Piton de la Fournaise Eruption Caught on Video

Reunion island volcano erupts for three days

The eruption prompted evacuation on Friday, as rivers of lava rolled down the slopes of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano.

A World Heritage Site, Piton de la Fournaise is  one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

Angry Volcanoes Spewing Fire

GLOBAL VOLCANIC HAZARDS
SCENARIOS 989, 787, 786, 707, 703, 700, [500,] 08, 07, 02
.

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.

Lava Flow from Kilauea Advancing AGAIN on Big Island Communities

VOLCANIC HAZARDS
KILAUEA JUNE 27TH LAVA FLOW
STATE OF EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
MASS EVACUATIONS
LOSS OF HABITAT
CROP DESTRUCTION
SCENARIOS 989, 900, 797, 787, 707, 444, 070, 047, 017, 07, 02
.

Kilauea Lava Flow:  June 27th lava flow continues to advance NE at 120 m/day

The lava flow out of the continuously erupting Kilauea Volcano is slowly advancing downslope toward the town of Pāhoa (population: ~1,000) on the Big Island.

About 4,500 people could be affected by the lava flow in the coming days.

Tuesday Oct0ber 7, 2014 (UTC). Civil Defense Message: “This morning’s assessment shows that the flow front continues to be active and has advanced approximately 150 yards since yesterday.  The narrow flow front is moving along the tree line and the burning activity is producing a significant amount of smoke.  There is no brush fire threat at this time and the burning is limited to the edges of the flow only.  Due to a light southwest wind this morning the vog and smoke conditions were moderate to heavy across lower Puna to Hilo.”

[Note: Vog, a type of air pollution, is formed when sulfur dioxide and other gases and particles emitted by an erupting volcano react with oxygen and air moisture in the sunlight.]

Flow front continues advancing northeast, triggers brush fire. The June 27th lava flow remains active, and the flow front continues to advance towards the northeast along the forest boundary. Today, the flow front consisted of a narrow lobe moving through thick forest. The flow front was 1.7 km (1.1 miles) upslope of Apaʻa St., and 2.7 km (1.7 miles) from Pāhoa Village Road. The lava flow also triggered a brush fire that was active north of the flow front Monday afternoon local time [HAST= UTC -10 hrs.]

Kilauea Status Reports

Issued: Monday, October 6, 2014, 6:42 PM HST (Tuesday, 2014/10/07/04:42UTC)
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Notice Number: 2014/H13
Location: N 19 deg 25 min, W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1,247 m)
Area: HI Hawaii and Pacific Ocean
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Volcanic Activity Summary: The June 27th flow remains active, with a narrow flow about 115 m (230 ft) wide moving downslope about 120 m/day (390 ft/day) since October 3.

At the average rate of advancement of 120 m/day, the lava could reach Apa`a St. in about 16 days. The advance rate of the June 27th flow has varied significantly during the past month, meaning this projection is subject to change. HVO’s next overflight is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8.

Recent Observations by HVO: The lava flow has continued to advance northeast since October 3 at about 120 m/day (390 ft/day). The leading edge is now about 1.7 km (1.1 mi) straight-line distance from Apa`a St.

Hazard Analysis by HVO: The lava flow from the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent is active, and lava is being supplied to the flow front, which is slowly advancing downslope toward Pāhoa town, which is located  in the Puna District of the County of Hawai`i.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: There was little net change in ground tilt at Pu’u O’o over the past day. Glow was visible overnight above several outgassing openings in the crater floor. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 550 tonnes per day (from all sources) on September 25, 2014. Seismic tremor is low and constant.

Summit Observations: Deflationary tilt at Kīlauea’s summit continues this morning along with a decrease in the lava lake level at the summit vent. There was no major change in seismicity on Kilauea over the past day; seismic tremor at the summit remained low and varied with changes in spattering on the surface of the lava lake. GPS receivers spanning the summit caldera recorded about 5 cm (2 in) of extension between early May and early July. Since then, little significant extension or contraction has occurred. During the week ending on September 30, 2014, the elevated summit sulfur-dioxide emission rate was measured at 3,600–5,200 tonnes/day (see caveat below), and a small amount of particulate material was carried aloft by the plume.

Remarks [Source: HVO] : The Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent in the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano began erupting on January 3, 1983, and has continued erupting for more than 31 years, with the majority of lava flows advancing to the south. Over the past two years, lava flows have issued from the vent toward the northeast. The June 27th flow is the most recent of these flows and the first to threaten a residential area since 2010-2011. On June 27, 2014, new vents opened on the northeast flank of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone and fed a narrow lava flow to the east-northeast. On August 18, the flow entered a ground crack, traveled underground for several days, then resurfaced to form a small lava pad. This sequence was repeated three more times over the following days with lava entering and filling other cracks before reappearing at the surface, in two of the cases farther downslope. Lava emerged from the last crack on September 6, forming a surface flow that initially moved to the north, then to the northeast, at a rate of 400 m/day (1,300 ft/day). The flow slowed thereafter and, between September 12 and 19, the rate of advancement varied, averaging 225 m/day (740 ft/day). The flow front stalled by September 22, but new breakouts behind the flow front began to push forward, overtaking the stalled front on September 29 and advancing 120 m/day (390 ft) between October 3 and 6. [Source: HVO]

 Related Links

• Kilauea Lava Flow Could Affect Thousands on Hawaiʻi Island  September 5, 2014

ANGRY Mt. Ontake Erupts in Central Japan

VOLCANIC ERUPTION
ATMOSPHERIC ASH
MAIN SCENARIOS 707, 017, 08, 07
.

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.

Links to Latest Issues in Japan

• Evil Japan Begins Annual Dolphin Slaughter September 26, 2014

Mt Mayon Threatens to Erupt: Thousands Evacuated

VOLCANIC HAZARD
MAYON VOLCANO
HEIGHTENED GLOBAL SEISMICITY
SCENARIOS 070, 09, 08, 07
.

Mayon in high state of unrest, explosive eruption possible

Thousands of people have been evacuated from around the foot Mt Mayon, Philippines’ most active volcano, as the crater glow became observable indicating presence of molten lava and superheated volcanic gases.

PHIVOLCS released the following bulletins earlier:

MAYON VOLCANO BULLETIN 16 September 2014 8:00 A.M.

Mayon Volcano’s (13.2500°N, 123.6833°E) seismic network recorded thirty-two (32) volcanic earthquakes and seventy-two (72) rock fall events during the past 24-hour observation period. Intensity III (bright) crater glow was visible last night, although rain clouds prevented visual observation of the crater during the day. Rolling incandescent rockfall within the uppermost reaches of the Bonga Gully last night indicates that the summit lava dome is breaching the crater in its southeastern side. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux was measured at an average of 611 tonnes/day on 02 September 2014. Ground deformation data showed inflationary changes in the edifice from February 2014 based on precise leveling surveys on the 3rd week of August 2014, and edifice inflation from January 2012 baselines based on continuous tilt measurement. All the above data indicate that the volcano is exhibiting relatively high unrest due to the movement of potentially eruptible magma.

Mayon Volcano’s alert status has been raised to Alert Level 3.   This means that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks. It is recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeastern flank be enforced due to the danger of rock falls, landslides and sudden explosions or dome collapse that may generate hazardous volcanic flows.  PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Mayon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.

NOTICE OF INCREASE TO ALERT LEVEL 3:

In the past several hours, a noticeable escalation of unrest was recorded by the Mayon Volcano monitoring network. Since 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM today, 39 rockfall events that are ascribed to incipient breaching of the growing summit lava dome across the southeastern crater rim, and 32 low frequency volcanic earthquakes that indicate magma intrusion and/or volcanic gas activity, have been detected. Crater glow has become observable, indicating incandescence of the crater from molten lava and hot volcanic gas.

In view thereof, PHIVOLCS-DOST is now raising the alert status of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3. This means that Mayon is exhibiting relatively high unrest and that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks.  It is therefore recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeastern flank be enforced due to the danger of rockfalls, landslides and sudden explosions or dome collapse that may generate hazardous volcanic flows. PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Mayon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.

Significant Earthquakes

Iceland has been rattled by 7 significant quakes measuring between magnitudes 4.6 and 5.3Mw since September 10.

• The largest quake measured 5.3Mw, which occurred 108km WNW of Hofn at depth of 10.0 km on 2014-09-15 at 08:05:02 UTC.

Sweden registered a rare earthquake measuring 4.7Mw, which struck about 59km (37mi) N of Mora, said USGS/EHP.

• The quake occurred at a depth of about 14.3km (8.9mi), at 13:08UTC on September 15, 2014.

Oklahomans were rattled by at least 4 earthquakes over the last 24 hours. The quakes measured between magnitudes 2.7 and 4.0Mw.

• The largest quake measuring 4.0Mw occurred about 6km S of Guthrie, Oklahoma at a depth of 4.4 km on September 15 at 20:08UTC.

Japan recorded a magnitude 5.6 shock striking Ibaraki Prefecture about 44km (27mi) NNE of Tokyo, which scared the living daylight out of millions of local kamikazes.

• The quake registered 5- (Five Minus) on the local 7-point seismic scale.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts

For detailed earthquake forecasts tune into FIRE-EARTH Reports daily @ 06:32UTC.

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FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts for California and Japan

FIRE-EARTH Science Team has suspended its research on California seismicity to protest Internet censorship, Google’s manipulation of  information, theft of FIRE-EARTH intellectual property and other reasons, as previously stated.

The Team has suspended its research also on Japan seismicity due to resurgence of militarism in Japan and other reasons, as previously stated.

 

Kilauea Lava Flow Could Affect Thousands on Hawaiʻi Island

VOLCANIC HAZARDS
STATE OF EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
MASS EVACUATIONS
LOSS OF HABITAT
CROP DESTRUCTION
SCENARIOS 787, 444, 070, 047, 017, 07, 02
.

Lava from Kilauea Volcano advancing 250 meters per day

Hawai‘i County Mayor has signed a state of emergency proclamation due to  the advancing lava flow in the Wao Kele O Puna area after the flow extended to less than 1.5km from the edge of the Ka‘ohe Homesteads subdivision, said the mayor’s office.

It’s believed that at least 8,211 people (based on 2010 Census) residing in the subdivision of Hawaiian Beaches are directly threatened by the lava flow. However, the number is unrepresentative of the present population since the District of Puna is the fastest growing population in the State, said the Mayor’s Proclamation.

“We are taking this step to ensure our residents have time to prepare their families, their pets, and their livestock for a safe and orderly evacuation from Ka‘ohe in the event the flow continues to advance,” said Mayor Kenoi.

No evacuation orders have yet been issued, said Hawaii County Civil Defense; however, the risk of lava flow affecting the  subdivision is increasing daily.

Kilauea Volcano Warning Issued by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)

Thursday, September 4, 2014, 10:45 AM HST (2014-09-04 @ 20:45UTC)

Volcanic Activity Summary: On June 27, 2014, new vents opened on the northeast flank of the Pu‘u ‘O‘o cone that fed a narrow lava flow to the east-northeast. On August 18, the flow entered a ground crack, traveled underground for several days, then resurfaced to form a small lava pad. The sequence was repeated twice more over the following days with lava entering other cracks and reappearing farther downslope. In this way, the flow had advanced approximately 13.2 km (8.2 miles) from the vent, or to within 1.3 km (0.8 miles) of the eastern boundary of the Wao Kele o Puna Forest Reserve, by the afternoon of September 3. Overnight, lava did not appear to advance farther east within the crack system, but surface flows advanced about 100 m to the northeast. At the average rate of advancement of 250 m/day (820 ft/day) since July 10, we project that lava could reach the Kaohe Homesteads boundary within 5-7 days should lava resume advancing within the crack system.

Kaohe Homesteads is located between the Wao Kele o Puna Forest Reserve and the town of Pāhoa in the Puna District of the County of Hawai`i.

Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Recent Observations:
[Volcanic cloud height] SO2, low ash emissions continue from Kīlauea caldera, TFR in place.
[Other volcanic cloud information] none
[Lava flow/dome] June 27th Lava Flow continues to advance.

Hazard Analysis:
[Lava flow/dome] Lava Flow from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent could advance to Kaohe Homesteads within a week.

Remarks: The Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent in the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano began erupting on January 3, 1983, and has continued erupting for more than 31 years, with the majority of lava flows advancing to the south. Over the past two years, lava flows have issued from the vent toward the northeast. The June 27th flow is the most recent of these flows and the first to threaten a residential area since 2010-2011.

June 27th lava flow front reemerges from ground crack, continues advancing eastward (HVO)

The June 27th lava flow remains active, with lava at the flow front issuing from a ground crack and advancing through thick forest, creating dense plumes of smoke. The farthest lava this afternoon was 13.2 km (8.2 miles) from the vent on Puʻu ʻŌʻō, and 1.3 km (0.8 miles) from the eastern boundary of the Wao Kele o Puna forest reserve. This forest reserve boundary is at the western boundary of Kaohe Homesteads subdivision, a portion of which is visible at the bottom of the photograph. (Source: HVO)

The surface flows at the front of the June 27th lava flow are fed by lava that is supplied through a lava tube that originates at the vent on Puʻu ʻŌʻō. This thermal image shows the lava tube close to Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Although the lava is several meters (yards) beneath the surface, it heats the surface sufficiently to be easily detected with thermal cameras. 

Significant Earthquake Strikes Bardarbunga System

VOLCANIC SEISMICITY
FISSURE ERUPTION
BARDARBUNGA VOLCANO
SCENARIOS 023, 017, 09, 08, 07
.

M5.1 quake occurs at northern rim of  Bardarbunga caldera: IMO

Centered at 64.675°N, 17.415°W, about 6.6km NE of Bardarbunga, the quake occurred at a depth of 5.2 km [USGS/EHP: 64.723°N 17.390°W depth=7.5km] on Sunday at 12:01:45GMT, said Iceland Met Office (IMO).

The quake was the largest to strike Bardarbunga volcanic system since a magnitude 5.4 shock on Saturday.

Meantime, a large fissure eruption continues in Holuhraun lava field, north of Vatnajokull [Glacier of Lakes.]

“A lava eruption started in Holuhraun shortly after 04 AM, on the same volcanic fissure, which erupted earlier this week. The fissure is estimated to be 1.5 km long.”

The lava extruding from the fissure was estimated at 1 km wide, 3 km long and several meters deep, oozing down in a northeasterly direction. The flow rate was about 1,000 m³ per second, said IMO.

The Aviation Color Code for Bárðarbunga has been downgraded from “red” to “orange” [because no ash has been detected] and the alert level for Askja to “yellow,” said IMO.

Related Links

• ‘Red Warning’ Issued for Iceland Volcano August 31, 2014
• MAJOR DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, Aug. 29, 2014 August 29, 2014
• Two More Significant Quakes Hit Bardarbunga Volcano August 27, 2014
• Red Alert as Bardarbunga Volcano Erupts August 23, 2014
• Thousands of tremors recorded near Bárðarbunga volcano August 20, 2014
• Seismic activity – last 48 hours + 3D Map of the Tremors
• Bárðarbunga Webcam

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

Alaska Flights Grounded amid Continued Activity at Pavlof

VOLCANIC HAZARD
SCENARIO 07
.

Regional Airline Cancels Alaska Flights

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

Related Links

• Eruption of Pavlof Continues June 4, 2014
• Pavlof Eruption Intensifies June 26, 2013
• Second Alaska Volcano Erupts Posted on May 16, 2013
• Volcanoes in a Dozen Global Regions Erupting  May 19, 2013

Sakurajima Volcano Erupts Explosively

VOLCANIC HAZARD
SCENARIOS 07
.

Rivers of of lava and large columns of ash moving in the direction of Ibusiki City

Sakurajima’s eruption on Sunday was the most powerful one at the volcano so far this year.

The explosion ejected a column of ash and smoke to a height of about 4.5km above the Minamidake crater, according to local reports.

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).

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.

There were no immediate report of damage or casualties, as of posting.

Sinabung Eruption Leaves 14 Dead, Thousands Evacuated

Sumatra volcano in deadly eruption

Mt Sinabung Erupted three times on Saturday leaving at least 14 people dead, including a group of school children from Medan on a science trip, and three others critically injured. Authorities were again forced to evacuate tens of thousands of people from 16 villages from the 5km – 7km exclusion zone near the volcano.

“This is the first direct impact of the Mt. Sinabung eruptions. Before the Saturday incident, the ongoing eruptions have already claimed the lives of 31 evacuees, as a result of various illnesses such as breathing difficulties, depression, asthma and hypertension.” Jakarta Post reported.

Some 14,000 of more than 30,000 evacuees had just been allowed to return home on Friday, following earlier eruptions.

Villagers flee as Mt Sinabung spews plumes of hot ash and smoke engulfing at least 16 villages. Photo credit: ANTARA /Irwansyah Putra. Image may be subject to copyright. More images…

The volcano became restive in 2010, after more than 400 years of dormancy, and has been erupting sporadically since.

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.

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 volcanic activity on the island of Sumatra could cause the collapse of Singapore. However, they have not disclosed any further detail.

Mt Sinabung erupted explosively again on November 12, 2013 for a second time in 9 days. Image credit: CRIonLine via Xinhua. More images…

Chronology of Recent Eruptions

• Mass Evacuations as Sinabung Erupts Again January 8, 2014
• Mass Evacuation Ordered as Mt SINABUNG Put on Red Alert November 24, 2013
• A Second Indonesian Volcano Erupts Posted on November 19, 2013
• Sinabung Volcano Explodes November 3, 2013
• Thousands Flee Mount Sinabung Eruption September 16, 2013
• 22 Indonesian Volcanoes Remain on High Alerts Posted on 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

• Sinabung Getting More Serious September 7, 2010
• Sinabung Erupts Again – Strongest Explosion to Date September 7, 2010

• Sinabung Erupts Again August 30, 2010
• Mount Sinabung Erupts August 29, 2010

Chaparrastique Eruption Forces Mass Evacuations in El Salvador

Chaparrastique volcano eruption prompts evacuation of hundreds of communities

Civil protection authorities in El Salvador have imposed a 5-km exclusion zone around the San Miguel volcano, aka Chaparrastique, and are evacuating up to 5,000 villagers that live near the volcano.

The 2,130-m high volcano,  El Salvador’s third highest, ejected columns of smoke and ash up to 5km above the summit.

Chaparrastique, located about  15km SW of San Miguel city (population: 180,000), showed signs of increased activity on December 13.

The eruption has so far deposited more than 10cm of ash in the nearby areas within the coffee-producing region, officials said.

Chaparrastique erupts. Screen dump from a local news report timed at about 10:30 am local time December 29, 2013.

El Salvador

El Salvador sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, close to Middle America Trench, and is subject to significant tectonic movement, causing frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The tiny country (population: 6.3 million) is home to at least 23 volcanoes.

Related Links

• M6.5 Quake Strikes Guatemala September 7, 2013
• Ubinas Volcano Erupts 6 Times in 60 Hours September 5, 2013
• Hundreds Evacuated as Ecuador’s Tungurahua Erupts July 16, 2013
• El Hierro Island Experiencing Intense Seismicity, Inflation March 31, 2013

• Fuego Volcano Erupts: September 13, 2012
• San Cristóbal Eruption Forces Mass Evacuation Posted September 9, 2012
• Powerful Earthquake Strikes NW Costa Rica Posted September 6, 2012
• Pacaya Erupts, Covers Guatemala City with Ash May 28, 2010

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Mass Evacuation Ordered as Mt SINABUNG Put on Red Alert

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.

Chronology of Recent Eruptions

• A Second Indonesian Volcano Erupts Posted on November 19, 2013
• 22 Indonesian Volcanoes Remain on High Alerts Posted on November 16, 2013
• Sinabung Volcano Explodes Posted on November 3, 2013
• Thousands Flee Mount Sinabung Eruption September 16, 2013

• Sinabung Erupts Again August 30, 2010
• Mount Sinabung Erupts  August 29, 2010
• Sinabung Erupts Again – Strongest Explosion to Date September 7, 2010

• 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

Volcano Erupts in Ogasawara Islands

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

Related Links:

• Submarine Volcano Erupts Near Japan  February 6, 2010
• 6th Strong Quake Strikes Near Ryukyu Isles, Japan
• 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]

• FEWW Earthquake Links

ETNA Erupts Again, Lighting Up the Sky Over Sicily

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.

World’s Largest Volcano?

Massive Volcano Discovered in NW Pacific Ocean

Researchers have discovered an immense shield volcano on the seabed, northwest Pacific Ocean.

Tamu Massif is said to be the oldest and largest edifice of the Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

A single, immense volcano, Tamu Massif is constructed from massive lava flows that erupted from the center of volcano to form a broad, shield-like dome some 145 million years ago.

Researchers writing in the journal Nature Geoscience suggest the 310,000 km² (119,000 mi²) Tamu Massif could be the largest single volcano on Earth, comparable in size only to the Olympus Mons on Mars, believed to be the largest volcano in the Solar System.

The Tamu Massif Volcano ~ 32.5ºN, 158.4ºE

Rising 3.5km above the seabed, Massif lies about 2km below the sea, and is rooted more than 30 km into the earth’s crust on the Shatsky Rise, some 1,600 km east of Japan.

“We don’t have the data to see inside them and know their structure, but it would not surprise me to find out that there are more like Tamu out there,” said Dr Sager, one of the researchers at the University of Houston.

“Indeed, the biggest oceanic plateau is Ontong Java plateau, near the equator in the Pacific, east of the Solomons Islands. It is much bigger than Tamu—it’s the size of France.” [Tamu is nearly the size of Norway. Editor]

Key point

“One interesting angle is that there were lots of oceanic plateaus (that) erupted during the Cretaceous Period (145-65 million years ago) but we don’t see them since. Scientists would like to know why.” Sager said.

Ubinas Volcano Erupts 6 Times in 60 Hours

Ubinas erupts after three years of dormancy

Ubinas Volcano in Moquegua region, SW Peru, erupted twice on September 1, and again on September 2, followed by two additional eruptions on September 3, and one on September 4.

The latest eruptions ejected columns of ash and volcanic gases to heights of about two kilometers above the summit crater.

Peru’s most active volcano, Ubinas is located about 70 kilometers from the city of Arequipa (metro pop: ~ 1,260,000), near the country’s Pacific coast, about  230 km east of the Peru-Chile trench and about 150 km above the Benioff-Wadati plane, where the Nazca plate is subducting under the continental part of the South American Plate.

“We have to be alert in monitoring the volcano to consider any evacuation if it is needed,” said President Ollanta Humala on Wednesday.

Ubinas Volcano has erupted six times since September 1, 2013 after three years of dormancy. Image credit: ANDINA

Related Search Terms on Fire Earth

“UBINAS” “Volcano Watch”

Popocatepetl Volcano Alert Level Raised

Popocatepetl peppers Mexico City with ash, airlines suspend flights

Increased level of explosive activity at Popocatepetl prompts Mexican authorities to raise the volcano warning to the third-highest level on the center’s seven-step scale.

Several airlines have reportedly suspended flights into Mexico City after ash from the massive volcano fell on the the capital and nearby towns.

Popocatepetl ejects volcanic blocks, July 5, 2013. Source: CENAPRED

Latest Bulletin:  July 06 15:00 h (July 05, 20:00 GMT)

Because of the increased activity of the Popocatepetl volcano, the National Coordination of Civil Protection (CNPC) of the Ministry of Interior (SEGOB), the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) and Scientific Advisory Committee determined in agreement, to raise the volcanic alert level from yellow phase 2 to yellow phase 3.

The Volcanic Alert Level is at Yellow, Phase 3.

Explosive activity at Popocatepetl summit crater-
July 5, 2013. Source: CENAPRED

Explosive activity at Popocatepetl, viewed from TLAMACAS station –  July 5, 2013.  Popocatépetl Volcano (“smoking mountain” in Aztec) is North America’s 2nd-highest volcano. The massive stratovolcano stands 5,450m high and lies about 65 kilometers (40 miles)  southeast of  Mexico City (19.023°N, 98.622°W ) in the eastern segment of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. Mexico’s Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) has warned of large scale explosions, with high probability of  incendiary fragments and ash showers. Image source:  CENAPRED, Mexico.

Earlier bulletin  177 SEGOB – Posted July 06 11:00 h (July 05, 16:00 GMT)

In the last 24 hours monitoring system Popocatepetl volcano has registered 20 hours and low to high frequency tremor, accompanied by a persistent emission of a column of gas and ash that reached 3 kilometer height, northwest direction. Additionally the monitoring system has registered 4 hours of high intensity harmonic tremor. There were also 3 explosive events of moderate magnitude, the most important of which was presented this morning at 00:33 h. Due to weather conditions due to the weather it was not possible to observe the volcano during these events. However, in the early hours of the morning the continuous emission of gases and ash that reached more than 2 miles high and heading northwest was observed. (see image 1).

The Volcanic Alert Level is at Yellow, Phase 2.

CENAPRED places particular emphasis in the following recommendations:

1. Access is restricted within a radius of 12 km from the crater. Permanence in this area is not allowed.

2. The road between Santiago Xalitzintla (Puebla) and San Pedro Nexapa (Mexico State), including Paso de Cortes, is open only to controlled traffic.

 

Red Alert at Copahue Volcano: Argentina and Chile Order Evacuation

Chile and Argentina order evacuation of 3,000 people living near Copahue

Argentine and Chilean authorities have issued a red alert, fearing that the volcano could erupt imminently.

The mandatory evacuation order covers all residents living within a 25-km radius of Copahue.

The 2,965m tall volcano began spewing volcanic gasses Friday amid heightened seismic activity, with volcanic tremors occurring at an average rate of about 450 per hour.

Copahue volcano sits in the Biobio region of Chile, straddling the border with Argentina’s Neuquen province.

This photo released by the Government of Neuquen, Monday, May 27, 2013, shows a plume of ash and smoke rise from the Copahue volcano, as seen from Caviahue, in the Argentine province of Neuquen, Friday, May 24, 2013.  (AP Photo/Government of Neuquen, Tony Huglich)

[NOTE: The most probable outcome over the next 96 hours or so can be deduced from the photo.]

Related Links

• ‘Red’ Alert at Copahue Volcano December 24, 2012
• Volcanoes in a Dozen Global Regions Erupting May 19, 2013

• Volcanoes [FEWW Links]
• Earthquakes
• Volcano Watch Weekly [6 May 2009]

El Hierro Island Experiencing Intense Seismicity, Inflation

El Hierro moving east, experiencing uplift amid intense seismic activity

Intense seismicity and inflation at El Hierro suggest magma is intruding underneath the tiny volcanic island, the smallest of Canary Islands, located  in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa (population ~ 10,000).

• Sharp increase in seismic activity in and around the tiny island (Area: ~ 278 km²) began on March 18, with the largest quake measuring 4.7 on Richter scale, which occurred on Friday.
• The majority of tremors are occurring at a depth of between 12 and 15 km.
• The latest geological activities have caused the island to move east and forced the ground to rise by 11 cm at Punta de Orchilla on the western tip of the island.

Map of El Hierro with recent quake epicenters

Image Credit: AVCAN. AVCAN.ORG was developed by Victor Tapia. Original idea, administration and all rights by Fernando Raja

Histogram of the recent earthquakes at El Hierro 18 -31 March, 2013. Note sharp increase in seismic activity since March 18, 2013. Image credit: AVCAN.

Latest Earthquake at El Hierro. Image credit: AVCAN.

Global Volcano Watch (Source: AVO; HVO; GVP)

New Activity/Unrest:

• Fuego, Guatemala (Lava fountains rising to 400 m above the crater reported on 20 March, causing 1.5 km long lava stream in the Ceniza drainage).
• Hekla, Southern Iceland
• Tungurahua, Ecuador

Ongoing Activity:

U.S. Volcanoes

• Kilauea, Hawaii  (Hawaii) – Code ORANGE – WATCH
• Cleveland Volcano (Alaska) – Code YELLOW – ADVISORY

Kamchatka Peninsula

• Gorely – Code YELLOW
• Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) – Code ORANGE
• Kizimen, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) –  Code ORANGE
• Tolbachik, Central Kamchatka (Russia)  Code ORANGE
• Bezymianny – Code YELLOW
• Sheveluch Central Kamchatka (Russia) – Code ORANGE

Indonesia

• Batu Tara, Komba Island (Indonesia)
• Lokon-Empung, Sulawesi
• Paluweh, Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia)

Kurile Islands

• Snow – Code YELLOW
• Ivan Grozny – Code YELLOW

Other Volcanoes

• Bagana, Bougainville (PNG)
• Popocatépetl, México
• Sakura-jima, Kyushu (Japan)
• Santa María, Guatemala

Total: 21 volcanoes

Recent Volcano News

• Plosky Tolbachik Volcano Erupts March 5, 2013
• How Many Volcanoes Firing? March 7, 2013

Mt Lokon Eruption Prompts 2.5km Exclusion Zone

Mt Lokon spews 2,000m column of pyroclasts

The latest eruption occurred at 07:57 a.m. local time Wednesday [UTC + 8 hrs] with a large plume from the Tompaluan crater moving to the northwest, Indonesia’s head of the Mt Lokon and Mount Mahawu observation post at Bandung Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) said.

Lokon volcano has experienced increased seismic activity and multiple eruptions since late June 2011, he said. 

Lokon’s previous eruption occurred on March 10, 2013.

Mount Lokon’s eruption seen from Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 14, 2011. Image Credit: Jakarta Post/ANN. Image may be subject to copyright.

The authorities have imposed a 2.5 km exclusion zone from the crater, however, no evacuation reported as of posting.

Lokon-Empung Summary of Details 

Country/ Region: Indonesia (Sulawesi)
Summit Elevation: 1,580 m
Coordinates: 1.358°N, 124.792°E

Mount Lokon, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, is located about 20 km from North Sulawesi provincial capital of Manado.

A map of volcanoes of Indonesia with eruptions since 1900.

Related Links

• Mt Lokon Erupts Again

• Mount Lokon Eruption Forces 6,000 to Evacuate
• VolcanoWatch Weekly [28 Oct 2009]
• VolcanoWatch Weekly [26 Oct 2009]

• Messages From Earth’s Powerhouse
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 19 March 2009
• A New Era of Intense Volcanic Unrest May Have Begun

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

How Many Volcanoes Firing?

Global Volcanic Eruptions 2013: Tempo Rising?

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

Volcanoes of the Kurile Islands

• Snow (Chirpoi Is.)  – YELLOW
• Ivan Grozny – YELLOW

Recent Activity/ Unrest at other volcanoes

• Etna, Sicily
• Karkar, Northeast of New Guinea (SW Pacific)
• Sabancaya, Perú
• Sangay, Ecuador
• Soufrière Hills, Montserrat
• Tangkubanparahu, Western Java (Indonesia)
• White Island, New Zealand

Ongoing Activity

• Popocatépetl, México
• Sakura-jima, Kyushu  (Japan)
•  Santa María, Guatemala

Volcano/Earthquake Links

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

‘Red’ Alert at Copahue Volcano

Copahue volcano activity could intensify

Authorities in Argentina and Chile have raised the alert at Copahue volcano  in Biobio region to the highest level after detecting continued seismic activity on Sunday.

A column of ash and smoke from Copahue volcano rises above the town of Caviahue, a popular ski resort in Neuquen province, Argentina, some 1500 km SW of the capital Buenos Aires. Photo: AFP. Image may be subject to copyright. 

• Copahue first erupted on Saturday, showering ash on nearby villages and prompting many to evacuate.

• “The intensity of seismic signals suggests the eruption in progress is on the smaller side [however] we cannot discount the possibility that the activity could turn into a larger eruption,” said a spokesman for the Chilean Geology and Mining Services.

• The 2,970-meter volcano is in SW Argentina’s Neuquen province, near the Chilean border.

• About 3,000 people live in the vicinity of the massive volcano, including  the residents of Copahue, the town of Caviahue and indigenous Mapuche communities.

• The ash plume rose  to a height of about 1.5km (5,000ft) above the crater, said Chile’s emergency office (ONEMI).

Related Links:

• Volcanoes [FEWW Links]
• Earthquakes
• Volcano Watch Weekly [6 May 2009]

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Mount St. Helens: “The Ides of March?”

VolcanoWatch Weekly [17 Feb 2011]

Shinmoedake Update:

Some 2,500 people living near Shinmoedake volcano on Japan’s Kyushu island were advised earlier today to evacuate their homes after heavy rain threatened lahar avalanches, reports say.

VoW: Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens and Spirit Lake, as seen from Bear Cove. Image Source: U.S. Forest Service via USGS/CVO.

Phreatic eruption of Mount St. Helens, March 28, 1980, as seen from the north. Image by C.Dan Miller, USGS/CVO

Mount St. Helens, Washington  Ash Plume Path May 18, 1980

Click image to enlarge.

Mount St. Helens Volcano
Position: 46°12′ N 122°10’48” W,
Summit Elevation: 2,549 m (8,363 ft )
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
Source: USGS/CVO

Recent observations:

An M4.3 earthquake struck the Mount St. Helens region this morning, 14 February 2011, at 10:35 a.m. PST (18:35 UTC) and was felt widely through southwestern Washington and Northwestern Oregon (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/uw/02141835/us/index.html). Its exact magnitude may change by a few tenths from this value as records are further analyzed. The earthquake was followed by several aftershocks up to M2.8 over the next few hours (http://www.pnsn.org/recenteqs/latest.htm), the three largest of which were also reported felt. All of the earthquakes are located in an area about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of the crater of Mount St. Helens, near the Johnston Ridge Observatory, at a depth of about 4 to 6 kilometers (2.5 to 4 miles).

Today’s earthquakes are in the same place as a small swarm that took place about two weeks earlier, on 29 January. These earthquakes are reminiscent of a swarm that took place about 30 years ago, when a swarm of small earthquakes began in August 1980, a few miles northwest of today’s activity. The 1980-1981 sequence climaxed with an M5.5 earthquake on 14 February 1981. Analysis of the 1981 events suggested that they occurred along existing faults in the Mount St. Helens seismic zone, a northwest to southeast trending system of faults in which Mount St. Helens lies. The Mount St. Helens seismic zone exhibits strike-slip motion, with the southwestern rocks slipping horizontally northwest relative to the rocks northeast of the fault zone. The fault zone likely exerts control on the location of Mount St. Helens volcano. Studies following the 1980 eruption suggested that the magma removed during the May 1980 eruption and subsequent lava-dome building caused faults along the seismic zone to slip in response to the magma withdrawal. Similar interaction of volcanic activity and tectonic fault movement is possible in the case of today’s earthquakes, but at present there appears to be no signs of unrest in the volcanic system.  USGS/Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington

• Mount St. Helens “Current Activity Updates” Archives
• Eruption Chronology
• Mount St. Helens, Washington: Before, During, and After May 18, 1980  (1980 – 2004)

Summary of Weekly Volcanic Activity Report – 9 February to 15 February 2011

[Source: SI/USGS]

New Activity/Unrest:

• Fuego, Guatemala [Group F]
• Santa María, Guatemala  [Group F]
• Kirishima, Kyushu (Japan)  [Group J]

Map of Volcanoes

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

Ongoing Activity:

• Dukono, Halmahera
• Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
• Kilauea, Hawaii
• Kizimen, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
• Kliuchevskoi, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
• Poás, Costa Rica
• Sakura-jima, Kyushu
• Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
• Soufrière Hills, Montserrat
• St. Helens, Washington (USA)
• Suwanose-jima, Ryukyu Islands (Japan)
• Tengger Caldera, Eastern Java (Indonesia)

For additional information, see source.

Related Links:

• Messages From Earth’s Powerhouse
• A New Era of Intense Volcanic Unrest May Have Begun
• Earth’s Climate: A Solar Powered System
• World’s Dormant Volcanoes Firing
• Kamchatka Volcanoes The Fat Lady?

FEWW Volcanic Activity Forecast

• Sumatra’s Mt Kerinci Erupts
• Volcano Watch Weekly: 23 April 2009
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 16 April 2009
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 2 April 2009

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Other Related Links:

• U.S. Volcano Status Map
• Elevated Activity Page

Mt Bromo Eruption Forces Dozens of BALI Flight Cancellations

East Java’s Mt Bromo eruption forces at least 4 airlines to cancel holiday flights to the region

Cathay Pacific,  Jetstar, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Blue were forced to cancel all flights to and from Bali until further notice.

Mt Bromo ejected fountains of lava to a height of about 200m during a strombolian eruption. Several nearby villages were covered in hot ash spewed by the volcano, report say.

Bromo Erupts

The 2,330-m high volcano is located in Probolinggo, East Java province, about 750km east of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.  January 25, 2011.  Photo credit: AFP/Aman Rahman. Image may be subject to copyright.

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Video Clip:

• Mt Bromo Eruption

Related Links:

• Mt Bromo Eruption Closes Airport Posted on November 29, 2010

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