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Mt Sakurajima volcanic warning level has been raised to Level 4, “prepare to evacuate,” amid signs of increased activity, said Japan’s weather agency.
Mt Sakurajima could have a larger than usual eruption, officials said.
The news follows Tuesday’s restart of a reactor at the Sendai nuclear power station, located less than 50km from the angry volcano.
Volcano Information
One of Japan’s most active volcanoes, Sakurajima is situated in Kagoshima Bay, south of Kyushu, Japan (about 1,000km WSW of Tokyo). The volcano has three active craters: Kitadake, Minamidake and Nakadake.
Multiple eruptions have occurred at Minamidake crater since 1955 .
Hundreds evacuated, airport closed as Colima volcano ejects large amounts of ash into the air
Colima volcano is behaving “atypically,” showing signs similar to a major eruption in 1913, said Mexico’s interior ministry.
The 1913 eruption, the largest on record since 1576, lasted for 5 days between January 20 and 24.
About 800 residents within a 12-km radius of the volcano have been evacuated. The authorities have also closed the airport in the state of Colima, due to the large amounts of volcanic ash “falling in the area,” said reports.
The volcano began erupting early Thursday and became increasingly active, spewing lava and large amounts of ash.
Colima, kla, Volcán de Fuego [“Volcano of Fire,”] is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico. It is also potentially the most hazardous volcano in the country, with more than 300,000 people living within a 40-km radius of the mountain.
Recent volcanic eruptions leading to mass evacuations
A “minor volcanic eruption” has occurred at Mt Hakone near Tokyo starting Monday night through Tuesday, according to officials.
Fresh layers of volcanic ash were discovered Tuesday morning around a newly-formed vent in the Owakudani valley, which forms part of the Mount Hakone range (Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park) located in Kanagawa prefecture.
Volcanic tremors have been shaking the Hakone mountain since Monday morning, officials said, warning nearby residents that the volcano could eject sizable rocks to a radius of about one kilometer and smaller rocks even further.
The warning level on the Hakone was raised to level 3 [“Do not approach the volcano,”] at 12:30 JST today [June 30, 2015.]
The volcano has been ejecting steam over the past few months.
Mt Hakone is located about 80 km SW of central Tokyo. More than 45 million people live within a 100-km radius of the volcano according to FIRE-EARTH Population Models.
About 90 tremors were recorded on June 7, and the volcano released an estimated 1,700 tons of sulfur dioxide (20 times more than the amount released last month), said officials.
Japan’s weather agency raised the alert level for the volcano to Level 2 [“Do not approach the crater”] last week.
Ashfall from the eruption was also reported around the mountain as far as 4 km from the volcano, said officials. Aashfall from a September 2004 eruption covered a large area.
Recent Volcanic Activity on the Planet of the Abes
Mt. Ontake
In September, a series of volcanic tremors was followed by a powerful eruption at Mt. Ontake in central Japan, which left at least 57 people dead and 6 others missing.
The country’s worst volcanic disaster in 70 years would have been easily prevented had the authorities not failed to heed the warning signs.
Mt Shindake (Kuchinoerabujima)
A powerful eruption ejected an ash cloud to a height of about 9,000 meters in the air, forcing the authorities to evacuate the 140 or so residents from Kuchinoerabujima island on May 29, 2015.
Latest Warnings for Japan’s Volcanoes [Sourced from Japan’s weather agency]
Warning Level 5 (Evacuate) Shindake (Kuchinoerabujima), 29 May 2015
Near-crater warning Level 3 (Do not approach the volcano) Ontake, 31 March 2015
Near-crater warning Warning in non-residential areas near the crater Nishinoshima, 24 February 2015
Mt Sinabung and Mt Karangetang erupt, forcing thousands of evacuations
The volume of lava in Mt. Sinabung’s crater has increased to more than 3 million cubic meters and the volcano is in unstable condition, reported PVMBG.
Up to 3,000 residents living within a 7-km radius of Mt. Sinabung, to the south and southeast of the volcano, have been evacuated according to the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG).
Mt. Sinabung’s alert level was raised to the highest level “AWAS,” last week.
The volcano has been ejecting large plumes of volcanic matter since last week, and observers have reported pyroclastic flows cascading down the sides of the mountain.
The 2,460-m high volcano, created by the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate under the Eurasian Plate, is located in the Karo plateau of Karo Regency, North Sumatra, about 40km from the Lake Toba supervolcano.
Sinabung has four volcanic craters, but only one of them is active currently.
Approximate location of Sinabung is marked on the map by FEWW. Mount Sinabung is one of Indonesia’s 130 active volcanoes
Meantime, activity continues at Mt. Karangetang, which is located in the district of Sitaro, North Sulawesi, forcing the evacuation of 339 people (106 families).
The “twin-peaked” Mt Karangetang (“Api Siau”), also one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia, is located on the north side of Siau Island [pop: 43,000] North Sulawesi, in the Celebes Sea.
About 200 million Indonesians, or more than thee-quarters of the population, live within 100-km radius of one or more volcanoes that have become restive at least once during the past 100 years, according to researchers.
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.
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]
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.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts
For detailed earthquake forecasts tune into FIRE-EARTH Reports daily @ 06:32UTC.
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.
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.
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.
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
VOLCANIC HAZARD STATE OF EMERGENCY MASS EVACUATIONS .
Ubinas Volcano spews 3.2km-high plumes of toxic ash
Some 4,000 residents and more than 40,000 animals are being evacuated to a “safety zone” about 20km from Peru’s most active volcano.
Villagers are concerned for the health of their livestock, a major source of income. “In the district of Ubinas alone, there are an estimated 40,000 llamas and alpacas.” A significant percentage of these animals could be seriously affected by the silica ash, which contaminates their grazing areas after each significant eruption, local sources have said.
The silica ash from the eruption damages crops, polluting water sources, and threatening villagers and their livestock.
“The Ollanta Humala’s administration declared a state of emergency in nearby provinces, which will provide financial assistance for those affected by eruption of the Ubinas volcano, in southern Peru’s Arequipa region,” reported Andina news agency.
A major eruption in 2006 forced mass evacuations and killed livestock that consumed ash-contaminated fodder, said the report.
Ubinas Volcano erupted multiple times in September 2013 after three years of dormancy. Image credit: ANDINA
The massive 5,670-meter volcano is located about 70 kilometers from the city of Arequipa (metro pop: ~ 1,260,000), and 1,250km south of the capital Lima, close to 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.
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…
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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).
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.
FIRE-EARTH FORECAST: Beerenberg Volcano on Jan Mayen Island Could Erupt Explosively [P≥ 64%]
The 2,280-m stratovolcano located on Jan Mayen Island could erupt this year with a probability of at least 64 percent.
The 6.2Mw earthquake (72.994°N, 5.651°E; 8.8 km; Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 22:47:46 UTC) and its subsequent aftershocks that occurred in the Norwegian Sea may have primed the volcano for an explosive eruption.
Jan Mayen Island (71°N 8°30’W) featuring Beerenberg Volcano. Source:Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen (Norway) is a volcanic island located in the north Atlantic Ocean, some 950km west of Norway and 600 km north of Iceland. The view of the island is dominated by the active volcano Beerenberg (2,280m), which last erupted in 1985, emitting an estimated total of about 2 x 107 m3 of lava and other volcanic matter.
Activity of Kizimen volcano at 09:00 UTC on June 12, 2011. Photo by Yu. Demyanchuk from Klyuchevskoy volcano flank. Source KVERT. Image may be subject to copyright.
Kizimen Volcano blew out a plume of ash, smoke and steam over the Gulf of Kamchatka on February 1, 2011. Kizimen recent eruptions are said to be both explosive and effusive. This natural-color image was taken by the MODIS aboard the Aqua satellite. Source: NASA-EO.Click images to enlarge.
Kizimen Volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula (elev. 8,153 ft/2,485 m: KVERT 13 june 2011), ejected a plume of ash, steam and volcanic gasses on January 6, 2011, when ALI on NASA’s EO-1 satellite captured this natural-color image. Kizimen had released continuous ash emissions since December 31, 2010, KVERT reported. Kizimen erupted explosively 83 years ago. Source: NASA-EO.
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
(based on SI /USGS report for 8 June-14 June 2011)
Massive eruptions at Chile’s Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex ejected volcanic rocks a distance of at least 20 kilometers from the center of volcano. This photo-like satellite image taken by the ALI aboard the EO-1 satelliteon on June 14, 2011, and shows pumice floating on a mountain lake east of the volcano. Source: NASA-EO. Click images to enlarge.
Nabro Volcano EO-1 Satellite Image
Nabro eruption image taken by by the ALI aboard EO-1 satellite on June 14, 2011. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge.
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
Kizimen Volcano blows out a plume of ash, smoke and steam over the Gulf of Kamchatka on February 1, 2011. Kizimen recent eruptions are said to be both explosive and effusive. This natural-color image was taken by the MODIS aboard the Aqua satellite. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge.
Kizimen Volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula (elev. 2,376m, or 7,795 ft), ejected a plume of ash, steam and volcanic gasses on January 6, 2011, when ALI on NASA’s EO-1 satellite captured this natural-color image. Kizimen had released continuous ash emissions since December 31, 2010, KVERT reported. Kizimen erupted explosively 83 years ago. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge.
Fire Earth 