Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

The 1883 eruption of Krakatau

Nature volume 294, pages 699–704 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

The 1883 eruption of Krakatau was a modest ignimbrite-forming event. The deposits are primarily coarse-grained dacitic, non-welded ignimbrite. Large explosions produced pyroclastic flows that entered the sea, generating destructive tsunami. Grain-size studies of the ignimbrite suggest that these explosions were not driven by magma–seawater interaction. The total bulk volume of pyroclastic deposits, including co-ignimbrite ash, is estimated to be 18–21 km3.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Decker, R. W. & Hadikusumo, D. J. geophys. Res. 66, 3467–3511 (1961).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Yokoyama, I. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res., 9, 359–378 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Verbeek, R. D. M. Nature 30, 10–15 (1884).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Verbeek, R. D. M. Krakatau (Imprimerie de l'Etat, Batavia, (1886).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Self, S. & Sparks, R. S. J. Bull. volcan. 41–3, 1–17 (1978).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Walker, G. P. L. Nature 281, 642–646 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Williams, H. & McBirney, A. R. Geologic and Geophysical Features of Calderas (Center for Volcanology, University of Oregon, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Williams, H. Calderas and their Origin Vol. 25 (Bull. Dept Geol. Sei., University of California, Berkeley, 1941).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Westerveld, J. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 63, 561–594 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Stehn, C. Ch. in Proc. 4th Pacific Sci. Congr, Batavia I, 1–55 (1929).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Symons, G. J. (ed.) The Eruption of Krakatoa and Subsequent Phenomena (Rep. Krakatoa Committee of the Royal Society, Trübner, London, 1888).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fisher, R. V. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 6, 305–218 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Walker, G. P. L. Geol. Rdsh. 62, 431–446 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Self, S. J. geol. Soc. 132, 645–666 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sparks, R. S. J. & Wright, J. V. Geol. Soc. Am. spec. Pap. 180, 155–166 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sparks, R. S. J., Self, S. & Walker, G. P. L. Geology, 1, 115–118 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nairn, I. A. & Self, S. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 3, 39–60 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Fisher, R. V., Smith, A. L. & Roobol, M. J. Geology 8, 472–476 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sparks, R. S. J., Wilson, L. & Hulme, G. J. geophys. Res. 83, B4, 1727–1739 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Schminke, H.-U. Geol. Jb. A39, 3–45 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Self, S., Wilson, L. & Nairn, I. A. Nature 277, 440–443 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Wilson, L. J. Volcan., geotherm. Res., 8, 297–313 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sparks, R. S. J., Sigurdsson, H. & Wilson, L. Nature 267, 315–323 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Eichelberger, J. C. Nature 275, 21–27 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Rice, A. J. geophys. Res. 86, 405–417 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sparks, R. S. J. & Walker, G. P. L. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 2, 329–341 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wexler, H. Bull. Am. met. Soc. 33, 48–51 (1951).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Deirmendjian, D. Adv. Geophys. 16, 267–297 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Hansen, J. E., Wang, W.-C. & Lacis, A. A. Science 199, 1065–1068 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Kent, D. V. Science 211, 648–650 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Walker, G. P. L. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 8, 69–94 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Sparks, R. S. J. & Huang, T. C. Geol. Mag. 117, 425–436 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Walker, G. P. L. Contr. Mineral. Petrol. 136, 135–146 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Neumann Van Padang, M. Acta of the 1st International Scientific Congress on the Volcano Thera, 51–63 (Archaeological Service of Greece, Athens, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Smith, R. L. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap. 180, 5–24 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Ninkovich, D., Sparks, R. S. J. & Ledbetter, M. T. Bull. volcan. 41, 1–13 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA

    Stephen Self

  2. NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Goddard Space Flight Center, New York, New York, 10025, USA

    Michael R. Rampino

Authors
  1. Stephen Self
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael R. Rampino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Self, S., Rampino, M. The 1883 eruption of Krakatau. Nature 294, 699–704 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/294699a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/294699a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing