Volcano activity for the week of December 18 – December 24 2013 (December 27, 2013) by Earthquake-Report
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.
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.
New Activity/Unrest
Kliuchevskoi | Central Kamchatka (Russia)
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| ISS photo showing an oblique view of an eruption plume emanating from the Kliuchevskoi volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. Credit: NASA. |
KVERT reported weak seismic activity at Kliuchevskoi during 13-20 December, and video images showedmoderate gas-and-steam activity. Satellite images detected daily weak thermal anomalies over the summit and the SW flank. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.
Palena Volcanic Group | Chile
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| The eruption OR wildfire plume near Palena volcano yesterday (photo: A Gillmore / Twitter)
Based on a pilot observation and analyses of satellite images, the Buenos Aires VAAC reported that activity at the Palena Volcanic Group began around 1530 on 22 December. Satellite images showed an ash plume drifting SE which dissipated quickly, and diffuse ash, gas, and steam near the source.
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Ongoing Activity
Bagana | Bougainville (Papua New Guinea)
Bagana Volcano: Photo: SI
Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 22 December an ash plume from Bagana rose to an altitude of 2.7 km (9,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 75 km NE.
Chirinkotan | Kuril Islands (Russia)
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| Steam plume from Chirinkotan volcano in the Kuriles (Terra false color image). |
SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 9, 12, and 15 December. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 10-16 December. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia)
Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 18 December a possible ash plume from Dukono rose to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted over 35 km E. On 24 December an ash plume rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 55 km N.
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| Dukono. ExtinctionProtocol |
Karymsky | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
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| Karymsky. Photo: SI |
KVERT reported that Vulcanian and Strombolian activity at Karymsky continued during 13-20 December. Satellite images detected a bright thermal anomaly on the volcano daily, and gas-and-steam plumes that drifted 30 km SW on 18 December. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.
Kilauea | Hawaiian Islands (USA)
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| Satellite photo of Kilauea volcano, showing the summit caldera and parts of its east rift zone with the active vent Pu'u 'O'o. |
During 18-23 December HVO reported that the circulating lava lake occasionally rose and fell in the deep pit within Kilauea’s Halema’uma’u Crater. The plume from the vent continued to deposit variable amounts of ash, spatter, and Pele’s hair onto nearby areas. At Pu’u ‘O’o Crater, glow emanated from spatter cones on the N and S portions of the crater floor. The 7.3-km-long Kahauale’a 2 lava flow, fed by the NE spatter cone, was active with scattered break-out flows and burned the forest N of Pu’u ‘O’o; the flow however was most active about 6 km NE of Pu’u ‘O’o based on satellite images from 20 December.
Manam | (Papua New Guinea)
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| Satellite image of Manam volcano (c) Google, |
RVO reported that activity at both Manam’s Southern Crater and Main Crater was low during 1-15 December; white vapor emissions rose from both craters. Light gray ash clouds rose from Southern Crater during 6, 10, and 13-14 December, and incandescence from the crater was observed during 6-10 and 12-13 December. Incandescence from Main Crater was visible during 11-13 and 15 December, and gray ash plumes rose from the crater during 13-14 December. No plumes from either crater rose more than 100 m during the reporting period.
Rabaul | New Britian (Papua New Guinea)
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RVO reported that Rabaul caldera’s Tavurvur cone was quiet during 1-15 December. White and occasionally blue vapor plumes rose from the crater, An explosion at 1850 on 15 December generated an ash-poor plume.
Sakurajima | Kyushu (Japan)
 Ash plume from an eruption of Sakurajima Dec. 24, 2013. |
| JMA reported that on 19 December an explosion from Sakura-jima’s Showa Crater ejected tephra as far as 1,300 m. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5). The Tokyo VAAC reported that during 18-19 and 21-23 December explosions generated plumes that rose to altitudes of 1.8-3 km (6,000-10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E, SE, and S. |
Shiveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia)
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| Large pyroclastic flow from Shiveluch volcano, (KVERT webcam) |
Based on visual observations and analyses of satellite data, KVERT reported that during 13-20 December a new lava dome extruded onto the NW part of Shiveluch’s older lava dome. Moderate explosions generated ash plumes that rose to altitudes of 4-5 km (13,100-16,400) a.s.l. Lava-dome extrusion was accompanied by hot avalanches, incandescence, and fumarolic activity. A thermal anomaly was detected daily in satellite images. Several strong explosions on 17 December generated ash plumes that rose to altitudes of 5.5-6 km (18,000-19,700 ft) a.s.l. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.
Sinabung | (Indonesia)
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| Steaming Sinabung. in Sumatra. VolcanoDiscovery |
Based on webcam images, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 22 December an ash plume from Sinabung rose to an altitude of 3.7 km (12,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 55 km W. During 23-24 December ash plumes recorded by the webcam rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l.
Ulawun | New Britian (Papua New Guinea)
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| Satellite image of Ulawun volcano (c) Google, |
RVO reported that activity at Ulawun was low during 1-15 December; pale gray ash plumes rose from the crater. People between Sena Estate and Noau on the N flank reported ashfall in early December.
Niijima and Nishino-shima (Japan) connect after weeks of eruptions (December 26, 2013)
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| The two islands of Nishino-Jima (t) and Niijima (b) have merged on Christmas Day. Photo has triggered a nickname for the island, "Snoopy Island". |
What one (maybe one time in the future) could expect at El Hierro, happened the preceding weeks and days in Japan when a Surtseyan submarine eruption surfaced and continued to erupt until Niijima and Nishino-shima made a connection on Christmas day. The eruption lasted for many weeks.
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By Friday, December 27, 2013 Discovery.com provided an update that includes the following volcanic activities:
Etna, Kizimen, Suwanose-jima, Paluweh
Friday Dec 27, 2013 18:03 PM |
Etna this morning (Schiena dell'Asino webcam, Etna Trekking)
Steaming Kizimen volcano this morning
Gas (+ash?) plume from Suwanose-Jima this morning
Etna (Sicily, Italy): The volcano has remained mostly calm. Ash emissions from the NE crater decreased and tremor fluctuated at low levels over the holidays.
Kizimen (Kamchatka): Activity has picked up at the volcano again. An ash plume was reported this morning by VAAC Tokyo to 17,000 ft (5 km) altitude extending north. Webcam images show a significant steam plume which possibly contains ash. This suggests that the lava dome might be entering a new phase of growth. KVERT still maintains the volcano at status "Green" (normal).
Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): A small explosion occurred this morning (JST time) at the volcano; VAAC Tokyo reported an ash plume at 4,000 ft (1,2 km) altitude.
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| [September 2013 photo of Paluweh by NASA/Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, |
Paluweh (off Flores Island, Indonesia): After several months with little activity, an ash plume was spotted again by VAAC Darwin yesterday, with an estimated altitude of 10,000 ft (3 km). The new lava dome probably continues to produce occasional collapse events and explosions.
On Twitter today:
El Hierro /Canary Islands (Spain)
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| El Hierro. Volcanoes |
No more earthquakes but continued deformation in the South-East of the Island. (Earthquake-Report). The northern part of the island has migrated 30 mm towards the north and south, 20 mm in the south. Changes the West / East are not so serious. As distortions will continue, the crisis will not be over. (VolcansVanuatu)
Etna's paroxysms.
2013 Sets A New Record For Volcanic Eruptions: Heightens The Risk Of Worldwide Cooling
2013 has seen more volcanic eruptions than at any time since records began. As reported in Seven Volcanoes In Six Different Countries All Start Erupting Winin Hours Of Each Other, vulcanism is on the increase. In an average year, 50-60 volcanoes erupt. So far this year there have been 83, not including any eruptions when writing this article.
An extra 23-33 eruptions (so far) may not seem like much, but those extra eruptions represent a massive amount of gases and ash being blown into the atmosphere. Millions and millions of metric tonnes which can have a profound effect on life on Earth.
The ash, which contains a variety of particulate matter, reflects sunlight back away from the surface. In severe eruptions it actually prevents sunlight getting through at all, as with the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991. Sulfur dioxide, one of the main gases thrown up during eruptions, also decreases temperatures and millions of tons at a time can be discharged when a volcano erupts. More on TheDailySheeple
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FLASHREPORT (Update):
Chaparrastique / San Miguel (El Salvador)
El Salvador begins evacuation after Chaparrastique volcano erupts for the first time in 37 years. Authorities in El Salvador have started to evacuate the municipality of San Miguel after the Chaparrastique volcano erupted Sunday, Dec. 29 shooting a giant ash cloud into the sky. Independent
Chaparrastique shooting giant ash cloud. Independent
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