Saturday Volcano Art: Tigua painting from Ecuador 31 October 2009
Posted by admin in Ecuador, Saturday volcano art.Tags: Ecuador, Saturday volcano art, Tigua art
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The Tigua people of Ecuador live in a rural area south-west of the capital, Quito, high in the valleys of the Andes. Their colourful and distinctive paintings depict scenes of communal life: festivals, markets, farming, daily activities. The volcano Cotopaxi presides over many of these pictures, symbolizing the spirit of the Ecuadorian landscape.
These paintings occupy that shifting and ambigous territory of cultural production in which indigenous artistic creativity depends for its sustenance upon tourist patronage, but they do represent a genuine pictorial tradition, not merely a commodified fabrication. Every part of the picture is filled with colour and life, and naive-seeming but complex tricks of perspective and distortion are used to draw the viewer into the landscape and bring order to the tumult of incident depicted. Tigua art conveys joy, lushness and life: it brims with vibrancy and colour, and conveys the spirit of the volcanic landscapes of the high Andes, and of those who live among them, beautifully.
For all ‘Saturday volcano art’ articles: Saturday volcano art « The Volcanism Blog.
Chaitén bulletin no. 108 (16 October 2009) 31 October 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. 108 on the Chaitén eruption, covering the period 1-15 October 2009, has been published and can be accessed (PDF) via the SEGEMAR website. A shortened version can be found on the SERNAGEOMIN website. Translation of the complete document as follows:
CHAITÉN VOLCANO
TECHNICAL BULLETIN NO. 108
1-15 OCTOBER 2009
OVDAS-SERNAGEOMIN
1. Visual monitoring
During most of the period covered by this bulletin, the volcano has remained covered by cloud. Occasonally images captured by the DGAC camera have allowed observation of columns of gases and ash emerging from the dome complex (Fig. 1, A).
SERNAGEOMIN-OVDAS personnel in the field confirm the growth of the domes and continual degasification with two important concentrations: one in the centre of the volcano, enriched with water vapour and ash) and the other towards the east of the volcano (predominantly water vapour); equally, numerous minor emissions are visible located on the volcanic edifice.
On the other hand, on 14 October at midday a vigorous explosion of the ‘piston type’ was generated: that is to say, a dense vertical projection of ash accompanied by a dispersion of particulate material forming a large cloud towards the west (Fig. 1; B to E).
Fig. 1. (A) Images from the DGAC camera, showing emissions of gases and ash. (B-E) Sequence of the ‘piston’ type explosion, occurring at midday on 14 October.
2. Seismic activity
In the process of increasing the monitoring network, currently in progress, a seismological station has been installed 1.5 km from the principal crater, located on the edge of the caldera, and there is a choice of seven sites for future stations which will complement with a high level of detail the monitoring of the activity of Chaitén volcano.
The seismicity recorded by the Chaitén volcano network has remained stable, showing a predominance of hybrid (HB) type earthquakes, with an average that has not exceeded 12 earthquakes per hour and with local magnitudes calculated as situated within the range 1.0 to 4.1. It is notable that there were fewer than 1-2 earthquakes per hour with magnitudes of more than 3.5.
3. Conclusions and interpretation
The preceding information indicates a ‘usual’ behaviour within the eruptive cycle of the volcano, indicating that the eruptive activity continues with the growth of the dome complex and the occurrence of possible ‘piston’ type explosions.
On the other hand, the quantity of pyroclastic material both from rock falls and emitted by the block-and-ash flows and lateral explosions has created large accumulations in the adjacent valleys and particularly the valley of the Chaitén river, so that the occurrence of lahars towards Chaitén during periods of intense rain cannot be ruled out.
In consequence, given that the seismicity remains at elevated levels – an effect of the growth of the dome complex – and that the eruptive activity continues with the possibility of the generation of block-and-ash flows in random directions, which may affect surrounding valleys with the generation of new lahars, SERNAGEOMIN suggests maintaining Volcanic Red Alert.
OVDAS-SERNAGEOMIN
16 October 2009
[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
‘Compelling evidence’ discovered of previously unknown volcanic eruption, 1809 AD 31 October 2009
Posted by admin in climate.Tags: volcano research, volcanoes and climate
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News that a U.S./French team of chemists claim to have found ‘compelling evidence’ of a previously unknown volcanic eruption that occurred 1809 and that may have been responsible for the global cooling noted during the period 1810-19. The evidence comes from ice samples from Greenland and the Antarctic:
‘We’ve never seen any evidence of this eruption in Greenland that corresponds to a simultaneous explosion recorded in Antarctica before in the glacial record’, said Mark Thiemens, Dean of the Division of Physical Sciences at UC San Diego and one of the co-authors of the study. ‘But if you look at the size of the signal we found in the ice cores, it had to be huge. It was bigger than the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, which killed hundreds of people and affected climate around the world’.
Read on: ‘Previously unknown volcanic eruption helped trigger cold decade’ (UC San Diego news release, 27 October 2009).
[H/T: commenter Perry.]
UPDATE. The 1809 eruption may be unidentified but it’s certainly not ‘unknown’: see comments below.
Nevado del Huila update, 31 October 2009 31 October 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Colombia, Nevado del Huila.Tags: Colombia, Nevado del Huila, South America, volcanic activity reports
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There was another overflight of Nevado del Huila volcano on 29 October, reports the Observatorio Popayán in its latest special bulletin, issued late yesterday. Among the observations reported is that the new material seen in the overflight of last Friday has been confirmed to be a new dome constructed on top of the existing dome: ‘It is stressed that the new dome has a high growth rate’. Continuous and intensive degassing was in progress, with the centres of gas emission corresponding to the position of the new dome.
The photograph above comes from the overflight and shows the new dome. Below is the webcam view of Nevado del Huila at dawn today (both images copyright INGEOMINAS, reproduced here for non-commercial purposes in accordance with the terms of use). More photographs can be found here.
For all our Nevado del Huila coverage: Nevado del Huila « The Volcanism Blog.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Nevado del Huila – summary information for Nevado del Huila (1501-05=)
INGEOMINAS Popayán – main page for the Observatorio Popayán, which monitors Nevado del Huila
Alert level raised to Orange at Galeras 31 October 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Colombia, Galeras.Tags: Colombia, Galeras, South America, volcanic activity reports
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The INGEOMINAS Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto announced in a special bulletin on 30 October that it has raised the alert level at Galeras to the second-highest level of Orange (‘eruption probable within days or weeks’). There has been a ‘decline in [seismic] events related to degasification and an increase in earthquakes that are associated with overpressurization in the volcanic system’ and ‘a notable decline in emissions of sulphur dioxide’.
The INGEOMINAS volcanologists have concluded that magmatic material within the conduit has hardened, blocking the exit of gases and increasing pressure within the system, and they expect that pressure to be released through an explosive event – a cycle typical of Galeras’s current behaviour pattern.
Galeras joins fellow Colombian volcano Nevado del Huila at Orange alert. Colombia has a lot on its plate, volcanically speaking, at the moment.
For all our Galeras coverage: Galeras « The Volcanism Blog.
Information
Global Volcanism Program – Galeras – summary information for Galeras (1501-08=)
Portal Corporativo de INGEOMINAS – Instituto Colombiano de Geología y Minería
Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto – Pasto volcanological observatory main page
A plume from Sakura-jima 30 October 2009
Posted by admin in Japan, NASA Earth Observatory, Sakura-jima.Tags: Japan, Kyushu, NASA Earth Observatory, Sakura-jima
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Sakura-jima on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu is one of the most active volcanoes on earth: there is nearly always a current Volcanic Ash Advisory reporting explosions and emissions from its Minami-dake summit cone, which has been the focus of eruptive activity for about 5000 years.
Sakura-jima sits in Kagoshima Bay, the northern portion of which is formed by Aira Caldera, created in a very large eruption ~22,000 years ago. The volcano has developed on the southern edge of the caldera, and was an island until erupted material joined it to the Osumi Peninsula to the east during the major eruption of 1914. On the western rim, meanwhile, sits the city of Kagoshima, population 600,000.
In the image above, captured by NASA’s Terra satellite on 30 October 2009, Sakura-jima is releasing a grey ashy plume which crosses the Satsuma Peninsula to the west of the volcano and spreads out over the East China Sea. The plume crosses directly over the city of Kagoshima, where ashfall from Sakura-jima is a frequent occurence. The general haziness of the image is not the result of the eruption, but of air pollution blowing over from China.
Click here to see the original uncropped image (1 pixel = 250 m) at the NASA MODIS Rapid Response site. Many thanks to Robert Simmon of the NASA Earth Observatory for providing this image.
Another volcanologist Q&A at Eruptions: Boris Behncke 30 October 2009
Posted by admin in Etna, Italy.Tags: Etna, geoblogs, Italy, volcano research
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Following on from the fascinating Chaitén question and answer session he set up at Eruptions with Dr Jonathan Castro, Erik Klemetti has organized a second volcanologist Q&A session, this time with Boris Behncke of the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania.
Boris is a long-established and very good friend of this blog and of Eruptions, and volcano-followers here and elsewhere know him well as someone who is always ready to answer questions and share his expertise both on Etna and Italian volcanoes and on volcanological issues, both scientific and cultural, more widely. So, get your questions together for Boris Behncke and head over to Eruptions!
Nevado del Huila at the NASA Earth Observatory 29 October 2009
Posted by admin in Colombia, NASA Earth Observatory, Nevado del Huila.Tags: Colombia, NASA Earth Observatory, Nevado del Huila
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Yesterday NASA’s Terra satellite passed over Nevado del Huila volcano in Colombia and captured this MODIS image which has just been speedily published by the NASA Earth Observatory. Grey ash emissions can be seen rising from the volcano’s summit and dispersing to the north-west. The image is accompanied by an informative caption by Robert Simmon giving the background on Huila’s recent activity (and referencing this blog, which is much appreciated).
Ash emissions at Nevado del Huila – NASA Earth Observatory (29 October 2009)
[NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response, Goddard Space Flight Center.]
SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 21-27 October 2009 28 October 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Batu Tara, Caribbean, Chaitén, Chile, Colima, Colombia, Dukono, Ebeko, Ecuador, eruptions, Fuego, Guatemala, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan, Kamchatka, Karymsky, Kilauea, Kliuchevskoi, Mayon, Mexico, Nevado del Huila, Pacaya, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rabaul, Reventador, Russia, Sakura-jima, Santa María, Shiveluch, Soufrière Hills, United States, Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports.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 21-27 October 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: Chaitén (Chile), Ebeko (Russia), Kliuchevskoi (Russia), Mayon (Philippines), Nevado del Huila (Colombia), Reventador (Ecuador), Soufrière Hills (Montserrat).
Ongoing activity: Batu Tara (Indonesia), Colima (Mexico), Dukono (Indonesia), Fuego (Guatemala), Karymsky (Russia), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Pacaya (Guatemala), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Sakura-jima (Japan), Santa María (Guatemala), Shiveluch (Russia).
Nevado del Huila: an overview of activity, 21-27 October 2009 28 October 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Colombia, Nevado del Huila.Tags: Colombia, Nevado del Huila, South America, volcanic activity reports
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The Colombian state geological service INGEOMINAS has published an overview of activity at Nevado del Huila volcano over the last few restless days: Reporte de actividad volcán Nevado del Huila, 27 oct 2009, available at the Observatorio Popayán website. Translation as follows.
Report of activity at Nevado del Huila volcano, 27 October 2009
The level of activity at the volcano continues at LEVEL ORANGE (II): ERUPTION PROBABLE WITHIN DAYS OR WEEKS.
From analysis of the information obtained via the monitoring network of Nevado del Huila volcano in the week of 21 to 27 October 2009, the INGEOMINAS Popayán volcanological and seismological observatory reports that:
- In the present week a total of 1004 seismic events have been recorded: 119 related to the fracturing of rock, 847 to fluid dynamics within the volcanic conduits, 13 were hybrid type events and 25 were pulses of tremor associated with the escape of gases and ash to the surface.
- During the week various pulses of spasmodic tremor associated with the escape of gases and ash to the surface were recorded, particularly those occuring on Friday 23 October at 04:35 (09:35 UTC) and Saturday 24 October at 12:10 (17:10 UTC). Related to these events, reports of ash fall were received from several municipalities in Cauca, Huila and Valle de Cauca. Similarly, a sulphur smell has been reported by passengers on commercial flights and residents of towns around the volcano.
- In an overflight carried out by observatory personnel on Friday 23 October with the support of the Colombian Air Force the volcanic edifice was seen to be completely covered with ash, two principal focuses of emission of gases and ash on the surface were seen, located in the upper part of Pico Central, and the extrusion of new magmatic material was visible towards the surface in the extreme north of the dome constructed in November 2008.
- In images captured via the webcam during the week, intense degasification of the system with pulsating emission of ashes at the surface was observed. The directions of the columns fluctuated in accordance with the prevailing winds in the area. In the same way, the VAAC has issued eight reports of sightings through satellite imagery that show columns of ash up to 5000 metres altitude over the summit of the volcano.
- The images captured by the AURA-OMI satellite and published by the NOAA allow observation of the continuing discharge of SO2 during 21, 22, 23, 25 and 26 October, with a maximum of 7793 tonnes/day recorded on Monday 26 October. These images match up with the record of continuous tremor observed during the week.
- On Monday 26 October SO2 was measured through the MovilDOAS system between the town of Miranda (Cauca) and the city of Popayán. An SO2 flow of 3766 tonnes/day was calculated, with dispersion towards the south-west of the volcano. In measurements of SO2 carried out by the ScanDOAS station in the city of Cali those of today stand out, in which the flow is calculated at 4551 tonnes/day in a column dispersed towards the north-west of the volcano.
- Because of the foregoing, it is concluded that the volcanic system continues to show unstable behaviour, with a predominance of processes associated with fluid dynamics, which involve the escape of ash and gases to the surface. For this reason, it is recommended that particular attention is paid to the evolution of the current phenomena, because of the possibility of movement towards a state of higher activity.
INGEOMINAS will continue to monitor and report in a timely manner on any changes that may take place.
[End of INGEOMINAS report.]
For all our Nevado del Huila coverage: Nevado del Huila « The Volcanism Blog.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Nevado del Huila – summary information for Nevado del Huila (1501-05=)
INGEOMINAS Popayán – main page for the Observatorio Popayán, which monitors Nevado del Huila
