KILAUEA VOLCANO: 850+ Quakes Rattle Big Island

Hawaii Island seismicity increasing, hit by hundreds of earthquakes

Over 850 earthquakes measuring magnitude 2.5+ have struck in and around Hawai’i Island since April 20, according to USGS records.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT – USGS
Thursday, May 17, 2018, 4:54 PM HST (Friday, May 18, 2018, 02:54 UTC)

Kīlauea Volcano Summit

• After the explosive eruption early this morning seismic levels have been gradually increasing, but as of this report no additional explosions have occurred.
• No earthquakes greater than magnitude 3.5 have occurred in the past day.
• Volcanic gas emissions at the summit remain high.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone

• This afternoon, fissure 17 is still actively spattering but the flow is nearly stalled. In addition, fissures 18, 19, and 20 have reactivated and a new fissure (21) has opened between fissures 7 and 3. An area 50-100 yards wide, parallel to and north of the line of fissures between Highway 130 and Lanipuna Gardens, has dropped slightly. This long depression is currently being filled by pahoehoe lava flows from fissures 20 and 21.
• Volcanic gas emissions remain elevated throughout the area downwind of the fissures.
• Magma continues to be supplied to the lower East Rift Zone as indicated by the continued northwest displacement of a GPS monitoring station. Elevated earthquake activity continues, but earthquake locations have not moved farther downrift in the past couple of days. [USGS-HVO]

View of this morning’s eruption plume from the Overlook crater nearly an hour after the event started. This image is from the webcam located on the north rim of Moku‘āweoweo Caldera near the summit of Mauna Loa Volcano. This image was recorded at 5:10 a.m. HST. At about 04:15 a.m. HST, an explosion from the Overlook crater at Kīlauea Volcano’s summit produced an eruption column that reached at least 30,000 ft. above sea level. The plume was blown by wind toward the northeast. This resulted in ash fall at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and nearby Volcano Village and the Volcano Golf and Country Club Subdivsion. [USGS-HVO]

Highway to Hell: Cracks widen in lower East Rift Zone, Kīlauea Volcano

Aerial view of ground cracks on Pohoiki Road during an overflight of the eruptive fissure area at about 7 a.m. HST. Cracks continued to open and widen, some with horizontal and vertical offsets, in the area during the past 24 hours. These cracks are caused by the underlying intrusion of magma into the lower East Rift Zone. [USGS-HVO]

HVO geologist next to cracks on Nohea Street in Leilani Estates this morning. These cracks expanded significantly in the past day. Note the vertical offset across the cracks. [USGS-HVO]

Kīlauea Volcano: Explosion in Overlook Vent Produces Large Volcanic Cloud

Volcanic Activity Summary:

At about 0415 [HST?] this morning, an explosion from the Overlook vent within Halemaumau crater at Kilauea Volcano’s summit produced a volcanic cloud that reaches as high as 30,000 ft asl and drifted northeast. Continued emissions from the crater are reaching as high as 12,000 ft asl.

At any time, activity may again become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent. [USGS-HVO]

This video shows spattering at fissure 18, Kīlauea Volcano’s Lower East Rift Zone, at approximately 2:00 AM HST on May 16, 2018. The audio captures the sounds of explosions and burning vegetation.

Lava spattering area from an area between fissures 16 and 20 photographed at 8:20 a.m. today [Time Zone Not Specified.]

Close view of rock hurled from the Overlook crater during an explosive event last evening. The rock broke apart on impact, and was about 60 cm (24 in) before it hit the ground. The location is a few hundred meters (yards) south of the Overlook crater at the Halema‘uma‘u parking lot. Note the ash covering the parking lot, less than about 1 cm (0.4 in) in thickness. 

View uprift from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight this morning at 8:25 a.m. Note sulfur dioxide plumes rising from the fissures along the rift and accumulating in the cloud deck. Winds are calm today. [Time Zone Not Specified.]

Aerial view (from a helicopter) of spattering between fissures 16 and 20, Kīlauea Volcano Lower East Rift Zone, at approximately 7:30 AM HST on May 16, 2018. The audio is the sound of the helicopter. [All images and videos mirrored from USGS-HVO]

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

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.

Mayon Volcano Update 24 December 2009

Mayon lava fountains shoot up to 500m

Mt Mayon’s Unrest Continues at High Levels of Intensity

Mayon Volcano in Legazpi city shoots up a column of ash into air during a small explosion December 24, 2009. The Philippines’ most active volcano could erupt explosively anytime. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo). Image may be subject to copyright.

State Vulcanologists record 815 volcanic earthquakes and harmonic tremors, many at maximum deflection.

• Mayon lava fountains shoot up to 500m.
• Mt Mayon unrest continues at high levels of intensity.
• Incandescent lava fragments were ejected during several explosions which occurred last night.
• 20 Ash explosions, observed when visibility was good, ejected columns of “grayish to light brown” ash up to 1500 meters into air.
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emissions  remained high at an average daily rate of about 5,737 metric tons, yesterday.
• 124 booming and rumbling sounds were heard throughout the past 24 hours.

The following Bulletin by Phivolcs was released today:

Mayon Volcano Bulletin 11  released on 24 December 2009

Mayon Volcano’s (13.2576 N, 123.6856 E) intense level of unrest continued to persist during the past observation period.  Seismic activity remained elevated in number and size as the seismic network detected 815 volcanic earthquakes and harmonic tremors. Many of these volcanic earthquakes were recorded at maximum deflection. Twenty (20) ash explosions were observed during times of good visibility. These explosions produced grayish to light brown ash columns that reached height from 100 to 1500 meters above the summit before drifting towards the southwest by the prevailing northeast monsoon. Lava fountaining was observed at 2312 PM, 2314 PM, 2320 PM and 2332 PM with maximum height of 500 meters above the crater. Several explosions with ejected incandescent lava fragments were noted during night observations.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emission rate remained high and was measured at an average of 5,737 tons per day (t/d) yesterday. One hundred twenty four (124) audible booming and rumbling sounds were intermittently heard for the past 24 hours.  Red hot lava also continuously flowed down along the Bonga-Buyuan, Miisi and Lidong gullies.

Alert Level 4 remains hoisted over Mayon Volcano, meaning a hazardous eruption is possible within days.  Thus, PHIVOLCS-DOST reiterates that the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) from the summit of 8-km on the southern sector of the volcano and 7-km on the northern sector should be free from human activity.  Areas just outside of this EDZ should prepare for evacuation in the event hazardous explosive eruptions intensify.  Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar prone in the southern sector should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall.  PHIVOLCS–DOST is closely monitoring Mayon Volcano’s activity and any new significant development will be immediately posted to all concerned.

For previous entries, additional information and links to Mayon Volcano see:

• Mayon Volcano Update 23 December

• Mayon Volcano Update [22 December 2009]

Related Links:

• Mayon Alert Raised to Level 4
• 76% chance Mayon explodes before 2010
• Volcano UPDATE: Mt Mayon Could Explode
• Mayon Lava in Interesting Times!
• Mayon Volcano Oozes Lava

• Strong Earthquake Strikes Mindanao, Philippines
• VolcanoWatch Weekly [11 Nov 2009]
• Latest From TAAL and other Philippines Volcanoes
• Mount Mayon neighbors on evacuation alert
• Mayon Volcano Ejects Ash

• VolcanoWatch Weekly [18 Nov 2009]
• Mayon’s crater glow grows more intense
• Strong Earthquake Strikes Mindanao, Philippines
• VolcanoWatch Weekly [11 Nov 2009]
• Earth undergoing significant geophysical disturbances

• Powerful Earthquake Strikes Celebes Sea, S of Philippines
• Strong Earthquake Strikes Mindanao, Philippines
• Strong Quake Strikes Offshore Mindoro, Philippines
• Latest From TAAL and other Philippines Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links

• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Redoubt could explode at any time

Redoubt Activity – Color Code ORANGE : Alert Level WATCH

Latest update from AVO:

An explosive event could occur at any time with little warning

Local time: May 06, 2009 0525 AKDT (May 06, 2009 1325 UTC)

2009-05-06 04:23:52
Seismic activity remains unchanged over the last 2 hours. Repeating seismic events continue. It is possible that an explosive event could occur at any time with little warning. Weather clouds have dissipated near the volcano. The volcano is once again visible from the Hut netcam, and has occasionally revealed glowing spots related to rockfalls from the growing dome.

Image of Redoubt’s dome and summit area, taken during gas / observation flight on May 4, 2009. Image Creator: Keith Labay ; Image courtesy of AVO/USGS.

View of the north flank of Redoubt Volcano from the research hut where one of the webcams is situated. This zoomed image shows a minor block-and-ash flow advancing down the talus slope below the dome produced from hot debris shed off the dome. Hot debris collects in the gorge above the waterfall generating minor, secondary steam/ash clouds. Picture Date: April 30, 2009 14:14:39 AKDT –  Image Creator: Game McGimsey -Image courtesy of AVO/USGS.

View of the growing lava dome during gas and observation flight on May 4, 2009. Note the tongue of blocky lava extending down the upper Drift gorge. A lighter gray slope of talus – rocky debris shed off the slowly advancing tongue of lava – fills the gorge downslope, nearly reaching the muddy waterfall. Small plumes of ash rise from rockfalls. Note the vigorously steaming margins of the dome, possibly caused by interaction of hot rock and water accumulating from melting snow and ice in the summit crater. Colleague Rick Wessels used a shortwave infrared (SWIR) image captured by a nighttime pass of Landsat 7 to show the dimensions of the dome – about 510 x 760 m (1700 feet x 2500 feet) and at least 150 m (500 feet) high. See image below. Picture Date: May 04, 2009 AKDT – Image Creator: Christina Neal – Image courtesy of AVO/USGS.

Shortwave infrared (SWIR) image of the warm dome areas captured by a nighttime pass of Landsat 7 on May 02, 2009. The hot dome pixels have been placed over a WorldView image from April 16, 2009 and a topographic map from 1990. The SWIR image shows a hot central vent as well as areas of active rockfalls along the perimeter.

Picture Date: May 02, 2009 07:12:54 UTC  –  Image Creator: Rick Wessels – Image montage produced by AVO/USGS. Landsat data courtesy of USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS). WorldView Data, Digital Globe, Inc (copyright 2009)

Redoubt Volcano active lava dome taken from the north The top image is an oblique airphoto by Game McGimsey while the bottom shows the FLIR thermal image. Picture Date: April 16, 2009 12:48:50 AKDT – Image Creator: Rick Wessels – Image courtesy of AVO/USGS.

Related Links

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

• Volcanoes [FEWW Links]
• Earthquakes