|
Raung
The motive
for this trip were the previous activities of the
stratovolcano Raung since late June in the indonesian
East Java. The Gunung Raung reaches a height of 3332m
and in the province of East Java. During the first
violent eruption on 10 July a 3800m high ash column
rose and went towards Bali. Unfortunately for the
tourism hence the airport in Bali was closed,inter
alia 4 more on the island of Lombok. Already written
the reason of our trip were previous eruptions!
However, a few days before the departure, the activity
began to decline rapidly, and during our arrival in
Banyuwangi it went to zero. Not a measly watts of
thermic radiation was registered by the satellites.
Now somehow the Eyjafialla effect had to occure.
The Kawa Ijen,
blue flames by sulphur burning
After we
began slowly to recover ourselves from the
zero-activity-shock, we visited the sulfur fires of
the sulfur mine at Kawa Ijen before. The aim was to
photograph and film the aesthetically blue flames in
the mine at night. Already in 2009 the attempt failed
miserably becuse the light intensity of the lenses and
the camera technology was not sufficient.
But it must be said that
the burden of sulfur gases was so high that even
severe damages to man and camera equipment had to be
feared. Even good gas masks got weaken here at this
place.
As you can see from the
pictures and videos we got quite a positive result.
Nevertheless !! This blue flames are just so
impressive that you could not get enough. Also the details are very impressive. Throughout
in the whole
'Canyon'
liquid burning
sulphur
stepped out. By
the way, sulfur ignites from a temperature of about
250 C° in the air, and burns to form sulfur dioxide
with a blue flame. The melting point is 119.6 ° C.
 
Very interesting was the process of finishing
the sulfur recovery. In an exhausting handwork
sulfur was boiled out in woodfired pots, than
got filtered and cooled down
at the floor. The cooled sulfur was crashed with
sliding covers in shards, and for the transport
filled in bags and then got weighted. So with
this nice action our mood was a little more
cheerful. However, only a volcanic event shoud
occur. Promptly the Karangetang on Siau Palau in
North Sulawesi promised a thermal radiation and
let suggest an acceptable activity. In
connection with Andi we received the information
that already pyroclastic flows went off. Now up
and away!
MOVIE
(24MB)
Fireworks by
glowing
rock-avalanches at
Karangetang, Palau Siau.
Arrived
on Siau Island in the town of Ulu we were positively
surprised about the volcanic activity. At the first
day the glowing dome has been registered with its big
lava tongue. From the edge of the lava flow, however
car/house large glowing rocks broke out and devided
themselves into hundreds of smaller chunks. When the
high-speed projectiles hit a dormant rock at the
slope, firework similar fireballs up to 100m diameter
were the result. In a simultaneity of about 30
fireballs in the glowing avalance it was quite a
higly impressive show.
In the subsequent night at
the volcano observatory strombolian activity was observed
twice times.
To observe
this phenomenon was something
new
and I thought myself, the facettes of
volcanic appearence even don't stop.
In a distance of 15km the city of Ulu with appx.
25.000 inhabitants appears tiny in comparision of this
mighty volcano.
Time lapse animations
Tarsier
Another highlight was the visit of the Tarsier
monkeys in Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve. This
nature reserve is located in North Sulawesi and is the
home to many endemic species. During daytime the only
10cm poured monkeys entrench in an oversized root
tree. The nocturnal Tarsier begin the hunt for insects
and small animals with nightfall, where they instantly
disappear in the treetops.
Unfortunately
to bounce afterwards was not possible because of the
thin branches. But we were lucky and already in the
late afternoon this Gremlins appeared in a deep hollow
tree. Sometimes a Maki ventured further forward, of
course the Ranger lured the hopper with grasshoppers
more forward.
At least photographing and filming was quite good
possible.
MOVIE
(55MB)
Carnival
Finally,
a special colorfull presentation at the driveway
to Kawah Ijen took place. Like in the village of
Kalipuro celebrations to the 70th anniversary of
the Indonesian indepen-dence were held
nationwide. This celebration has been referred
here as a Carnival.
Very impressive the handmade colorful costumes
and performances of all kinds, togehter with the
cheerful
Indonesians
a lively atmosphere.
Cinema
More at
ALPE
vulkane.net
|
