SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 11 March 2009 – 17 March 2009

The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report covering 11 March 2009 to 17 March 2009 is now available on the Global Volcanism Program website. The following is a summary and not a substitute for the full report.

• The current report: Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
• Previous reports: Weekly Reports Archive.
• The SI/USGS map of volcanoes discussed this week.

New activity: Ebeko (Paramushir Island), Galeras (Colombia), Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (Tonga), Koryaksky (Kamchatka, Russia), Redoubt (Alaska, USA), Semeru (Java, Indonesia).

Ongoing activity: Arenal (Costa Rica), Asama (Japan), Batu Tara (Komba Island, Indonesia), Chaitén (Chile), Fuego (Guatemala), Karymsky (Kamchatka, Russia), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Nevado del Huila (Colombia), Pacaya (Guatemala), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Sakura-jima (Japan), Santa María (Guatemala), Shiveluch (Kamchatka, Russia), Suwanose-jima (Japan), Tungurahua (Ecuador), Ubinas (Peru).

NEW ACTIVITY

Ebeko (Paramushir Island): 13 Mar 09, ash plume to 0.6 km a.s.l., drifted E.

Galeras (Colombia): 13 Mar 09, explosive eruption, plume to 12.3 km a.s.l., drifted NW, ashfall reported to E and NW; 14 Mar 09, gas plumes with some ash content to 6.3 km a.s.l.

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (Tonga): 16 or 17 Mar 09, eruption reported, plume to 4.6-7.6 km a.s.l., drifted NE.

Koryaksky (Kamchatka, Russia): 6 & 8 Mar 09 and on ‘other days’ during 7-13 Mar 09, elevated seismicity, gas plumes containing little ash to 4 km a.s.l., drifted in multiple directions, ash deposits observed near the volcano.

Redoubt (Alaska, USA): 11-15 Mar 09, seismicity low but above background; 12, 14 & 15 Mar 09, low steam plumes observed; 15 Mar 09, increase in seismic activity and volcanic tremor, steam-and-ash plume from a new vent, to an altitude of 4.6 km a.s.l., with minor ashfall on summit crater floor and S flank.

Semeru (Java, Indonesia): 12 Mar 09, eruption produced plume to 4.6 km a.s.l.

ONGOING ACTIVITY

Arenal (Costa Rica): during Feb 09, gas emissions, sporadic Strombolian eruptions and occasional avalanches from lava-flow fronts on the SW flanks from Crater C; only fumarolic activity from Crater D.

Asama (Japan): 15 Mar 09, eruption produced plume to 3 km a.s.l., drifted E.

Batu Tara (Komba Island, Indonesia): 11 Mar 09, ash plumes to 2.1 km a.s.l., drifted N and NW.

Chaitén (Chile): 11-15 Mar 09, ash plumes to 2.1-3.7 km a.s.l., drifted NNE, NE, E, and SE; 15 Mar 09, thermal anomaly detected.

Fuego (Guatemala): 12, 16 & 17 Mar 09, explosions produced ash plumes to 4.2-4.8 km a.s.l., drifted S and SW, incandescent material ejected, white plumes to 150-200 m above the summit. 16-17 Mar 09, fine ashfall reported downwind.

Karymsky (Kamchatka, Russia): 6-13 Mar 09m seismicity above background levels; ash plumes likely rose to 3 km a.s.l.; 6-12 Mar 09, thermal anomaly detected on lava dome; ash plumes drifted in multiple directions during the reporting period.

Kilauea (Hawaii, USA): 11-17 Mar 09, lava flowed SE through lava tube system to Waikupanaha ocean entry and produced occasional explosions; 11-13 Mar 09, scattered surface flows observed; 13 Mar 09, lava flow entered ocean at second location, Kupapa’u, W of Waikupanaha, which was active 14-17 Mar 09; Halema’uma’u crater continued to produce predominantly white plume; incandescence seldom observed; 15 Mar 09, ash emission event; 16 Mar 09, ash plume drifted N.

Nevado del Huila (Colombia): 11-17 Mar 09, whitish gas plumes to 6.4 km a.s.l., drifted E and NW.

Pacaya (Guatemala): 12, 16 & 17 Mar 09, fumarolic plumes from MacKenney cone drifted S at low altitude, lava flows to S, SW, and W.

Rabaul (Papua New Guinea): 9-15 Mar 09, grey ash plumes from Tavurvur cone to 2.7 km a.s.l., incandescence observed at night, incandescent tephra occasionally ejected, light ashfall to NW and SE.

Sakura-jima (Japan): 14 Mar 09, two Vulcanian explosions to heights of 400-500 m above unspecified crater; 17 Mar 09, plume to 2.1 km a.s.l., drifted E.

Santa María (Guatemala): 12, 16 & 17 Mar 09, explosions from Santiaguito lava dome complex produced ash plumes to 2.7-3.5 km a.s.l., drifted E and SW, avalanches descended SW flank, white plumes rose 100 m, drifted W; 12 Mar 09, ash plume drifted S; 15 Mar 09, ash plume to 3 km a.s.l., drifted SW and WSW.

Shiveluch (Kamchatka, Russia): 6-13 Mar 09, seismicity above background levels, strong fumarolic activity observed, ash plumes likely rose to 6.2 km a.s.l., incandescence from lava dome observed at night; 9-10 Mar 09, ash plumes from hot avalanches rose to 6 km a.s.l., drifted SE; 7 & 10-11 Mar 09, ash plumes that drifted about 175 km SE; daily thermal anomaly detected.

Suwanose-jima (Japan): 15 & 16 Mar 09, eruptions produced plumes to 1.5 km a.s.l.; 15 Mar 09, plumes drifted E.

Tungurahua (Ecuador): 11 Mar 09, steam-and-ash plume to 600 m above summit, drifted E & NE, fumaroles active on NE flank; 12 & 16 Mar 09, plumes with little ash to 6-7 km a.s.l., drifted NE; 13-14 & 17 Mar 09, steam plumes occasionally seen; 15 Mar 09, plume to 300-500 m above summit,  drifted E & W.

Ubinas (Peru): 11-12 Mar 09, ash plumes to 5.5-7.3 km a.s.l., drifted NE; 15 Mar 09, ash plume reported to 9.1-9.8 km a.s.l.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DISCLAIMER

The foregoing is a summary of the Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report covering 11 March 2009 to 17 March 2009. It is provided for information only, and is based on but not a substitute for the full report, which comes with its own criteria and disclaimers. The map base is derived from the Smithsonian Institution/USGS/US Naval Research Laboratory This Dynamic Planet website.

For all our coverage of the SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports: Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports « The Volcanism Blog.