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Morphology and Instability of the Merapi Lava Dome Monitored by Unoccupied Aircraft Systems

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Merapi Volcano

Part of the book series: Active Volcanoes of the World ((AVOLCAN))

Abstract

Episodic growth and collapse of the lava dome of Merapi volcano is accompanied by significant hazards associated with material redeposition processes. Some of these hazards are preceded by over-steepening of the flanks of the dome, its destabilisation, fracturing and gravitational collapse, producing lethal pyroclastic density currents. With the emergence of unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS), these changes occurring high up at Merapi can now be monitored at unprecedented levels of detail. Here we summarise the use of UAS at Merapi to better understand the evolution of the lava dome following the 2010 eruption. Systematic UAS overflights and photogrammetric surveys were carried out in 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019, allowing identification of the progression of major structures and a three-stage morphological evolution of the dome. We first highlight the significant morphological changes associated with steam-driven explosions that occurred in the period 2012–2014. A large open fissure formed and split the dome into two parts. In the years 2014–2018, hydrothermal activity dominated and progressively altered the dome rock. Lastly, in May–June 2018, a series of steam-driven explosions occurred and was followed by dome extrusion in August 2018, initially refilling the formerly open fissure. This work demonstrates the importance of reactivating pre-existing structures, and summarises the unique contribution realised by high resolution photogrammetric UAS surveys.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate support and suggestions by our colleagues in the office and in the field. We especially thank Professor Kirbani Sri Brotopuspito (✝2019) for his vision and support of unconventional methods early during their development. We will miss him.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Geophysics, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

    Herlan Darmawan

  2. Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, Geological Agency, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jalan Diponegoro 57, Bandung, 40122, Indonesia

    Raditya Putra, Agus Budi-Santoso & Hanik Humaida

  3. GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, Germany

    Thomas R. Walter

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  1. Herlan Darmawan
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  2. Raditya Putra
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  3. Agus Budi-Santoso
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  4. Hanik Humaida
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  5. Thomas R. Walter
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Correspondence to Herlan Darmawan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Keele University, Keele, UK

    Ralf Gertisser

  2. Department of Earth Science, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden

    Valentin R. Troll

  3. GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany

    Thomas R. Walter

  4. Geological Agency, Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, BPPTKG, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

    I Gusti Made Agung Nandaka

  5. Geological Agency, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bandung, Indonesia

    Antonius Ratdomopurbo

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Darmawan, H., Putra, R., Budi-Santoso, A., Humaida, H., Walter, T.R. (2023). Morphology and Instability of the Merapi Lava Dome Monitored by Unoccupied Aircraft Systems. In: Gertisser, R., Troll, V.R., Walter, T.R., Nandaka, I.G.M.A., Ratdomopurbo, A. (eds) Merapi Volcano. Active Volcanoes of the World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15040-1_15

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