Smithsonian Institution
Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, v. 20, no. 11/12, November-December 1995
Barren Island (Indian Ocean)  Eruption apparently ends by late
     June, but aviation notice posted on 2 December

Barren Island
Andaman Islands, India
12.29 N, 93.88 E; summit elev. 305 m

Based on observations in late June 1995, the Indian Coast Guard
reported on 1 July that explosive activity in the crater area had
stopped, but gas emissions were still coming from the area near the
coast. On 2 December an aviation Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was
issued from the United Kingdom for increased activity at Barren
Island. However, no eruptive activity was seen on GMS satellite
imagery over the area.

Landsat Thematic Mapper images from January 1995 (Bulletin v. 20,
no. 4) showed activity from a subsidiary vent on the S slope of the
central crater. Subsequent images from 24 February, 13, 14, and 30
March, and 15 April 1995 also revealed activity from the central
crater. Some of the images showed a lava or debris flow present in
the WNW channel leading towards the sea. A thermal infrared image
on 13 March showed a large hot central vent, and at least two
subsidiary vents on the S slope; the image also revealed a lava
passageway and the cooler plume.

The eruption was first notice on 20 December 1994 (Bulletin v. 20,
no. 2). Aerial surveys and fieldwork by the Geological Survey of
India through March 1995 revealed Strombolian activity from central
and flank vents. The resulting lava flows reached the sea near the
landing site. More explosive activity was noted in early March 1995
(Bulletin v. 20, no. 4), and small plumes were observed from the
Space Shuttle. Vigorous phreatomagmatic eruptions were continuing
when the island was visited on 11 May 1995.

Information Contacts: D. Haldar, Director General, Geological
Survey of India, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Calcutta 700 016, India;
Jim Lynch, Synoptic Analysis Branch, NOAA/NESDIS, Room 401, 5200
Auth Road, Camp Springs, MD 20746 USA.