Volcanic Vent at Owakudani Valley near Tokyo Erupts

Mt. Hakone erupts spewing ash and steam

A “minor volcanic eruption” has occurred at Mt Hakone near Tokyo starting Monday night through Tuesday, according to officials.

Fresh layers of volcanic ash were discovered Tuesday morning around a newly-formed vent in the Owakudani valley, which forms part of the Mount Hakone range (Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park) located in Kanagawa prefecture.

Volcanic tremors have been shaking the Hakone mountain since Monday morning, officials said, warning nearby residents that the volcano could eject sizable rocks to a radius of about one kilometer and smaller rocks even further.

The warning level on the Hakone was  raised to level 3 [“Do not approach the volcano,”] at 12:30 JST today [June 30,  2015.]

The volcano has been ejecting steam over the past few months.

Mt Hakone is located about 80 km SW of central Tokyo. More than 45 million people live within a 100-km radius of the volcano according to FIRE-EARTH Population Models.

MAJOR DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, Aug. 29, 2014

VOLCANIC ERUPTION
SIGNIFICANT SEISMIC EVENTS
BARDARBUNGA VOLCANO
TAVURVUR VOLCANO
SCENARIOS 023, 017, 09, 08, 07
.

Fissure eruption reported in Holuhraun lava field, Dyngjujokull glacier, Iceland

The eruption breached surface in Holuhraun lava field about 5km north of Dyngjujokull about 00:02 GMT on Friday, said IMO.

Seismic activity has decreased as a result of the pressure release, however a significant amount of earthquakes is still detected in the magma dike, between the eruption site and south to about 5 km into Dyngjujökull.

The aviation color-code was raised to “red” and back to “orange,” as there was no ash emission.

A significant shock measuring 5.2Mw centered at 64.770°N, 17.335°W occurred at a depth of 7.5km at 12:21UTC, said USGS/EHP.

Tavurvur Volcano Erupts in Papua New Guinea (PNG)

Mount Tavurvur on PNG’s East New Britain Island erupted violently at 3.00 a.m. local time,  said Rabaul Volcanological Observatory.

It ejected plumes of smoke and ash to a height of about 17,000m over the South Pacific island country, forcing the authorities to warn local residents to stay indoors, and causing airlines to alter some flight paths.

“Flight paths between Sydney and Narita (Tokyo) and Sydney and Shanghai have been altered as a result of the volcanic ash cloud over Rabaul in eastern Papua New Guinea,” Qantas spokeswoman told Reuters.

The eruption reached the top of the atmosphere at 50,000 feet, which is the same height as which planes travel, could disrupt air flights from Australia, said the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Darwin, Australia.

M5.6 Quake Strikes South of Athens, Greece

Centered at 36.738°N, 23.757°E, about 137km south of Athens, the quake struck at a depth of 91.8km, said USGS/EHP.

The quake was felt in Athens; however, there were no reports of casualties or severe damage, as of posting.

Sakurajima Ejects Massive Column of Ash

VOLCANIC HAZARD
SCENARIOS 07, 070
.

Volcanic Activity Continues at Japan’s Sakurajima

Sakurajima’s eruption on Friday was the most powerful one at the volcano since last month when the volcano spewed large columns of ash with rivers of lava flowing in the direction of nearby Ibusiki City.

Ash clouds from Mt. Sakurajima explosion reached a height of 4,500 meters,  the second-highest since 1955. A record of 5,000 meters was set in 2013.

Ash fall was reported late Friday evening in areas southeast of the volcano.

One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Sakurajima is located in Kagoshima Bay, southern Kyushu, Japan (about 1,100km WSW of Tokyo). The composite volcano has three peaks: Kitadake, Nakadake and Minamidake (southern peak).

Mt. Sakurajima Eruption on June 6, 2014. Photo credit: Kagoshima Meteorological Observatory

Ongoing Eruptions

Since 1955 the Minamidake crater has been continually active. The ongoing activity includes strong strombolian to ash explosions at least once and as many as 8 times a day.

The volcano was placed under a Level 3 (orange) alert by the Japan Meteorological Agency on March 21, 2012.

Level 3 (orange) alert means the volcano is active (do not approach crater).

A major lava flow in 1914 connected the volcano island  to the Osumi Peninsula on the Kyushu Island.

Related Links

• Sakurajima Volcano Erupts Explosively  May 11, 2014

A Second Indonesian Volcano Erupts

Mt Merapi eruption follows multiple explosions at Mt Sinabung

“Mount Merapi experienced a phreatic eruption. Its status remains normal due to a lack of activity,” said Yogyakarta’s Geological Disaster Technology Development and Research Agency (BPPTKG).

On November 16, 2013 FIRE-EARTH warned: 22 Indonesian Volcanoes Remain on High Alerts

Mt Merapi was placed on “Yellow Alert,” or “Level II” of the country’s 4-level alert system, on August 3, 2013.

Latest Image of Mt Merapi. Credit: Badan Geologi.

“On Monday at 4:52 a.m. before the eruption, BPPTKG detected an earthquake in Ciamis, West Java, at a magnitude of 4.7 on the Richter scale. The tectonic quake is believed to have shaken the magma chamber of Mount Merapi causing it to release gas from below,” said BPPTKG spokesperson.

Merapi ejected volcanic materials about 2 kilometers into the air showering a 60-km radius area east of the volcano with ash, said the report.

The authorities have since imposed 1-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano base.

The phreatic eruption on Monday was similar to one on July 22, said National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman. “But today’s was more powerful than the July 22 eruption.”

More than 600 families living in Kalitengah Lor, Kalitengah Kidul and Srune hamlets, in Glagaharjo village, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, have been evacuated.

Hundreds of other villagers living on the western flank of Mount Merapi also fled their homes.

“The volcanic ash also affected residents in nearby towns. In Surakarta, Central Java, residents were shocked by the sight of volcanic ash covering streets, gardens and roofs. The ash rain continued until around 10 a.m. on Monday.” said the report.

“Surowedanan village in Boyolali, located around 17 km from the peak of Mount Merapi, was also covered by volcanic ash. ‘This morning, when I went out of the house at around 5 a.m., I saw ash everywhere,’ said Veronica Maria Sayektiana, of Surowedanan. According to Veronica, residents were wearing masks when they ventured out of their homes as the ash was still falling along with the drizzle.”

Merapi eruptions have killed hundreds of people in the past couple of decades.

Mount Merapi is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. The 2010 its eruptions killed more than 300 people dead and forced about 400,000 people to evacuate their towns, while a 1930 eruption left at least 1,300 dead.

Mt Sinabung Update

The Indonesian ministry of transportation has diverted all flights to avoid routes near Mt Sinabung, located in Karo District, North Sumatra, which has erupted multiple times since last week.

The authorities say Mt Sinabung eruption on November 12 ejected  volcanic material that covered five districts destroying some 1,893 hectares of citrus plantations in Tanah Karo, which has impacted fruit production, said a report.

The explosive activity follows a series of most recent eruptions exhibited by the 2,460-meter high volcano that began in September 2013, leading to a significant eruption on October 24, which saw the volcano spewing smoke and ash to a height of about 3km above the crater summit, followed by other eruptions, especially the explosive eruption that occurred on Sunday, November 3.

Related Links

• 22 Indonesian Volcanoes Remain on High Alerts November 16, 2013
• Mount Merapi Eruption Satellite Image November 16, 2010
• Merapi’s latest eruption the deadliest so far  November 5, 2010
• Mt Merapi Erupts Again, 70,000 Evacuated November 1, 2010

• Mount Sinabung Erupts  August 29, 2010
• Sinabung Erupts Again  August 30, 2010
• Sinabung Erupts Again – Strongest Explosion to Date September 7, 2010
• Sinabung Getting More Serious September 7, 2010
• Thousands Flee Mount Sinabung Eruption September 16, 2013
• Sinabung Volcano Explodes Posted on November 3, 2013

Tens of Thousands Flee Mt. Gamalama Eruption

Mt Gamalama erupts covering Ternate island with ash; tens of thousands flee

Hot ash and other volcanic debris from Gamalama volcano, which began erupting late Sunday evening, has covered almost the entire island city of Ternate, prompting tens of thousands of residents to flee.  The eruption ejected volcanic matter to a height of about 2 km above the volcano summit, and covered the island with a thick blanket of ash.

A small explosive eruption of Gamalama volcano in September 1980 is seen from the airport on the NE side of Ternate Island. Nearly 40,000 persons evacuated to a nearby island during the first two days of the eruption, which began on September 4 and lasted until the 23rd. Photo by S.R. Wittiri, 1980 (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia); caption by GVP

Disaster Calendar 2011 – December 6

[December 6, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,562 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Ternate island, Indonesia. Hot ash and other volcanic debris from Gamalama volcano, which began erupting Sunday evening, has covered almost the entire island city of Ternate, prompting tens of thousands of residents to flee, and forcing  the closure of a nearby airport.  The eruption ejected volcanic matter to a height of about 2 km above the volcano summit.
• More than 100 volcanic quakes have been recorded since the eruption began.
• The 4-level alert status is currently at Level 3.
• State volcanologist Surono said Gamalama had ejected “clouds of thick gray ash” into the air, and slow moving lava was  visible at the summit.

• Gamalama Volcano
• The 1,715-metre volcano forms the entire island of Ternate in North Maluku province, Indonesia
• Most of the building on the island were destroyed during an 1840 eruption.
• The volcano’s last major eruption occurred in 2003.
• Recent eruptions include 1980, 1983, 1994, 2003 and 2011.
• A violent eruption during Aug.- Sept. 1775 killed 141 people.
• Gamalama is one of the 128 active Indonesian volcanoes (total of about 500).

Gamalama volcano (also known as the Peak of Ternate), one of the most active volcanoes of Indonesia, forms Ternate Island off the western coast of Halmahera. The northern and youngest of three cones forming the summit of Gamalama is seen here from the NE. Unvegetated areas in this 1994 photo consist of the ejecta blanket from recent explosive eruptions. Frequent eruptions have occurred since the 16th century, most of which originated from the summit vent. Photo by Gatot Sugiharto, 1994 (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia); caption by GVP.

Other Global Disasters

• New Hampshire, USA. The disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of New Hampshire following the pre-Halloween  severe storm and snowstorm that occurred during the period of October 29-30, 2011
• The worst affected areas were the counties of Hillsborough and Rockingham, according to a WH press statement.
• Kentucky, USA. Uniontown, Kentucky has declared a State of Emergency because pumps that keep water out of the town failed.
  
• “Officials say the town has been pounded with rain, four inches in a 24 hour period. Two and half inches of that came down within two hours,” a report said.
• The rainwater has flooded local streets and roads.

Earthquake and Volcano Links

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Global Disasters

• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2010 Disasters [Includes Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Puyehue-Cordón Caulle: ONGOING ERUPTIONS, ASH MOVING EAST

Australian Aviation Color Code Raised to Red

The latest ash advisory released by Darwin VAAC on June 22, 2011 at 11:55UTC has raised the Australian Aviation Color Code to ‘Red.’

According to the advisory the eruptions are ongoing, with ash clouds moving in easterly direction. 

IDD41290
VA ADVISORY
DTG:  20110622/1155Z
VAAC:  Darwin
VOLCANO:  Cordon Caulle  1507-141
PSN:  S4031 W07212
AREA:  Chile C
SUMMIT ELEV:  1,798M

ADVISORY NR:  2011/70
INFO SOURCE:  MTSAT, NOAA AVHRR, MODIS, AIREP
AVIATION COLOUR CODE:  RED
ERUPTION DETAILS:  ONGOING ERUPTIONS, ASH MOVING EAST

Toulouse VAAC – Concentration Charts

Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Ash – Surface to FL200 Chart.

Other charts:

FL200-FL350
FL350-FL550

BUENOS AIRES VAAC confirmed ‘CONTINUOUS EMISSION’ in their latest advisory (as of posting) released at 07:15UTC. It said

VA CLOUD AREA CAN BE IDENTIFIED IN MULTISPECTRAL SATELLITE IMAGERY –  AREA OF RESIDUAL LOW LEVEL ASH CLD MVG TO N AND NW 10/15KT FROM EARLIER ERUPTION.

Ash and sulphur dioxide (SO2) from Puyehue Volcano Complex eruptions. The Ash RGB is composed from data from a combination of the SEVIRI IR8.7, IR10.8 and IR12.0 channels. Copyright Eumetsat 2011. Click image to enlarge.

Related Links

• Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Eruption Forces More Flight Cancellations

Grímsvötn Eruption – Recent Images

Ash Cloud Heads Toward UK, Grounds Flights

The towering column of smoke and ash registered a height of about 13km earlier today.

All flights to and from Scotland have been cancelled as a large volcanic ash cloud produced by Grímsvötn in Iceland heads toward the UK.

Airlines including BA, KLM, Aer Lingus, Loganair and Eastern Airways have cancelled flights on Tuesday, and several flights over the Atlantic were reportedly delayed. Hundreds of tourists have been evacuated from Iceland’s national parks.

Fly-til-Your-Planes-Fall-Out-of-Sky

“[There were now] much more robust systems [in place to] minimize the disruptive effect [of volcanic ash clouds,]” the UK transport secretary Philip Hammond told BBC news.

“Most importantly, the basic situation now is that the threshold for most aircraft is 20 times where it was last year. We have got from 200 microgrammes per cubic metre to 4,000 microgrammes per cubic metre as the threshold up to which most aircraft can fly.”

Grímsvötn Volcano Erption – freeze frame from recent video clip.

• Ash Concentration Graphics NE. Atlantic/Europe Area

Volcanic Ash Advisory from London – Issued graphics
© Crown copyright – http://www.metoffice.gov.uk

Grímsvötn Volcano. Photo-like image captured by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite at 13:00 UTC (1:00 pm local time) on May 22, 2011. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge. Download largest image (1 MB, JPEG)  

Ash plume from Grímsvötn Volcano, Iceland. Satellite: Aqua. Dated May 22, 2011 at 05 :15 UTC. Pixel size: 1km. Source: NASA/rapidfire.  Alternate pixel size: 500m | 250m

Grímsvötn Volcano

Summit Elevation: 1,725 m  (5,659 feet)
Latitude: 64.42°N  (64°25’0″N)
Longitude: 17.33°W  (17°20’0″W)

The Laki Fissure. The most prominent of a series of fissures extending NE and SW from Grímsvötn central volcano is the noted Laki (Skaftár) fissure, which trends vertically across the photo SW of Grímsvötn. Laki produced the world’s largest known historical lava flow during an eruption in 1783.  Photo by Sigurdur Thorarinsson (courtesy of Richard Williams, U.S. Geological Survey). Caption: GVP

The 1783-84 Deadly Eruption

The Grímsvötn volcanic system erupted from a 130-crater fissure in the Grímsvötn volcanic system called Laki or Lakagígar fissure, and Grímsvötn volcano for 244 days  (8 June 1873 to 7 February 1784), spewing at least 15km³ of basaltic lava, world’s largest and deadliest volcanic eruption, causing widespread damage to crops and destroying more than a half of Iceland’s livestock (including 85 percent of the sheep), and leading to a severe famine that resulted in the loss of about quarter of the Icelandic population.

The emission of sulfuric aerosols from Lakagígar eruption is said to have caused a drop in global temperatures, resulting in crop failures in Europe, droughts in India and China, as well as a severe famine in Japan, killing an estimated six million people  globally.

Related Links

• Large Magma Lake Lurking Beneath Iceland
• Iceland Met Office photos
• Iceland’s Grímsvötn volcano erupts
• List of blog entries and external links to Eyjafjöll Eruption
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erup

Shinmoedake Saying Something?

Volcanic Ash Affecting Japan’s Air

Shinmoedake Volcano Continues to Erupt on Japan’s Kyushu Island

FIRE-EARTH is advised that volcanic ash from Shinmoedake has traveled to at least as far as the Osaka region, some 500km northeast of the volcano, affecting air “quality.”

A combination of volcanic ash and dust from China has created a haze in the atmosphere, reducing solar power generation in the region by up to 20 percent in the last 48 hours, local sources told the blog.

The 1,421-meter (4,660 feet) volcano in the Kirishima volcanic complex erupted today at about 9:40JST following three eruptions yesterday, ejecting a plume of ash and smoke up to 3,000m into the air, local reports say.

University of Tokyo’s Earthquake Research Institute professor Setsuya Nakada says a much larger eruption is possible.

“Following the first major eruption on Jan. 26, the second and the third eruptions occurred at one to three-day intervals. After the fourth eruption shortly before 8 a.m. on Feb. 1, however, a total of five eruptions, including the latest at around 8 a.m. on Feb. 3, occurred at shorter intervals of five to 15 hours.” Japan’s Mainichi Daily News said.

A lava dome created by the eruption covers the volcano’s crater, which is 700m wide and 200m deep.   The dome has reached a height of about 110m above the crater rim, a Geospatial Information Authority of Japan announcement on Feb. 2 said.

• Mt Kirishima Live
• Shinmoedake photos by Earthquake Research Institute, Univ.Tokyo

Sakurajima Volcano

Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) has raised the alert level to 3 for Sakurajima volcano, located about 45 kilometers (28 miles) to the southwest. The volcano is one of Japan’s most active, accounting for more than 1,000 episodes  in 2010, the most activity recorded since 1982, JMA reported.

“Most worrying is the enormous damage that could be caused by volcanic rock spewed out of the mountain, as well as by pyroclastic flows. In fact, a volcanic rock about 50 centimeters in diameter was found about four kilometers from the crater, and in a forest about three kilometers from the crater, there is a hole 5 meters wide and more than 2 meters deep that was created when volcanic rocks struck the spot.” Said  a report.

Ash plume from Shinmoedake, Kirishima volcanic complex, Japan

A photo-like satellite image of Shinmoedake shows an ash plume from the volcano captured by MODIS on the Terra satellite on February 4, 2011. The volcanic ash has forced flight cancellations, stopped trains, made roads impassible and closed all nearby schoolsn. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge. Download larger image (511 KB, JPEG)

Shinmoe-dake Volcano continues to erupt violently. MODIS on Aqua satellite captured this photo-like image at 1:30 pm local time on February 3, 2011. “The image also shows a faint plume of ash and steam rising from Sakurajima, one of Japan’s most active volcanoes.” Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge. Download larger image (926 KB, JPEG)

After a week of violent activity, the eruption of Japan’s Shinmoe-dake Volcano shows no signs of slowing down. This natural-color satellite image shows Shinmoe-dake on the morning of February 3, 2011. The image was acquired by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) aboard Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) at about 10:30 a.m. local time, between an early-morning eruption at 3 a.m. and an early-afternoon eruption at 12:17 p.m. Image and caption: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge. Download larger image (2 MB, JPEG)

Related Links:

• Japan’s Shinomoedake volcano erupts for a 2nd day
• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Global Volcanoes Rehearsing?

Submarine Volcano Erupts Near Sarigan Island

An underwater volcano off Sarigan Island, Northern Marianas, about 160km (100 miles) north of the island of Saipan erupted on Saturday sending a plume of steam and ash cloud into the air and showering  the ocean surface with volcanic debris, US officials reported on Monday.

“An EMO observer aboard an overflight yesterday reported a large area of debris floating in the sea south of the island, and a stationary area of discoloration in the water, presumably above the vent. The crew on Sarigan reported passage of a small wave (less than 0.5 m) following onset of the eruption yesterday.” USGS said.

However, satellite images show no sign of ongoing activity, USGS said.

“Seismicity at a single nearby station on Sarigan Island declined soon after the eruption of a large steam and ash cloud from a submarine vent 11 km (7 miles) south of Sarigan Volcano early yesterday. Satellite images show no sign of ongoing activity.”

Scientists had initially thought the volcanic cloud came from either of the Anatahan or Sarigan volcano, and later verified the source by the trail of debris and water discoloration close to the vent,  a USGS official said.

The Northern Mariana Islands are located about 6100km (3,800 miles) southwest of Hawaii.

Summary of Volcano Details (USGS):

• Volcano Location: N 16 deg 42 min E 145 deg 46 min
• Area: Mariana Islands
• Summit Elevation: 1765 ft (538 m)
• Volcanic Activity Summary: Seismicity and subaqueous eruptive activity have declined at Sarigan Volcano prompting reduction of the Aviation Color Code to YELLOW and the Volcanic Activity Level to ADVISORY.

Major Volcanoes of the Mariana Islands (USGS)

Click image to enlarge.

Barren Island

A M6.4 quake (11.119°N, 93.698°E) which struck close to Barren Island Monday, May 31, 2010 at 19:51:48 UTC, may have triggered the Andaman Sea volcano for eruption.

Related Links:

• Volcanoes
• 2010 Disasters
• FEWW Volcano Links

Pacaya Erupts, Covers Guatemala City with Ash

Pacaya Volcano Erupts, Prompting the Authorities to Close Down Guatemala’s International Airport

Pacaya volcano, located about 25 kilometers south of the Guatemalan capital, erupted late Thursday local time depositing as much as 8 cm of ash over parts of the city.

The authorities closed down La Aurora international airport until further notice.

The closest villages to the volcano have been evacuated.

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

The 2,552-meter Pacaya volcano is in Group F on the above diagram.

The disaster could be exacerbated by heavy rains that would trigger flash floods causing deadly lahars and mudslides.

Major Volcanoes of Guatemala

Casualties and Damage:

Two people have been killed, and 59 others injured so far, with three children reported as missing.

At least 100 homes have been destroyed and many other damaged, as more reports come in. About 2,000 people have been evacuated.

Related Links:

• Volcanoes [FEWW Links]
• Earthquakes

• Volcano Watch Weekly [6 May 2009]

Eyjafjallajökull Volcano: Unending Eruption

Eyjafjallajökull Following Chaitén Scenario?

Chaitén Erupted for Many Months, Stopped, and Erupted Again

Eyjafjallajökull eruption continues unabated, Icelandic Met Office (IMO) said. The ash plume reduced slightly and changed direction heading ESE.

The ash cloud has wreaked havoc in parts of southern Europe, disrupting flights in as far south as Portugal, Spain and Morocco in recent days, according to media reports.

Reaching a height of four to 5 kilometers (13,000-17,000 feet), the plume of ash from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano rises above a sea of clouds in this image. MODIS on  NASA’s Aqua satellite captured the image on May 12, 2010. Source: NASA E/O [Caption edited for brevity.] Download large image (1003 KB, JPEG). Click image to enlarge.

The above photo was taken by Ólafur Sigurjónsson on May 7 at 21:00 local time. Image published by IMO. Read full story here. Click image to enlarge.

• Earlier photos by Ólafur Sigurjónsson, who lives in Forsæti near the eruption site.
• IMO daily report (technical details)
• Older photos
  

Related Links:

• 2010 Year of Super Volcanoes?
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption UPDATE – Latest MODIS Image
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Latest Satellite Image
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page [This page contains a comprehensive index of links to resources on Eyjafjallajökull including additional satellite images.]

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Renewed Eyjafjallajökull ash causes more air chaos

Dozens of airports closed, hundreds of flights canceled,  many more diverted.

Renewed eruption at Eyjafjallajökull caused more volcanic ash to invade European airspace, forcing a new wave of flight cancellations and airport closures in Spain, as well as parts of Ireland Italy, Portugal, Scotland and the England.

At least 28 airports were forced to close from several hours to more than a day, causing hundreds of cancellations, and many flight diversions.

There were also flight cancellation to and from Switzerland, Southern and Central France, Northern Italy and Northern Portugal.

IMO Status Report said the eruption was  still in an explosive phase,  with the plume reaching a height of about 5km.

Volcanic Ash Shuts Down Spanish Airports

Eyjafjallajökull from Hvolsvelli webcam

Eyjafjallajökull eruption seen from Hvolsvelli webcam. Top of the plume is seen emerging and towering above the clouds. Click image to enlarge.

Volcanic Ash Advisory from London – Issued graphics (UK Met Office)

Click image to enlarge.

Eyjafjallajökull Ash Cloud still drifting toward southern Europe. © Copyright EUMETSAT/Met Office. Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – MODIS Image – UPDATE May 8
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE May 7
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – ALI-EO1 Satellite Image Posted on May 6, 2010
• Volcanic Ash Closes Parts of UK Airspace Again Posted on May 5, 2010
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Intensifies, Flight Ban Imposed Posted on May 4, 2010

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Update MAY 2 Posted on May 2, 2010
• Eyjafjallajökull – Shock Waves Caught on Video
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Portents Catastrophic Sequence
• Lava finally flows from Icelandic scientific band
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt

• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page [This page contains a comprehensive index of links to info on Eyjafjallajökull.]

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Serial No 1,702. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

| Tagged: iceland ash cloud, Iceland volcano, MODIS Image of Eyjafjallajökull eruption, Satellite Image of Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – MODIS Image – UPDATE May 8

BREAKING NEWS: VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD FORCES CLOSURE OF 15 AIRPORTS IN PORTUGAL AND SPAIN

See Below for details.

.

Eyjafjallajökull Glacier Volcano Continues to Eject Dense Plume of Ash

Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano continued to emit a dense plume of ash and steam on May 7, 2010. The plume extends southeast from the volcano, but curves south beyond the lower edge of the image. The large image, which includes a wider area, reveals that the ash is blowing over the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland. On Iceland, low-level winds pick up ash that had settled on the land. This plume of resuspended ash blows south from the island. The higher-elevation volcanic plume casts a dark shadow on the lower-elevation resuspended ash. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image on May 7, 2010. Image and caption: NASA E/O. Download large image (3 MB, JPEG)

Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull Status Report: 16:00 GMT, 07 May 2010

The following is a brief summary of the report:

• Decrease in explosive activity since yesterday.
• Plume height lower (7.6km max), ash color lighter.
• Steam still rising from lava front under Gígjökul.
• Large ash fallout reaching up to 60 km from the crater.
• No sign eruption might be  ending.
• Earthquakes are occurring at 5-13 km depth, frequency of occurrence lower than yesterday.
• Surface deformation stabilized since yesterday.
• Only 5 % of particles smaller than 10 micron (aerosols)

21-hour animation of ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull volcano drifting from Iceland to Ireland and Scotland. Source: IMO . See also The initial ash cloud on 15th April. Click image to enlarge.

Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash cloud shuts 15 airports in Europe

As the 2,000km (1,200mile) ash cloud further encroaches into European airspace, targeting tourist destinations, more  airport closures expected in northern Portugal and southern France.

List of the airports that have been affected, as of posting, includes Asturias, Bilbao, Burgos, La Coruna, Leon, La Rioja, Pamplona, Salamanca, San Sebastian,  Santander, Santiago, Valladolid, Vigo, Vitoria and Zaragoza.

UK’s Met Office said the Icelandic volcano was sending ash up to heights of 9.1km (30,000 ft ) at about 10:00UTC today.

Eyjafjallajökull Ash Cloud drifting toward southern Europe. © Copyright EUMETSAT/Met Office

Volcanic Ash Advisory from London – Issued graphics (UK Met Office)

Click image to enlarge.

Webcame images by Mila.  Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE May 7
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – ALI-EO1 Satellite Image Posted on May 6, 2010
• Volcanic Ash Closes Parts of UK Airspace Again Posted on May 5, 2010
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Intensifies, Flight Ban Imposed Posted on May 4, 2010
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Update MAY 2 Posted on May 2, 2010

• Eyjafjallajökull – Shock Waves Caught on Video
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Portents Catastrophic Sequence
• Lava finally flows from Icelandic scientific band
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page [This page contains a comprehensive index of links to info on Eyjafjallajökull.]

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Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – ALI-EO1 Satellite Image

Increased seismicity reported at Eyjafjallajökull

More magma pumping from the volcano’s depth GPS-monitoring indicates inflation

ALI on NASA’s EO-1 satellite captured this natural-color image of Eyjafjallajökull Volcano ejecting ash and steam on May 2, 2010. Source: NASA.  Download large image (2 MB, JPEG)

Magma Intrusion – 05 May 2010 13:40

Icelandic Met Office (IMO) has detected increased seismic activity beneath Eyjafjallajökull starting Monday 3 May. “Precise locations of the earthquakes show that their source is at first very deep, at about 23 km depth, but then migrates upwards. This strongly indicates that “new” magma is intruding into the magma conduit and pushing on the over-lying magma, causing a difference in pressure at the surface. It is therefore anticipated that the eruption will continue at full force in the next days.”

Plume Height

IMO’s weather radar reported the plume height reaching to a height of about 6.5km a.s.l.

Lava Flow

Lava is flowing in a northerly direction and spreading at 500 m a.s.l., IMO said. “The lava tongue is about 200 m wide and lava channels that join at the tongue are about 30-60 m wide. The lava channels gets wider every day.”

GPS deformatio

IMO reported significant horizontal movement at GPS stations mounted around
Eyjafjallajökull in the last 2 days.

Other details at Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull (PDF file)

Volcanic Ash Advisory from London – Issued graphics

Related Links:

• Volcanic Ash Closes Parts of UK Airspace Again
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Intensifies, Flight Ban Imposed
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Portents Catastrophic Sequence
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption

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Guatemala’s Santiaguito volcano continues to erupt

Santiaguito volcano rains ash over western Guatemala

On 20 April, INSIVUMEH reported explosions from Santa María’s Santiaguito, which produced ash plumes rising to altitudes of 2.8-3.4 km (9,200-11,200 feet), Global Volcanism Program said.

On Monday 26, April the volcano erupted violently sending a plume of ash 8.3 km (27,300 feet) a.s.l., news articles reported.

The volcano has calmed since Monday’s violent burst, however, it’s still erupting, according to disaster response agency spokesman David De Leon, AP said.

De Leon was quoted as saying that the eruption had damaged local flower harvests, though no injury was caused. A no-fly  ban was imposed 20 kilometers from the volcano  schools were closed in 10 communities as a precaution.

Formed during a catastrophic eruption in 1902, Santiaguito is  a 1-km-wide crater on the 3,772-meter Santa Maria volcano, located about 200 kilometers northwest of Guatemala City.

It’s believed that about 2,500 people were perished as a result of the 1902 eruption.

Santiaguito volcano, seen from the summit of Santamaria. GNU License.

Photo by Jon Fink, Arizona State University, 1988 (courtesy of Bill Rose, Michigan Technological University), via GVP.

Related Links:

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

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Who’s Afraid of Volcanic Ash Clouds?

Thar: Another Encroaching Desert

Pall of Dust Covers Pakistan-India Border Region

The nearest volcanoes from the Thar Desert on the Pakistan-India Border Region are about 1,000km away. And there aren’t nearly as many of them as in  Iceland. The area won’t receive a significant amount of the volcanic ash from Eyjafjallajökull Eruption,  but there would be plenty of sand and dust to compensate for the airborne particles.

The photo like image taken by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite shows a large dust storm over the Thar Desert on the border between India and Pakistan April 20, 2010. Source: NASA. Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• China Sandstorm – Satellite Image
• Second Sandstorm Blasts Beijing
• Humongous Dust Storm Sweeps Africa
• More Dust Storms Plague Arabian Peninsula
• Image of the Day: Sandstorm in Saudi Desert

• S. Arabia Nets Climate Change Q3 Dividends
• 2010 Disasters
• First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Australia: Uranium Dust Threat Real?
• And dust to dust …

• Disaster Calendar 2010
• Drought and Deluge
• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Index of Human Impact on Nature (HIoN) March 2008
• 2010: The Year of Disasters

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