Tavurvur volcano at the edge of Rabaul caldera...

was responsible for the destruction of the entire town of Rabaul in 1994, now rebuilt as seen below. On this day it was actively venting steam, but little else.

View of Tavurvur from the ship as we enter the harbour within the caldera. This is approximately the same vantage point as that seen in the dramatic video linked below.

View of Tavurvur from the ship as we enter the harbour within the caldera. This is approximately the same vantage point as that seen in the dramatic video linked below.

Close view of sandy ash that fell, meters deep, in 1994.

Close view of sandy ash that fell, meters deep, in 1994.

A staff member of the well-equipped Rabaul Volcano Observatory holds a modern seismometer. This lab was just recently outfitted two months ago with the assistance of the USGS and VDAP.

A staff member of the well-equipped Rabaul Volcano Observatory holds a modern seismometer. This lab was just recently outfitted two months ago with the assistance of the USGS and VDAP.

See video of the 2014 eruption of Tavurvur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMxIlXW56cQ

Read about 1994 eruption that buried the village of Rabaul: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabaul

Twenty-nine hours of travel...

has delivered me from Grand Junction, Colorado to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.

Sedimentary strata (Cretaceous) in the Book Cliffs in Utah seen at take off from Grand Junction, Colorado.

Sedimentary strata (Cretaceous) in the Book Cliffs in Utah seen at take off from Grand Junction, Colorado.

Sun rise across the International Date Line on approach to Brisbane, Australia.

Sun rise across the International Date Line on approach to Brisbane, Australia.

Dash to the Pintler Wilderness...

in western Montana seemed more like a wildlife safari.

Juvenile bald eagle.

Juvenile bald eagle.

The American dipper, also known as a water ouzel.

The American dipper, also known as a water ouzel.

Water ouzel on Pintler Creek.

Water ouzel on Pintler Creek.

Canadian geese taking flight from the Big Hole River.

Canadian geese taking flight from the Big Hole River.

The back ends of six sandhill cranes on the Big Hole River north of Wisdom, MT.

The back ends of six sandhill cranes on the Big Hole River north of Wisdom, MT.

Red-tailed chipmunk in camp.

Red-tailed chipmunk in camp.

Belted kingfisher working the Big Hole River.

Belted kingfisher working the Big Hole River.

Prepping for Papua New Guinea...

with Zegrahm Expeditions, leaving in exactly one week. After traveling in polar regions for four-and-a-half months this year, this trip will feel like a tropical vacation! I’m looking forward to snorkeling on some of the most bio-diverse reef systems in the world.

Voyage map: Port Moresby to Rabaul.

Voyage map: Port Moresby to Rabaul.

Seismicity of the convergent tectonic setting (from USGS). Earthquake foci color coded red (shallow) to yellow (deep).

Seismicity of the convergent tectonic setting (from USGS). Earthquake foci color coded red (shallow) to yellow (deep).

Microplates in convergent boundary between Australian and Pacific Plates. From Holm, RJ et al., 2016, Post 8 Ma reconstruction of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands: Earth-Science Reviews.

Microplates in convergent boundary between Australian and Pacific Plates. From Holm, RJ et al., 2016, Post 8 Ma reconstruction of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands: Earth-Science Reviews.

An attempt to control an advancing lava flow...

occurred in January-July 1973 in Heimaey, Iceland, where a short-lived eruption of Eldfjell volcano nearly closed the tiny fishing harbor.

View of Heimaey and harbor from northern flank of Eldfjell volcano.

View of Heimaey and harbor from northern flank of Eldfjell volcano.

Hiking the recent lava flow towards Eldfjell volcano in the mist.

Hiking the recent lava flow towards Eldfjell volcano in the mist.

view-of-heimaey-and-le-boreal-from-volcano.jpg
View of Surtsey (erupted in 1963) from the bridge.

View of Surtsey (erupted in 1963) from the bridge.

Surtsey volcano in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago off southern Iceland.

Surtsey volcano in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago off southern Iceland.