Sea level measurements for inferring ground deformations in Rabaul Caldera

Abstract

Rabaul tide gauge records from 1968 through 1985 give the amount of vertical movement in the northern part of Rabaul Caldera. Monthly mean sea level data were compared with other regional tide gauge stations to remove large scale oceanographic effects. No large vertical movements (> 0.3 cm/yr) were noted in this portion of the caldera. The results of sea level measurements at other points around the caldera, from 1981 through 1983 are consistent with the 1 to 10 cm of uplift observed on Matupit Island from optical leveling surveys. There was relatively little vertical movement (∼ 0.1 cm/yr) in the Vulcan area.