VANUATU

 Tanna, Yasur Volcano

April 23 - Mai 15- 2012

Hian & Arnold Binas, M.Rietze, Th Boeckel


  Cinema 

Mount Etna April 2012, by Thorsten Boeckel

 

Google Earth Map

Map by Google Earth


YASUR VOLCANO

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel     Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel     Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

Not everyday encounters at the roadside. Gas station, balancing act on tires, and a gigantic market tree

After we had to leave the custody of the Endu people on Ambrym wistfully behind us, we were still happy to have reached the island of Tanna. In rumbling way we drove across the whole island and reached in 2.5 hours the area of Yasurs. The ash plain was dominating, the volcano Yasur itself with its apprx. 350 metres looked really unoffending. But the Little-well-behaving turn out later as true monsters.

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel      

The way to Yasur, first ash eruptions and over the rainbow. 

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel        Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel 

Small but powerful, first eruptions in the evening presenting the first impressions.

The 40 minute walk from the campground jungle oasis of, was always to examine the behavior of the volcano. This had become noticeable because the so-called tourist point was in any way sure. The middle image already shows lava bombs running down the eastern rim. By entering the Circus Maximus Volcanus you can convince yourself of the enormous loudness. I noticed that the intensity of the explosive activity, as well as the emergence of the fountains in a strombolian mode had been much more stronger e.g. Stromboli or Batu Tara. It exist really much more pressure.

 

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel     Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel     Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel     Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckeltb

  Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietzemr

Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietze     Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietze     Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietzemr

Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietze    Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietzemr

Strombolian activity in the second night 

After a break of the volcano during the day violent Strombolians were observed in the second night. The fountains reached the height up to 150 meters above the average height of the crater rim in a 3 minutes interval. Total height of the fontains measured from the crater ground was estimated up to 250 metres.

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel  

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel     Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel     Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

The tour around the whole crater allowed us from the North side a deep view inside the South crater with its vents. In the first days one broad and two smaller vents were existing. As a welcome greeting the volcano placed a lava bomb in the diameter of half a meter at a distance of 10 m in front of me. Probably intended as welcome gift from the volcano, I instilled my first portion respect and get my needed adrenaline push for the first evening. Thanks Yasur!

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel       Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

Bombardement of the entire western lain crater areal inclusive the 'tourist point'

        Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckeltb     Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, by M. Rietzemr     

Violent explosive activity spreaded lava bombs at the whole rim. The thick trace on the right in the left photo shows a bomb of may one Meter wich passed me in an distance of 20 Meter on the right side. The same bomb is shown on Martins photo right. Here the bomb was passing Martin in an distance of 10m on the left side. Urgl..

Vanuatu Yasur Volcano 2012, by Th.Boeckeltb

A beautiful juggernaut in the form of a lava bomb crossing the whole crater. The diameter was estimated to 1.5 metres and crashed in a distance of about 40neter with vehemence the upper crater wall of the western crater.

Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietze      Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietzemr  

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckeltb

Bombs flew up to 100 m (right image) over the South Rim

In the next days lava bombs flew surprisingly without any anouncement around our ears. On the fourth day I left the position 'Western edge' after a triple bombing in a hurry because the situation seemed somewhat unsure. After the situation "normalized" itself, the unwell-feeling was always present during the whole observation period. After the the tourist point was hit twice times fully, this volcano was classified myself as brand-risky.

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

We wondered ourselves whether this activity was officially classified in a warning level 2.

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel   Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel   Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckeltb

Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietze    Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietze    Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietzemr

Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietze      Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietzemr

Again the observation point North Rim. Heavy detonations squeezed the air and you will notice the pressure waves when they are passing you. This becomes even clearer in the filming sequences using a strong tele. Here you can notice that the shock waves are shaking  the video camera directly (look at video 10). Ultimately, you could blow yourself dry in the pressure waves.

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel   Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel   Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel   Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

Up to 10 Meter high tree ferns and modern Tikis, tropical flowers and beautiful beaches near Port Resolution supplies you with relaxation.

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

Also the East side is a good viewing point over the craters. In the crater bottom two blue hydrogen gas flames in between the inner bombardement.

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

Detail shots of the North side view. Explosions partially spreading plenty of lava in the lower area of the crater in a radius of 50 meters. It was also noticeable that the activity changed during the 5 days absolutely. The change from the Strombolian activity to the ashen activity was partly just a few hours. After half a day of complete silence, a strong explosive phase followed. Hours later the ashen phase returned but the strombolian mode was queueing soon.

Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietze      Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietzemr

Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietze      Vanuatu 2012, Tanna volcano Yasur by M.Rietzemr

Eruption is changing to an Ash-Glow modus

    

Mr.Gee during the examination of the volcano, of corse with TV-team.

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

Back in Port Villa: The market shows colourful motifs and mysterious meals. Maniok and potatoes side by side as a main vegetable. Flowers in any colours and variation in abundance. This happy manifold sundry has transferred probably directly to the mind of the people of Vanuatu.

Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel    Vanuatu, Yasur Volcano 2012, By Th. Boeckel

Cheerfulness dominates, and I understand now that this people have officially the highest Happy-People-Index in the world.

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©2012, Photos and Text from Thorsten Böckel and Martin Rietze (mr), last modification 05/28/2012


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