of the remote Vangunu Island in the Solomons. It is also known as Rejo te Kvachi, "Kavachi's Oven", and one of the most active of the Pacific with near surface eruptions every few years that often build temporary islands. The villagers of Telina in the Marovo Lagoon in the Solomon Islands live in fear of their paradise invaded by debris from an eruption of the submarine volcano Kavachi.
New islands were formed at least 9 times since its first recorded eruption during 1939. The new islands formed were not large enough and coated with solid lava flows to be able to resist wave erosion. They were submerged again after a few months after each eruption.
The frequent shallow submarine eruptions that sometimes breach the surface produce Surtseyan activity, magma-water explosions that eject jets of steam, ash, and incandescent bombs above the sea surface. On some occasions during such eruptions, the vent was sealed sufficiently to produce liquid lava spattering and lava flows on the temporary islands.
Eruption
2007 eruption, Earthquake and tsunami On 2 April 2007, the Solomon Islands were struck by a major (8.1 magnitude) earthquake followed by a large tsunami. The eruption possibly triggered the small eruption of Kavachi volcano observed at the same time.
2004 eruption, After 8 months of slumber, an eruption on 15 March 2004 breached the water surface above Kavachi volcano, producing spectacular roster-tail ash jets caused by explosive magma-water interaction.
2001-2002 eruptions
Kavachi volcano was active throughout most 2001-2003 and produced a new island in October-November 2002. A particularly intense phase was noted during infrequent visits between Augusts to mid-September 2001 when there were daily explosions that breached the surface. During August ash and volcanic blocks were observed being ejected up to about 400 m above the surface, and at night, lava glow was visible from the coast of Gatokae (Nggatokae) Island 32 km NE of Kavachi.
In October and November 2002 Kavachi formed a new island that reached 10-15 m above sea level. The island was still visible in August 2003, but had disappeared in September, when the summit of the volcano was measured at 32 m below sea level.
2000 eruption, Scientist onboard the Australian research ship R/V Franklin observed an eruption of Kavachi on 14 May 2000. The summit of the volcano was at only 2-5 m below the sea surface and there was intense Surtseyan activity with explosions producing rooster-tail jets of ash, steam, blocks and incandescent lava blocks that were thrown up to 70 m height. The ash plume reached about 500 m height.
1997 eruption, A Solair pilot reported eruptions of Kavachi volcano on 16-17 January 1997, with ash plumes reaching 2100 m altitude. On 29 January the sea water near the volcano was discolored and dirty, but no eruptions.
1991 eruption, The eruptions of Kavachi volcano in 1991 formed a new temporary island first observed on 45 May during a Western Pacific Air helicopter overflight. The island was 300x150 m wide, 30 m high and contained a lava lake of 50 m diameter in its crater. The location of the new island was about 3 km NE of Kavachi's summit, placed at 9.00°S, 157.97°E.
On 5 June, a vigorously active lava fountain reaching about 25 m high and producing an ash plume more than 2,500 m height were observed. After a phase of powerful explosions, the eruption ended in late June and the island disappeared quickly.
1985-86 eruptions
A new eruption at Kavachi volcano started on 9 December 1985. During an overflight on 31 Dec, ejections of rock, mud and steam to a height of 30 m above the ocean surface were observed. The eruption did not form an island and ended by around 3 March 1986. A second eruption occurred in July 1986, when explosions up to 60-90 m height were observed, with incandescent lava blocks in the inner parts of the ejections. The July eruption only lasted 2 days.
1980-81 eruption
A new small eruption of Kavachi was observed on 7 October. A mixture of water, steam, and blocks were ejected intermittently to more than 100 m above the ocean surface and the sea water above the vent was slightly discolored. The eruption continued until after 25 February 1981 and ended sometime before mid-September 1981.
1978 eruption
On 21 June 1978, a new eruption of Kavachi volcano was discovered. During an overflight, a new 1 meter height island was found that had a flat circular shape and measured 30-50 m diameter. There were occasional weak explosions ejecting ash and scoria, and the perimeter of the island was steaming.
When next observed on 28 July, the eruption had ended. A small rocky island, about 15 m long, 5 m wide and no more than 3 m high remained at the eruption site. The island was expected to be destroyed by wave action within a few days to a few weeks.
1977 eruption
A small eruption occurred at Kavachi volcano in July 1977, producing small Surtseyan explosions at about 30 second intervals.
1976 eruption: new island
Following 6 years with no known activity, a new eruption of Kavachi was first observed on 24 August 1976. A fountain of water and volcanic ejecta reached 30 m height.
The eruption quickly increased and explosions reached about 60 m on 4 September, when a change of the eruption column from white steam and spray to "smoke" (=ash) was noted. Eruption height on 7 Sep was 90 m, and a cone surfaced 1.5-3 m above sea level later that day and was seen erupting lava. The next day, the cone had grown to 9 m above sea level and measured 40 m across. Liquid lava was seen from its vent and a lava flow poured to the NW. Strombolian activity threw incandescent bombs to 150 m height.
The eruption was weaker on 9 September and the island showed signs of breaking up by wave erosion. The lava flow ended between 9-11 Sep, but explosions continued at intervals between 30 s - 2 minutes.
On 13 October, explosions continued, but the island had disappeared. At the site, the sea was discolored over an area of 100 m. Ejections reached about 30 m height.
The eruption ended probably in late October.
| Kavachi | |
| Highest point | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | −20 m (−66 ft) |
| Coordinates | 9°1′0″S 157°57′0″ECoordinates: 9°1′0″S 157°57′0″E |
| Geography | |
| Location | Solomon Islands |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Submarine volcano |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Bougainville & Solomon Is. |
| Last eruption | January 2014 |
