General Volcanic Activity Thread!

[john pike]

a couple of interesting things to read

 

http://www.livescience.com/45680-new-hawaii-volcano-discovered-ka-ena.html

 

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/US-scientists-explore-Grenada-s-huge-underwater-volcano

[john pike]

Volcanoes Today, 18 May 2014: Fuego, Batu Tara, Ubinas

Sunday May 18, 2014 10:00 AM |

Fuego's lava flow yesterday morning

Ash emission from Ubinas last evening

Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): The volcano has entered a phase of more vigorous explosions again. In the past days, it produced a series of ash plumes that were detected on satellite imagery. VAAC Darwin reported volcanic ash drifting at 8,000 ft (2.4 km) altitude for 50 km to the west.

Fuego (Guatemala): Activity increased at the volcano during Friday-Saturday. Near continuous mild to moderate strombolian explosions were observed and a new lava flow was erupted on the upper southern flank. Judging from the seismic signal, activity has decreased again today.

Ubinas (Peru): Ash emissions have become near continuous and produce a plume extending approx 100 km to the NE of the volcano. Seismic activity is elevated.

[john pike]

More than 1,000 people in El Salvador were evacuated from the area around the simmering Chaparrastique volcano in the east of the Central American country as a precautionary measure against a possible eruption, the government said on Monday. Around 1,400 people have been moved from their homes since Sunday due to a jump in activity by the volcano, said Armando Vividor, operations chief of the country's emergency services. The 2,130-meter (6,988-feet) Chaparrastique volcano, which is also known as San Miguel, lies about 140 km (87 miles) east of San Salvador. It has erupted twice in the past six months. No lives were lost on either occasion. El Salvador Environment Minister Hernan Rosa Chavez said the volcano was now experiencing higher levels of internal activity than during the first of those two eruptions in December.

 

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VA-20140520-43813-SLV

[john pike]

• 2014-05-22 07:25:55 Kilauea Watch Orange
• 2014-05-22 13:34:51 Shishaldin Watch Orange
• 2014-05-23 08:36:27 Ahyi Advisory Yellow
• 2014-05-22 13:34:51 Cleveland Advisory Yellow
• 2014-05-23 08:36:27 Pagan Advisory Yellow
• 2014-05-22 13:34:51 Veniaminof Advisory Yellow
• 2014-05-16 09:25:30 Cascade Range Normal Green
• 2014-05-07 14:42:24 Haleakala Normal Green
• 2014-05-07 14:42:24 Hualalai Normal Green
• 2014-05-07 14:42:24 Mauna Kea Normal Green
• 2014-05-07 14:42:24 Mauna Loa Normal Green
• 2014-04-30 09:05:42 Mount St. Helens Normal Green
• 2014-05-01 12:50:44 Yellowstone Normal Green
• 2014-05-07 14:42:24 Lo`ihi Unassigned Unassigned

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/status.php

Edited May 22, 2014 by john pike

[john pike]

volcanoes Today, 23 May 2014: Merapi, Sinabung, Sakurajima, Nishino-shima, San Miguel

Friday May 23, 2014 12:00 PM |

Nishino-shima on 21 May 2014 (Japanese Coast Guard)

Eruption of Sakurajima this morning (Tarumizu City webcam)

The possible ash plume from Sinabung and predicted trajectory (VAAC Darwin; MTSAT; annotations by @CultureVolcan / Twitter)

Merapi volcano recently (VSI)

Ash puffs from Chaparrastique volcano on 19 May

Nishino-shima (Volcano Islands): The eruption on the remote island continues. The most recent overflight pictures by the Japanese Coast Guard show two active vents, one with a small lava-filled vent likely producing strombolian explosions, the other emitting a steam and gas plume.

At least some lava flows remain active and reach the coast, continuing to enlarge the island (visible by steam generated at the fronts).

 

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): Following a week with no recorded vulcanian explosions, two relatively strong ones occurred this morning, producing ash plumes that rose to 11-12,000 ft (3.3-3.6 km) altitude. Since then, the Showa crater has been constantly venting ash.

 

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): VAAC Darwin raised the Aviation Color Code to "Red" after a possible major ash plume was spotted on satellite imagery. According to the original report, a possible ash plume rose to estimated 50,000 ft (15 km) altitude 12:32 UTC on 22 May and drifted SW. The height was later reduced to 35,000 ft (12 km).

It is unclear if the plume was a volcanic ash plume, in which case it would suggest a major explosion occurred at the volcano. However, VSI and local media did not report any usual activity at the volcano, suggesting that most likely the observed plume was from a storm cloud.

Merapi (Central Java, Indonesia): The Indonesian Volcanological Survey (VSI) lowered the alert level of Merapi back to "Normal" (1 out of 4). This decision came after signs of unrest had recently decreased again:

- Earthquake activity decreased both in number and type during the past weeks.

..

- Deformation data showed no inflation, but a currently stable behavior of the volcanic edifice.

- "No rumbles and booms were heard in the last 2 weeks".

San Miguel (El Salvador): An eruption of the Chaparrastique volcano in the near future is becoming more and more likely. Tremor continues to rise and pulsating gas emissions have become stronger and sometimes contain small amounts of volcanic ash.

The increased tremor and gas emissions suggest movements of hot fluids (gasses, water, magma) into the volcano's shallow plumbing system. MARN expects an eruption either from the central crater or a flank vent on the northern side (where most microseismic activity has been focused).

According to SNET, the fine ash that was observed during recent days was "juvenile", i.e. originating from fresh magma (as opposed to fragmented old material). Technically, the volcano is therefore already in eruption.

 

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcanoes/today.html

[john pike]

Volcanoes Today, 24 May 2014: Kavachi, Dukono

Saturday May 24, 2014 15:00 PM |

Satellite images showing a discolored water plume from Kavachi (NASA, compiled and annotated by Culture Volcan)

Dukono (Halmahera): A volcanic ash plume extending 60 km west and at estimated 11,000 ft (3.3 km) altitude was spotted by VAAC Darwin this morning.

Kavachi (Solomon Islands): It is likely that some volcanic activity has continued intermittently at the undersea volcano after a discolored water plume was first spotted on 29 January this year.

Although no further signs of activity were visible on clear days after the first sightings, satellite images from 21 March and 8 May, compiled by Culture Volcan, showed again significant plumes originating from the volcano. This suggests that activity (if any) has been occurring in short-lived pulses rather than continuously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcanoes/today.html

[john pike]

Volcanic activity worldwide 27 May 2014: Etna, Shiveluch, Ubinas, Momotombo, Santa María / Santiagu...

Tuesday May 27, 2014 17:39 PM |

Strombolian explosion at Etna's NSEC (Radiostudio7 webcam)

Eruption from Shiveluch this morning in Kamchatka

Small ash explosion at Popocatépetl yesterday

Map of recent earthquakes at Momotombo volcano

Current seismic activity at San Miguel (VSM station, MARN)

Steam and ash plume from Ubinas today

MODIS hot spots at Heard Island (MODVOLC, Univ. Hawaii)

Etna (Sicily, Italy): Weak strombolian activity continues with little variation from the New SE crater. A slightly increasing trend of tremor amplitude can be observed over the past days.

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): The volcano remains very active, growing its lava dome which occasionally looses some of its mass due to avalanches and explosions. A stronger eruption occurred at the volcano this morning producing an ash plume that rose to 33,000 ft (10 km) altitude and drifted to the SE. ~##########

Bagana (Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea): Explosive (likely strong strombolian-type) eruptions continue at the volcano. An ash plume to estimated 10,000 (3 km) altitude was observed extending 35 nautical miles to the west this morning (VAAC Darwin).##########

Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): A few explosions were again strong enough to produce plumes that were spotted on satellite imagery recently.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Weak lava extrusion continues to add material to the viscous lava lobe, which at the same time looses some of its mass in occasional small rockfalls from its front and the sides. These sometimes result in small pyroclastic flows.

Shishaldin (United States, Aleutian Islands): Low-level eruptive activity likely continues, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, although no direct observations could be made during the past 24 hours. Seismic signals suggest occasional small explosions. The alert status remains orange.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): No significant changes have occurred in the volcano's activity during the past weeks. Magma continues to rise, at fluctuating rates, slowly into the summit crater, producing weak intermittent explosions and glow at night.

A small swarm of earthquakes with 6 volcano-tectonic quakes of magnitudes 2.6, 2.7, 1.8, 3.0, 2.6 and 3.0 occurred during 25-26 May.

The alert level remains unchanged at "Yellow Phase 2". (CENAPRED)

Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): A new viscous lava flow has started to slowly descend through the ravine on the eastern flank of the Caliente dome. Rock falls and strong degassing accompany this activity.

Pacaya (Guatemala): The volcano remains quiet. INSIVUMEH reports only a continuous degassing plume reaching about 50 m above the crater.

Fuego (Guatemala): Explosive activity has been weaker recently, with pulses of strombolian explosions ejecting incandescent material to up to 100 m above the crater. Effusive activity continued to feed the lava flow towards Barranca Taniluyá. This morning, it was still about 100 m long.

Momotombo (Nicaragua): A strong swarm of earthquakes occurred at shallow (1-10 km) depths beneath the southern flank of the volcano during Sunday-Monday. The largest quake was a magnitude 4.1 event.

While the quakes could be related to magmatic intrusions, they more likely represent aftershocks from April's twin M6 earthquakes.

San Miguel (El Salvador): Seismic activity remains at elevated levels and the volcano emits strong pulsating gas and steam puffs rising to approx. 800 m. Heavy rainfalls have been causing damage due to mud flows in the areas at the feet of the volcano.

No further ash emissions were mentioned in SNET's latest report, but reported that ground observers heard noises of what could be falling ejecta from explosions at the volcano. This could not be confirmed.

Ubinas (Peru): Steam and weak ash emissions continue at the volcano, but have decreased over the past days along with weaker seismic activity.

Heard (Australia, Southern Indian Ocean): Some activity has probably resumed (or continued) at the remote volcano. The latest MODVOLC images show a significant hot spot at the summit crater.

While the nature of the activity cannot be determined with certainty, the absence of ash on the snow-covered flanks of the volcano visible on satellite imagery, suggests that the activity is not or only weakly explosive and could consist in turn in the presence of a small lava lake.

[john pike]

Volcanic activity worldwide 29 May 2014: Reventador, Santa María / Santiaguito, Fuego, Popocatépet...

Thursday May 29, 2014 11:50 AM |

Shiveluch volcano today (KVERT webcam)

Small ash emission at Popocatépetl yesterday

Current seismic signal at Reventador (CONE station, IGPEN)

Ash explosion at Ubinas volcano this morning

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): The volcano produced a steam and ash plume during today that rose to estimated 20,000 ft (6 km) altitude and drifted east.

Dukono (Halmahera): Activity continues to be elevated at the volcano. An ash plume at estimated 10,000 ft (3 km) altitude extended 35 nautical miles to the west this morning.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): The number of steam-gas and sometimes ash emissions has increased a bit to approx 8 per hour. No other significant changes occurred at the volcano.

Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): The new lava flow on the eastern flank of the Caliente dome continues to advance slowly and produce avalanches. Small explosions occurred, generating ash plumes up to 700 m high. Rainfalls caused a medium-sized lahar in the Nima I river yesterday at dawn.

Fuego (Guatemala): The lava flow has disappeared and explosive activity in turn increased. The observatory reported ash plumes up to 600 m high and drifting SW to 8 km distance. Shock waves accompanied the stronger explosions. Rainfalls triggered a lahar in the Las Lajas river canyon.

Reventador (Ecuador): Weak to moderate effusive and explosive activity continues at the volcano. Cloud cover prevents direct observations most of the time, but the seismic signal shows tremor and explosion signals. A thermal hot spot indicates that lava continues to build up at the summit lava dome.

Ubinas (Peru): Activity continues to show an overall decreasing trend. A small explosion occurred this morning at the volcano, producing a dark ash plume that rose several hundred meters.

[Tom Jarvis]

@EarthUncutTV: Amazing photo of Sangeang Api eruption from Vira Azzukhruf from Facebook #volcano #Indonesia http://t.co/oJII4I5SQy

[karyo]

@EarthUncutTV: Amazing photo of Sangeang Api eruption from Vira Azzukhruf from Facebook #volcano #Indonesia http://t.co/oJII4I5SQy

Wow! This is pretty impressive!

 

According to Wired blog there are conflicting reports about the height of the plume that range from 3km to 50km!!!

 

The volcano is know for frequent VEI 2/3 eruptions so although the plume in the photo looks much higher than 3km I think we can discount the 50km (sadly!).

 

http://www.wired.com/2014/05/explosive-eruption-at-sangeang-api-in-indonesia/

 

 

Karyo

Edited May 30, 2014 by karyo

[Buriedundersnow]

more pics from the eruption

 

 

and ash advisory from the Australian met

 

Edited May 30, 2014 by Buriedundersnow

[The PIT]

Looking at the photos there's go to be a pryroclastic flow there.

[john pike]

Sangeang Api volcano (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): major explosive eruption with ash to 15-20 km altitude

Friday May 30, 2014 16:49 PM | BY: T

Today's eruption column at Sangeang Api (photo: @Bambang_Bimawan / Twitter)

A major explosive eruption occurred at the remote volcano this morning at around 08:30 UTC. A subplinian eruption column quickly rose to an estimated 50-65,000 ft (15-20 km) altitude and drifted several hundred km to the east and southeast.

Ash fall was reported in areas up to 30 km downwind from the volcano.

Luckily, the island itself is largely uninhabited although visted by farmers who cultivate some land. Evacuations were ordered within 1.5 km radius from the volcano.

Seismic activity preceding the eruption, including a nearby magnitude 4.5 earthquake at 03:05 UTC, was reported felt in the nearby city of Bima (Sumbawa Island) and even on Flores.

Today's explosion was the first at Sangeang Api volcano since its eruptions during 1997-99. Increased steaming and a number of earthquakes in recent years might have been precursors to today's event.

[*]All news about: Sangeang Api volcano

[*]Information about: Sangeang Api volcano

[john pike]

THE WHOLE OF TODAY

 

Volcanic activity worldwide 30 May 2014: Santa María / Santiaguito, Reventador, Sangeang Api, Cerro...

Friday May 30, 2014 17:09 PM |

Today's eruption column at Sangeang Api (photo: @Bambang_Bimawan / Twitter)

Lahar in the Tambor river yesterday (image: @ConredGuatemala / twitter)

Seismic signal at Fuego volcano (FG3 station, INSIVUMEH)

Tremor amplitude at Chaparrastique volcano over the past weeks (MARN)

SO2 plume over Central America (NOAA)

Ash explosion at Reventador today (IGPEN webcam)

Sangeang Api (Indonesia): A major explosive eruption occurred at the remote volcano this morning at around 08:30 UTC. A subplinian eruption column quickly rose to an estimated 50-65,000 ft (15-20 km) altitude and drifted several hundred km to the east and southeast.
Ash fall was reported in areas up to 30 km downwind from the volcano.

Luckily, the island itself is largely uninhabited although visted by farmers who cultivate some land. Evacuations were ordered within 1.5 km radius from the volcano.
Seismic activity preceding the eruption, including a nearby magnitude 4.5 earthquake at 03:05 UTC, was reported felt in the nearby city of Bima (Sumbawa Island) and even on Flores.


Ambrym (Vanuatu): (29 May)

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.

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.

Fuego (Guatemala): Activity has decreased a bit. Strombolian explosions produced incandescent ejections to up to about 100 m and ash plumes rose to approx. 500 m.

San Miguel (El Salvador): The amplitude of internal vibration (tremor) at Chaparrastique volcano has suddenly dropped during the past 24 hours indicating that the volcanic system remains unstable, MARN informs in its latest special bulletin. Gas emissions remain elevated.
The possibility of an eruption from a summit or flank vent remains high and monitoring continues at highest level.

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.

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.

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.

[karyo]

Sangeang Api volcano (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): major explosive eruption with ash to 15-20 km altitude

Friday May 30, 2014 16:49 PM | BY: T

Today's eruption column at Sangeang Api (photo: @Bambang_Bimawan / Twitter)

A major explosive eruption occurred at the remote volcano this morning at around 08:30 UTC. A subplinian eruption column quickly rose to an estimated 50-65,000 ft (15-20 km) altitude and drifted several hundred km to the east and southeast.

Ash fall was reported in areas up to 30 km downwind from the volcano.

Luckily, the island itself is largely uninhabited although visted by farmers who cultivate some land. Evacuations were ordered within 1.5 km radius from the volcano.

Seismic activity preceding the eruption, including a nearby magnitude 4.5 earthquake at 03:05 UTC, was reported felt in the nearby city of Bima (Sumbawa Island) and even on Flores.

Today's explosion was the first at Sangeang Api volcano since its eruptions during 1997-99. Increased steaming and a number of earthquakes in recent years might have been precursors to today's event.

• All news about: Sangeang Api volcano
• Information about: Sangeang Api volcano

 

Impressive! I wonder if the eruption was a short blast or if it maintains its intensity for some time!

 

Karyo

[karyo]

Impressive! I wonder if the eruption was a short blast or if it maintains its intensity for some time!

 

Karyo

To answer my own question, according to reports, the volcano continues to erupt and Australian flights are facing cancellations.

 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/ash-cloud-chaos-may-go-on-for-days-with-volcano-still-erupting/story-e6frg6nf-1226938104385

 

Karyo

[Buriedundersnow]

cracking picture from above showing the plumes of ash and how they are spreading to the southeast (looks like it could be two separate plumes to me I wonder if both peaks have erupted)

 

[karyo]

cracking picture from above showing the plumes of ash and how they are spreading to the southeast (looks like it could be two separate plumes to me I wonder if both peaks have erupted)

 

ash-sangeangapi.jpg

Great image! Do you know if it is from today or yesterday?

If it is from today it shows that the eruption is not just one big blast.

 

Karyo

[Buriedundersnow]

Great image! Do you know if it is from today or yesterday?

If it is from today it shows that the eruption is not just one big blast.

 

Karyo

 

I got it from twitter I was checking all yesterday and never seen it so I think its only been posted today but of course that means nothing it still might have been taken yesterday.

 

that other link you posted says its still going so must be a continuous eruption.

 

heres a pic from twitter as well showing seismic activity around the area

 

[karyo]

I got it from twitter I was checking all yesterday and never seen it so I think its only been posted today but of course that means nothing it still might have been taken yesterday.

 

that other link you posted says its still going so must be a continuous eruption.

 

heres a pic from twitter as well showing seismic activity around the area

 

Bo4In7rIMAA2hxb.jpg

Thank you. I wish there were some webcams to look at but no chance as the island is not inhabited.

 

Karyo

[Buriedundersnow]

Thank you. I wish there were some webcams to look at but no chance as the island is not inhabited.

 

Karyo

 

 

these animations show there was other eruptions following the initial larger eruption but the animation only goes to 12hrs ago so don't know how it is doing just now

 

 

heres where I found them

 

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/category/volcanic-activity

 

for some reason the animations aren't working in here just go through the link

Edited May 31, 2014 by Buriedundersnow

[Buriedundersnow]

also found this ink from the BBC which has an interesting quote in it

 

"The volcano is undergoing a sustained, rather significant eruption at the moment," Emile Jansons, manager of the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre told Reuters news agency.

 

"For the last 10 hours we've been observing large masses of volcanic ash being generated.

 

"Nobody has a very good handle on what this volcano is likely to do in the next 24 hours or beyond."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27648167

[karyo]

also found this ink from the BBC which has an interesting quote in it

 

"The volcano is undergoing a sustained, rather significant eruption at the moment," Emile Jansons, manager of the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre told Reuters news agency.

 

"For the last 10 hours we've been observing large masses of volcanic ash being generated.

 

"Nobody has a very good handle on what this volcano is likely to do in the next 24 hours or beyond."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27648167

Thank you! It seems this is a different kind of eruption to Mount Kelut which erupted in February but it was just one blast and then it went quiet again.

 

Karyo

[BornFromTheVoid]

Latest MODIS imagery of the region. The volcanic plume easy to spot

 

 

Anoth here

 

 

Ye can check the latest pics yourselves on the links below

 

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/

http://lance-modis.eosdis.nasa.gov/imagery/subsets/?subset=TimorSea.2014151.aqua.1km

 

 

EDIT: Just to add, that top image was taken around 6.20am today, and the bottom image around 3.30am.

Edited May 31, 2014 by BornFromTheVoid

[Gael_Force]

Nice image taken from a sailing ship.

 

 

Volcano Cafe has a good write up on the volcano stats.

 

http://volcanocafe.wordpress.com/2014/05/31/sangeang-api-lesser-sunda-islands-indonesia-eruption-30-may-2014/