SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 10-16 June 2009

The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report covering 10-16 June 2009 is 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: Rinjani (Indonesia), Sangay (Ecuador), Sarychev Peak (Russia).

Ongoing activity: Batu Tara (Indonesia), Chaitén (Chile), Dukono (Indonesia), Ebeko (Russia), Galeras (Colombia), Kilauea (USA), Kliuchevskoi (Russia), Popocatépetl (Mexico), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Redoubt (USA), Sakura-jima (Japan), Shiveluch (Russia), Suwanose-jima (Japan), Tungurahua (Ecuador), Turrialba (Costa Rica), Ubinas (Peru).

NEW ACTIVITY

Rinjani (Indonesia). Ash plumes rose to 4 km a.s.l. and drifted 15-55 km W and WSW over 11-12 and 16 June.

Sangay (Ecuador). A thermal anomaly was detected, and analysis of satellite imagery suggested possible small ash plumes drifting WNW on 15 June.

Sarychev Peak (Russia). A thermal anomaly and possible diffuse ash plume were detected on 11 June. On 12 June a large thermal anomaly and ash emissions were detected, and on 13 June ash plumes rose to 7.5 km a.s.l. and drifted 200 km SW and 105 km SE. A large eruption on 14 June produced an ash plume to 12 km a.s.l., and a large explosion on 15 June produced an ash plume to 8 km a.s.l

ONGOING ACTIVITY

Batu Tara (Indonesia). Over 10-16 June ash plumes rose to 1.5-2.4 km a.s.l. and drifted 25-185 km all over the place: SW, NW, N, and NE.

Chaitén (Chile). Ash plumes from the dome complex rose to 1.8-2.4 km a.s.l. and drifted NE and SE on 11 and 14 June, and a thermal anomaly was detected on 11 June.

Dukono (Indonesia). An ash plume rose to 1.5 km a.s.l. and drifted 40 km NE on 16 June.

Ebeko (Russia). Gas-and-steam plumes rose to 2.7 km a.s.l. during 9-10 June, and on 13 June an ash plume reportedly rose to 2.1 km a.s.l. and drifted SW.

Galeras (Colombia). The alert level was lowered to Orange on 10 June. Seismicity remained at low levels, and steam plumes from the crater drifted NW.

Kilauea (USA). Lava continued to flow SE to the Waikupanaha (where explosions were reported on 13 June) and Kupapa’u ocean entries during 10-16 June, and surface flows were observed. The Halema’uma’u crater vent continued to produce a predominantly white plume drifting mainly SW. A molten lava pool about 100 m below the floor of the crater produced bright incandescence. Summit sulphur dioxide emissions remained elevated.

Kliuchevskoi (Russia). Seismic activity has remained at background levels since 12 May, and weak intermittent volcanic tremor and fumarolic activity continued to be detected.

Popocatépetl (Mexico). Emissions of steam and gas sometimes contained slight amounts of ash over the period 10-16 June.

Rabaul (Papua New Guinea). White and occasionally blue plumes from Tavurvur cone rose 1.5 km above the crater over 7-11 June and incandescence was visible at night. During 11-12 and 16 June ash plumes rose to 1.5-2.1 km a.s.l. and drifted 25-45 km SE, E, and NE.

Redoubt (USA). Over 10-16 June seismicity remained low, but above background levels, with small discrete earthquakes in the summit region associated with dome growth and instability being registered. Steaming was observed from the summit region on 10, 11, and 16 June. On 12 June, the lava dome was estimated as 1 km long, 460 m wide, and 200 m high.

Sakura-jima (Japan). On 12 June an ash plume reportedly rose to 1.8 km a.s.l., and during 14-16 June eruptions produced plumes to 2.4-2.7 km a.s.l. On 14 and 15 June plumes drifted SE and E.

Shiveluch (Russia). During 5-11 June seismic activity was above background levels, and ash plumes possibly rose to 4.8-7.7 km a.s.l. during 6 and 10-11 June. A daily thermal anomaly was detected over the lava dome, and ash plumes drifted 90 km S on 6 and 7 June. During 11-12 and 14-15 June eruptions reportedly produced plumes to 6.1-7.9 km a.s.l., and a possible eruption was seen on satellite imagery on 13 June.

Suwanose-jima (Japan). An eruption was reported on 16 June.

Tungurahua (Ecuador). Tremor and explosions were detected over 10-15 June, and ash plumes rose to 7 km a.s.l. during 10-11 and 14 June. Almost daily ashfall was reported, mainly to the W ,and Tungurahua was its usual noisy self with cannonades and rumbling noises that made local windows shake.

Turrialba (Costa Rica). Fumarolic activity has been reported all around the upper flanks of the active
W crater. Over the past two months, fumarolic activity has been accompanied by radial cracks widening, the emission of 1-2 km gas-and-vapour plumes, and one sustained discrete seismic swarm.

Ubinas (Peru). During 11 and 13-15 June eruptions produced ash plumes to 5.5-7.9 km a.s.l. that drifted NE, E, and SE.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DISCLAIMER

The foregoing is a summary of the Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report covering 10-16 June 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.