GLOBAL VOLCANISM: The Latest Report Of Volcanic Eruptions, Activity, Unrest And Awakenings – February 7, 2016! [PHOTOS + VIDEOS]

View of the ash plumes from the explosion and pyroclastic flow from the west (Image: Bomberos Retalhuleu / CONRED)

February 7, 2016 - EARTH - The following constitutes the new activity, unrest and ongoing reports of volcanoes across the globe.


Santiaguito (Guatemala): A strong explosion occurred from the active Caliente lava dome this morning around 10:30 local time. It genereated a pyroclastic flow that traveled down the southeast flank of the dome complex reaching a length of approx. 2-3 km. No damage or injuries were reported.

Ash plumes from both the explosion and the pyroclastic flow rose to an elevation of 17,000 ft (5.5 km) and produced moderate ash falls in the southern sectors of the volcano, in particular in the village and coffee farm of El Palmar. Authorities ordered preventive evacuations in areas to the S and SE closest to the volcano.

Santiaguito's pyroclastic flow this morning seen from NE near Santa Maria de Jesus (Image: Silverio Zum via Erick Colop/Twitter)

El Palmar under ash fall after the explosion (Image: Stereo100Noticias ‏@stereo100xela / twitter)

At the moment, it is unclear what exactly triggered the pyroclastic flow - collapse of ejected material or partial collapse of the upper parts of the dome itself, or, most likely, a combination of both. Whether the event was (as often) an isolated one or might be a first in a series of stronger explosions and collapses with more pyroclastic flows is impossible to know at the moment.

According to CONRED, this morning's eruption was preceded by 34 small to moderate explosions within 24 hours, a quite unusually high rate, suggesting that magma and/or gas supply into the dome has been elevated at the moment.


Soputan (North-Sulawesi, Indonesia): A larger explosive eruption was reported to have occurred about two hours ago (10:15 UTC). At 11:45 UTC, Darwin VAAC issued alerts to aviation about an ash plume that had risen to estimated 23,000 ft (7 km) altitude and has been drifting NW. Aviation color code was immediately raised to RED.

Picture allegedly showing an ash plume from Soputan today (from the first, smaller eruption; Source: Istimewa/Tribun Regional)

Forecast of ash plume from Soputan's eruption this morning (VAAC Darwin)

According to a local newspaper article, there were two eruptions today: a presumably smaller one (which did not cause any alerts) in the morning at 10:00, and a "terrific" eruption at 18:15 local time (or 10:15 GMT), which sent a large ash plume into the sky. Ash fall was reported from the areas at the feet of the volcano, but there seems not to have been any damage reported.



Alaid (Kuriles Islands, Russia): The most recent eruption of the volcano, which began in October last year, can be regarded as over and the aviation color code was lowered back to green.

Comparison of satellite images from July 2015 and January this year, showing that large parts of the summit crater have been filled by new lava
(Images: Nasa, annotations: Culture Volcan)

MODIS thermal signal from Alaid (MIROVA)

Satellite data compiled by Culture Volcan show no more heat emission from the volcano since January and visible satellite imagery now show that the crater has been partially filled with fresh lava from the eruption.



Pagan (Mariana Islands): Satellite data and ground-based observations from a field crew and local residents near Pagan indicated that steam-and-gas emissions have significantly decreased since March 2015. The Aviation Color Code and Volcano Alert Level were lowered to Unassigned on January 30.



Cotopaxi (Ecuador): On January 29, IG reported that in recent weeks superficial activity at Cotopaxi was characterized by minor steam emissions from the crater and sporadic gas emissions with minor amounts of ash.

The volcano's last eruption in November, 2015.

Sulfur dioxide emissions were less than 1,000 tons per day (pre-eruptive levels) and seismicity had almost returned to baseline levels. At 1843 on 24 January a plume with low-to-moderate levels of ash rose 700 m above the crater and drifted W. The emission coincided with a hybrid earthquake.


Chirpoi  (Kurile Islands, Russia): Satellite images detected a thermal anomaly over Snow, a volcano of Chirpoi, during 25, 27-28, and 30-31 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.


Macdonald (Austral Islands): Scientists and crew aboard CSIRO’s (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Marine National Facility research vessel Investigator observed a plume rising from McDonald Island (the largest island) during the last week of January. Visual observations of the McDonald Islands are very rare due to its remote location.


Egon (Flores Island, Indonesia): Volcanic unrest has decreased at the volcano, making the likelihood of an impending eruption smaller. The volcano's alert level was lowered from 3 to 2 (on a scale of 1-4).

"During 20 January-1 February seismicity at Egon was dominated by signals indicating emissions; shallow volcanic events had decreased.

RSAM values increased on 25 January but did not exceed values detected during the previous peak on 12 January; overall seismicity had declined. The Alert Level was lowered to 2 (on a scale of 1-4) and residents were advised to stay at least 1.5 km away from the crater."


Bardarbunga (Central Iceland): Over the past few months, seismic activity at the volcano, mainly under the volcano's large, ice-covered caldera has been increasing again, suggesting that magma might be filling the volcano's reservoir underneath the caldera.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 300 shallow earthquakes of magnitudes up to 3.8 on the Richter scale were recorded, clustered in areas near the southern and northeastern caldera rim.

Earthquakes under and near Bardarbunga volcano since January 2016 (yellow circles = older than 2 days, red = past 48 hours)

Time vs depth of earthquakes since January 1, 2016

Another cluster of small earthquakes concentrates along the 2014-15 eruptive dyke 20 km to the NE of the volcano.

Whether or not, and if so, when the observed earthquake activity under the caldera could lead to another eruption of the volcano, now considered one of, if not even THE most active in Iceland, is impossible to predict.


Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): After several months of unusual calm, the volcano had a moderately strong vulcanian explosion from the Showa crater this morning. An ash plume rose to approx. 10,000 ft (3 km) altitude.

Eruption of Sakurajima volcano this morning (NHK)

Until the end of Sep 2015, Sakurajima had been producing such explosions, of varying intensity, at rates of typically 3-5 or more per day. This activity ceased around 28 Sep 2015 and until now, the volcano had only manifested surface activity in the form of minor ash emissions, degassing, as well as, very rarely, minor explosions. Whether the volcano is back to its previously typical behavior with more frequent and stronger explosions, as it had been during most of the recent years, remains to be seen.


Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Recently, explosions from the active summit lava dome have become more frequent, producing ash plumes that rose 1-2 km above the summit.

Explosion at Sinabung volcano yesterday (Image: Endro Lewa / Facebook)

Extrusion of viscous lava also continues at slow pace, generating small to moderate pyroclastic flows from time to time.


Fuego (Guatemala): Activity at the volcano is again increasing and seems to be heading towards another (the 3rd in 2016) paroxysm.

Glowing avalanches after an explosion of Fuego.

Explosions have become stronger, and possibly, one or several short lava flows are active on the upper flanks. The thermal output of the volcano, measured by NASA's satellite-based MODIS spectroradiometer, also shows a clear increasing trend.


- Volcano Discovery.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: The Volcano Report For June 1, 2014 - Major Updates On Sangeang Api, Cumbal, Sotará, Etna, San Miguel, Pagan, Pavlov, Fuego, Santiaguito, Turrialba, Galeras, Cerro Negro de Mayasquer And Reventador! [PHOTOS+VIDEO]

June 01, 2014 - GLOBAL VOLCANISM - The following constitutes the new activity, unrest and ongoing reports of volcanoes across the globe, courtesy of  Volcano Discovery.

Sangeang Api (Indonesia): After the violent eruption on Saturday, a strong initial explosion followed by at least 3 other, but smaller explosions and ash emissions until yesterday, activity at the volcano has calmed down significantly.

Eruption column and pyroclastic flow over water at Sangeang Api yesterday (picture: Sofyan Efendi)

Weaker ash and steam emissions still continue but at significantly reduced intensity.

NASA satellite image of the ash plume and continuing ash emissions this morning (annotation: Culture Volcan)

The Indonesian Volcanological Survey (VSI) lowered the alert status back to 2 ("waspada") on a scale of 1-4.

Dissipating aerosol plume from Saturday's eruption at Sangeang Api

BNPB, Indonesian Civil Defense, has distributed more than 15,000 dust masks to people in the town of Bima at about 40 km distance to the SW.

The plume from the original explosion continues to spread and dissipate over a vast area between Indonesia and northern Australia. Flights to and from Darwin airport are reported to resume today.


Cumbal (Colombia): Seismic unrest continues at the volcano, still on alert status Yellow, with little variation over the past months. The Pasto volcano observatory reported a 50% increase in earthquakes during the past week.

Most earthquakes were associated with internal fluid movements. The other quakes, all very small, were due to rock fracturing at shallow depths. No other signs of unrest were observed at the volcano recently.


Sotará (Colombia): Seismic activity associated with rock fracturing processes under the volcano showed a slight increase during the past week. The earthquakes occurred mainly under the Paletará valley, approximately 12 km northeast of the volcano at depths between 6 and 10 km, and had local magnitudes between 0.3 and 2.2 on the Richter scale.

Slight deformation has been detected at the volcano, but no changes or signs of activity are visible at the surface. The volcano remains at Yellow alert.


Etna (Sicily, Italy): Activity has decreased. No new ash emissions from the Bocca Nuova could be noticed on webcam images and the strombolian activity at the New SE crater, although still present, has weakened and become much more sporadic as well.

Weak (but among the strongest during past night) strombolian activity at the New SE crater

WATCH: Etna volcanic activity on May 30 and 31.

   

San Miguel (El Salvador): Small ash emissions were reported at Chaparrastique volcano yesterday. Local observers heard rumblings and noticed ash fall in the area of Alpina Carreto.

Apart from a possible eruption, a major hazard is posed by mud slides and mud flows at the slopes of the volcano. Civil protection ordered new evacuations. According to local press, school classes were suspended in 12 schools located within 5 kilometers radius of Chaparrastique due to landslides in the area generated by the rains.


Pagan (Mariana Islands): USGS reports that "low-level unrest continued at Pagan Volcano throughout the past week. Seismic activity remains above background. A vapor plume was visible in web camera and satellite images.

Volcanic gas from Pagan may be noticed downwind of the volcano as a distinctive sulfurous odor." The Aviation Color Code remains at YELLOW.


Pavlov (Alaska Peninsula, USA): After about 1 year of pause, a new eruption started at the volcano on 30 May. Ground observers saw a small lava flow from a vent on the upper NE side of the cone.

MODIS hot spots at Pavlov volcano (MODVOLC, Univ. Hawaii)

"Satellite imagery shows elevated surface temperatures. A low level steam plume is visible in satellite imagery and in the FAA web camera located in Cold Bay. Several pilots reported a gas and ash plume drifting north at 7,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. Based on these observations AVO raised the Aviation Color Code to ORANGE." (AVO)


Fuego (Guatemala): Activity at the volcano continued with little variation as intermittent strombolian explosions of small to moderate size. Incandescent material was ejected to about 100 m height and fell back to form glowing avalanches on the upper crater. Ash plumes rose to 400-700 m height and drifted for approx. 8 km before dissipating.


Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): Ongoing rainfall has been causing a number of mud flows (lahars) in the rivers draining from Santiaguito, including Samala, San Isidro and Tambor.

A first large hot lahar descended the Nima I river bed yesterday. The sulfur-smelling mud flow was about 25 m wide and 3 m deep, carrying blocks of up to 50 cm in diameter and pieces of tree trunks and branches of up to 2 m. On its passage near the observatory, it made the ground vibrate. The lahar drained into the Samala river.


Turrialba (Costa Rica): The volcano could be becoming more active with increased degassing. An elevated SO2 concentration in the atmosphere above and near the volcano was visible on satellite data yesterday. Seismic activity appears to be elevated.


Galeras (Colombia): Activity at the volcano is currently low.

Seismic activity and gas emissions are at low to moderate levels. No recent ash emissions have occurred.


Cerro Negro de Mayasquer (Colombia): Unrest at the volcano continues in the form of earthquakes under the Chiles-Cerro Negro volcanic massif. During the past week, the monitoring network recorded around 6500 quakes, mostly located less than 4 km SW from the summit at depths ranging between 1 and 8 km and with magnitudes of up to 4.0 on the Richter scale.

Most of the earthquakes are volcanic-tectonic, i.e. associated with the fracturing of rock due to fluid pressure underground.

On May 21, 3 earthquakes at 02:53, 15:44 and 18:46 local time were felt felt by local inhabitants.


Reventador (Ecuador): A moderate explosion at the volcano produced an ash plume that rose to flight level 210 (21,000 ft / 6.5 km altitude), a pilot reported.

Ash explosion at Reventador today (IGPEN webcam)

Complete Earthquake list (worldwide) for June 1, 2014.


- Volcano Discovery.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Global Volcano Report For January 10, 2014 - Updates On Suwanose-jima, Etna, Sinabung, Fuego, El Hierro, Shiveluch, Sakurajima, Rabaul, Ulawun, Merapi, Pagan, Popocatépetl, Santiaguito And Pacaya!

January 10, 2014 - WORLDWIDE VOLCANOES - The following constitutes the new activity, unrest and ongoing reports of volcanoes across the globe.


Suwanose-jima (Tokara Islands, Japan): Occasional stronger explosions at the volcano produce dark ash plumes rising up to 1-1.5 km altitude.

Ash plume from an eruption at Suwanose-jima this afternoon.

Etna (Sicily, Italy): The activity of the volcano has remained similar to the previous days: so far, relatively weak but more or less steady ash emissions are occurring at the North-East crater, and tremor continues its slow rise. Whether this is a precursor to more vigorous activity (from the New SE crater?) remains to be seen probably in the coming days.

Ash plume rising from the (hidden) NE crater of Etna this morning (Etna Trekking webcam Schiena dell'Asino)

Ash emission from Etna's NE crater on January 9, 2013.

On January 10, activity and tremor have decreased, but weak ash emissions continue to be observed from the NE crater.


Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Activity of the volcano has remained similar to the previous days. The actively growing lava dome, being a mass of unstable, moderately viscous lava, frequently collapses in parts and produces hot bloack and ash avalanches (pyroclastic flows) that reached up to 4.5 km distance. According to the latest figures, the number of refugees from the 5-7 km exclusion zone has reached approx. 25,000.

4.5 km long pyroclastic flow from Sinabung this morning

Fuego (Guatemala): Activity remained elevated, but decreased a bit today, judging from the seismic signal. The volcano observatory reported moderate explosions with shock waves that ejected incandescent bombs to 200 m above the crater and left abundant incandescent avalanches on the upper crater. Associated ash plumes rose up to 1000 m and drifted 10 km before dissipating. The new lava flow towards the Ceniza drainage was 400 m long this morning.

Current seismic signal of Fuego (FG3 station, INSIVUMEH)

On January 10, seismic activity decreased at the volcano, suggesting that the latest surge in lava emission (both as larger-than-usual strombolian explosions and lava flow) is over.


El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain): No new significant earthquake activity has occurred over the past week, and deformation has stabilized on all stations: the latest crisis can be regarded as over (but it is probably only a matter of time until the next one).

GPS plots of stations in northern and western El Hierro (IGN)

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): A series of ash plumes to altitudes around 20,000 ft (6 km) from the volcano were reported by VAAC Tokyo, suggesting that the lava dome is currently in a relatively active phase with frequent explosions and/or rockfalls / pyroclastic flows.


Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): Following an unusually long interval with no real explosions, two small to modest vulcanian eruptions have again occurred on 6 January and today, with ash plumes reported to 10,000 ft (3 km) and 6,000 ft (1.8 km) altitude.


Rabaul (Tavurvur) (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): Rabaul caldera's Tavurvur cone was quiet during 16-31 December. White and occasionally blue vapor plumes rose from the crater. An explosion at 0732 on 22 December generated an ash-poor plume. Weak fluctuating glow was visible at night on 31 December. (Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)


Ulawun (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): RVO reported that activity at Ulawun was low during 16-31 December; diffuse ash plumes rose from the crater during 51-21 December, and white vapor emissions were visible during 22-31 December. (Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)


Merapi (Western Sumatra, Indonesia): The volcano (not to be confused with Merapi in Central Java) erupted again yesterday (Thu) morning, producing a series of small (probably phreatic?) ash explosions, with ash plumes that rose to a few 100 m above the crater.

According to local newspapers citing PVMBG, the new eruptions were preceded by an increase in seismic activity under the volcano since 1 January and there were 5 explosions at 05:34, 05:53, 05:59, 06:12 and at 07:14 am local time, as well as some weaker ash emissions at 08:07.

The current alert status of Mount Merapi, a popular climbing destination, still stays at level 2 (out of 4), but it is recommended not to approach the crater within a radius of 3 km.


Pagan (Mariana Islands): Low-level unrest continued at Pagan during 27 December 2013-2 January 2014; seismicity remained above background levels. A robust steam-and-gas plume was occasionally visible in web camera images during the reporting period. A small explosion was detected at about 0145 on 28 December.

It may have produced a diffuse ash emission, but the webcam was not in operation at the time to verify. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Advisory. (Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)


Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Volcanic activity remains low. CENAPRED only counts few (2-5) weak explosive emissions per day. Glow and continuous degassing still indicate that magma is being supplied to the crater, and justify the continued alert level Yellow Phase 2.

Glow from Popocatépetl at night.

Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): Activity remains essentially unchanged. Small to moderate explosions are occurring at rates of 1-3 per hour, producing ash plumes that typically rise 300-600 m. Extrusion of viscous lava feeds several active block lava flows on the upper slopes of the Caliente dome. Their activity can be seen as near-constant avalanches.

The lava dome of Santiaguito this morning.

Pacaya (Guatemala): The volcano continues to be in mild strombolian activity at the Mackenney crater.


Complete Earthquake list (worldwide) for January 10, 2014.


- Volcano Discovery.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Pagan Island Volcano Erupts in the Mariana Islands!

A NASA satellite has captured a dramatic image of steam and gas plumes from a volcano in the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean, U.S. scientists said. 

Volcanic plume from Pagan Island.

The image shows the activity on Pagan Island, the largest and one of the most active of the Marianas volcanoes, a NASA release reported Thursday.  Fires and smoke on the island was imaged on Tuesday by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite. 

Pagan Island consists of two volcanoes connected by a narrow isthmus, and almost all of the historical eruptions of Pagan dating back to the 17th century have originated from North Pagan volcano. 

The largest eruption of Pagan during historical time took place in 1981 and prompted the evacuation of the sparsely populated island, NASA aid.  The Marianas are an arc-shaped archipelago consisting of the summits of fifteen volcanic mountains, anchored at its south end by the island of Guam. - UPI.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Continued Volcanic Rumblings from Pagan in the Mariana Islands!

Pagan Island seen on January 11, 2007, with a small ash plume. North and
South Pagan are labelled, along with the caldera rims for both modern composite volcanoes.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) are a protectorate of the United States and as such, the volcanoes in this active arc in the Pacific Ocean are under the watch of the USGS. However, they don’t really fall under any specific observatory (see update below), but rather the lonely “USGS Northern Marianas Duty Scientist”. This nameless individual provides weekly (or more) reports when something is rumbling in the Northern Mariana Islands, mostly for the benefit of people living on the islands and any air traffic in the region. The population of the CNMI is fairly low, ~53,000 people, and dispersed across many islands, so the volcanoes are not a threat to any large population center, but they are definitely active and potentially dangerous.

One of the more active volcanoes in the Mariana Islands chain is Pagan on the island of the same name (see above). The island itself is actually two volcanoes – North and South Pagan – both of which were built inside calderas. Most of the recent activity has been from North Pagan, although eruptions from South Pagan occurred in 1864 (and possibly in 1929). Although most of the activity from North Pagan is fairly minor – VEI 1-2 explosive events – 1981 did see an VEI 4 eruption that produced explosions and lava flows. This means that keeping an eye on the current activity on Pagan is well worth our time. The latest report from Pagan notes a ~3 km/10,000 foot plume from the volcano that is mostly steam, although various reports suggest there might be small amounts of ash mixed in. As mentioned in the report, Pagan has no permanent ground monitoring, so all the reports are from either remote sensing via satellite or pilot’s reports as they pass near the island. Due to these plumes, Pagan has been on Yellow Alert status (Advisory) since October 2011. The largest eruption in the recent past in the Northern Mariana Islands was from Anatahan in 2003, the first historic eruption of that volcano, showing that even the quieter volcanoes need to be watched. - WIRED.

PLANETARY TREMORS: 5.7 Quake Strikes Pagan, Mariana Islands!

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake has struck the Pagan Region, Northern Mariana Islands at a depth of 99.9 kilometre (km) or 62.1 miles. The quake hit at 09:19:48 UTC Sunday 26th June 2011 and was located at 18.863°N, 146.297°E. The epicentre was 66 km (41 miles) east of Agrihan, Northern Mariana Islands; 100 km (62 miles) northeast of Pagan, Northern Mariana Islands; 410 km (254 miles) north of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands; and 619 km (384 miles) northeast of Hagatna, Guam.