GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Volcanic White Island Erupts In The Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand - Alert Level Raised To 3 And Aviation Color Code To Orange!

White Island eruption in 2013. John Borren

April 28, 2016 - NEW ZEALAND - White Island erupted last night.

The volcanic island, off the coast of the Bay of Plenty, erupted yesterday between 9.30pm and 11pm, GNS Science said.

As a consequence of this activity the Volcanic Alert Level is now raised to Level 3 (Minor Volcanic Eruption) and the Aviation Colour Code to Orange.

No eruptive activity has been seen since about 11pm yesterday.

The eruption was accompanied by a moderately elevated seismic activity, GNS said. The seismic activity is now back to normal.

Material appears to have been deposited over north side of the crater floor and up onto north crater wall. There is not yet a clear view of crater area visible from cameras.

Volcanologists are monitoring the volcano and further information will be released as soon as it is available.

Over the last couple of weeks, GNS scientists have observed a fall of 2m in the water level of the crater lake.

However, they have not noted any changes in other monitored parameters, like the amount of volcanic gas being emitted, fumarole temperatures and the presence of volcanic tremor or earthquakes.

During a visit last week by GNS volcanologist Brad Scott he was able to confirm the lake level had dropped 2m in the last 2 weeks. The lake was now about the same level as it was in 2014. The drop in water level of the crater lake has revealed several islands or crater outlines and the lake temperature has increased 2C, from 56C to 58C, since February.

There had been a small decrease in the temperature of the hottest fumarole (169C to 161C) since February. The SO2 gas output has ranged between 90 and 480 tonnes per day (1.0 to 5.5 kg per second) of gas during the last 5 weeks. These are typical values for White Island.

The level of volcanic tremor continues to vary, but remains below those observed in 2012 when unrest was stronger and small eruptions occurred.



- New Zealand Herald.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Nicaragua's Telica Volcano Shaken By Violent Explosion And Eruption!

September 26, 2013 - NICARAGUA - A volcano in Nicaragua has erupted with a mighty blast and a column of ash, then quietened down again, the government said.

No one was hurt but villagers near the Telica volcano in the northwest of the Central American nation were told to remain on alert.

The mountain is about 1000 metres tall.

The morning blast spewed ash 50 metres into the air, said Guillermo Gonzalez of the National System for Preventing and Mitigating Disasters.

After the single blast, civil defence staff remained on site to gather information.

Villagers were put on alert and told to protect their water and food sources. - SKY News.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: The Global Volcano Report For August 20, 2013 - Submarine Eruption And Increased Seismic Activity At Indonesia's Iliwerung Volcano Forces Authorities To Raise Alert Level; And High Levels Of Hydrothermal Activity Results In Massive Explosion At New Zealand's White Island Volcano!

August 20, 2013 - WORLDWIDE VOLCANOES - The following constitutes the new activity, unrest and ongoing reports of volcanoes across the globe.

Gunung Hobal (Iliwerung volcano, Lomblen Island, Indonesia): A submarine eruption has likely occurred this morning in Indonesia. VSI raised the alert level of Iliwerung volcano from 1 (normal) to 2 (watch) following increased seismic and visual activity from an underwater flank vent called Gunung Hobal.

Iliwerung volcano forms a peninsula on the south coast of Lembata (Lomblen) Island (East Indonesia).

Mount Hobal (Gunung Hobal) is a submarine flank vent of Iliwerung located about 800 m from the coast. It has had several historic eruptions during which several temporary islands were formed.

The latest bulletin of VSI describes that the water around Hobal has recently shown significant color changes to yellow, intense bubbling and white steam plumes rising up to about 1000-2000 m from 7:14 local time this morning. Half an hour later, from 7:46 am, glow even began to be visible.

Strangely, no plume or other strong evidence of an eruption have been available so far from satellite data, except tiny spots visible on the latest images of the area which could be floating pumice (s. Culture Volcan's blog post)

It appears that the eruptive phase (if any) lasted only shortly, which could explain the absence of a clearly visible plume on satellite data.

VSI points out that there is an elevated risk of tsunamis associated with potential more eruptive activity, and recommends not to approach the coast within 30 m from the sea.

The last recorded eruptions of Gunung Hobal were in 1973-74 and between 17-18 August 1983.




White Island (New Zealand): A small phreatic or hydrothermal eruption occurred at in the active crater earlier today (10:23 on Tuesday 20 August 2013 NZ local time). The explosion lasted for about 10 minutes and produced a steam plume mixed with small amounts of ash that rose about 4 km a.s.l.

The activity at White Island has now returned to levels of high hydrothermal activity as before this morning's eruption... [read more]




Complete Earthquake list (worldwide) for August 20, 2013.


- Volcano Discovery.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Mount Cameroon in Yaounde Sends Ashes, Flames Into the Air in Brief Volcanic Explosion - Residents in the Cameroon Sees Tremors as a Precursor to a Possible Eruption!

Cameroon state radio says that Mount Cameroon, a volcano in the country’s southwest region, sent ashes and flames into the air in a brief explosion.

Cameroon Radio Television reported Monday that a violent explosion Friday lasted a couple of seconds and lightly injured two among the porters and guides on the mountain.

Mountain guide Peter Buma Linonge told state radio there were explosions, then flames burst into the air followed by ash.

Joseph Mokake, a resident of Buea, the town situated at the foot of the mountain, told The Associated Press there were tremors on Tuesday and Wednesday. He said he moved to a nearby town for safety. Residents say explosions and tremors serve as a precursor to a possible eruption.

Measuring just over 13,420 feet (4,090 meters) high, Mount Cameroon is an active volcano and the highest peak in West Africa. - Washington Post.