More on climate change and volcanism from ‘Nature’ 18 September 2009
Posted by admin in climate, geoscience, natural hazards.Tags: climate, geoscience, natural hazards, volcanism and climate
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The possible connection between climate change and increased volcanism has been attracting some attention recently. Now Nature takes a look at the issue in a news article headed ‘Volcanoes stirred by climate change‘: the point being that a reduction in ice cover may be related to more explosive eruptive activity from volcanoes (or, as Nature calls them, ‘these unstable magmatic beasts’).
Volcanoes stirred by climate change – Nature, 17 September 2009
Ol Doinyo Lengai at the NASA Earth Observatory 17 September 2009
Posted by admin in Africa, NASA Earth Observatory, Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania.Tags: NASA Earth Observatory, Ol Doinyo Lengai, satellite imagery, Tanzania
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The NASA Earth Observatory has just published some particularly fascinating volcano imagery in its ‘natural hazards’ category: satellite images of the remarkable Tanzanian volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, showing the changes that have occurred at the summit of the volcano following the explosive eruptions of 2007-8. The Earth Observatory has showcased two images, one from July 2004 (detail on the left, above) and the other from September 2009 (on the right). Ol Doinyo Lengai is unique on Earth because of its low-temperature natrocarbonatite lavas.
Changes on Ol Doinyo Lengai – NASA Earth Observatory, 16 September 2009
SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 9-15 September 2009 17 September 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Bagana, Barren Island, Batu Tara, Chaitén, Chile, Dukono, eruptions, Fuego, Guatemala, Hawaii, Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Japan, Kamchatka, Kilauea, Mayon, Mexico, Pacaya, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Popocatépetl, Rabaul, Russia, Sakura-jima, Shiveluch, Slamet, Suwanose-jima, United States.Tags: Global Volcanism Program, volcanic activity reports, volcanic eruptions
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Click on the map for a larger version (1280 x 898 pixels).
The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 9-15 September 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/unrest: Langila (Papua New Guinea), Mayon (Philippines), Shiveluch (Russia).
Ongoing activity: Bagana (Papua New Guinea), Barren Island (India), Batu Tara (Indonesia), Chaitén (Chile), Dukono (Indonesia), Fuego (Guatemala), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Pacaya (Guatemala), Popocatépetl (Mexico), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Sakura-jima (Japan), Santa María (Guatemala), Slamet (Indonesia), Suwanose-jima (Japan).
A geologist looks at geoengineering 15 September 2009
Posted by admin in climate.Tags: artificial volcanoes, climate change, geoengineering
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Geoengineering our way out of climate catastrophe is flavour of the month in certain quarters: mechanical trees, giant sunshades, artificial volcanoes, etc.
Chris Rowan of Highly Allocthonous is not convinced about all this, and has an article about geoengineering at Seed Magazine explaining why. Related posts at Highly Allocthonous here and here.
Business as abnormal – Seed Magazine, 14 September 2009
Chaitén bulletin no. 105 (1 September 2009) 15 September 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Chaitén, Chile, eruptions.Tags: Chaitén, Chile, South America, volcanic activity reports, volcanic eruptions
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SERNAGEOMIN bulletin no. 105 on the Chaitén eruption, covering the period 20-31 August 2009, has been published on the website of the Argentinian state geology service SEGEMAR. Click here to see the original document (PDF). This bulletin is not yet available directly from SERNAGEOMIN. Dome growth continues, with local collapses producing debris flows, and there is a slight rise in seismicity compared to the previous bulletin. Translation as follows.
[Thanks to Werner Luis for letting me know about the appearance of this bulletin.]
CHAITÉN VOLCANO
TECHNICAL BULLETIN NO. 105
20-31 August 2009
OVDAS-SERNAGEOMIN
1. Visual monitoring
The images observed through the DGAC camera located in Chaitén to the south of the volcano show that the eruption continues in unchanging form with its column of gas and ash, which occasionally reaches up to 1.5 km above the dome complex. Block and ash flows still continue, indicating that the dome complex continues its growth, particularly towards the western area of the caldera.
2. Seismic activity
Between 20 and 31 August the Chaitén seismological monitoring network registered the following seismicity:
| Earthquake type | Average | Total | Magnitude | RSAM | |
| Hybrid HB | 25 daily | 297 | Max. 4.1 | Min. 1.5 | ≤140,000 units |
The majority of the seismicity presents very similar wave forms, which suggests that they originate from the same source and are caused by the same mechanism of origin.
3. Conclusions and interpretation
The eruptive activity continues with the growth of the dome complex, observable only on some occasions because of the winter weather. Consequently the latent danger of collapse because of the growth of the domes continues, with possible explosions and generation of block-and-ash flows, which may affect the valleys adjacent to the volcano. Moreover, the quantity of pyroclastic material from fallen volcanic rock originating from both block-and-ash flows and lateral explosions has formed important accumulations in the adjacent valleys and especially towards the valley of the Chaitén river, from which the fresh occurrence of lahars towards Chaitén during torrential rains cannot be ruled out. In consequence, given that the seismic activity remains elevated – a result of the growth of the dome complex – and the eruptive activity continues with the possibility of the generation of block-and-ash flows in random directions which may affect the surrounding valleys including the generation of new lahars, SERNAGEOMIN suggests maintaining Volcanic Red Alert.
OVDAS-SERNAGEOMIN
01.09.09
[End of SERNAGEOMIN bulletin.]
For all our Chaitén coverage: Chaitén « The Volcanism Blog.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Chaitén – summary information for Chaitén (1508-41)
SERNAGEOMIN – Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (Spanish)
Erupción del Volcán Chaitén – extensive coverage of the Chaitén eruption
Restlessness continues at Mayon 15 September 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Mayon, Philippines.Tags: Mayon, Philippines, volcanic activity reports
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The current episode of restlessness at Mayon volcano on the Philippine island of Luzon continues, with reports from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) of ‘three minor ash explosions’ early this morning. Phivolcs has issued a new volcano advisory for Mayon today:
At 5:37 AM today, three minor ash explosions occurred at the summit crater of Mayon Volcano (13.2576 N, 123.6856 E). These events lasted for about three minutes. The explosions produced a brownish ash column that rose to a maximum height of about 700 meters above the crater and drifted to the southwest. For the past 24 hours, the seismic network recorded eleven (11) volcanic earthquakes. Steam emission varied from weak to moderate that drifted north-northwest and east-northeast. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emission rate decreased to 50 tonnes/day compared to the previous reading of 818 tonnes/day (12 September 2009). Faint crater glow ( Intensity I) was observed last night.
Phivolcs volcanologist Ed Laguerta, quoted by ABS-CBN, has said that the emissions contained ‘very minimal ash content’ and presented no ashfall danger, and represent a level of activity ‘normal to a volcano under alert level two’. Mayon remains on Alert Level 2, ‘increasing unrest’.
For all our Mayon coverage: Mayon « The Volcanism Blog.
[Image: Mayon, 13 December 2006. Image copyright Tom Tam, reuse with credit permitted by copyright holder.]
News
Mayon volcano spews ash anew – ABS-CBN, 15 September 2009
Phivolcs notes 3 minor ash explosions at Mayon – GMANews.tv, 15 September 2009
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Mayon – summary information for Mayon (0703-03=)
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology – website for Phivolcs
Montserrat Scientific Advisory Committee hints at ‘beginning of the end’ of the eruption 13 September 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Caribbean, Soufrière Hills, volcano monitoring.Tags: Caribbean, Montserrat, Soufrière Hills, volcanic activity reports, volcano monitoring
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The Montserrat Volcano Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is a group of expert volcanologists who have long associations with Soufrière Hills volcano, who meet at intervals to assess the development of the ongoing eruption on the island. SAC findings are passed on to the relevant scientific and administrative authorities, and public meetings are held to keep the Montserrat population informed. Some of the issues raised by this rather complex and indirect method of monitoring the eruption are discussed in an interesting article by an independent Montserrat-watcher: ‘Who trusts who, and why?’
The SAC have just held their 13th meeting in Montserrat and are currently putting together their full report. In the meantime, we have a preliminary report from them which recounts that Soufrière Hills ‘has had a quiet six months since our last report’ with ‘no extrusion of new lava and no explosions’, and that there is ‘no evidence from either seismicity or visual observations that the dome was recently intruded or strained internally such that its stability has changed’. The monitoring network has been re-instated and upgraded on the volcano, improving the data available to the scientists and the authorities. Their assessment of this information suggests that the behaviour of the volcano is changing, and one possibility is that perhaps the eruption could be running down at last:
These sets of measurements show that the volcanic system remains active. However, the number of earthquakes recorded has fallen to the lowest level we have seen during the eruption. This, together with the pattern of shorter duration extrusion events seen in the last 18 months, suggests that the long-term behaviour may have changed. One interpretation of this is that it hints at a possible ‘beginning of the end’ of the eruption, though all the formal end-of-eruption criteria are not yet met.
Time will tell. For the moment, the SAC report ends with the warning that the risks presented by the volcano to those living closest to it have changed very little, and that ‘sudden resumption of explosive and extrusive activity can rapidly pose a threat’ to adjacent zones.
News
The Scientific Advisory Committee releases Preliminary Statement – Government of Montserrat, 11 September 2009
SAC 13 Preliminary Statement – Montserrat Volcano Observatory, 11 September 2009
Montserrat Volcano’s Scientific Advisory Report – Possible ‘Beginning of the End’ of Eruption – Caribbean Press Releases, 12 September 2009
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Soufrière Hills – information about Soufrière Hills volcano (1600-05=)
Montserrat Volcano Observatory – detailed and up-to-date information from the MVO
Saturday Volcano Art: Katsushika Hokusai, ‘Mount Fuji seen through cherry blossom’ (c.1834) 12 September 2009
Posted by admin in Fuji, Japan, Saturday volcano art.Tags: Fuji, Hokusai, Japan, Saturday volcano art
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Unfortunately there is no time for a detailed ‘Saturday Volcano Art’ essay this week, so please just enjoy this tranquil image of Mount Fuji by the Japanese artist and printmaker Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), ‘Mount Fuji seen through cherry blossom’, from One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (1834).
For all ‘Saturday volcano art’ articles: Saturday volcano art « The Volcanism Blog.
Shiveluch quieter, but activity continues 12 September 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Kamchatka, Russia, Shiveluch.Tags: Kamchatka, Russia, Shiveluch, volcanic activity reports
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Kamchatkan volcano Shiveluch has calmed down again after its latest burst of activity on 10-11 September. The Kamchatka Volcanoes Emergency Response Team (KVERT) have lowered the alert status from red to orange, and the latest volcanic ash advisory from Tokyo reports no emissions. However, the most recent KVERT bulletin, issued at 21:50 UTC on 11 September (archived here), makes it clear that activity at the volcano continues:
Activity of the volcano continues: a new viscous lava flow effuses at the lava dome. Ash explosions > 10 km (> 32,800 ft) ASL could occur at any time. The activity of the volcano could affect international and low-flying aircraft.
Seismic activity of the volcano decreased: only three explosive events occurred from 02:15 till 15:46 UTC on September 11. According to an interpretation of seismic signals, ash plumes rose up to 4.5-6.5 km (14,800-21,300 ft) ASL. No visual data about this events – the volcano obscures by clouds. According to satellite data, a thermal anomaly over the lava dome was registering on September 10-11.
The precise nature of this recent activity is unclear, but the reference to a ‘new viscous lava flow’ and the large explosions and ash plumes and reports of pyroclastic flows and ‘hot avalanches’ suggest a (partial?) dome collapse event. Until the weather clears and some visual data comes in (the Shiveluch webcam currently shows nothing but cloud) it’s impossible to be sure – and in any case, this phase of activity may not yet be over. Shiveluch is unusually active even for Kamchatka.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Shiveluch – summary information for Shiveluch (1000-27=)
KVERT: Sheveluch volcano – KVERT (Kamchatka Volcanoes Emergency Response Team) profile for Shiveluch
KVERT: information releases – current activity summary for Kamchatka volcanoes
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Activity – includes AVO reports on Kamchatka volcanoes
Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team – KVERT information page from the AVO
Practical guides to artificial volcanism 11 September 2009
Posted by admin in miscellaneous.Tags: artificial volcanoes
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A reader writes to say that the fascinating and more than slightly weird scientific curiosity corner known as Lateral Science has a remarkable collection of recipes for artificial volcanoes. The strong recommendation is not to try any of them at home.
