Skip to main content
Back to map
CompareShow on map

Solomon Islands · Stratovolcano

Kavachi

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
20m (submarine)
Last eruption
2014
Kavachi
Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Solomon Islands
Region
Southwestern Pacific / Solomon Volcanic Province
Elevation
20m (submarine)
Coordinates
-8.991, 157.979
Last eruption
2014
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Crustal thickness unknown
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic andesite
Geological summary

Named for a sea-god of the Gatokae and Vangunu peoples, Kavachi is located in the Solomon Islands south of Vangunu Island. Sometimes referred to as Rejo te Kvachi ("Kavachi's Oven"), this shallow submarine basaltic-to-andesitic volcano has produced ephemeral islands up to 1 km long many times since its first recorded eruption during 1939. Residents of the nearby islands of Vanguna and Nggatokae (Gatokae) reported "fire on the water" prior to 1939, a possible reference to earlier eruptions. The roughly conical edifice rises from water depths of 1.1-1.2 km on the north and greater depths to the SE. Frequent shallow submarine and occasional subaerial eruptions produce phreatomagmatic explosions that eject steam, ash, and incandescent bombs. On a number of occasions lava flows were observed on the ephemeral islands.

Eruption history

34 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
1939~1947 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21947~1955 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 21955~1963 · 5 eruptions · max VEI 21963~1971 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 21971~1980 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 21980~1988 · 5 eruptions · max VEI 21988~1996 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21996~2004 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 12004~2012 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 12012~2020 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 119391955198019962012

Detailed timeline

  1. 2020VEI ?Observed
    2020-03-16 – 2024-04-24
  2. 2014VEI 1Observed
    2014-01-29 – 2014-01-29
    Submarine
  3. 2007VEI 1Observed
    2007-04-02 – 2007-04-06
  4. 2004VEI 1Observed
    2004-03-15 – end unknown
  5. 1999VEI 1Observed
    1999-02-16 – 1999-05-16
  6. 1999VEI 1Observed
    1999-11-16 – 2003-08-16
  7. 1998VEI 0Method not stated
    1998-07-02 – end unknown
  8. 1997VEI 1Observed
    1997-01-16 – 1997-01-17
  9. 1991VEI 2Observed
    1991-05-04 – 1991-09-16
  10. 1986VEI 1Observed
    1986-07-05 – 1986-07-23
  11. 1985VEI 1Observed
    1985-12-09 – 1986-02-28
  12. 1982VEI 2Observed
    1982-04-07 – 1982-06-02
  13. 1981VEI 0Method not stated
    1981-09-15 – end unknown
  14. 1980VEI 1Observed
    1980-10-07 – 1981-02-25
  15. 1978VEI 2Observed
    1978-06-21 – 1978-07-22
  16. 1977VEI 1Observed
    1977-02-22 – end unknown
  17. 1977VEI 1Observed
    1977-07-17 – 1977-07-22
  18. 1976VEI 1Observed
    1976-08-24 – 1976-10-13
  19. 1975VEI 1Observed
    1975-08-16 – end unknown
  20. 1974VEI 1Observed
    1974-11-12 – 1974-12-12
  21. 1972VEI 0Observed
    1972-10-24 – end unknown
  22. 1969VEI 2Observed
    1969-10-28 – 1970-02-06
  23. 1966VEI 2Observed
    1966-03-19 – 1966-03-22
  24. 1965VEI 2Observed
    1965-12-11 – 1965-12-13
  25. 1963VEI 2Observed
    1963-12-14 – 1964-01-31
  26. 1962VEI 2Observed
    1962-01-16 – 1962-02-16
  27. 1961VEI 2Observed
    1961-03-28 – end unknown
  28. 1958VEI 0Observed
    1958-11-21 – 1958-12-02
  29. 1957VEI 0Observed
    1957-02-08 – end unknown
  30. 1952VEI 2Observed
    1952-04-16 – 1953-01-31
  31. 1951VEI 2Observed
    1951-12-01 – end unknown
  32. 1950VEI 2Observed
    1950-12-01 – end unknown
  33. 1942VEI 1Observed
    1942-07-02 – end unknown
  34. 1939VEI 2Observed
    1939-04-30 – end unknown

Nearby volcanoes

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.