GLOBAL VOLCANISM: The Latest Report Of Volcanic Eruptions, Activity, Unrest And Awakenings – March 8-10, 2016! [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

Explosion at Tungurahua (Image: EDUfoto / Facebook.com/edufoto.org)

March 10, 2016 - EARTH - The following constitutes the new activity, unrest and ongoing reports of volcanoes across the globe.


Tungurahua (Ecuador): The activity of the volcano has strongly increased since last weekend - a new surge of magma has been arriving at the summit vent and is producing a violent eruption from the summit crater. Its climax so far occurred this morning, at 07:51 local time, when a powerful explosion generated an eruption column that rose approx. 6 km above the crater and reached an altitude of estimated 36,000 ft (11 km). Pyroclastic flows (generated by partial column collapse) descended over 2000 m towards the Mandur and Achupashal areas.

Similar explosive activity, with increasing tendency, had already been occurring during the previous days, in particular since Sunday. Very strong explosions also occurred yesterday afternoon at 16:28 local time, two around noon (also yesterday), as well as at 19:35 and 05:35 local time on Sunday (March 6). All of them produced pyroclastic flows into various directions towards the western (Romero and Achupashal) and northern sectors (Mandur).

Steam and ash plume rising 3-4 km above Tunguarhua on March 5. (Image: OVT-IGEPN)

Violent shock waves that rattled windows and doors and ground rumblings accompanied the explosions and most of the time, a steam and ash column was rising 3-4 km from the volcano. At night, explosions could be seen ejecting incandescent material to great height (many 100 meters) and distances over the volcano's cone, generating spectacular avalanches.

Considerable ash fall has been affecting various areas around the volcano. In particular, the western sectors have suffered most. A team of IGEPN scientists measured a load of 7700 g/m2 of ash had accumulated since the end of February in the areas of Manzano and Choglontus. The area is rich in corn fields which have been severely damaged by the ongoing eruption.

On March 9, activity remained very elevated at the volcano. During yesterday and the night, several more explosions occurred ejecting incandescent material that produced glowing avalanches of up to 1500 length mainly on the western and northwestern flanks.

Strong explosion from Tungurahua; a small pyroclastic flow can be seen departing from the base of the eruption column.

The ash plume continues to reach up to 30-32,000 ft (9-10 km) altitude and drifts SSE, Washington VAAC reports.


Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): A series of small explosions occurred at the volcano yesterday. The first happened in the afternoon at 16:32 local time.

The Manizales volcano observatory recorded a pulse in tremor and reported an ash plume that rose 1300 m above the summit.

Eruption of Nevado del Ruiz

Another small explosion

Similar explosions with ash emissions could be seen on webcam images at 18:15 and 18:40 (local time), before night obscured the view. No incandescence is visible from the crater.

Light ash fall probably occurred in areas to the SW belonging to the departments of Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas.



Sangay (Ecuador): The Geophysical Institute (IGEPN) reported an increase in activity from the volcano since March 5, when volcanic earthquakes started to become more frequent in number.

Between 8 and 9 March, this activity picked up significantly and signs of small explosions (11 in total since March 7th) as well as small episodes of tremor appeared. This probably means that new magma has arrived to produce strombolian activity in the summit crater. A thermal anomaly visible on satellite data fits this interpretation well.

Sangay's seismicity of the SAGA station since 4 Mar 2016 (IGEPN

Explosions and seismicity at Sangay since March (IGEPN)

Sangay is one of the country's most active volcanoes, but thanks to its very remote location on the southeast side of the Cordillera Real it is rarely visited and directly observed. However, there is evidence that it has been in semi-permanent activity since at least 1628.

The last eruptive phase of the volcano had begun in January 2015 and lasted until mid April 2015. It produced two small lava flows that reached a few hundred meters below the central crater and moderately large ash plumes. No inhabited areas were affected (there are none very close either).

Typical eruptive episodes (one of which has just started, it seems) consists of strombolian activity, emission of lava flows, and - when activity becomes more intense - pyroclastic flows and larger explosions that produce ash plumes.

IGEPN recommends not to ascend the volcano at the moment.


Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Explosions and generally small pyroclastic flows, sometimes happening together, continue to occur at the volcano at rates of a few per day on average.

Explosion and pyroclastic flow at Sinabung yesterday evening (Photo: Leopold Kennedy Adam ‏@LeopoldAdam / Twitter)

Yesterday evening 17:55 local time, an explosion produced a plume that rose 2.3 km and a pyroclastic flow that traveled 1.5 km.


Dukono (Halmahera): Strong ash emissions continue to be reported from the volcano. Yesterday, a plume stretched almost 100 km to the NW.

Dukono's ash plume over northern Halmahera seen on NASA's Terra satellite on March 7, 2016

Lokon-Empung (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): A warning was issued for the volcano and its alert level raised to 3 ("siaga" - alert, on a scale of 1-4) last Monday after a seismic swarm was detected to occur under the edifice.

The previous day (7 Mar), PVMBG recorded 25 deep and 138 shallow volcanic quakes, 23 rockfall signals as well as a tremor signal. In addition, deformation (inflation) was measured to occur under the Tompaluan crater.

Earthquake swarm at Lokon volcano on March 8, 2016 (VSI)

Seismicity at Lokon during the past weeks (VSI)

While no to little changes were seen in surface activity (degassing), these geophysical parameters seem to suggest that internal pressure in the hydrothermal system of the volcano has recently increased and the risk of sudden explosions (phreatic or phreatomagmatic) has to be considered elevated at the moment.

Visitors and locals are advised not to approach the crater within a radius of 2.5 km.



Kilauea (Hawai'i): No significant changes in the ongoing eruption of Kilauea have occurred since the last update.

The lava lake at the summit caldera has dropped again and was about 33 m (108 ft) below the rim of the Overlook crater yesterday.

View of Puu Oo on March 4th. (HVO)

On the eastern rift zone, the recently active lava flows inside Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater were now inactive. Lava originating from the vent continues to flow into tubes, feeding scattered surface lava flows on the slowly growing "June 27th" lava field. All active breakouts remain within 6-7 km distance and far from any nearby communities.


Santiaguito (Guatemala): Activity at the Caliente lava dome continues to be high. Another moderately strong explosion occurred yesterday morning, causing a part of the Caliente lava dome to collapse and form pyroclastic flows on its north-northeastern flank.

According to a bulletin of the INSIVUMEH volcano observatory, an ash column rose to 4,000 m altitude and produced light ash fall in areas to the NNE including Quetzaltenango and Santa Marcos Palajunoj.


Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): The eruptive activity at the remote Island in southern Japan continues. It even seems to have picked up in intensity, judging from the increasingly frequent volcanic ash reports issued by Tokyo VAAC and the sometimes very strong glow visible from neighboring islands.

Eruption from Suwanose-Jima.

The exact type of activity in the Otake crater is unknown, but likely consists of strong, ash-rich strombolian explosions.


Makian (Halmahera): The alert level of Makian Island's Kie Besi volcano was raised from 1 (normal) to 2 ("waspada" = watch) yesterday, as an increase in seismic activity has been detected recently under the volcano.

The stratovolcano, which forms a small island south of Ternate (and is in the center line of tomorrow's Solar Eclipse, where one of our groups is currently stationed...), is one of the regions most active (and dangerous) volcanoes with a number of strong explosive eruptions in historic times, last in 1988.

Already on 2 June 2009, a similar increase in internal activity had triggered a raise in alert level, but unrest declined soon after again and the volcano was placed back to normal again on 16 July, as no further changes in activity had been detected.

Seismic activity of Kie Besi volcano (Makian) over the past weeks (VSI)

The current, most recent phase of unrest began apparently last year. A series of deep earthquakes could be felt in the region in November. Since January, the observatory noted an increase in the number and size of shallow volcanic earthquakes. Weakly felt quakes occurred on 12 January, as well as on 18 and 24 February. Long-period quakes and volcanic tremor (regular vibrations), both related to internal fluid movements also started to occur since the end of past February.

The volcano's seismic activity further increased during the past week and now volcanic tremor has been a weak, but constant signal since 7 March which is why the volcano's alert level was now raised.

So far, no signs of changes in the volcano's visible (surface) activity have been noted, in particular concerning the relatively weak fumarolic activity in the summit crater. However, volcanologists interpret the increased seismic activity and its characteristics as likely created by a magma intrusion from depth, and that fluids, possibly magma, have been moving closer to the surface, causing an increase in internal pressure, and, hence the risk of sudden explosions.

For now, no evacuations are recommended, but the local population is advised to stay alert of possible tremors that can be felt. It is apparently not expected that an eruption might occur in the near future, but increased vigilance is in place as things can change quickly at active volcanoes. Past eruptions of Makian have often produced pyroclastic flows and significant ballistic ejections that pose great risk to nearby areas, especially within a radius of 2 km.

For the time being, the local population on Makian island around G. Kie Besi volcano and visitors / tourists are advised not to climb the crater and remain outside a radius of 1.5 km from gunung Kie Besi's summit crater.


Momotombo (Nicaragua): The eruption of the volcano continues with little visible changes: Intermittent vulcanian-type explosions of mostly small, but sometimes moderate size continue to occur at rates of 1-2 per day (on average), the stronger ones showering the upper flanks of the cone with incandescent material and producing ash plumes that rise 1-2 km above the summit.

A spectacular explosion at Momotombo.

In addition, weaker activity of semi-persistent style also occurs. Continuous glow is visible from the crater at night. This is probably due to the presence of a small lava lake or (more likely) a small lava dome (more viscous lava), as well as frequent, but small (strombolian-type) explosions (that don't reach the outer rim) as INETER reported in its recent status update (53 explosions recorded during March 3-4).

According to Nicaraguan scientists, seismic activity of the volcano has been at low to medium levels.


Nyiragongo (DR Congo): Some very unusual and alarming events have been taking place at the volcano recently: A new eruptive vent opened at the northeastern end of the lowest crater terrace, outside the active lava lake (which had been in place since 2002) and just beneath the near vertical crater walls..

According to a preliminary report of the Goma Volcano Observatory (GVO) who visited the volcano during 1-2 March, the new vent is now forming a second lava lake. Images from a visit of GVO staff show a spatter cone erupting fresh lava flows that pooled onto the crater floor.

View of the crater of Nyiragongo on March 1 or 2, with the lava lake and the new vent at the NE margin of the crater floor (Image: OVG)

The new vent on the NE end of the crater floor on 1 or 2 March 1 or 2. (OVG)

GVO reported that since the end of February, activity at the volcano has been more intense than usual. In particular, starting from 04 am on 29 February, local inhabitants began to hear frequent rumblings coming from the volcano almost every minute. Likely, these were caused by the opening of the new dike (fracture occupied as pathway for the new magma) and associated rockfalls inside the crater (the vent is directly located near almost vertical walls). It is important to note as GVO's report mentions, that the location of the new vent is on the east-trending fracture zone that connects the summit vent of Nyiragongo with the prominent flank cone Baruta to the northeast of the main edifice, near the village of Kibumba.

This rift zone (along with the southern rift zone extending towards Goma town) is one of the most prone locations of the volcano's dangerous flank eruptions.

Hiked to #Nyiragongo this weekend. Largest lava lake in the world, activity increasing. #hike #so2 #goma pic.twitter.com/Bm9hPiyGts

— langley dewitt (@langleydew) March 8, 2016

When these occur, the volcano's edifice is ruptured laterally, allowing magma to drain outside. Such eruptions have been occurring at intervals of few decades typically. They usually drain very large volumes of very fluid, and hence, unusually fast flowing lava from the lake in short time. The results of the past two such eruptions in 1977 and 2002 were catastrophic: they killed more than 1000 people, destroyed dozends of villages and a large part of Goma town (in 2002).

Whether or not the current developments are precursor of a new eruption from Nyiragongo's flanks is difficult to say, but the appearance of the new vent tells that an extensional movement has taken place on this fracture zone, something that is certainly alarming.




- Volcano Discovery.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: "The Throat Of Fire" - Ecuador's Tungurahua Volcano Spews Smoke And Ash In Fiery Eruption! [VIDEO]

© YouTube / Newseen (screen capture)

March 3, 2016 - ECUADOR - Ecuadors Tungurahua volcano erupted on Wednesday 2 March, spewing smoke and ash high into the air in several fiery explosions.

Volcanologists began registering increased activity at Tungurahua on 27 February and noted the tremors and eruptions intensified in ensuing days. The Secretariat of Risk Management issued an orange alert at that point.

The volcano was shrouded in clouds for most of the week, but volcanologists said the ash column above the volcano at one point reached some 4,000m high.

Experts said ground vibrations could also be felt during the eruptions, but they did not have exact measurements for the height of the ash columns.

The Geophysical Institute believes ongoing activity and varying degrees of intensity will continue in coming days.


WATCH: Tungurahua volcanic eruptions continue.

Geophysical Institute volcanologist Marco Almeida said: The activity of the volcano can be classified as moderate-high at the moment. At the internal level as well as the surface level there is evidence of columns of ash with a moderate-high load and sporadic explosions that have triggered primary pyroclastic flows and others are recurring, secondary, that are related to the collapse of the material at the summit.

Tungurahua is a towering 5,023m high and lies some 135km south of the capital city of Quito. Tungurahua, which means Throat of Fire in the local Quechua language, has been classified as active since 1999. Ecuador has 84 volcanoes on the mainland in the Andes and Amazon region and three in the Galapagos Islands. Of the 84, 24 are classified as erupting, active or potentially active. - IBT.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: "The Throat Of Fire" - Ecuador's Tungurahua Volcano Erupts, Produces Ash Plume Over 16,000 Feet High; Prompts Orange Danger Level! [PHOTOS]

Twitter: J.L Espinosa-Naranjo

February 27, 2016 - ECUADOR - Ecuador’s Volcano Tungurahua, which translates from Quichua as “Throat of Fire,” has been exploding and puffing out an impressing 8-kilometer-high black spout.

Impressive images of the enormous ash cloud have been posted online by the local admirers.

Instagram: rohocentro

Instagram: aalaneez

At least five explosions shook Tungurahua on Friday, the Geophysical Institute of National Polytechnic School reported.

The first of them threw a grey cloud of volcanic gases to 5 kilometers above the crater, rising up another 3 kilometers in the hours that followed.

Ash headed northwest, falling in towns of Chonglontus, El Manzano, Pillate and Juive.

Local authorities updated the danger level to orange on Friday, warning the population of possible eruption.Current Tungurahua’s emission is regarded by experts as “mild to moderate.” - RT.



Two moderately large explosions occurred at the volcano yesterday noon from 12:12 local time. The first and larger explosion produced an ash plume that rose approx. 5000 meters (16404.2 feet) above the summit.

The ash plume dispersed mainly to the west and northwest where ash fall occurred in areas including Choglontús, Pillate, Cahuaji and El Manzano.

Eruption plume of Tungurahua volcano yesterday.
Twitter: J.L Espinosa-Naranjo / Ambalaser

Tungurahua volcano eruption in Ecuador on February 26, 2016.
Twitter

According to IGEPN, the eruption - which came after a 3 months interval of quiet since last November - was most likely NOT the result of new magma, but instead of accumulated gas pressure in the upper conduit. Magmatic gasses (H2O, CO2 etc) still contained in older magma inside the conduit was being released quietly as the magma continued to cool and crystallize, but most of these gasses were being trapped beneath a solid plug. With time, the gas pressure increased to the critical point: the plug gave way in yesterday's explosions.

The explosion itself, a typical so-called "vulcanian"-type eruption, was preceded only by a short (lasting little more than an hour), but intense seismic swarm of shallow earthquakes caused by internal fluid movements and rock fracturing as pressurized gasses started to disintegrate the overlying plug. - Volcano Discovery.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Ecuador's Tungurahua Volcano Erupts - Covering Houses, Fields With Ash And Smoke!

Tungurahua volcano spews ash and vapor, as seen seen Ojos del Volcan, Ecuador, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015.  © AP/Dolores Ochoa

November 20, 2015 - ECUADOR - Residents from communities near Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano faced a massive cleaning operation on Thursday (19 November) after the volcano erupted, covering houses and fields with smoke and ash. Authorities issued an orange alert as emissions reached 2,500 metres above the crater.

In nearby Queros, one of the most affected communities, officials registered 10kg of ash per square metre.

As he swept the street near his house, resident Luis Vaca said the volcanic material was damaging crops.

© AP/Dolores Ochoa

"Ash is falling everywhere; it's strong, especially in the countryside where it's falling more heavily. It's damaging the crops. It would be good if the president came to visit us," he said.

Volcanologist Patricia Mothes confirmed that eruptions have been substantial. "These accumulations of ash that have been falling are the greatest masses of ash that we've registered in the past five years," she said.


WATCH: Ecuador volcano erupts.

Most residents are staying off the streets to avoid breathing in the ash while schools in the provincial capital of Ambato, have been closed.

Tungurahua, which means Throat of Fire in the local Quechua language, has been active since 1999. Ecuador has 84 volcanoes on the mainland in the Andes and Amazon region and three in the Galapagos Islands. Of the 84, 24 are classified as erupting, active or potentially active. - IBT.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: The Latest Report Of Volcanic Eruptions, Activity, Unrest And Awakenings – February 2, 2015!

February 2, 2015 - EARTH - The following constitutes the new activity, unrest and ongoing reports of volcanoes across the globe.



Etna (Sicily, Italy): The new eruptive phase continues. Dense cloud cover has prevented detailed observations, but from occasional clearings and other observations, it seems that the intense strombolian eruptions are going on from a vent between the old and New SE crater, feeding a lava flow, at least 2.5 km long onto the southwestern slope.

Etna's SE crater with strombolian activity and the lava flow (photo: Emanuela / VolcanoDiscovery Italia)

Tremor remains high.

More details start to emerge about the new eruptive phase. Strombolian activity from the SE crater accompanies important lava effusion, feeding an impressive lava flow.

The new lava flow on Etna's SW side seen from Catania (photo: Emanuele Zuccarello / Etna Walk)

The new lava flow reaching approx. 2000 m elevation (photo: Emanuela / VolcanoDiscovery Italia)

Steam ring from Etna's SE crater (photo: Emanuela / VolcanoDiscovery Italia)

Etna seen from Paternó on the SSW flank

Current tremor signal (ESLNZ station, INGV Catania)

The lava flow has been taking a path to the SW, passing the 2002 cones on their western side and descending already to approx. 2000 m or less altitude, a few km west of the provincial road to La Sapienza.

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): A powerful explosion occurred this morning, at 02:08 local time, at the volcano. It seems a large-volume pyroclastic flow of several km length and an ash plume rising to approx. 33,000 ft (10 km) altitude were generated.

Eruption at Shiveluch volcano this morning (KVERT webcam)

The eruption occurred from the same area of the active lava dome as the ones during the past weeks, i.e. from the north side of the dome's cone near the 1964 caldera wall.

Kilauea (Hawai'i): Some images of frozen and active pahoehoe lava taken during an excursion to active lava flows from Kiilauea during one of the recent Round-The-World tours.

The June 27th lava flow remains active, but its advance is slow. The leading edge is currently stalled roughly 500 meters from Highway 130 at Pahoa.

Map of the June 27th lava flow as of 26 Jan (USGS / HVO)

Breakouts remain active a short distance upslope of the leading tip of the flow, and continue to slowly widen the flow.

Bardarbunga (Central Iceland): A small earthquake swarm at 1 km below the eastern rim of the Bardarbunga caldera occurred yesterday evening at 21:22 local time, accompanied by a rise in tremor.

Earthquakes at Bardarbunga yesterday (IMO)

John Friman who closely follows the events in Iceland suspects on his blog that a minor subglacial eruption could have taken place.

If so, a meltwater flood should be expected in the course of the day.

Comparison of the Baugur vent showing the decrease in activity
(photo: Morten S.Riishuus & Ármann Höskuldsson / IES FVNH)

The visible intensity of the eruption continues to decrease gradually last week. The Icelandic Met office conducted air-borne measurements of the lava field last week, showing that it has significantly thickened (rather than expanded laterally) during the past weeks, and is now estimated to contain approx. 1.4 cubic kilometers of lava. Effusion rates, although decreasing, are still close to an impressive 100 m³ per second.

Kliuchevskoi (Kamchatka): The volcano's activity today consisted of continuing mild to moderate strombolian activity. Probably the lava flow on its upper flank is still active, but seems to have decreased. Frequent incandescent avalanches occurred, accompanied by mild ash emissions.

Lava flow or incandescent avalanche on Klyuchevskoy this morning (evening in Kamchatka)

VAAC Tokyo issued a warning about a possible ash plume rising to 34,000 ft (10 km) altitude at 02:57 UTC, although it stated that no ash was visible on satellite imagery, and no such plume is visible on webcam imagery, only a rather diluted ash plume at much lower altitude.

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (Tonga, Tonga Islands):  An exceptional satellite image taken by the European Pléiades satellite from 19 January 19 shows the new island that formed during the eruption near Hunga Ha’apai island (left in images) earlier this month and joined it by forming a new peninsula, composed of a broad, flat ash cone with a water-filled crater.

Image: Pleiades © CNES 2015

The image also shows that activity seems to have already stopped by the 19th when the image was taken. Most likely, the new land addition will be eroded within months, because it seems mainly to be composed of loose materials, as opposed to more resistant solid lava flows.

What makes this remarkable news, however, is that we don’t get the chance to see this kind of wild geology in action on a day to day basis.

In fact, most islands today are made from underwater volcano eruptions. The story of a volcanic island starts inside the Earth. Earth has a solid inner core. It’s made of solid metal. It is thought to be as hot as the surface of the sun! A liquid outer core surrounds the inner core. The outer core is made of metals, too. It is liquid because it is under less pressure than the inner core. Around the outer core is the Earth’s mantle. It’s made of hot rock called magma. It’s mostly solid, but it can flow like hot plastic. We live on the crust. It is the thin, outside layer of the Earth. The crust is in pieces like a jigsaw puzzle. They are called tectonic plates. The plates fit together. Forces caused by Earth’s heat sometimes push them tighter against each other. Sometimes forces pull them apart. Sometimes there are weak spots in the crust. When plates pull apart or there is a weak spot, the mantle’s hot, flowing magma oozes out.

Fogo (Cape Verde): The eruption still continues although most of the time visible activity is very low and restricted to degassing. Minor lava effusion and sporadic flares of strombolian activity of mild to moderate size occur from time to time.

Ash emission at Fogo on 25 Jan (OVCV)

Scientists from the Cabo Verde volcano observatory (OVCV) who climbed the volcano on 25 January observed small ash emissions, and published a detailed report about the most recent significant activity during 20-23 January, when explosions produced a short-lived ash plume that rose up to 1200 meters on the morning of 20 Jan, as well as a small lava flow on the following day.

Karymsky (Kamchatka): Moderate explosive activity continues. Ash plumes from strombolian to vulcanian eruptions were reported by KVERT, reaching approx. 14,000 ft (4.2 km) altitude and drifting north and later east from the volcano. Aviation color code remains "orange".

Shishaldin (United States, Aleutian Islands): A faint thermal signal remains visible on satellite imagery. According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, weak eruptive activity likely continues in the summit crater.

San Miguel (El Salvador): A small explosion occurred last Monday at 06:43 morning. Probably phreatic in nature, it was the first eruptive activity since minor ash emissions past July.

Ash plume from San Miguel's eruption on Monday (MARN)

According to MARN, falling blocks from the eruption could be heard from people in the vicinity of the volcano. No further eruptions have followed so far, and no significant temperature signal can be detected at the summit, only constant degassing reaching 150-250 m height.

Seismic activity remains relatively low, but sudden explosions of small to moderate size remain a possibility.

Sangay (Ecuador): Eruptive activity of some sort is likely in progress at the volcano. Along with pilot reports of spotted plumes relayed through the Washington VAAC, thermal signals detectable on satellite data have been more and more frequent since early January, Culture Volcan points out in his blog.

Hot spots detected at Sangay during the past weeks (MIROVA via Culture Volcan)

It is unknown what kind of activity is occurring, but the most likely scenario is mild to moderate strombolian activity, which is typical for Sangay,- an extremely remote, but at the same time very active, that often has this type of activity. In many ways it is similar to its Kamchatka counterpart Klyuchevskoy currently in eruption as well.

Volcano Activity Summary as of February 1, 2015:

Currently erupting:

Ambrym (Vanuatu): active lava lakes in several craters (updated 14 Aug 2013)
Aso (Kyushu): intense strombolian activity from main vent in Nakadake crater (updated 20 Jan 2015)
Bardarbunga (Central Iceland): lava lake, sporadic fountains, lava flow (updated 18 Sep 2014)
Barren Island (Indian Ocean): intermittent activity, likely strombolian-type and/or lava flows (updated 4 Feb 2014)
Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): strombolian explosions, ash plumes up to 500 m, extrusion of a small lava dome with rockfalls (updated 4 Nov 2014)
Colima (Western Mexico): slowly growing lava dome, occasional explosions (updated 24 Jan 2015)
Copahue (Chile/Argentina): ash venting (updated 4 Dec 2014)
Daikoku (Volcano Islands): underwater eruption discovered on 14 Dec 2014 (updated 22 Dec 2014)
Dukono (Halmahera): thermal anomaly, probably small explosive activity in summit crater (updated 26 Jan 2015)
Erebus (Antarctica): active lava lake in summit crater (updated 8 Dec 2014)
Erta Ale (Ethiopia): active lava lake in northern pit crater, active hornito with intermittend flow in southern crater (updated 11 Jan 2013)
Fuego (Guatemala): strombolian explosions from summit crater, intermittent lava flows (updated 19 Jan 2015)
Gamalama (Halmahera): new eruption on 18 Dec 2014 (updated 22 Dec 2014)
Ibu (Halmahera, Indonesia): stromolian and phreatomagmatic explosions (updated 14 Nov 2014)
Karymsky (Kamchatka): occasional small explosions, thermal anomaly (updated 28 Jan 2015)
Kilauea (Hawai'i): new lava flow from vents on NE flank of Pu'u 'O'o (updated 13 Aug 2013)
Kliuchevskoi (Kamchatka): strombolian activity and lava flow on summit vent (updated 30 Jan 2015)
Manam (Papua New Guinea): degassing, occasional ash venting (updated 28 Aug 2013)
Marapi (Western Sumatra, Indonesia): sporadic explosions (updated 27 Mar 2014)
Nasu (Honshu)
Nishino-shima (Volcano Islands, Japan): growing island (updated 19 Jan 2015)
Nyamuragira (DRCongo): active lava lake (updated 29 Nov 2014)
Nyiragongo (DRCongo): active lava lake in summit crater (updated 26 Feb 2014)
Ol Doinyo Lengai (Tanzania): effusion of natrocarbonatite lava inside the crater (updated 8 Jul 2013)
Poas (Costa Rica): phreatic explosions (updated 14 Oct 2014)
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): degassing, sporadic explosions, slowly growing lava dome (updated 3 Jan 2015)
Rabaul (Tavurvur) (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): lava fountains, ash emissions from Tavurvur cone (updated 12 Sep 2014)
Raung (East Java): mild strombolian activity in summit crater (updated 2 Dec 2014)
Reventador (Ecuador): lava flow on southwestern flank, intermittent explosions (updated 7 Dec 2014)
Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): ash venting, intermittent explosions (updated 24 Jan 2015)
Sangay (Ecuador): likely strombolian eruptions at summit crater (updated 28 Jan 2015)
Sangeang Api (Indonesia): growing lava dome & lava flow (updated 7 Jul 2014)
Santiaguito (Guatemala): small explosions from the Caliente dome and active lava flow (updated 19 Jan 2015)
Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): growing lava dome, lava flow, strombolian activity (updated 26 Nov 2014)
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): growing lava dome, incandescent avalanches, occasional explosions (updated 1 Feb 2015)
Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): continuing pyroclastic flows (updated 19 Jan 2015)
Soputan (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): active viscous lava flow, explosions, rockfalls, pyroclastic flows (updated 21 Jan 2015)
Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): strombolian activity in summit crater (updated 26 Jan 2015)
Tungurahua (Ecuador): moderate to strong strombolian explosions from central crater (updated 25 Sep 2014)
Yasur (Tanna Island, Vanuatu): ash emissions, weak strombolian explosions (updated 14 Aug 2013)
Zhupanovsky (Kamchatka, Russia): intermittent ash emissions (updated 26 Jan 2015)

Eruption warning / minor activity:

Augustine (Cook Inlet (SW Alaska))
Bagana (Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea): ash emissions, lava dome growth (updated 21 Jan 2015)
Bezymianny (Central Kamchatka Depression): steaming, weak seismic activity (updated 3 Jul 2014)
Chirinkotan (Northern Kuriles): unspecified activity - possibly lava flows (updated 12 Jan 2015)
Chirpoi (Kurile Islands, Russia): hot spot visible on satellite imagery (updated 12 Jan 2015)
Etna (Sicily, Italy): sporadic weak ash emissions from New SE crater (updated 19 Apr 2014)
Fogo (Cape Verde): sporadic small explosions (updated 28 Jan 2015)
Heard (Australia, Southern Indian Ocean): possibly lava lake in summit crater (updated 5 Dec 2014)
Karangetang (Siau Island, Sangihe Islands, Indonesia): incandescent lava dome (updated 24 Oct 2014)
Kavachi (Solomon Islands): no eruption since 2007 (updated 16 Jun 2014)
Kerinci (Sumatra): seismic unrest (updated 5 Jun 2013)
Kirishima (Kyushu): degassing, alert lowered (updated 25 Oct 2014)
Krakatau (Sunda Strait, Indonesia): degassing (updated 31 Mar 2014)
Kuchinoerabu-jima (Ryukyu Islands): explosion on 3 Aug 2014 (updated 5 Dec 2014)
Lokon-Empung (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): small explosions, lava flow? (updated 13 Sep 2014)
Lopevi (Vanuatu ): eruption warning (updated 16 Dec 2014)
Mayon (Luzon Island): steaming (updated 18 Dec 2014)
Monowai (Kermandec Islands, New Zealand): frequent submarine eruptions, last confirmed during Oct 2014 (updated 14 Nov 2014)
Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): ash emissions (updated 16 Dec 2014)
Ontake-san (Honshu): steaming, low seismic activity (updated 18 Dec 2014)
Pacaya (Guatemala): ash emissions, thermal anomaly in Mackenney crater (updated 15 Jan 2015)
Papandayan (West Java): strong hydrothermal activity, increased seismicity (updated 6 May 2013)
Pavlof (Alaska Peninsula, USA): steaming, elevated seismic activity (updated 22 Dec 2014)
Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion): short-lived eruption during 21-22 June (updated 4 Dec 2014)
Rasshua (Central Kuriles)
Rincón de la Vieja (Costa Rica): phreatic explosions from crater lake (updated 21 Sep 2014)
Sacabaya (Northern Chile, Bolivia and Argentina)
San Cristobal (Nicaragua): possible ash emission on 11 April (updated 12 Apr 2014)
San Miguel (El Salvador): elevated seismic activity, pulsating gas emissions (updated 28 Jan 2015)
Shishaldin (United States, Aleutian Islands): mild explosive activity, intermittent more intense phases (updated 28 Jan 2015)
Slamet (Central Java): intense strombolian explosions (updated 12 Jan 2015)
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): weak strombolian activity at summit vents (updated 13 Jan 2015)
Turrialba (Costa Rica): occasional ash emissions (updated 9 Dec 2014)
Ulawun (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): degassing, ash venting (updated 5 Aug 2013)
Villarrica (Central Chile): deep-seated strombolian explosions in summit crater (updated 18 Dec 2014)

- Volcano Discovery | ZME Science.

PLANETARY TREMORS: Strong 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southwest Of Sangay, Philippines - No Tsunami Threat!

USGS earthquake location map.

December 2, 2014 - THE PHILIPPINES - A strong earthquake struck west of the Philippines Monday evening, but does not pose a tsunami threat to Hawaii, according to officials at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The preliminary magnitude 6.3 quake struck 63.4 miles west-southwest at at a depth of 384 miles at 7:11 p.m. Hawaii time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

USGS shakemap intensity.

No injuries were immediately reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) issued a “green alert” for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

Department of Science and Technology at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a statement that they are not expecting damage from the earthquake. - Star Advertiser | KHON.

Tectonic Summary - Seismotectonics of the Philippine Sea and Vicinity

The Philippine Sea plate is bordered by the larger Pacific and Eurasia plates and the smaller Sunda plate. The Philippine Sea plate is unusual in that its borders are nearly all zones of plate convergence. The Pacific plate is subducted into the mantle, south of Japan, beneath the Izu-Bonin and Mariana island arcs, which extend more than 3,000 km along the eastern margin of the Philippine Sea plate. This subduction zone is characterized by rapid plate convergence and high-level seismicity extending to depths of over 600 km. In spite of this extensive zone of plate convergence, the plate interface has been associated with few great (Magnitude greater than 8.0) ‘megathrust’ earthquakes. This low seismic energy release is thought to result from weak coupling along the plate interface (Scholz and Campos, 1995). These convergent plate margins are also associated with unusual zones of back-arc extension (along with resulting seismic activity) that decouple the volcanic island arcs from the remainder of the Philippine Sea Plate (Karig et al., 1978; Klaus et al., 1992).

South of the Mariana arc, the Pacific plate is subducted beneath the Yap Islands along the Yap trench. The long zone of Pacific plate subduction at the eastern margin of the Philippine Sea Plate is responsible for the generation of the deep Izu-Bonin, Mariana, and Yap trenches as well as parallel chains of islands and volcanoes, typical of circum-pacific island arcs. Similarly, the northwestern margin of the Philippine Sea plate is subducting beneath the Eurasia plate along a convergent zone, extending from southern Honshu to the northeastern coast of Taiwan, manifested by the Ryukyu Islands and the Nansei-Shoto (Ryukyu) trench. The Ryukyu Subduction Zone is associated with a similar zone of back-arc extension, the Okinawa Trough. At Taiwan, the plate boundary is characterized by a zone of arc-continent collision, whereby the northern end of the Luzon island arc is colliding with the buoyant crust of the Eurasia continental margin offshore China.

Along its western margin, the Philippine Sea plate is associated with a zone of oblique convergence with the Sunda Plate. This highly active convergent plate boundary extends along both sides the Philippine Islands, from Luzon in the north to the Celebes Islands in the south. The tectonic setting of the Philippines is unusual in several respects: it is characterized by opposite-facing subduction systems on its east and west sides; the archipelago is cut by a major transform fault, the Philippine Fault; and the arc complex itself is marked by active volcanism, faulting, and high seismic activity. Subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate occurs at the eastern margin of the archipelago along the Philippine Trench and its northern extension, the East Luzon Trough. The East Luzon Trough is thought to be an unusual example of a subduction zone in the process of formation, as the Philippine Trench system gradually extends northward (Hamburger et al., 1983). On the west side of Luzon, the Sunda Plate subducts eastward along a series of trenches, including the Manila Trench in the north, the smaller less well-developed Negros Trench in the central Philippines, and the Sulu and Cotabato trenches in the south (Cardwell et al., 1980). At its northern and southern terminations, subduction at the Manila Trench is interrupted by arc-continent collision, between the northern Philippine arc and the Eurasian continental margin at Taiwan and between the Sulu-Borneo Block and Luzon at the island of Mindoro. The Philippine fault, which extends over 1,200 km within the Philippine arc, is seismically active. The fault has been associated with major historical earthquakes, including the destructive M7.6 Luzon earthquake of 1990 (Yoshida and Abe, 1992). A number of other active intra-arc fault systems are associated with high seismic activity, including the Cotabato Fault and the Verde Passage-Sibuyan Sea Fault (Galgana et al., 2007).

USGS plate tectonics for the region.

Relative plate motion vectors near the Philippines (about 80 mm/yr) is oblique to the plate boundary along the two plate margins of central Luzon, where it is partitioned into orthogonal plate convergence along the trenches and nearly pure translational motion along the Philippine Fault (Barrier et al., 1991). Profiles B and C reveal evidence of opposing inclined seismic zones at intermediate depths (roughly 70-300 km) and complex tectonics at the surface along the Philippine Fault.

Several relevant tectonic elements, plate boundaries and active volcanoes, provide a context for the seismicity presented on the main map. The plate boundaries are most accurate along the axis of the trenches and more diffuse or speculative in the South China Sea and Lesser Sunda Islands. The active volcanic arcs (Siebert and Simkin, 2002) follow the Izu, Volcano, Mariana, and Ryukyu island chains and the main Philippine islands parallel to the Manila, Negros, Cotabato, and Philippine trenches.

Seismic activity along the boundaries of the Philippine Sea Plate (Allen et al., 2009) has produced 7 great (Magnitude greater than 8.0) earthquakes and 250 large (Magnitude greater than 7) events. Among the most destructive events were the 1923 Kanto, the 1948 Fukui and the 1995 Kobe (Japan) earthquakes (99,000, 5,100, and 6,400 casualties, respectively), the 1935 and the 1999 Chi-Chi (Taiwan) earthquakes (3,300 and 2,500 casualties, respectively), and the 1976 M7.6 Moro Gulf and 1990 M7.6 Luzon (Philippines) earthquakes (7,100 and 2,400 casualties, respectively). There have also been a number of tsunami-generating events in the region, including the Moro Gulf earthquake, whose tsunami resulted in more than 5000 deaths. - USGS.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Yellow Alert Has Been Declared For Ecuador's Tungurahua Volcano - Series Of Explosions Send Ash And Fire Into The Sky!

June 18, 2014 - ECUADOR - The National Secretariat for Risk Management of Ecuador today decided to change from orange to yellow the alert in Tungurahua Volcano, 80 km south of Quito, given the decline in activity.

According to a report of the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School, the volcanic activity at Tungurahua has remained low in the recent days, so the authorities decided to change the level of the alert. 

In the first months of the year, the volcano showed an increased activity with columns of ash and gases that rose reaching four kilometers above the crater, causing the orange alert to be declared in the affected areas. 


WATCH: A series of explosions send ash and fire into the sky above Banos, Ecuador, as tourists catch the eruption of Tungurahua. 

Although the alert level was changed, the Secretariat said that provintial and cantonal Emergency Operations Committees should keep on alert in order to react to any situation to protect the citizens.

At an altitude of five thousand 20 meters above the sea level, Tungurahua volcano erupted in 1999 and since then high activity periods with others of relative calm have been interspersed. - Prensa Latina.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Ecuador's Tungurahua Volcano Blows Sky-High - Spews Ash 8 Kilometers Into The Air, Causing Total Darkness In Surrounding Sectors; Biggest Eruption Since October!

February 04, 2014 - ECUADOR - Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano exploded into life this weekend, blasting three times in an hour on Saturday (Feb. 1) and spewing ash 5 miles (8 kilometers) into the air.

Tungurahua volcano erupts on Feb. 1, 2014. Credit: IGEPN

The ash caused total darkness in the nearby sector of Chacauco, Ecuador's Instituto Geofisico (IG-EPN) reported. The ash is streaming to the south and southwest.

Pyroclastic flows - superheated, flowing plumes of ash, gas and lava - raced more than 5 miles (8 km) down Tungurahua's slopes and crossed at least one road, the IG-EPN said.

However, thanks to an early warning provided by seismic tremors beneath the volcano that started Jan. 30, nearby residents were evacuated and a state of emergency declared in the provinces of Tungurahua and Chimborazo, according to local news reports.

This is the biggest eruption at Tungurahua since late October 2013.

Tungurahua volcano erupts on Feb. 1, 2014, sending pyroclastic flows down its slopes.
Credit: IGEPN-Silvia Vallejo

As Tungurahua woke, an ongoing eruption at Indonesia's Sinabung volcano took a tragic turn. Mount Sinabung's violent eruption Saturday killed 16 people in Sukameriah, the first deaths since the volcano's first blasts four months ago.


WATCH: Tungurahua volcano explosion - February 1, 2014.

The deaths came one day after authorities allowed thousands of residents who had been evacuated to return to their homes, saying the volcano's activity was decreasing. However, those killed were inside a 3-mile-across (5 km) "red zone" around the volcano. - Live Science.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Global Volcano Report For October 5, 2013 - Updates On Tjörnes Fracture Zone, Batu Tara, Dukono, Santa María, Popocatépetl, Santiaguito, Pacaya, Fuego, Sangay, Cotopaxi, Reventador, Tungurahua And Copahue!

October 05, 2013 - WORLDWIDE VOLCANOES - The following constitutes the new activity, unrest and ongoing reports of volcanoes across the globe, courtesy of  Volcano Discovery.

The Húsavík-Flatey (HFF) transform faut and location of earthquakes in the TFZ (IMO).

Tjörnes Fracture Zone (North of Iceland): The earthquake swarm has decreased in intensity. At least some scientists believe that the cause has been a magmatic intrusion in Iceland's northern rift zone that activated the Húsavík-Flatey (HFF) transform fault at the southern limit of the TFZ where the earthquakes were concentrated.


Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): Ash explosions regularly produce plumes up to about 7,000 ft (2.1 km) altitude, such as this morning. Activity (strombolian-type) on the remote island remains strong.


Dukono (Halmahera): An eruption produced an ash plume observed on satellite data. Estimated altitude was 6,000 ft (1.8 km). (VAAC Darwin).


Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): No changes in the currently low activity have occurred. Moderate steaming, occasional weak ash venting / small explosions (at rates of approx once / 2 hours) and glow at the summit at night characterize the current phase. CENPARED's alert level remains "Yellow Phase 2".

Crater glow and steam plume from Popocatépel early this morning.

Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): INSIVUMEH reported no explosions and no movements at the blocky lava flows on the dome's flanks, but heavy rainfalls inhibit detailed observations. Strong degassing is observed.


Pacaya (Guatemala): (Strombolian) Explosions occur every 3-5 seconds, INSIVUMEH reports.


Fuego (Guatemala): Activity is very low. Almost no explosions have occurred recently. The lava flow on the upper south flank seems to be still weakly active.


Sangay (Ecuador): During a recent overflight on 20 Sep, IGP found the crater of the volcano cold and partly covered with snow. No explosions were observed, different from most previous times in the past 11 years when the remote volcano had been surveyed.

Aerial view from the NE crater (left ) and the corresponding thermal image (right ) of Sangay (P. Ramon , IGEPN)

The highest temperatures measured in the crater area were about 67°C and the youngest lava flows had temperatures of about 31°C. A large warm zone (part of the summit dome) is located between the central and the northeast crater, which already had been noted during the last overflight in April.

The observations made during the overflight seem to indicate a decrease in the activity of Sangay compared to that observed in the last 10 years. This fits well to ground observations from August and September when no explosions were seen or heard from the volcano.


Reventador (Ecuador): Activity has remained unchanged at moderate levels. Weak glow from the summit, intense steaming and few ash explosions occur.

Reventador volcano last evening with crater glow and steam/ash venting.

Cotopaxi (Ecuador): IGPEN surveyed the volcano on 20 Sep. Maximum temperatures in the active crater were found at 55.7 °C and no unusual signs of activity or significant morphological changes compared to recent years were observed.

The crater of Cotopaxi on 20 Sep (P. Ramon IGEPN).

Tungurahua (Ecuador): Activity has been low. During an overflight on 20 Sep, IGPEN staff measured the diameter of the inner crater to be slightly larger (230 m) than compared to August, likely as a result of landslides from its walls.

View of Tungurahua's inner crater (P. Ramón, IG-EPN).

Temperatures at fumaroles inside the crater were relatively low and their activity weak. Low seismic activity and snow inside the crater also suggests that the volcano is currently "sleeping".


Copahue (Chile/Argentina): The volcano is emitting a weak plume of gas and steam. Minor ash venting could be observed yesterday evening.

Minor ash venting from Copahue yesterday.

No glow was visible on night-time webcam images. SERNAGEOMIN has not posted new activity reports.


WATCH:  Copahue volcano - Activity on October 3-4, 2013.

- Volcano Discovery.