General Volcanic Activity Thread!

[john pike]

M3.5 - 26km ENE of West Yellowstone, Montana

 

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uu60055257#summary

 

seismic graphs

 

 

http://www.isthisthingon.org/Yellowstone/daythumbs.php

 

not big enough to be of concern

 

posted for interest purposes only

[john pike]

Long Valley caldera (California, USA): small earthquake swarm east of Mammoth Mountain

Tuesday Feb 11, 2014 21:10 PM | BY: T

Location of recent earthquakes near Mammoth Mountain (CA)

Number of earthquakes in the Long Valley caldera over the 30 days, showing the recent swarm (USGS)

An small earthquake swarm at shallow depths (around 5 km) occurred east of Mammoth Mountain during the past week. The largest quake was a magnitude 3.0 event on 5 Feb.

This latest (of many in the past years) seismic swarm is weak in terms of number and energy of earthquakes compared to long-term averages of seismic activity at the Long Valley caldera, an active volcanic system that is capable to erupt (probably not in a near future, though) and is being closely monitored by very experienced staff from USGS.

It could be related to a small intrusion of magma, but is unlikely to be a precursor of a new eruption in any near future. USGS has not changed the status code of the volcanic system (at green=normal).

[*]All news about: Mammoth Mountain volcano

[*]Information about: Mammoth Mountain volcano

[john pike]

Northern Taiwan was rocked by a magnitude 4 earthquake at 12:31am yesterday, renewing concerns about the potential for volcanoes in the Tatun Volcano Group in Yangmingshan National Park to erupt. At press time, no casualties had been reported from the quake and only minor damage - to the Pingdeng Elementary School on Yangmingshan �" was reported. Many residents in the area were startled by the quake, which caused a loud rumbling sound. Central Weather Bureau data showed that the epicenter of the quake was in Taipei's Shilin District , 11.8km north of Taipei City Hall at a depth of 6.3km. The strongest intensity of the quake, Level 4, was detected on Yangmingshan, followed by Level 3 in Wugu in New Taipei City and Taoyuan City, and Level 2 in Taipei and Keelung. The bureau's records show that 19 earthquakes with a magnitude exceeding 3 have occurred within a 5km radius of the epicenter of yesterday's quake since 1980. The largest one was in 1988, with a magnitude of 5.3. Yesterday's quake was the strongest within the perimeter of the Tatun group in 26 years, the bureau said. Seismology Center Director Kuo Kai-wen said the earthquake was a stress adjustment that occurs after lava cools down. "When the lava in a volcano cools down, it shrinks in size. This will subsequently lead to gaps in the rock layers. Pulled by gravity, the rock layer on top falls. This kind of stress adjustment is quite normal," he said. Yesterday's quake was not caused by the active fault at the foot of Yangminshan, as its epicenter and the fault are about 6km apart, Kuo said. Nevertheless, the earthquake generated concern that one or more of the Tatun volcanoes might erupt soon. Kuo said that was an unlikely scenario. "The volcanoes in Tatun are generally considered dormant. Currently, only three to five small earthquakes happen in the area per day. On average, the volcanoes could erupt if there are more than 100 to 200 earthquakes per day, and they have to escalate from deep earthquakes to shallow earthquakes," he said. However, National Taiwan University professor Chen Hongey said the government needs to carefully examine the correlations between yesterday's magnitude 4 earthquake and the active fault, adding that it was quite unusual for an earthquake to occur at the volcanic zone.

 

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=EQ-20140212-42662-TWN

[john pike]

 

etna on the 11th

[john pike]

The government, through the Kediri Disaster Management and Displaced Persons Coordination Board (PBP) task force in East Java has prepared evacuation shelters following an increase in Mount Kelud’s volcanic activity. "We have set up 78 evacuation shelters in four districts, specifically Wates, Puncu, Kepung and Plosoklaten. Around 59,000 residents live around the volcano," PBP head Let. Col. Heriyadi told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. "We have coordinated with local authorities to stop visitors and local residents from approaching the crater, located in Sugihwaras village, Ngancar district in Kediri regency," he said. Heriyadi added that residents living between a 5-kilometer and 15-km radius of the volcano would be housed at the Joyoboyo sports stadium. "We have also prepared alternative shelters, the Canda Bhirawa stadium in Pare district, Kediri, as well as a nearby church." "We have prepared the fleet of trucks to transport residents and their livestock. The livestock, around 8,000 heads of cattle and goats, will be placed close to the evacuation tents," he said. On Monday, the Volcanology and Geological Mitigation Center (PVMBG) raised the status of Mount Kelud from waspada (alert, level II) to siaga (high alert, level III). The PVMBG reported an increase in volcanic activity, such as deep and shallow volcanic tremors and increased water temperature in the crater lake. The PVMBG has also warned residents not to conduct any activities within a 5-km radius of the volcano’s crater. According to the local administration, the nearest settlements are located within a 7-km radius of the crater. Despite the increased volcanic activity, the PVMBG has yet to call for an evacuation of the area. Meanwhile, PVMBG head M. Hendrasto has deployed more officers to help mitigation efforts following the increased volcanic activity. "We have sent 15 officers to monitor the volcano around the clock," Hendrasto said in Bandung. "Between 80 to 125 tremors within six hours have been recorded, which is considered high," he continued. As of Wednesday, the water temperature of the crater lake went up from 52 to 57 degrees Celsius. Hendrasto, however, could not predict whether the volcanic activity would lead to a major eruption. A lava dome with a total volume of 16.28 million cubic meters has now formed in the middle of the crater lake. *************************************************************************************************************

******

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VE-20140213-42680-IDN

Edited February 13, 2014 by john pike

[john pike]

SURABYA, Indonesia (AP) — Volcanic ash from a major eruption in Indonesia closed three international airports on Friday and darkened skies across a large swath of the country's most densely populated island.

First light brought clear the extent of the overnight explosive eruption at Mount Kelud. Booms from the mountain could be heard 130 kilometers (80 miles) away in Surabaya, the country's second-largest city, and even further afield in Jogyakarta.

Ash covered the ground in both cities and was still falling, according to witnesses and accounts on social media. TV footage from towns closer to the peak showed farmyard animals covered in ash.

Transport ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan said Jogyakarta, Solo and Surabaya airports were closed due to reduced visibility and the dangers posed to aircraft engines by ash.

There were no reports of injuries as a result of the eruption. The mountain had been rumbling for several weeks.

Officials late Thursday urged about 200,000 people living in 36 villages within 10 kilometers (6 miles) of the crater to evacuate. It was unclear how many people heeded that warning.

The 1,731-meter (5,680-feet) Kelud is among about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia.

 

http://www.timesunion.com/news/world/article/Indonesia-s-Mount-Kelud-in-Java-island-erupts-5232301.php

 

 

 

 

fascinating photo

 

more info on this when available

 

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/140213_mtsat-1r_ir_kelud_east_java_anim.gif

 

watch link above

 

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDD65295.shtml

 

ash cloud advisory

 

this was a big eruption

 

 

photo of area below

 

https://twitter.com/fadliisfadli/status/434124021907484672/photo/1

Edited February 14, 2014 by john pike

[karyo]

Great photos! Thanks John.

The ash cloud reached 17km height but from what volcanologists say Kelud makes a large bang and then quietens down.

Karyo

[john pike]

Volcanic activity worldwide 13 Feb 2014: Kelud, San Miguel

Thursday Feb 13, 2014 20:44 PM |

Sequence of the small explosion at San Miguel yesterday (MARN)

Kelud (East Java): It seems that a large eruption started at the volcano at 23:29 local time today. VAAC Darwin reports an ash plume to 45,000 ft (15 km) altitude is drifting 50 nautical miles to the west of the volcano. The alert status was raised to the highest level.

Local news suggest heavy ash fall (up to gravel sized) in distances of 15-40 km. Volcanologists on duty at the VSI observatory post left because to the danger posed by the eruption; Indonesian Civil Defense (BNPB) urged people living within 10 km of the volcano to evacuate. Indonesian government set up more than 70 evacuation shelters in areas around the volcano.

San Miguel (El Salvador): A small ash explosion occurred yesterday afternoon at the volcano, at 16:44 (local time). It only lasted about 10 minutes and produced a small ash plume rising approx. 500 m. It is the first eruptive activity since the larger explosion on 29 Dec past year, and is likely only a precursor of more violent activity to come.

Seismic activity has been increasing constantly over the past weeks, and clusters of earthquakes have been taking place at shallow (1 km) depth beneath the northern flank, MARN scientists measured. Tremor, indication of internal fluid (magma) movements and/or pressure, has been rising in intensity. As well, increasing values of sulfur dioxide (SO2) degassing suggest that new magma is rising within the volcanic edifice.

[john pike]

The Associated Press

SUGIHWARAS, Indonesia —

A powerful volcanic eruption on Indonesia's most populous island blasted ash and debris 18 kilometers (12 miles) into the air Friday, killing three people and forcing authorities to evacuate more than 100,000 and close seven airports.

The eruption of Mount Kelud on Java island could be heard up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) away, Indonesia's disaster agency said.

"The eruption sounded like thousands of bombs exploding," Ratno Pramono, a 35-year-old farmer, said as he checked his property in the village of Sugihwaras, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the crater. "I thought doomsday was upon us. Women and children were screaming and crying."

Ash and grit fell to earth in towns and cities across the region, including Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city after Jakarta, with a population of about 3 million. It also fell farther afield in Yogyakarta, where motorists switched on headlights in daylight. Workers attempted to cover the famed ninth century Buddhist temple complex of Borobudur with plastic sheeting to protect it.

 

http://www.wsbtv.com/ap/ap/top-news/indonesias-mount-kelud-in-java-island-erupts/ndNQc/

[john pike]

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/13/world/asia/indonesia-volcano-eruption-evacuation/

[cooling climate]

John Search has tweeted that the sulphur dioxide plume from the

Kelut volcano is the largest in the world for many years.

[BARRY]

John Search has tweeted that the sulphur dioxide plume from the

Kelut volcano is the largest in the world for many years.

is this going to have an impact with future weather patterns

[Gael_Force]

Nice satellite capture shortly after the eruption. http://www.nnvl.noaa.gov/

 

[karyo]

John Search has tweeted that the sulphur dioxide plume from the

Kelut volcano is the largest in the world for many years.

I'd be surprised if this is correct as this was a single bang sort to speak. We've had eruptions that were explosive and lasted longer in recent years.

 

Karyo

[john pike]

Volcanoes Today, 15 Feb 2014: Kelud, Sinabung, Etna, Kilauea

Saturday Feb 15, 2014 15:03 PM |

Explosion at Bocca Nuova crater (Montagnola webcam, INGV Catania)

Ash emissions from Kelut yesterday (photo taken from Blitar)

The ash plume of Kelut over the Indian Ocean (NASA earth observatory)

Small rockfall at the lava lobe of Sinabung a few days ago

Etna (Sicily, Italy): This morning at 12:08 (local time) a moderate phreatic explosion occurred from the Bocca Nuova crater.

Weak strombolian activity continues at the sumit vent of the New SEC

The lava flow is still alimented but effusion rate has dropped and only the upper portion of the flow is currently active.

Kelud (East Java): Additional details and new estimates about the recent explosion are emerging. Unfortunately, a 4th fatality caused by the eruption has now been confirmed by BNPB. All victims were within 7 km of the volcano. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated.

Fast rise of magma?

One of the most remarkable aspects of the eruption was how quickly it built up, suggesting a very fast rise of magma occurred in the hours before the explosion. VSI mentioned that there were only 2 hours between the appearance of shallow earthquakes (the typical immediate precursors) and the onset of the eruption itself. With such little warning time, it was difficult to implement an effective evacuation, but still, one should recognize that Indonesian authorities have done a marvelous job. Still, it is a small wonder that there were not many more fatalities. Most of this is to be attributed to the fact, that the eruption seems not to have produced any or at least no larger pyroclastic flows (which in itself is also a small wonder).

New estimates of the size of the eruption

...14 Feb:

Ash from the eruption is still drifting over the eastern Indian Ocean. More than 100,000 people have reportedly evacuated areas close to the volcano. Heavy ash fall occurred in vast areas of Java. A preliminary judgement of the erupted ash suggests that the explosion was a magmatic event, i.e. triggered by a new bash of fresh magma that seems to have risen very quickly to the surface:

Our correspondent Andi wrote: "Jogja and many cities in the west and east of Java is covered by raining ash and layered until 3-4 mm. It's terrible that the ash could reach Jogja and other cities until 500 km away from Kelud as well as covered Borobudur temple again as in eruption 2010. ... The color (of the ash, rmk) is white powder and some black particles inside as well that maybe there is some pyroxene (small black particles)."

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): The eruption continues with no significant changes, but on a progressively decreasing trend. Most activity has been the slow extrusion and gradual enlargement of the lava dome-lobe oozing out from the vent and onto the southern slope. Occasional rockfalls and minor pyroclastic flows occur as well.

As the intensity of the eruption decreases, refugees have been returning to their homes (except those from the closest villages at only 3 km distance).

A recent analysis of the erupted lava confirmed that the currently erupted lava is andesite (a viscous type of magma with intermediate silica content, and typical for volcanoes in subduction settings such as Sinabung and most other volcanoes in Indonesia).

Kilauea (Hawai'i): (14 Feb) Per HVO, Kilauea's summit lava lake continues to rise. Measured at 35m/115ft below the floor of Halema'uma'u. Pictured here, the lava spills slightly over inside the crater onto it's shelf earlier this morning.

[john pike]

 

from mount kelud

 

what an eerie looking picture

[keithlucky]

Is a super Vocano about to erupt in California?

In California there has been a quake swarm at Mammoth mountain that has been going for more than a week. No Eruption yet, but plenty of quakes.

California’s Long Valley caldera, near Mammoth Mountain,  is the largest supervolcano on the planet, says Alessandro Decet. In the last week it has recorded a few earthquakes, with the most intense a magnitude 3.0. Since everything is still mild in intensity, no alarm or status change was issued. However, the earthquakes are increasingly shallow, signaling that magma may be about to get closer to the surface.

[cooling climate]

I'd be surprised if this is correct as this was a single bang sort to speak. We've had eruptions that were explosive and lasted longer in recent years.

 

Karyo

John Search has been studying volcano's for years and I can not imagine he would tweet

something like that off the top of his head without data or satelite imagery at hand.

[john pike]

Volcanoes Today, 16 Feb 2014: Pacaya, Kelud, Ubinas, San Miguel, Santa María / Santiaguito, Fuego, Etna

Sunday Feb 16, 2014 15:03 PM |

Currently active lava flows at Etna's New SE crater

Steaming Kelut volcano this morning (photo: Aris Yanto)

Santiaguito volcano Friday morning

Tremor intensity at San Miguel volcano (MARN)

Seismic activity at Ubinas during 14 Feb and since 31 Jan (IGP)

Etna (Sicily, Italy): Activity has remained essentially unchanged. Weak lava effusion from the fissure vents at the eastern flank of the New SE crater as well as sporadic strombolian explosion continue, accompanied by low tremor levels.

Another small effusive vent on the NE base of the cone had formed and been briefly active yesterday evening, feeding a short-lived small lava flow. This vent seems no longer active today.

Kelud (East Java): The volcano continues to emit a dense steam plume and some ash, but has not produced new explosions. Apart from that the 2007 lava dome has been removed by the explosion, it is not very clear (nor easy to find out) what is currently happening in the crater.

A constant stream of analysis and interesting details about the eruption has been appearing. Among them the observation that in terms of SO2 output, impressive as it was, it was only a moderate event. The injected amount of SO2 is not sufficient to cause any noticeable (short-term) climate changes.

Satellite data have shown that the eruption column reached a maximum of 27 km altitude originally, before falling back and producing beautiful gravity waves at approx. 19 km altitude where it spread into an umbrella cloud. Read more.

 

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/kelut/eruptions/13feb2014plinian-explosion.html

Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): Activity at the volcano has not changed and remains dominantly effusive. Several blocky flows descend from the upper flanks of the Caliente dome, mostly on the E and SW side, generating constant avalanches. Occasional explosions with ash plumes of 500-800 m height occur as well.

Pacaya (Guatemala)**: New strombolian explosions have started to occur at the Mackenney crater. This is the first eruptive activity at the summit since the paroxysm on 10 Jan which resulted in the collapse of the crater floor.

So far, the new strombolian activity has been weak, but signals the beginning of a new cycle that once again started to fill the crater again. INSIVUMEH reports about 2 explosions per hour, and ash plumes rising to about 100 m.

Fuego (Guatemala):** Mild to moderate explosive activity continues at the summit vent. Occasional strombolian explosions eject abundant incandescent material to heights of up to approx. 200 meters above the summit and generate ash plumes rising 500-800 m and drifting 8-10 km mostly to the S and SE. No active lava flow was observed yesterday.

San Miguel (El Salvador):** Warning signs of a possible new eruption of the volcano in the near future are becoming increasingly alarming. Accompanied by an ongoing earthquake swarm, tremor (as an indicator of internal pressure) continues to climb. Pulsating gas emissions reaching 50-400 m height above the crater have been seen recently.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions remain HIGH. Depending on wind direction and speed, air quality in downwind areas near the volcano often reaches unhealthy values.

Since 27 Jan, a total of 109 earthquakes were detected by MARN under the north flank of the Chaparrastique volcano, with magnitudes ranging between 0.6 and 1.9.

Ubinas (Peru): The volcano could be in the process of entering a new eruptive phase. Two small (likely phreatic) explosions occurred last Friday at 13:46 and 14:45 h local time (18:46 and 19:45 GMT), ejecting plumes of ash and steam rising approx. 1.5-2 km. A strong sulfur smell was noticed in up to 5 km distance.

Ubinas, Peru's most active volcano, had been showing increased signs of unrest since the beginning of the month. Episodes of tremor occurred frequently during 1-9 Feb, accompanied by intense fumarolic activity. Tremor decreased after 9 Feb, but a swarm of long-period earthquakes occurred with up to 80 quakes detected per day.

.

AN IMPORTANT INCREASE IN SO2 emission (500 tons/day on 7 Feb) was measured, which suggests the presence of new magma. In addition, INGEMMET detected 25-30 mm inflation of the southern flank, but notes that it is likely a sign of its structural instability, enhanced by the current seismic activity (as opposed to being a sign of magma pushing from inside).

[karyo]

John Search has been studying volcano's for years and I can not imagine he would tweetsomething like that off the top of his head without data or satelite imagery at hand.

As you can see from John pikes update, the eruption and so2 emission is characterised as moderate and not enough to have even short term climatic effects!Karyo

[john pike]

Strike that iconic image of a tall, snow-capped volcano sitting atop a liquid pool of hot, molten magma. It turns out that many volcanoes prefer cold storage, a new study suggests.

 

http://www.livescience.com/43429-volcanoes-cold-magma-storage.html

[john pike]

Electrifying Images of Volcano Lightning

http://www.livescience.com/12800-electrifying-images-volcano-lightning.html

[john pike]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25875071

[john pike]

Fuego volcano (Guatemala) activity update

Tuesday Feb 18, 2014 10:12 AM | BY: T

Current seismic signal of Fuego (FG3 station, INSIVUMEH)

Activity has been elevated yesterday, with more frequent moderate and strong explosions accompanied by rumbling degassing sounds and shock waves that could be noticed in up to 20-25 km distance. Ash plumes rose to 500-700 m. The observatory warns that another stronger eruptive phase could occur in the next days or weeks. The current seismic signal suggests, however, that the activity has been decreasing again.

[*]All news about: Fuego volcano

[*]Information about: Fuego volcano

[john pike]

IDD41290VA ADVISORYDTG:  20140218/1929ZVAAC:  Darwin VOLCANO:  Sinabung  261080PSN:  N0310 E09823AREA:  IndonesiaSUMMIT ELEV:  2460MADVISORY NR:  2014/205INFO SOURCE:  MTSAT.AVIATION COLOUR CODE:  REDERUPTION DETAILS:  VA PLUME LAST OBS AT 18/0332Z EXTENDING 20NM TONE TO FL120.

ftp://ftp.bom.gov.au/anon/gen/vaac/2014/IDD41290.201402181929.txt