Vikings Volcanic Activity Thread

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

UPDATE - ALASKA

REDOUBT - Much the same as yesterday with ongoing elevated seismicity and a lava dome which is becoming more unstable as every day passes.

VENIAMINOF - Elevated seismicity continues and seems to be increasing slightly - one to keep an eye on. Veniaminofs eruptions tend to be fairly mild with VEI1-2 events most common with the occasional VEI3 event.

Edited May 12, 2009 by Shetland Coastie

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

ALERT STATE AT GALERAS RAISED AGAIN

The alert state at Galeras in Colombia has again been raised to ORANGE amid fears of another explosive eruption.

The alert state was raised yesterday by INGEOMINAS, following an increase in seismic activity. Of particular concern is the fact that there has been a rapid decline in SO2 emissions in recent days and magmatic material from previous eruptions has been solidifying, suggesting the vent in the main crater may now be plugged.

Also giving concern is a Mag 2.2 earthquake on 9th May some 6km from the main crater which scientists believe indicates the arrival of new magma from deep below the volcano.

Edited May 12, 2009 by Shetland Coastie

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

ANAK KRAKATAU CAUSING INCREASING CONCERN

Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatoa) the volcano which has grown up in the caldera caused by the infamous 1883 eruption is giving increasing cause for concern. Currently the alert state is ORANGE.

The volcano has been much more activie recently with regular explosions and earthquakes occurring. The Indonesian authorities have now placed a 3km radius exclusion zone around the volcano amid fears it may be heading for a major eruption.

Head of the Vulcanolgy and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre, Surono, said Anak Krakatau "poses a high threat because the eruptions have started spreading" and he continued, "This is very dangerous, so we’ve warned local residents and climbers to stay away from the volcano."

Explosions from the volcano could be heard some 100km inland. The volcano is currently ejecting ash and lava bombs.

Edited May 12, 2009 by Shetland Coastie

[Anti-Mild]

ANAK KRAKATAU CAUSING INCREASING CONCERN

Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatoa) the volcano which has grown up in the caldera caused by the infamous 1883 eruption is giving increasing cause for concern. Currently the alert state is ORANGE.

The volcano has been much more activie recently with regular explosions and earthquakes occurring. The Indonesian authorities have now placed a 3km radius exclusion zone around the volcano amid fears it may be heading for a major eruption.

Head of the Vulcanolgy and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre, Surono, said Anak Krakatau "poses a high threat because the eruptions have started spreading" and he continued, "This is very dangerous, so we’ve warned local residents and climbers to stay away from the volcano."

Explosions from the volcano could be heard some 100km inland. The volcano is currently ejecting ash and lava bombs.

Krakatau eh? That might be interesting. Especially as it's been 126 years since the last big eruption - more tghan enough time for tAnak Krakatau to have grown into a fairly respectable size.

Any further developments at Redoubt?

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

UPDATE - REDOUBT

Same old same at Redoubt. Seisimicity continues at an elevated level although much lower than a few days back. The lava dome continues to grow and become unstable with vigorous steam/gas venting.

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

VOLCANOS? - IN SAUDI ARABIA? - SURELY NOT!

Well this has got my attention! Some strange reports coming out of Saudi Arabia that something volcanic may be about to kick off not far from one of the holy cities, Medina.

Ive now seen a couple of reports suggesting that the Saudi authorities are reporting earthquake swarms near Medina which are indicative of the movement of magma. Further more, they have been as specific to say that something has pushed magma from a depth of 8km down to just 4km down.

The reports are very sketchy and at first it would be tempting to dismiss them but the Saudi peninsula does like in a geologically active part of the world. Both the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are spreading centres and just last year we had a fairly spectacular eruption in the Red Sea off Yemen. Furthermore, the area around Medina is home to a volcanic field of cinder cones and lava fields which are believed to have been active in fairly recent times (1810 possibly).

Be interesting to see if this turns out to be anything. Watch this space!

Link below to a news story re the above:

News story

And another one:

Magma moving in Saudi volcanos

Edited May 15, 2009 by Shetland Coastie

[Louby]

Wow, very interesting! Thanks Bob. Not any area you would associate with volcanic activitey

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

UPDATE - SAUDI ARABIA

Further to yesterdays reports, there have been further tremors around the area of Al Eis (150km from the city of Yanbu). The largest of these was Mag 4.15 and has caused great alarm in the area. The continuing tremors have caused buildings to crack and the local Civil defense teams have been put on alert. Evacuation camps have been set up and some families have already gone to them voluntarily. Director General of Civil Defense in Medina, Maj Gen Saleh Al-Muhawwis stated that a forced evacuation stage would not begin until there were indications of "great danger."

According to Saudi media, "informed sources" had stated that magma moving from deep within the earth had now reached just 3km from the surface and was moving upwards.

Edited May 16, 2009 by Shetland Coastie

[The PIT]

Is this the little critter??

http://www.volcanolive.com/khaybar.html

More info http://xrdarabia.org/2009/05/14/magma-movi...audi-volcanoes/

And a interesting read http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/2006...anic.arabia.htm

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

Is this the little critter??

http://www.volcanolive.com/khaybar.html

More info http://xrdarabia.org/2009/05/14/magma-movi...audi-volcanoes/

And a interesting read http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/2006...anic.arabia.htm

Indeed PIT it is that volcanic field with local witnessess aparrently reporting that there have been loud grumbling noises heard fromt Harrat Khaybar volcano itself.

More information on the Harrat Khaybar volcanic field from the Global Volcanism Program:

GVP article

Edited May 16, 2009 by Shetland Coastie

[PB22]

Is something now kicking off at Redoubt: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/webicorders/Redoubt/RSO_EHZ_AV.php

Some notable signals in the last couple of hours or so.

Not sure if it is related to recent earthquakes at Kodiak Island or not?

[ukweathergirl]

wow a lot of increased seismic activity at Redoubt, that looks promising!

[PB22]

Nothing kicked off in the end, so I suspect it was related to earthquakes near Kodiak Island.

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

Nothing kicked off in the end, so I suspect it was related to earthquakes near Kodiak Island.

Correct Paul. AVO state that the signals are indeed related to several tectonic events located off Kodiak Island.

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

UPDATE - REDOUBT

Much the same as yesterday. The Hut webcam shows vigorous steaming from the lava dome. As dioscussed earlier the large seismic events seen on the webicorder were related to several tectonic events (mag 3) off Kodiak Island.

Hut webcam

The latest seismic event showing on the webicorder trace is a Mag 1.59 event at the far end of Cook Inlet.

Summit webicorder

Details of the tectonic activity can be found here:

Alaska earthquake activity

Edited May 17, 2009 by Shetland Coastie

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

UPDATE - REDOUBT

A more in-depth summary from AVO this morning regarding the status of Redoubt. My reading of it is they expect a lava dome collapse very shortly and this could be associated with significant explosive activity. Full text below:

"The 2009 eruption of Redoubt continues and the summit lava dome continues to grow. Small rock avalanches, discrete earthquakes and minor volcanic tremor have been evident in seismic data over the past 24 hours. The lava dome has been visible in web camera images today and a robust steam plume rising from the southern part of the dome base is present. Rock avalanches have been occurring intermittently and are producing diffuse low level ash plumes that are too small to be detected in radar or satellite data.

AVO scientists who overflew the volcano yesterday report that a steaming, turquoise lake still exists along the south margin of the dome, and a persistent, vigorous fumarole on the west wall of the upper gorge was very active (and hot according to FLIR). No creases, cracks, or other signs of instability, at least to the naked eye are present on the surface of the dome, although the front is quite steep.

If a lava dome collapse occurs, or if the dome is removed by a sudden explosive event, significant ash emissions, possibly >30,000 feet above sea level, and trace to minor ash fall on communities in south-central Alaska could occur. Pyroclastic flows associated with dome collapse or removal also may develop, and they could initiate lahars and floods in the Drift River valley.

AVO is monitoring Redoubt volcano closely and the observatory is staffed 24/7. AVO will provide frequent updates of the volcano's status and the earliest possible warning of significant explosive activity and other hazardous phenomena."

Summit webicorder

The picture below is of the lava dome taken on 16 May. You can clearly see how steep the front of it is and how precariously it sits there! (picture courtesy Game McGimsey/AVO/USGS):

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

UPDATE - HARRAT KHAYBAR VOLCANIC FIELD - SAUDI ARABIA

Concern continues to grow about the possibility of a volcanic eruption in western Saudi Arabia. Local residents are reporting phenomena such as local wells suddenly drying up, birds disappearing and a very strong smell of rotten eggs as well as an increasing tempo to the earthquakes being felt in the area, some of which are strong enough to be felt over 100km away.

Some villages in the area have already been evacuated. There is some confusion as to the exact location of the activity as some reports suggest Harrat Khaybar and others I have seen suggest the nearby Harrat Lunayyir volcanic field.

More on this Im sure.

Details of a Mag 4.6 earthquake right in the target area at 1950 UTC yesterday evening:

Saudi earthquake data

Edited May 18, 2009 by Shetland Coastie

[Anti-Mild]

The picture below is of the lava dome taken on 16 May. You can clearly see how steep the front of it is and how precariously it sits there! (picture courtesy Game McGimsey/AVO/USGS):

Jeebus, great picture! It's surely not going to be long before the dome collapses.

Many thanks for the updates Bob!

[Typhoon John]

Is there any information with regards to the size of that dome? I always find it difficult to judge from the pictures.

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

Is there any information with regards to the size of that dome? I always find it difficult to judge from the pictures.

Hi fozi

Ive asked the good folks at AVO just that question and Ive also asked if they have any measurements of what rate the dome is growing at. I'll post what they reply.

[ukweathergirl]

....Blimey!!! That's gonna be very interesting to see what happens when the dome collapses. Is there any civilisation near Redoubt? As much as I'd love to see a impressive eruption not at the cost of civilians

[weatherobsuk]

5.6 quake registered in Saudi Arabia on the USGS email alert. depth of 10km in the same area as the previous shocks.

[weatherobsuk]

Possible 2x Volcanic euptions in Saudi Arabia on going as of 2200UT.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read....00〈=eng

and at Jebel al-Tair.

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

Possible 2x Volcanic euptions in Saudi Arabia on going as of 2200UT.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read....00〈=eng

and at Jebel al-Tair.

Hi SJ, this report actually seems to be related to others coming out of the area that as a result of concern that there may be volcanic activity in the offing, some 5 villages in the locality of Al Ais have been evacuated as a precaution. I'll look further into it though but I've come to regard the information on that site as a bit 'sketchy' to say the least.

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

UPDATE - SAUDI ARABIA

Further to the above - the seismic activity in western Saudi Arabia seems to be increasing with USGS now listing six quakes in excess of Mag 4.5 in the area with the largest being Mag 5.7 as highlighted by SJ above which was at a depth of 7.7km below the village of Harrah al Shaqah.

Earthquake details here:

USGS Saudi earthquakes

Local reports are now saying that there have been several large aftershocks and that 'large-scale' evacuations are underway. An SGS team in the area found that a 'large crack' had opened up in th earth in the area of Harrah al Shaqah and locals were reporting gas and smoke emissions.

Definitely one to watch and something is clearly in the offing. Initially experts had said the activity was 'tectonic' in nature but I suspect not, I think this is volcanic. We shall see.

Saudi news report here:

Saudi news report