Sunday, December 13, 2015

24-hour earthquake progression across west Pacific - Japan at center; Ash eruptions at Mt. Kanlaon

A noticeable progression of earthquakes centering around Japan has occurred over the past 24 hours (up to 1045pm CT 12/12/2015).


The movement appears to be centered around North Japan at the border of Kamchatka Russia.

Seen in the graphic below, a large displacement is taking place from the far Southwest Pacific (Indonesia) across Taiwan, Japan, Kamchatka Russia / Kuril Islands, finally terminating in the Aleutian islands of Alaska.



The earthquakes on each “side” of the movement are both M4.4 events, with a direct line measurement of 6,616 miles (10,647km) between both points.

This graphic from google Earth shows the direct line measurement in miles, clearly the whole West Pacific showed movement in just 1 days time.



Between both points across the West Pacific we see that a progression of M4.4, M4.5 earthquakes struck almost equidistantly spaced — growing in magnitude around the region of North Japan / Kamchatka Russia.

[The actual distance of the plate boundary in question is much greater than 6,600 miles due to the bending of the plate boundary — if we’re being precise about the movement, the distance should include 500-800 miles if you count the small twists and turns the faults make going from Indonesia to Alaska.]

This could be pointing towards a larger Pacific event in the near term if the pressure does not transfer elsewhere to release. Full story on Dutchsinse

Negros’ Mt. Kanlaon is the highest peak in Central Visayas.
(Photo by: Maximus Jovi)

Ash eruptions seen in Mt Kanlaon on Sunday morning – Phivolcs

Traces of ash were observed in some villages near Mt. Kanlaon, after “low-energy” ash eruptions were recorded anew on Sunday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

The ash eruptions were observed at 09:51 a.m. and 10:08 a.m. Sunday that lasted for five and six minutes, respectively.

Mt. Kanlaon’s recent activities generated light-gray to grayish cloud of ash reaching a height of 200-300 meters, which then drifted southwest.

Phivolcs said seismic signals were not recorded accompanying this event.

However, traces of ashes were reported on the western slope of the volcano, particularly at Sitio Bais and Brgy. Yubo on La Carlota City in Negros Oriental.

Traces of ash were also observed on the southwestern slope of Mt. Kanlaon, particularly on Brgy. Sag-ang, La Castellana, also in Negros Oriental.

Alert Level 1 remains, which means that the volcano is at an abnormal condition and is in a period of current unrest. - Manila Bulletin