Sakar
Stratovolcano in Papua New Guinea
Key Facts
Elevation
947 m (3,107 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
-5.410°, 148.084°
Region
Bismarck Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Sakar is an incised stratovolcano with a summit crater lake. Deep valleys cut the flanks of the volcano, which is partially surrounded by coral reefs. An older volcano that forms much of the island consists mainly of porphyritic basaltic rocks.
A younger andesitic cone with a 1. 5-km-wide crater has been constructed within the larger old crater, whose rim is exposed on the N and E. No eruptions have been reported, but warm springs are found along the SW coast, and a pyroclastic cone on the southern flank of the 8 x 10 km island may be of Holocene age (Johnson, 1990 pers.
comm. ). A large submarine debris-avalanche deposit lies north of Sakar.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | Unknown | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 251080
- •Evidence: Evidence Uncertain
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The small circular island at the top-center is Sakar, the NE-most of a chain of volcanic islands off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The 8 x 10 km wide island, seen in this Space Shuttle image with north to the upper left, is an incised stratovolcano with a summit crater lake. The 50-km-wide island of Umboi, whose left side is cut by a large caldera breached to the NE, fills the center of the image.
NASA Space Shuttle image STS50-100-D, 1992 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.