Ambae: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox islandsisland

| local namelocal_name = Aoba

| population = 11,0610

| population_as_of = 20092018

| photofetchwikidata = ALL

'''Ambae Island''', also known as '''Aoba''', or'''Omba''', '''Oba''', or '''Opa''' and formerly '''Leper'sLepers’ Island''', is an island in the [[Oceania|South Pacific]] [[island nation]] of [[Vanuatu]], located near {{Coord|15|30|S|167|30|E}}, approximately {{convert|165|minmi|km|abbr=off|-1|order=flip}} NNWnorth-northwest of Vanuatu's capital city, [[Port Vila]]. It is also Vanuatu's largest active volcano.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cronin |first1=Shane J. |last2=Gaylord |first2=David R. |last3=Charley |first3=Douglas |last4=Alloway |first4=Brent V. |last5=Wallez |first5=Sandrine |last6=Esau |first6=Job W. |date=2004-10-01 |title=Participatory methods of incorporating scientific with traditional knowledge for volcanic hazard management on Ambae Island, Vanuatu |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-004-0347-9 |journal=Bulletin of Volcanology |language=en |volume=66 |issue=7 |pages=652–668 |doi=10.1007/s00445-004-0347-9 |bibcode=2004BVol...66..652C |s2cid=13613641 |issn=1432-0819}}</ref>

The misty sight of Ambae from neighbouringneighboring [[Espiritu Santo]], which served as a major [[World War II]] airbase, inspired the mythical [[Bali Ha'i]] in [[James Michener]]'s ''[[Tales of the South Pacific]]''.{{cn|date=August 2020}}

The climate is both humid tropical with slight seasonal variations. The average annual temperature on the coast is 30  ° C, on the caldera - 23  ° C. The average annual rainfall varies from 2500 to 3500  mm of rain. The rainy season lasts from November to April.

Ambae is the emergent portion of Vanuatu's largest (most voluminous) [[volcano]], [[Manaro Voui]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vmgd.gov.vu/vmgd/index.php/geohazards/volcano/our-active-volcanos/ambae/manaro-voui|title=Manaro Voui Volcano|date=27 September 2017|publisher=Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department}}</ref> which rises 1,496&nbsp;meters above sea level, or about 3,900&nbsp;meters above the sea floor.<ref name=Cronin2004>{{cite journal|last=Cronin|title=Participatory methods of incorporating scientific with traditional knowledge for volcanic hazard management on Ambae Island, Vanuatu|year=2004|journal=Bulletin of Volcanology|volume=66|issue=7|pages=652–668|doi=10.1007/s00445-004-0347-9|bibcode=2004BVol...66..652C|s2cid=13613641}}</ref> A steam and ash eruption began on November 27, 2005, leading to a Level 2 volcano alert and preparations for evacuations.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Németh |first1=Károly |last2=Cronin |first2=Shane J. |last3=Charley |first3=Douglas |last4=Harrison |first4=Morris |last5=Garae |first5=Esline |date=2006-06-01 |title=Exploding lakes in Vanuatu — "Surtseyan-style" eruptions witnessed on Ambae Island |url=https://www.episodes.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.18814/epiiugs/2006/v29i2/002 |journal=Episodes Journal of International Geoscience |language=en |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=87–92 |doi=10.18814/epiiugs/2006/v29i2/002|hdl=10179/9629 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> On December 8,2005, the eruption became stronger, displacing more than 3,000 of Ambae Island's inhabitants to elsewhere on the island<ref name=AP/> and requiring the evacuation of two hospitals.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

On September 28, 2017, after a week of increasing volcanic activity to Level 4 (Level 5 being a major eruption), the government of Vanuatu ordered a complete evacuation of the island, home to about 11,000 residents.<ref name=AP>{{cite news |author=Nick Perry |url=https://apnews.com/e4749029dfff4268afebecda18404d4f/Vanuatu-orders-evacuation-of-island-with-rumbling-volcano|title=Vanuatu orders evacuation of island with rumbling volcano|publisher=Associated Press |date=September 28, 2017 |accessdateaccess-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref> Ash from the eruption has covered the island, killing crops and polluting the air and water. In April 2018 the remaining approximately 10,000 residents were ordered to evacuate permanently.<ref>{{cite news |author=Nick Perry |url=https://www.sfgate.com/world/article/Vanuatu-plans-to-permanently-evacuate-entire-12885672.php |title=Vanuatu plans to permanently evacuate entire volcanic island |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |date=May 3, 2018 |accessdateaccess-date=May 4, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=EleanorAingeRoy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/19/island-of-no-return-vanuatu-evacuates-entire-population-of-volcanic-ambae |title=Island of no return: Vanuatu evacuates entire population of volcanic Ambae |newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 19, 2018 |accessdateaccess-date=May 6, 2018 }}</ref>