OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECTS, UP TO JULY 1993, OF THE CURRENT ERUPTIVEEPISODE OF ANAK KRAKATAU

Visits of about Ih duration were made to Anak Krakatau in July 1993 du ring an eruptive episode which began in October 1992 and lasted until August 1993 (activity was renewed in March 1994). The island's height had increased by over 80 m, to some 280 m, and its area had been incre ased substantially. The valley between the old inner and outer cones h ad been filled by lava in the north, and received a substantial flow, almost to the rim, in the south. Lava flows overspilling the rim of th e outer cone has obliterated large areas of vegetation cover, includin g a number of study areas, and extended into the sea over the N beach (extensively), the NE Foreshore, and the western end of the S beach. A sh-fall had been considerable and had affected the biota of Anak Kraka tau differentially. Several plant and animal species appeared to have been little affected, whilst others, particularly plants of the shrub, herb and ground layers, appeared to have been seriously affected. Sev eral plant species, however, showed signs of regrowth.