Kilauea Volcano: Sporadic Explosions in Halema‘uma‘u Crater

Rockfalls into the deepening vent causing explosions –HVO

TOP: At 9:06 a.m. HST (May 11, 2018), an ash plume rose from the Overlook crater at Kīlauea’s summit. Similar to recent plumes, this event was likely caused by a rockfall from the crater’s steep walls. The plume’s reddish color is most likely from altered rock and ash fragments that fell into the deepening conduit. [USGS/HVO]

TOP: At 9:17 a.m. HST, another weak ash plume rose from the Overlook Vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater, producing a slightly more energetic and darker plume. This second plume lacked the pink altered ash that was in the earlier plume, apparently consisting of more unaltered (therefore darker) rock fragments. This plume also was probably caused by rockfall into the deepening vent, not related to groundwater and steam-driven explosions. [USGS/HVO]

Shiveluch Release Plumes of Ash

More Activity at Shiveluch Volcano

A  true-color image of Shiveluch captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on August 3, 2009. The volcanic plume blows away from the summit, crossing the coastline and fanning out over the Bering Sea. The plume’s relatively dark color compared to nearby clouds suggests the presence of volcanic ash.  One of Kamchatka’s largest volcanoes, with a 3,283 meters high summit,  Shiveluch has undergone about 60 significant eruptions in the past 10,000 years. NASA image courtesy MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center. The Rapid Response Team provides daily images of this region. Caption by Michon Scott. [Edited by FEWW.]

Young Shiveluch: 56°38′ N, 161°19′ E, elevation: active dome about 2,800 m, summit of Old Shiveluch 3,283 m

Shiveluch volcano seen from the southeast: Young Shiveluch with its active dome is to the left, and Late Pleistocene Old Shiveluch is to the right of the photo. Source: Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Kamchatka, Image may be subject to copyright.

FEWW Links:

• Volcanoes
• Earthquakes

Redoubt’s ‘Phantom Unrest’ Could Lead to Eruption

Alaska Volcano Observatory

Information Statement – Friday, October 3, 2008 10:37 AM AKDT (10:37 UTC)

Redoubt Volcano

• Type of Volcano: Stratovolcano
• Coordinates: 60°29’7″ N 152°44’38” W
• Summit Elevation: 10197 ft (3108 m)
• Recent Eruptions:1902, 1966-68, and 1989-90
• Location: Western side of Cook Inlet, about 170 km southwest of Anchorage and 82 km east of Kenai, Alaska
• Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL

Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN

Annotated photo of Redoubt Volcano from the north, including features seen on 27 September, 2008.
Picture Date: September 27, 2008 – Image Creator: Kate Bull – Image courtesy of the AVO/ADGGS.
Full Size

What’s up at Redoubt?

Starting September 16, reports of strong hydrogen sulfide odor and loud noises coming from the direction of the volcano were reported. AVO observation flight on September 27 revealed:

• A number of fractures and circular openings in the upper Drift glacier for the first time.
• Scientist noted a strong hydrogen sulfide odor, but onboard instrumentation recorded no sulfur dioxide.
• Fumaroles on top of  domes formed in the 1968 and 1990 eruptions showed more vigorous steaming than the last observation in mid-August.
• AVO’s seismic network detected no abnormal earthquake activity, despite the earlier reports.

AVO believes Redoubt’s increased fumarolic activity and presence of sulfur odors do not suggest an imminent eruption, despite similar observations being made in the  months preceding the 1989-1990 eruption, when seismicity also increased significantly. AVO expects a similar strong increase in seismicity first before an eruption occurs.

Notes:

In the 1989-90 eruption lahar traveling down the Drift River partially inundated the Drift River Oil Terminal facility. Ash plumes produced during the same eruption affected international air traffic with traces of ashfall falling on Anchorage and nearby communities. (AVO)

Week 37 Volcano Watch

10 September-16 September 2008

New Activity/Unrest:

Bagana, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea

(September 16, 2008 ) Darwin VAAC analysis of satellite imagery revealed low-level ash plume from Bagana rising to an altitude of 2.4 km a.s.l., drifting SW.

More information and a Geologic Summary of Bagana

Bagana

Latitude: 6°8’24″S, Longitude: 155°11’42″E

Bagana volcano, occupying a remote portion of central Bougainville Island, is one of Melanesia’s youngest and most active volcanoes. Bagana is a massive symmetrical, roughly 1750-m-high lava cone largely constructed by an accumulation of viscous andesitic lava flows. The entire lava cone could have been constructed in about 300 years at its present rate of lava production. Eruptive activity at Bagana is frequent and is characterized by non-explosive effusion of viscous lava that maintains a small lava dome in the summit crater, although explosive activity occasionally producing pyroclastic flows also occurs. Lava flows form dramatic, freshly preserved tongue-shaped lobes up to 50-m-thick with prominent levees that descend the volcano’s flanks on all sides. (Image and caption: Global Volcanic Program. Image may be subject to copyright.)

Map of the Region. Credit: USGS

Ongoing Activity:

• Arenal, Costa Rica
• Chaitén, Southern Chile
• Dukono, Halmahera
• Galeras, Colombia
• Karymsky, Eastern Kamchat
• ka Kilauea, Hawaii (USA)
• Llaima, Central Chile
• Masaya, Nicaragua
• Piton de la Fournaise, Reunion Island
• Rabaul, New Britain
• Santa María, Guatemala
• Semeru, Eastern Java (Indonesia)
• Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
• Soufrière Hills, Montserrat
• Turrialba, Costa Rica
• Ubinas, Perú

The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is a cooperative project between the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program and the US Geological Survey’s Volcano Hazards Program.

Alaska Airlines Defers to Volcanic Ash

Where Alaska Airlines Daren’t Fly!

Alaska Airlines canceled dozens of flights starting Sunday evening as a towering plume of ash created by the eruption of a Kasatochi volcano last week made the flights hazardous. The cancellations affected flights from Alaska and Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Vancouver, Canada.

Kasatochi is the third Aleutian volcano erupting since late July. Okmok began erupting July 12 and Mount Cleveland erupted July 21. (FEWW)

Kasatochi Activity – Color Code ORANGE : Alert Level WATCH

AVHRR image showing split window signal for ash plume from Kasatochi. August 08, 2008 (Credit: AVO)

Kasatochi Volcano Latest Observations (AVO)
2008-08-10 23:23:14
Seismic activity detected on stations near Kasatochi continues to be low. This does not imply that seismic activity at the volcano has ceased, only that we detect very little activity at our existing stations, some 25 miles away. The helicorder plots on our web page appears to show increasing seismic activity over the past few hours, however much of this signal is background noise such as wind. The larger signals (e.g. 19:13 AKDT) are regional earthquakes not associated with the volcano.

A large drifting ash cloud from previous ash emissions on August 7 continue to be observed in satellite data. This ash cloud is drifting over the Gulf of Alaska and parts of SE Alaska, which is possibly the reason for a number of flight cancellations. (AVO)

ORANGE/WATCH
2008-08-10 14:11:14 – Status Report
The intense seismic activity associated with the Kasatochi eruption has declined but low level activity can be detected on the AVO seismic network on nearby Great Sitkin Island (about 40 km (25 mi) to the east). Vigorous ash emissions (up to 35,000 feet) have not been observed in satellite data for over two days and AVO has received no pilot reports of ash clouds. (AVO)

Location map showing Kasatochi volcano. Picture Date: August 06, 2008 – Image Creator: Snedigar, Seth – Image courtesy of the AVO/ADGGS.

Coast Guard press release:
The Alaska Volcano Observatory has reported Kasatochi Volcano has erupted just east of Adak Island, an island in the Aleutian Islands chain, causing an ash cloud in the area at an approximate elevation of 45,000 feet.

Due to possible sub-surface eruption , numerous large pumice rafts, volcanic gases, or ash fallout may cause hazards to navigation . All mariners are urged to stay outside of seven nautical miles of Kasatochi Island and to use extreme caution while transiting that area.

Any vessel coming in contact with ash or spotting floating debris is requested to contact the Alaska Volcano Observatory at (907) 786-7497. (USCG)

Lava Signs at Okmok Volcano

Okmok Activity – Color Code RED : Alert Level WARNING

Okmok Volcano Activity Notifications
by AVO

The eruption of Okmok Volcano continued throughout this week with persistent ash emissions rising from 15,000 to 25,000 feet. From July 19 to July 20 the color code was increased to red in response to a more vigorous eruptive episode which produced ash to 30,000 feet. Photographs and an overflight by Alaska Volcano Observatory staff on July 20 and 21 confirmed the existence of multiple vigorous vents on the caldera floor.

Photo of the Okmok eruption, July 24, 2008, taken from Ft Glenn on the east flank of Okmok Caldera. Picture Date: July 24, 2008. credit : Lonnie Kennedy – Source: AVO

Seismicity was characterized by intermittent bursts of volcanic tremor early in the week. This changed to continuous mid-level volcanic tremor on July 23, which persists to the current time. Amplitude of tremor has been generally constant since July 21.

Although there has been little change in the eruption in the past several days, stronger explosive activity could resume at any time with little or no warning.

AVO Weekly Update – 2008-07-25 12:18:38

The eruption of Okmok Volcano continued throughout this week with persistent ash emissions rising from 15,000 to 25,000 feet. From July 19 to July 20 the color code was increased to red in response to a more vigorous eruptive episode which produced ash to 30,000 feet. Photographs and an overflight by Alaska Volcano Observatory staff on July 20 and 21 confirmed the existence of multiple vigorous vents on the caldera floor.

Seismicity was characterized by intermittent bursts of volcanic tremor early in the week. This changed to continuous mid-level volcanic tremor on July 23, which persists to the current time. Amplitude of tremor has been generally constant since July 21.

Although there has been little change in the eruption in the past several days, stronger explosive activity could resume at any time with little or no warning.

Cleveland Activity – Color Code ORANGE : Alert Level WATCH

Cleveland Volcano Activity Notifications

2008-07-25 12:18:38 – Weekly Update by AVO
Based on reports from fishing boats Cleveland Volcano began erupting at approximately 12:00 AKDT (20:00 UTC) on July 21, 2008. This eruptive episode is more intense than that observed over the past several years. Pilot reports and satellite data have documented a persistent low level ash emission from 10,000 to 20,000 feet throughout the week when the volcano was visible through clouds. A large thermal anomaly suggests the presence of an ongoing active lava flow.

Related Links:

• Video by AVO/USGS geologist Tina Neal during an overflight of the eruption of Okmok Volcano and distant ash plume from Cleveland Volcano. July 21, 2008.
• Okmok Eruption, Cleveland Volcano [Update #2]
• Explosive Eruption at Okmok Volcano [Update #1]
• Volcanoes