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New/ongoing volcanic activity/unrest at 24 volcanoes across the globe
Guatemala’s Fuego volcano spews ash forcing closure of international airport
Fuego volcano [Volcán de Fuego, or “Volcano of Fire,”] located about 40 km southwest of Guatemalan capital, spewed ash into the air on Saturday, prompting the authorities to evacuate a nearby community and forcing the closure of the capital’s international airport.
At least a dozen flights were cancelled after the main airport in the capital Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, aka Guatemala City, was shut down.
On September 13, 2012 the 3,763-meter-high volcano erupted forcing the authorities to evacuate tens of thousands of people from 20 or so villages near the mountain.
Latest Volcanic Activity/Unrest
Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii
Kīlauea continues to erupt at its summit and from its East Rift Zone. The June 27th lava flow remains about 500 m (~550 yd) from Highway 130 in the area west of the Pāhoa Fire and Police Stations. The flow has not advanced downslope in more than a week, but many breakouts are active upslope, said HVO. Code: ORANGE.
Shishaldin Volcano, Alaska
Elevated surface temperatures at the summit were observed in satellite data on Friday through Saturday. “Web camera images showed intermittent, minor steam emissions. Low-level eruptive activity confined to the summit crater of the volcano likely continues. Seismicity remains above background levels and tremor persists,” said AVO. Code: ORANGE
Piton de la Fournaise, island of La Reunion in Indian Ocean (France)
“Peak of the Furnace” in the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion erupted on February 4, 2015. The previous significant eruption, which lasted for two days, began on December 9, 2010.
Piton de la Fournaise volcano, aka,“Peak of the Furnace,” a shield volcano on the eastern side of (France-administered) Réunion island in the Indian Ocean erupts, February 5, 2015. (Photo Source: chinanews.com).More images…
Colima Volcano, Mexico
Eruptions and lava flow reported since January 29, 2015.
Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy
Latest eruptive episode began on 31 December, 2014.
Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka, Russia Explosive eruptions at Karymsky continued into late January/early February, with ash plumes rising to heights of about 4 km above the crater.
Klyuchevskoy, Central Kamchatka, Russia Strombolian and Vulcanian eruptions at Klyuchevskoy continued into late January/ early February with ash plumes rising to a height of about 8km a.s.l.
Pacaya, Guatemala Ash emissions reported by INSIVUMEH starting late January.
Ruapehu, North Island, NZ Water temperatures at Ruapehu’s summit Crater Lake have been increasing from about 15C to 40C since late December, said Geonet. The company also reported increased levels of volcanic gas emissions through the lake, which is changing color from blue-green to gray due to convection.
Soputan, Sulawesi, Indonesia
The volcano spewed an ash plume to an altitude of more than 6 km (20,000 ft) on February 2, 2015.
For a list of the ongoing eruption/unrest at 13 other volcanoes see weekly reports HERE.
Significant earthquakes strike near Bardarbunga volcano
At least 8 more earthquake measuring 4.0Mw or greater have occurred near Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland since Friday.
4 of the quakes measured 5.0Mw or greater, including three shocks that registered 5.2Mw, according to the data provided by the Icelandic Met Office (IMO).
Meantime, IMO has issued the following warnings
Warning: Fissure eruption continues in Holuhraun lava field, north of Vatnajökull (Vatna Glacier).
Warning: Today (Sunday) volcanic gas emissions are expected to drift east and later to the northeast of the eruption site. Tomorrow (Monday) the pollution will affect areas to the north and northwest.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts
For detailed earthquake forecasts tune into FIRE-EARTH Reports daily @ 06:32UTC.
Volcanic eruptions can be far more devastating than atom bombs!
For now, deadly Ontake eruption traps more than 270 hikers, injuring dozens and burying 3 others under volcanic ash.
Ontake volcano (283040), the second highest volcano in Japan, which straddles the border between Nagano and Gifu prefectures, erupted late Saturday morning, spewing a thick plume of ash, smoke and volcanic matter up to a height of 3.5km.
Pyroclasts including small rocks ejected from the angry volcano have seriously injured at least 32 people, knocking more than a dozen of them unconscious, said local reports quoting officials at Kiso fire department in Nagano Prefecture.
Three climbers are missing believed to be buried under volcanic ash. “A 4th person who was buried under ash was later rescued but remains unconscious,” said the local TV news.
Deadly Eruption
[Updated at 14:40UTC] At least one person, a 38 year-old female, has been killed as a result of the eruption, said local reports.
More than 40 of the 271 hikers initially stranded, taking shelter at a cottage near the volcano summit, still remain on the mountain, including the injured who are waiting to be rescued.
The 3,067-meter tall volcano, located about 200km west of Tokyo, last erupted 7 years ago. A previous eruption in 1979 caused significant damage to crops in the nearby farms.
“It’s all white outside, looks like it has snowed. There is very bad visibility and we can’t see the top of the mountain,” a worker at a mountain hut for trekkers told Reuters.
“There are 15cm of ash on the ground,” she said.
“All we can do now is shut up the hut and then we are planning on coming down… This is a busy season because of the changing autumn leaves. It’s one of our busiest seasons.”
Authorities have warned that the eruption could eject pyroclasts as far as 4km from the caldera.
A thick plume of ash was still hanging over the volcano at dusk, TV footage showed.
“We expect a lot of injured people so we are now getting ready for their arrival,” said an official at Kiso Prefectural Hospital located near the mountain.
Meantime, the local meteorological agency upgraded its 5-stage volcanic alert for Ontake to “Orange” or Level 3—Do not approach the volcano.
Sakurajima also Erupted Today
Meantime, Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory issue an eruption alert for SAKURAJIMA-WAKAMIKO (AIRA-CALDERA) 282080, earlier today.
The volcano erupted at 10:16UTC (2014/09/27) with the ash cloud climbing to FL070 and extending southwesterly.
3 Earthquakes measuring magnitude 5.0 or greater strike near Bardarbunga volcano
At least 22 earthquakes measuring magnitude 3.0 or greater, including 3 measuring magnitudes 5.0, 5.1 and 5.3 have occurred near Bardarbunga volcano since Saturday, reported IMO.
Volcanic activity in Holuhraun Lava Field
Meantime, the fissure eruption continues “at a stable level,” said IMO. “No explosive activity is observed, the eruption remains an effusive lava eruption. Visual observation by webcam and low level volcanic tremor on seismometers do not show any obvious changes since [Sunday] evening.”
New fissure eruption near Bardarbunga prompts ‘Red Alert’
Iceland has once again raised its aviation warning to the highest level after a new fissure eruption in Holuhraun lava field near Bardarbunga volcano.
Volcanologists monitoring restive Bardarbunga observed a fissure eruption at 05:15GMT on Sunday, said IMO.
“It appears that the eruptive fissure is longer than in the last eruption. It is extending north and south on the same . The eruption is a very calm lava eruption and can hardly be seen on seismometers. Visual observation confirm it is calm, but continuous.”
Currently, only lava is erupting, but no ash has been observed, added IMO.
Sunday eruption from a new fissure in Holuhraun lava field
Image via Xinhua.
Photo: Benedikt Gunnar Ófeigsson/IMO. Image may be subject to copyright
The eruption prompted IMO to raise the aviation warning code to ‘red’ for the large area that houses the Bardarbunga volcanic system.
The new fissure is located very close to the Friday’s, with the fracture extending further to the north, said a researcher.
The latest eruption is said to be far more more intense than Friday’s, with the lava flow estimated to be more than 10 times greater.
Meantime, seismicity continues on a 15-km-long region of the dyke intrusion, said IMO, “extending both into the Dyngjujökull glacier and the region north of the ice margin. Earthquakes have not migrated northwards during the last two days.”
An estimated 500 million cubic meters of lava has flowed from beneath the volcano in a long dyke since last week.
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.
MAJOR DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS VOLCANIC ERUPTION RED ALERT (AVIATION) BARDARBUNGA VOLCANO ERUPTING SCENARIOS 023, 09, 08, 07 .
Bardarbunga erupting subglacially
The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) has issued a red alert for aviation, warning that Bardarbunga volcano could spew significant ash emissions.
A small sub-glacial eruption is currently occurring at Bardarbunga, said the Met Office.
“Warning: It is believed that a small subglacial lava-eruption has begun under the Dyngjujökull glacier. The aviation color code for the Bárðarbunga volcano has been changed from orange to red.”
The red alert is Iceland’s highest warning level on their five-point scale.
On Wednesday, authorities evacuated hundreds of people from several areas north of the volcano, fearing that the volcano could erupt and cause significant flooding and mudslides.
Bardarbunga, a part of a large volcanic system, sits under up to 400 meters of ice, the Vatnajokull glacier, in central Iceland.
23rd August 2014 14:10UTC – small eruption Occurring beneath Dyngjujökull
A small lava-eruption has been detected under the Dyngjujökull glacier.
An estimated 150-400 meters of ice covers the area.
The aviation color code for the Bárðarbunga volcano has been changed from orange to red.
At 14:04UTC, an earthquake measuring 4.5Mw occurred near the volcano.
Bardarbunga (Bárðarbunga Icelandic spelling), is a stratovolcano, located under the Vatnajökull glacier. It is the second highest mountain in Iceland, standing 2,010 meters a.s.l. The volcanic system that includes Bardarbunga is more than 200km long and 25km wide.
Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull (Glacier of Lakes), also known as the Vatna Glacier, is Iceland’s largest and most voluminous glacier, located in the south-east of the island. With an area of 13,600 km², Vatnajökull covers more than 8 percent of the country. It is also the largest ice cap in Europe by volume (3,100 km³).
Plumes of smoke, steam and ash from Pavlof continue to reach heights of about 7,500m (24,000 feet), according to Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO).
Meantime, PenAir, a regional airline, canceled flights from Anchorage to Cold Bay and Dutch Harbor on the Aleutian Islands on Wednesday.
Pavlof eruption with lava fountaining, early June 3, 2014, as viewed from Cold Bay. Photo credit: AVO/ Robert Stacy.
So far, no ash has reached any of local communities, according to AVO.
LAST ACTIVITY REPORT: ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
Thursday, June 5, 2014 5:16 AM AKDT (Thursday, June 5, 2014 13:16 UTC) UPDATED by FIRE-EARTH at 13:35UTC
PAVLOF VOLCANO (VNUM #312030)
55°25’2″ N 161°53’37” W, Summit Elevation 8261 ft (2518 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Two strong explosions were recorded in seismic data early this morning (10:05 and 10:45 UTC; 02:05 and 02:45 AKDT) at Pavlof. Lightning was detected by the WWLLN system but there is no indication of higher altitude ash in satellite data. Meteorological cloud tops are up to 29,000 ft. ASL and winds are to the west-southwest.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014 12:14 PM AKDT (Wednesday, June 4, 2014 20:14 UTC)
The eruption of Pavlof Volcano continues. Seismicity remains stable and unchanged in the past 24 hours. Persistent elevated surface temperatures were observed in satellite images. FAA web camera views yesterday afternoon showed a towering steam plume above the vent and lower-level ash from pyroclastic flow activity on the north flank. Wind direction has shifted in the past 24 hours to a more westerly direction and recent satellite views show a plume rich in SO2 gas, steam, and minor ash extending variably between 30 and 100 km downwind and passing over Cold Bay. There have been no reports of ash fall in Cold Bay or any other community. Incandescence from lava fountaining was visible in early morning web camera images, however low-level weather clouds obscure more recent views.
Alerts at Other Alaska Volcanoes
Shishaldin: Color Code: ORANGE/ Alert Level WATCH
Cleveland: Color Code YELLOW / Alert Level ADVISORY
Veniaminof: Color Code YELLOW / Alert Level ADVISORY
Index map showing location of Pavlof volcano and other Alaska Peninsula volcanoes. Credit: Janet Schaefer/AVO
Mass evacuations ordered as Santa María continues to erupt
Santa María volcano (volcán Santiaguito) is a large active volcano located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, near he city of Quetzaltenango. The volcano has been eruting since May 9, 2014, forcing the authorities to evacuate hundreds of people.
Lahar races down a river valley near El Palmar
Original caption: Image provided by Guatemala’s Prensa Libre Newspaper on May 9, 2014 shows a man watching the volcanic material descending at El Palmar municipalty of Quetzaltenango department in Guatemala. The Santiaguito volcano continues its explosive activity with less intensity, according to technicians of Guatemala’s Disaster Reduction National Coordinator, according to local press. (Xinhua/Prensa Libre)
Santa María volcano erupts. Credit Daniel Leclair/ Reuters
Santa María’s eruption in 1902 is recorded as the fourth largest volcanic explosion of the 20th century with a VEI of 6 [‘Colossal’.]
The volcanic ash from the eruption was detected as far away as San Francisco, more than 4,000 km away.
City of Baños evacuated amid Tungurahua’s spectacular eruption
Tungurahua erupted on Friday, ejecting a massive plume of smoke and ash 10km into the air during a 5-minute episode.
The 5,023-m volcano has been active since 1999, and has shown signs of increased activity since February 1, 2014.
“Throat of Fire,” as it’s known in the in the local Quechua language, is one of nine or so active volcanoes in Ecuador, located about 140 km south of the capital, Quito.
Photo showing Tungurahua volcano eruption associated with an explosion at 18:10 (local time) on April 4, 2014. Source F. Vásconez – OVT/IGEPN
Baños de Agua Santa
Baños de Agua Santa, or Baños, as it is commonly referred to, is located in central Ecuador on the northern foothills of the Tungurahua volcano. It is the second most populous city in Tungurahua Province with a population of about 10,000.
Volcano Location Map
Freeze frame from a local news video clip showing Friday’s eruption.
18,000 people evacuated as Sinabung activity intensifies
Mt Sinabung’s latest explosive eruption has prompted the authorities to raise the volcanic alert to the highest level, “siaga,” or “red alert,” according to Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center.
The alert level was raised from “orange” or “level III ” to the highest level “red” or “level IV” by PVMBG on Sunday, as the authorities evacuated an additional 11,618 residents from 19 villages and expanded the evacuation zone to a 5-km exclusion zone from 3 km previously.
“This is Sinabung’s highest level of activity. The intensity of the eruptions continues to increase,” said Hendrasto, head of PVMBG.
Villagers evacuate to a safe area, as Mount Sinabung ejects ash into air at Aman Teran village in Karo district, Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, November 24, 2013. Credit: Reuters/YT Haryono. More images…
As of 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, Sinabung was continuing to eject an 8-km high column of smoke and ash into the air, he said.
Some 6,000 villagers had already been evacuated from the 3-km exclusion zone, about 90 km from Medan, capital of North Sumatra province.
The North Sumatra health has distributed 180,000 face masks, medicine and 4 tons of baby formula to relief posts in Karo regency, reported Jakarta Post.
Mt Sinabung erupted explosively again on November 12, 2013 for a second time in 9 days. Image credit: CRIonLine via Xinhua. More images…
Approximate location of Sinabung is marked on the map by FEWW. Mount Sinabung is one of Indonesia’s 130 active volcanoes
Sinabung Volcano: Summary of Details
Country: Indonesia
Region: Sumatra
Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Volcano Status: Holocene
Last Known Eruption: Unknown [1600?]
Summit Elevation: 2,460m
Latitude: 3.17°N Longitude: 98.392°E
Source: GVP
Sinabung is located in Group K Volcanoes
Map of Volcanoes. Background Map: University of Michigan. Designed and enhanced by Fire Earth Blog.Click image to enlarge.
The PVMBG categorizes Sinabung as a type A volcano, or those that have erupted since 1600. Type B volcanoes have not erupted since 1600 but show signs of activity, and type C are those that have not erupted in recorded history.
Mount Sinabung ejected tephra into the air as seen from Tanah Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Dedy Zulkifli). Image may be subject to copyright.
Indonesian Volcanoes
Indonesian Volcanoes have been responsible for a number of cataclysmic explosions in modern history.
An 1888 lithograph of the 1883 violent explosion of Krakatau.
Based on their models, our colleagues at EDRO forecast that the collapse of Singapore may occur as a result of volcanic activity on the island of Sumatra. However, they have not disclosed any further detail.
Warning issued to Pacific shipping after volcano erupts, forming a new Island
Authorities have warned shipping in the Pacific Ocean to maintain vigilance for airborne volcanic material after a volcano erupted near one of the Ogasawara Islands, some 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo, NHK reported Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) as saying.
Japan Coast Guard has confirmed black smoke spewing out of a new land mass about 500 meters southeast of Nishinoshima island, JMA said
Video footage shows a plume of black and white smoke and steam rising to a height of more than 600 meters above a new landmass measuring about 200 meters across.
Black and white smoke and steam rising to a height of more than 600 meters above a new 200-m long landmass created by volcanic eruption near Nishino shima, Bonin Islands, south of Japan. Screenshot from NHK news video clip.
Screenshot from NHK news video clip.
“The agency says multiple clusters of white smoke overhead suggest intermittent explosions,” said the report.
Volcanic activity created a new island which was fused to the uninhabited Nishinoshima between 1973 and 1974, the last time when eruptions occurred near the island.
Location Map of Volcano Islands, Ogasawara Islands, Japan region. Image credit: Lim Tor
Bonin Islands (aka, Ogasawara Group, in Japan). Click Image to Enlarge.
In 2010, one of the volcanoes in the region erupted, spewing smoke and ash to a height of about about 100 meters above the sea level. The surrounding sea area changed to a greenish-yellow color with nearby areas turning cloudy.
JMA said the volcano, called Fukutokuokanoba, had erupted seven times since 1904, forming ephemeral islands (temporary land masses) on three occasions, all of which later sank below the ocean surface.
The first known ephemeral island called Shin-Iwo-jima (New Sulfur Island) was formed in 1904, and the most recent in 1986.
What the Volcano Islands Look Like
North Iwo Jima Island (Official Japanese name Kita-iōtō, but commonly known as Kita-iōjima, meaning “north sulfur island”) is the northernmost island of the Volcano Islands cluster of the Ogasawara Islands, about 1175 km south of Tokyo. Image Credit: Chisatos
6 to 8 more EQs may yet strike region[This post referred to the number of significant earthquake that was forecast to occur before the 2011 Mega Quake would strike. FIRE-EARTH Editor]
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).
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.
Mt ETNA erupted, shooting up towering columns of ash into the air
The eruption from Europe’s most active volcano ejected towering columns of ash and fountains of molten lava over Sicily Saturday night.
Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, is in an almost constant state of activity. The eruption was the 16th paroxysmal explosion at Etna so far this year, forcing officials at Cantania Airport to close airspace above much of Sicily as a precautionary measure.
Mt Etna is the largest of the three active volcanoes in Italy, covering an area of about 1,200km², with a basal circumference of 140km. More than a quarter of Sicily’s live on the slopes of the 3,330-meter volcano.Volcanic activity first occurred at Etna about 500,000 years ago.
A massive lava flow from an eruption in November 1928 destroyed the village of Mascali. Other major 20th-century eruptions occurred in 1949, 1971, 1981, 1983 and 1991–1993.
5 Indonesian volcanoes remain on the 2nd highest state of alert, “orange,” 17 others on “yellow”
The alerts follow the latest eruption at Mt Sinabung, which saw the volcano ejecting ash to a height of about 7 km above the summit, forcing the authorities to evacuate about 5,600 people in several villages, according to Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG).
Indonesian authorities have established a 3-km exclusion zone near the volcano following the Tuesday eruption for the second time in 9 days.
PVMBG had issued a “level three,” or “orange alert,” recommending villagers to stay out of the 3-km danger zone on November 3, 2013, followed by a 7-day state of emergency declared by the local authorities.
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.
Mt Sinabung is one of 130 or so active volcanoes in the Indonesian archipelago, whose 18,307 islands (922 of the islands are permanently inhabited) straddle the Pacific Ring of Fire (PRF).
PRF, aka the circum-Pacific seismic belt, is home to 452 volcanoes, or more than 75% of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes.
About 90% of the global seismicity and 82% of the largest quakes occur along PRF [FIRE-EARTH data.]
Mt Sinabung erupted explosively again on November 12, 2013 for a second time in 9 days. Image credit: CRIonLine via Xinhua. More images…
Mount Sinabung spewing volcanic ashes as seen from Simpang Empat Village in Karo, North Sumatera (September 15, 2013). Credit: ANTARA/Septianda Perdana.
Mt Sinabung erupted in August 2010 after 410 years of dormancy. The eruption claimed a dozen lives and displaced thousands of others. The eruption which occurred on August 29, 2010 was followed by a more powerful explosion the next day, and much stronger blast on September 7, 2010.
Sinabung spewed ash to a height of about 2km in its second eruption in two days on August 30, 2010.
Mount Sinabung volcano spews smoke in Suka Nalu village in the district of Tanah Karo, in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province August 30, 2010. The Indonesian volcano that erupted for the first time in centuries on Sunday spewed fresh plumes of smoke early on Monday morning, causing panic in nearby villages and delaying local flights, officials said on Monday. Credit: Reuters/Tarmizy Harva. Image may be subject to copyright. More photos …
Approximate location of Sinabung is marked on the map by FEWW. Mount Sinabung is one of Indonesia’s 130 active volcanoes
Sinabung Volcano: Summary of Details
Country: Indonesia
Region: Sumatra
Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Volcano Status: Holocene
Last Known Eruption: Unknown [1600?]
Summit Elevation: 2,460m
Latitude: 3.17°N Longitude: 98.392°E
Source: GVP
Sinabung is located in Group K Volcanoes
Map of Volcanoes. Background Map: University of Michigan. Designed and enhanced by Fire Earth Blog.Click image to enlarge.
The PVMBG categorizes Sinabung as a type A volcano, or those that have erupted since 1600. Type B volcanoes have not erupted since 1600 but show signs of activity, and type C are those that have not erupted in recorded history.
Mount Sinabung ejected tephra into the air as seen from Tanah Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Dedy Zulkifli). Image may be subject to copyright.
Indonesian Volcanoes
Indonesian Volcanoes have been responsible for a number of cataclysmic explosions in modern history.
Krakatoa [Krakatau] Cataclysmic Eruption 1883
William Ashcroft painting “On the Banks of the River Thames” in London, November 26, 1883 [Exactly three months after Krakatoa’s cataclysmic 1883 eruption.]
The Krakatoa eruption affected the climate driving the weather patterns wild for the next 5 years. Average global temperatures fell by about 1.2 °C in the following years, returning to normal only in 1888.
An 1888 lithograph of the 1883 violent explosion of Krakatau.
Based on their models, our colleagues at EDRO forecast that the collapse of Singapore may occur as a result of volcanic activity on the island of Sumatra. However, they have not disclosed any further detail.
Indonesia Volcano Alerts
PVMBG has placed five volcanoes on the second highest level of activity “Level III, Orange Alert,” and 17 others on third highest alert level “Level II, Yellow Alert.” Following table shows the alert level designations, as of November 16, 2013.
Indonesia Volcano Alerts as of November 16, 2013. Source: PVMBG. Image enhanced by FIRE-EARTH Blog.
Restive Mount Rokatenda on Palue, Indonesia, finally erupts
Mount Rokatenda, located on the small island of Palue about 2,000km east of Jakarta, erupted spewing ash and rocks more than 2,000 meter into the air.
Hot ash and lava from the eruption fell on a nearby beach, killing at least 6 people including 2 children, officials said.
Rokatenda has been restive since last October, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of villagers.
The eruption started at 04:27 on Saturday (20:27 UTC Friday) and lasted for about 4 hours, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.
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Mount Rokatenda is one of about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands. Much of the country sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area crisscrossed by numerous fault lines and prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Mount Merapi’s 2010 eruption in central Java left up to 400 people dead and more than 250,000 others displaced.
Pavlof ejects ash and steam, as lava flows down its NW flank
Pavlof Volcano, the second Volcano in the Aleutians to become active, began erupting on Monday and was still spewing clouds of ash and steam on Wednesday, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) said.
The volcano has been emitting intermittent dark clouds of ash and steam rising up to 20,000 feet a.s.l. and drifting in a northeasterly direction, the observatory said.
Mt Cleveland, the other currently active Alaskan volcano, has been erupting intermittently since 2011.
Volcanic ash from Pavlof and other Alaska volcanoes could pose a threat to air traffic in the region.
Pavlof Activity: Color CodeORANGE– Alert Level WATCH
PAVLOF VOLCANO (CAVW #1102-03-) 55°25’2″ N 161°53’37” W
Summit Elevation: 2,518 m (8261 ft)
Pavlof Volcano in eruption. View is from the southwest in Cold Bay. Lava fountaining is visible near the summit, and steam and ash clouds rise from the northwest flank where a lava flow advances down the slope.May 14, 2013 11:26 AM AKDT. Credit: Rachel Kremer/AVO
Index map showing location of Pavlof volcano and other Alaska Peninsula volcanoes. Credit: Janet Schaefer/AVO
Location of Cleveland volcano and other Aleutian volcanoes with respect to nearby cities and towns. Credit: Janet Schaefer/AVO
PAVLOF VOLCANO (CAVW #1102-03-)
55°25’2″ N 161°53’37” W, Summit Elevation 8261 ft (2518 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
The eruption of Pavlof Volcano continues. Elevated seismic activity persists and a steam and ash cloud are visible in web camera images rising occasionally up to about 20,000 ft. above sea level. A diffuse ash plume was reported late last night at an altitude of 15,000 above sea level and extending downwind to the northeast for up to 100 miles before dissipating. A recent pilot report today indicated a dark ash cloud extending east-northeast at an altitude of 20,000 above sea level. National Weather Service issued a Sigmet yesterday that remains active today.
Residents of Cold Bay, located 37 miles southwest of the volcano, observed incandescent glow at the summit during the night. Pilot reports and photographs from yesterday afternoon indicate that the lava flow extending down the northwest flank is still active and has generated debris-laden flow deposits, presumably from interaction of hot lava with the snow and ice on the flank.
CLEVELAND VOLCANO (CAVW #1101-24-)
52°49’20” N 169°56’42” W, Summit Elevation 5676 ft (1730 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Elevated surface temperatures continued at Cleveland Volcano over the past 24 hours. No explosions have been detected by regional infrasound data. There has been no further information about the lava flow.
Sudden explosions of blocks and ash are possible with little or no warning. Ash clouds, if produced, could exceed 20,000 feet above sea level. If a large ash-producing event occurs, nearby seismic, infrasound, or volcanic lightning networks should alert AVO staff quickly. However, for some events, a delay of several hours is possible. Cleveland Volcano does not have a local seismic network and is monitored using only distant seismic and infrasound instruments and satellite data.
AVO will continue to monitor these volcanoes and issue additional information as available.
Code Definitions ORANGE Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain, OR eruption is underway with no or minor volcanic-ash emissions [ash-plume height specified, if possible].
WATCH: Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain, OR eruption is underway but poses limited hazards.
VOLCANO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET: http://www.avo.alaska.edu
RECORDING ON THE STATUS OF ALASKA’S VOLCANOES (907) 786-7478
CONTACT INFORMATION:
John Power, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
jpower@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497
Jeff Freymueller, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
jeff.freymueller@gi.alaska.edu (907) 378-7556
Map of Volcanoes. Background Map: University of Michigan. Designed and enhanced by Fire Earth Blog.Click image to enlarge.
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
CLEVELAND VOLCANO (52°49’20” N 169°56’42” W; CAVW #1101-24-) – [Group A on the Global Map] Wednesday, March 6, 2013 12:14 PM AKST (Wednesday, March 6, 2013 21:14 UTC)
Summit Elevation: 5676 ft (1,730 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Source: AVO
Cleveland viewed from an Alaska Airlines 737 en route to Adak, Alaska. [Carlisle Volcano, center of image. Mount Cleveland, lower right of image.]
Date: May 31, 2012 12:00 AM
Photographer/Creator: Read, Cyrus. Image courtesy of AVO/USGS.
This GeoEye IKONOS image shows a faint plume issuing from Cleveland Volcano at 2:31 PM on September 14, 2010. Red in this image highlights areas of vegetation detected by the near-infrared channel.
Date: September 14, 2010 10:31 PM UTC
Volcano(es): Cleveland
Photographer/Creator: Wessels, Rick
Image processed by AVO/USGS. Image copyright 2010 – GeoEye
KILAUEA VOLCANO (19°25’16” N 155°17’13” W; CAVW #1302-01-) Wednesday, March 6, 2013 7:43 AM HST (Wednesday, March 6, 2013 17:43 UTC)
Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1,247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Source: HVO
Kamchatka Volcanoes on ORANGE Alert [Group J on the Global Map]
PLOSKY TOLBACHIK VOLCANO (55.83 N, 160.39 E; CAVW #1000-24-)
Elevation: 3,085 m (10119 ft )
SHEVELUCH VOLCANO (56.64 N, 161.32 E; CAVW #1000-27-)
Elevation: 3, 283 m [the dome elevation: 2,500 m)
KIZIMEN VOLCANO (55.13 N, 160.32 E; CAVW #1000-23-)
Elevation: 2,485 m (8151 ft)
KARYMSKY VOLCANO (54.05 N, 159.44 E; CAVW #1000-13-)
Elevation 1,486 m (4874 ft)
Other Kamchatka Volcanoes on YELLOW Alert [Group J on the Global Map]
KLYUCHEVSKOY VOLCANO (56.06 N, 160.64 E; CAVW #1000-26-)
Elevation: 4,750 m
BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO (55.97 N, 160.6 E; CAVW #1000-25-)
Elevation: 2,882 m
GORELY VOLCANO (52.56 N, 158.03 E; CAVW #1000-07-)
Elevation: 1,828 m
PLOSKY TOLBACHIK VOLCANO (55.83 N, 160.39 E; CAVW #1000-24-)
Elevation: 3,085 m (10119 ft )
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
The massive 3,085-meter-high Plosky [flat] Tolbachik, one of Russia’s largest volcanoes, has spewed two streams of lava, one extending for about 18km and the other 6km one made 18 kilometers, said a report.
“The fiery river has been setting trees on its way ablaze while turning ice and snow into clouds of steam.”
Simultaneous activities have also been detected in the Kizimen and Shiveluch volcanoes in the Kamchatka region, the report said.
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.
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.
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
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 peopleglobally.
Grímsvötn volcano, Iceland’s most active, has started erupting
A large plume of smoke and ash was ejected to a height of about 20km above the volcano.
The explosive eruption, which occurred at 17.30UTC on Saturday May 21, 2011, has been described as very powerful.
Grímsvötn is Iceland’s most active volcano and had previously erupted in November 2004.
A Map of Iceland Volcanoes. Click image to enlarge.
Iceland’s Met Office Report
“Eruptions in Grímsvötn start as subglacial eruptions, which quickly break the ice cover. At 21:00 UTC, the eruption plume had risen to an altitude of over 65,000 ft (~20 km). Initially, the plume is expected to drift to the east and subsequently to the north. Thus, the ash is not expected to impact aviation in Europe, at least not during the first 24 hours.”
Eruption cloud from Grímsvötn volcano at 22:00 UTC May 21st 2011 captured by Icelandic met Office Weather Radar located at Keflavik International Airport located about 220 km from the volcano. The eruption cloud covers a large section of Vatnajökull ice cap.
Grímsvötn: “A very powerful volcano”
“Grimsvotn is a very powerful volcano, so we’re monitoring it closely, even if the last few eruptions have been harmless,” University of Iceland geophysicist Pall Einarsson told Morgunbladid.
“We do not expect this to be a big one as it’s coming from the same crater as the last three eruptions, which were all small.”
‘Not Like Last Year‘
“It can be a big eruption, but it is unlikely to be like last year,” Icelandic Met Office geologist Hjorleifur Sveinbjornsson told Reuters, referring Eyjafjallajokull.
Lots of Ash
“A lot of ash has been falling around the Vatnajokull glacier and nearby towns this evening. It is expected to continue through the night and maybe into tomorrow, according to Icelandic Met Office geologist, Hjorleifur Sveinbjornsson. The ash is much coarser than that which came from Eyjafjallajokull last year.” IceNews reported.
Aviation Threat
Isavia civil aviation authority has imposed a 120 nm flight ban around the volcano, a spokesman said. “We have closed the area until we know better what effect the ash will have.”
Grímsvötn volcano erupts producing a mushroom cloud of smoke and ash. Frame grabs from video clip by Icelandic National TV station RÚV.
Mt. Baekdu may erupt, according to North Korean authorities, Radio Free Asia reports.
Local geologists are again warning of a volcanic eruption at Mt. Baekdu, a volcano located on the border between North Korea and China.
Baitoushan Volcano, China and North Korea
Mt Baekdu Volcano, April 2003. Source: NASA/JSC
Original Caption:
One of the largest known eruptions of the modern geologic period (the Holocene) occurred at Baitoushan Volcano (also known as Changbaishan in China and P’aektu-san in Korea) about 1000 A.D., with erupted material deposited as far away as northern Japan—a distance of approximately 1,200 kilometers. The eruption also created the 4.5-kilometer-diameter, 850-meter-deep summit caldera of the volcano, which is now filled with the waters of Lake Tianchi (or Sky Lake). This oblique astronaut photograph was taken during the winter season, and snow highlights frozen Lake Tianchi and lava flow lobes along the southern face of the volcano.
Baitoushan last erupted in 1702, and geologists consider it to be dormant. Gas emissions were reported from the summit and nearby hot springs in 1994, but no evidence of renewed activity of the volcano was observed. The Chinese-Korean border runs directly through the center of the summit caldera, and the mountain is considered sacred by the predominantly Korean population living near the volcano. Lake Tianchi is a popular resort destination, both for its natural beauty and alleged sightings of unidentified creatures living in its depths (similar to the legendary Loch Ness Monster in Scotland).
Changbaishan,aka Baitoushan (Korean: Baegdu or P’aektu-san)
Country: China/Korea
Region: Eastern China
Last Known Eruption: 1903
Summit Elevation: 2,744m (9,003 feet)
Latitude: 41.98°N 41°59’0″N
Longitude: 128.08°E 128°5’0″E
Source: GVP
Mt. Baekdu Volcano eruption in 1903 (?) Source NEWSIS via Chosunilbo. Image may be to subject to copyright.
Lake Tianchi (or Sky Lake) at the summit caldera of Mt. Baekdu Volcano. Promotional photo published by N. Korean government.
“Quoting sources in Ryanggang Province, North Korea, the station said two geography professors of Kim Jung-suk University of Education involved in a Mt. Baekdu expedition team have recently been to Pyongyang to attend a seminar on Mt. Baekdu volcanic activity.” Chosunilbo reported.
Shinmoedake volcano in southern Japan, which began erupting on Wednesday, ejecting rocks, ash and smoke about 4,600m into the air, was still erupting on Thursday.
Local highways and railroads have become impassable as a result, and at least 4 flights to the area have been canceled as a precaution, reports say.
Shinmoedake volcano continued erupting for a second day on Thursday. Freeze frame from ITN news clip.
Shinmoedake Volcano Erupts
Natural-color satellite image of Shinmoedake volcano captured by MODIS aboard NASA’s Terra satellite on January 26, 2011. Shinmoedake is a volcano in the Kirishima volcanic complex on Japan’s Kyushu island. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge.
Lightening is photographed using time exposure during an eruption from Mt Shinmoedake in the Kirishima volcanic complex on the border of Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures, southern Japan. Photo: Shuji Uchimura/AP. Image may be subject to copyrights.
Ash from Mt Bormo forces nearby Malang city’s airport to close
Indonesian government raised the eruption threat warning to code red, the highest alert status.
“The ash contains chemical substances which could cause engine trouble” to planes flying nearby, officials said.
The volcano was reportedly ejecting columns of ash into the air to a height of about 700 meters (2,300 feet).
The volcano is expected to continue erupting for “many days” a government volcanologist said.
Tengger Caldera
Photo by Indonesia Department of Information
The 16-km-wide Tengger caldera is located at the northern end of a volcanic massif extending from Semeru volcano. The massive Tengger volcanic complex dates back to about 820,000 years ago and consists of five overlapping stratovolcanoes, each truncated by a caldera. Lava domes, pyroclastic cones, and a maar occupy the flanks of the massif. The Ngadisari caldera at the NE end of the complex formed about 150,000 years ago and is now drained through the Sapikerep valley. The most recent of the Tengger calderas is the 9 x 10 km wide Sandsea caldera at the SW end of the complex, which formed incrementally during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. An overlapping cluster of post-caldera cones was constructed on the floor of the Sandsea caldera within the past several thousand years. The youngest of these is Bromo, one of Java’s most active and most frequently visited volcanoes. (Source: GVP)
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