VolcanoWatch Weekly [20 May 2009]

Calm Before Volcanic Storm?

A quiet week for new volcanic activity, at least by recent standards. With Galeras excluded, for obvious reasons, there were only three new activities reported this week.

It’s interesting to note that the first mention of West Mata was apparently made in an entry on  Vents Program. The entry 2008 Expedition to Lau Basin appears to be dated November 27, 2008, but later updated, posted by John Lupton, Chief Scientist. Perhaps Mr Lupton could clarify whether his organization plays by “Las Vegas Rules.”

Our Thanks also to Dr. Erik Klemetti for acknowledging this blog as the main source of his entry on the Saudi Arabian earthquake swarm.  We would love to inspect Dr Klemetti’s doctoral thesis.

Volcanic Activity Report: 13 May – 19 May 2009

Source: Global Volcanism program (GVP) – SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

New activity/unrest:

• Galeras, Colombia
• Manam, Northeast of New Guinea (SW Pacific)
• San Cristóbal, Nicaragua
• West Mata, Tonga Islands (SW Pacific)

VoW: Harrat Lunayyir (Volcanic Field)

See earlier entry on the Western Arabia Harrat Lunayyir VF

Harrat Lunayyir (Volcanic Field) Western Arabia. Image from Google Earth. Image may be subject to copyright.

Ongoing Activity:

• Batu Tara, Komba Island (Indonesia)
• Chaitén, Southern Chile
• Dukono, Halmahera
• Kilauea, Hawaii (USA)
• Redoubt, Southwestern Alaska
• Reventador, Ecuador
• Sakura-jima, Kyushu
• Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
• Soufrière Hills, Montserrat
• Suwanose-jima, Ryukyu Islands (Japan)
• Tungurahua, Ecuador
• Ubinas, Perú
• Ulawun, New Britain

Latest U.S. Volcano Alerts and Updates for Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 18:54 PDT (May 21, 2009 01:54 UTC)

• Redoubt Activity – Color Code ORANGE : Alert Level WATCH

• Kilauea Activity  –  Color Code ORANGE : Alert Level WATCH

• Veniaminof Activity – Color Code YELLOW : Alert Level ADVISORY

• Mauna Loa Activity – Color Code YELLOW : Alert Level ADVISORY

Related Links:

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

• Volcanoes [FEWW Links]
• Earthquakes

Tonga Related Links:

• For FEWW Tonga Volcano forecast see Weekly VolcanoWatch [13 May 2009]
• Hunga Ha’apai Volcano Update

• A New Era of Intense Volcanic Unrest May Have Begun
• Earthquakes [Links page]
• Climate Change, Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions
• Rumble III Volcano “blew its top!”
• Tonga’s Metis Shoal may be erupting