Kadovar
Stratovolcano in Papua New Guinea
Key Facts
Elevation
365 m (1,198 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
-3.608°, 144.588°
Region
Bismarck Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The 2-km-wide island of Kadovar is the emergent summit of a Bismarck Sea stratovolcano of Holocene age. It is part of the Schouten Islands, and lies off the coast of New Guinea, about 25 km N of the mouth of the Sepik River. Prior to an eruption that began in 2018, a lava dome formed the high point of the andesitic volcano, filling an arcuate landslide scarp open to the south; submarine debris-avalanche deposits occur in that direction.
Thick lava flows with columnar jointing forms low cliffs along the coast. The youthful island lacks fringing or offshore reefs. A period of heightened thermal phenomena took place in 1976.
An eruption began in January 2018 that included lava effusion from vents at the summit and at the E coast.
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 | 3 years ago | Very Recent | Currently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 251002
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
A plume at Kadovar is dispersing to the E in this November 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top). The flanks of the roughly 1.4 x 1.6 km island have been stripped of vegetation due to lava dome formation and collapse at the summit, with recent eruptive activity producing ash plumes and pyroclastic flows. Activity has also recently occurred at the base of the SE flank.
Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).
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.