Volcano Watch – May 22, 2016

How Many Volcanoes Firing?

New eruptions, ongoing activity, unrest and abnormalities reported in at least 66 volcanoes globally over the last seven days…

Latest Global Volcanic Activity

• Awu Sangihe Islands (Indonesia)
• Etna Sicily (Italy)
• Fuego (Guatemala)
• Ruapehu North Island (New Zealand)
• Santa Maria – Santiaguito Dome Complex (Guatemala)
• Sinabung – North Sumatra (Indonesia)

Map of Volcanoes. Background Map: University of Michigan. Designed and enhanced by Fire Earth Blog. Click image to enlarge.

Cleveland Volcano

Landsat-8 data from 15 May 2015 at 22:17 UTC (2:17 PM AKDT) show robust steaming and high temperatures in Cleveland Volcano’s summit crater (in the shortwave IR), indicating continued unrest. The high-temperature feature is visible in this image as a red pixel. Robust steaming observed extending to the west and seen as a shadow on the lower meteorological cloud deck. Shortwave IR has very little reflectance from snow, which is why Cleveland appears blue.  Photographer/Creator: D. Schneider – URL: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/images/image.php?id=95451

Landsat-8 true color composite from Cleveland Volcano,15 May 2016, 22:17 UTC (2:17 pm AKDT), sharpened with panchromatic data. Robust steaming observed extending to the west and seen as a shadow on the lower meteorological cloud deck. Photographer/Creator: D. Schneider http://www.avo.alaska.edu/images/image.php?id=95461

Ongoing Activity

• Aira Kyushu (Japan)
• Alaid Kuril Islands (Russia)
• Chirpoi Kuril Islands (Russia)
• Cleveland Chuginadak Island (USA)
• Colima Mexico
• Cotopaxi Ecuador
• Dukono Halmahera (Indonesia)
• Kilauea Hawaiian Islands (USA)
• Klyuchevskoy C. Kamchatka (Russia)
• Kuchinoerabujima  Kyushu (Japan)
• Langila New Britian (PNG)
• Masaya Nicaragua
• Nevado del Ruiz Colombia
• Pavlof  Alaska (USA)
• Sangay Ecuador
• Sheveluch C. Kamchatka (Russia)
• Sinabung Indonesia
• Telica Nicaragua
• Turrialba Costa Rica

Current Status of Indonesian Volcanoes [Badan Geologi]

Orange Alerts

• Nishinoshima  Japan region
• Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba  Japan region
• Sakurajima Kyushu (Japan)

Yellow Alerts

• Asamayama  Japan
• Aso Kyushu (Japan)
• Bezymianny  Kamchatka (Russia)
• Copahue Chile
• Karymsky  Kamchatka (Russia)
• Kirishimayama (Shinmoedake) Kyushu (Japan)
• Kusatsu-Shirane  Japan
• Mauna Loa Hawaii
• Ontake  Japan
• Planchón-Peteroa Volcanic Complex  Chile
• Snow Kuril Islands  (Russia)
• Zhupanovsky Kamchatka (Russia) 
  

Abnormalities Observed

• Bulusan Philippines
• Kanlaon Philippines
• Taal Philippines

MAUNA LOA: The largest active volcano on Earth!

HVO Weekly Update: Thursday, May 19, 2016 20:47 UTC – Seismicity remains elevated above the long-term background level, but no significant changes were recorded over the past week. Deformation related to inflation of a magma reservoir beneath the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone continues, with inflation recently occurring mainly in the southwestern part of the magma storage complex.

BULUSAN VOLCANO BULLETIN 22 May 2016 8:00 A.M. [Source: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, PHIVOLCS]

Bulusan Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded three (3) volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. Weak emission of white steam plumes that crept downslope towards southwest was observed coming from the active vents. Precise leveling survey results from April 27 to May 5, 2016 indicated slight deflationary changes of the edifice relative to February 2016, consistent with the measurements from continuous GPS data as of 30 April 2016.

Alert Level 1 (abnormal) remains in effect over Bulusan Volcano. This indicates that hydrothermal processes are underway beneath the volcano that may lead to steam-driven eruptions. The local government units and the public are reminded that entry into the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited due to the possibility of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. Furthermore, people living within valleys and along river or stream channels especially on the southwest and northwest sector of the edifice should be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall. DOST-PHIVOLCS is closely monitoring Bulusan Volcano’s condition and any new development will be relayed to all concerned.

KANLAON VOLCANO BULLETIN 22 May 2016 8:00 A.M. [PHIVOLCS]

Kanlaon Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded one (1) volcanic earthquake during the past 24 hours. Moderate emission of white steam plumes that rose up to 300 meters and drifted southwest and northwest was observed. Ground deformation measurements from continuous GPS data as of 30 April 2016 indicated slight inflation of the Kanlaon edifice since December 2015.

Alert Level 1 status remains in effect over Kanlaon Volcano, which means that it is currently in a state of unrest probably driven by hydrothermal processes that could generate more minor eruptions. The local government units and the public are reminded that entry into the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited due to the further possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or minor ash eruptions. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as airborne ash from a sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. DOST-PHIVOLCS is closely monitoring Kanlaon Volcano’s activity and any new development will be relayed to all concerned.

TAAL VOLCANO BULLETIN 22 May 2016 8:00 A.M. [PHIVOLCS]

Taal Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded two (2) volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. Field measurements conducted on 19 May 2016 at the western sector of the Main Crater Lake yielded a slight increase in water temperature from 32.9°C to 33.0°C, a decrease in water level from 0.19 meter to 0.18 meter, and an increase in water acidity from pH 3.03 to 2.73. Precise leveling survey results from 28 March to 8 April 2016 indicated slight deflation of the edifice compared to November 2015 survey. Results from continuous GPS data as of 30 April 2016 showed deflationary trend since January 2016, however the edifice remains inflated relative to the 2014 baseline level.

Alert Level 1 remains in effect over Taal Volcano. This means that hazardous eruption is not imminent. The public, however, is reminded that the Main Crater should be strictly off-limits because sudden steam explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate. The northern portion of the Main Crater rim, in the vicinity of Daang Kastila Trail, may also become hazardous when steam emission along existing fissures suddenly increases. Furthermore, the public is also reminded that the entire Volcano Island is a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and permanent settlement in the island is strongly not recommended.

Nicaragua  [INETER]

• Telica: Intense levels of micro-seismicity and low gas emissions reported.
• Masaya: Moderate tecto-volcanic tremors continue, representing MARS values of between 300 and 700 units. Lava lake observed in the Santiago crater.
• Momotombo: “Low-level seismicity, with moderate gas emissions reported.  “The real-time seismic amplitude (MARS) is lower than 60 units.”
• San Cristobal: Low-level seismicity, with moderate gas emissions observed on May 19, 2016.