Galeras update, 18 November 2009 18 November 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Colombia, Galeras.Tags: Colombia, Galeras, South America, volcanic activity reports
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The latest bulletin for Galeras volcano, covering the week leading up to 17 November, was published by the Colombian state geological service INGEOMINAS yesterday at 18:00 local time.
The bulletin reports fluctuations in both the frequency and the energy of the volcano’s seismic activity, with the majority of the seismicity consisting of a combination of rock fracturing and fluid movement quakes. The rock fracturing events are concentrated around the principal crater and follow a north-west to south-east alignment, and are at depths of less than 2 km and show magnitudes of less than 1.8. A number of tornillo type earthquakes were registered at the end of last week: this is significant because events of this kind have occurred during the periods preceding earlier eruptions of Galeras.
During the 14 November overflight very low levels of gas emission were recorded, along with thermal anomalies in the interior of the principal crater showing temperatures of up to 110 degrees centigrade. No sulphur dioxide emissions have been detected, indicating that the volcanic system is sealed, ‘preventing the escape of this type of gas to the atmosphere’.
The volcano’s behaviour, notes the bulletin, ‘‘is similar to that recorded in the stages preceding some of the eruptive events which have taken place during the last twenty years’.
Galeras remains at the second-highest level of Orange, ‘eruption likely within the next few days or weeks’.
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
Volcanoes and earthquakes make Russia even bigger 17 November 2009
Posted by admin in Russia, Sarychev Peak.Tags: Russia, Sakhalin, Sarychev Peak
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Already the largest country on the planet, Russia has become even bigger over the past couple of years thanks to the workings of plate tectonics in the Russian Far East. Sakhalin Island was struck by earthquakes on 2 August 2007 (some pictures here) which added ~3 square kilometers of new territory through uplift, while lava flows from the Sarychev Peak eruption of June 2009 (stunning image here) enlarged Matua Island in the Russian Kurils by 1.5 square kilometres.
The appearance of new land through volcanism has caused international tension in the past, but fortunately there are no such complications this time.
Earth on Fire 17 November 2009
Posted by admin in volcanoes.Tags: Earth on Fire, new books, Seed Magazine
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Those nice people at Seed Magazine dropped me a line at the weekend to let me know about a slideshow they have just published featuring seven of the spectacular images from Bernhard Edmaier’s new book Earth on Fire, published by Phaidon. On this evidence the combination of beautiful pictures and serious geology in Earth on Fire is irresistible. So, if you have been racking your brains to think of a suitable Christmas present for, say, a favourite volcano blogger…
Click here for the Earth on Fire slideshow – and there’s a great collection of other slideshows at Seed Magazine, by the way, along with much else.
Galeras update, 17 November 2009 17 November 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Colombia, Galeras.Tags: Colombia, Galeras, South America, volcanic activity reports
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The summit crater at Galeras: image from INGEOMINAS overflight, 14 November 2009 (copyright INGEOMINAS).
Colombia’s Galeras volcano remains at the second-highest level of Orange, ‘eruption likely within the next few days or weeks’. The most recent bulletin, issued on 10 November 2009, reports ‘a notable decline in the number and energy of recorded earthquakes’, with most seismic activity being associated with a combination of rock fracturing and fluid movement quakes.
The majority of the earthquakes recorded have been located in the environs of the summit crater, at depths of less than 2 km and with magnitudes of less than 2. The bulletin highlights the occurrence of ‘some’ tornillo earthquakes (long- period seismic events typically associated with pressurized fluid movements at shallow depth), noting that such events were detected during the run-up to earlier eruptions of Galeras during the period 1993-9.
No sulphur dioxide emissions have been recorded during the week 4-10 November, ‘which reflects a sealed system preventing the release of this type of gas to the atmosphere’.
The bulletin concludes by underlining that the present behaviour of Galeras ‘is similar to that recorded in the stages preceding some of the eruptive events which have taken place during the last twenty years’.
A new Galeras bulletin is due to be released by INGEOMINAS today (17 November). An overflight took place on 14 November, and the new bulletin should contain observations from that flight. In the meantime a number of photographs taken during that overflight of the summit area of the volcano (including that reproduced above) are available on the Pasto observatory website.
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
SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 4-10 November 2009 12 November 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Caribbean, Chaitén, Chile, Colombia, Dukono, Ecuador, El Salvador, eruptions, Galeras, Guatemala, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan, Kamchatka, Karangetang, Karymsky, Kilauea, Kliuchevskoi, Koryaksky, Mayon, Nevado del Huila, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Piton de la Fournaise, Rabaul, Reventador, Russia, Sakura-jima, Santa María, Shiveluch, Soufrière Hills, Suwanose-jima, 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 4-10 November 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: Batur (Indonesia), Galeras (Colombia), Karangetang [Api Siau] (Indonesia), Mayon (Philippines), Nevado del Huila (Colombia), Piton de la Fournaise (Réunion), Reventador (Ecuador), San Vicente (El Salvador).
Ongoing activity: Chaitén (Chile), Dukono (Indonesia), Karymsky (Russia), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Kliuchevskoi (Russia), Koryaksky (Russia), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Sakura-jima (Japan), Santa María (Guatemala) Shiveluch (Russia), Soufrière Hills (Montserrat), Suwanose-jima (Japan).
Nevado del Huila update, 11 November 2009 11 November 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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Nevado del Huila volcano is still at the second-highest level of Orange, ‘eruption likely within the next few days or weeks’. The Colombian state geological service SERNAGEOMIN issued its latest bulletin at 17:00 local time on 10 November which reports that:
- Between 4 and 10 November 1195 seismic events were recorded, ’46 related to the fracturing of rocks, 1078 to fluid dynamics within the volcanic conduits, 3 hybrid events and 68 pulses of tremor associated with the escape of gas to the surface’.
- Three overflights have taken place, on 4, 6 and 10 November. During these flights it has been observed that the new dome ‘shows a high rate of growth and an approximate volume of extruded material of around 25 million cubic metres’. Small collapses were observed on the western part of the dome, with effects limited to the upper part of the volcanic edifice, and constant degassing was taking place around the dome.
- The strong degassing produced columns that did not exceed 2500 metres in altitude.
- Sulphur dioxide measurements on 10 November indicated an SO2 flow of 7943 tonnes/day, forming a column that was dispersed to the north-west of the volcano.
INGEOMINAS concludes that Nevado del Huila continues to display unstable behaviour, and that the volcano’s level of activity may increase. Continuing vigilance is the order of the day.
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
Eruptions at Mayon 11 November 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, eruptions, Mayon, Philippines.Tags: Mayon, Philippines, volcanic activity reports, volcanic eruptions
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Two weeks after its last small eruption, Mayon volcano in the Philippines has had another explosive event. There were two ash explosions, the first at 01:58 and the second at 07:02. Phivolcs issued a bulletin at 07:00 this morning on the first eruption, but have so far published no reports on the second:
At 1:58 AM today, an ash explosion occurred at the summit crater of Mayon Volcano (13.2576 N, 123.6856 E). This event was recorded by the seismic network as explosion type earthquake which lasted for about three minutes and accompanied by rumbling sounds.
Incandescent rock fragments were seen on the upper slopes of the volcano, and ashfall took place towards the south-west. Phivolcs reported that the eruption column was obscured by cloud, but Tokyo VAAC issued a Volcanic Ash Advisory reporting ash from this eruption at FL120 (12,000 feet/3600 metres a.s.l.). At the moment Mayon remains on alert level 2 (on a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is the highest). Phivolcs director Renato Solidum, quoted in the Philippine press, described today’s activity as more powerful than earlier explosions but still within the range of alert level 2: ‘It is one of the scenarios we expected under Alert Level 2′.
Associated Press reports that this eruption has provoked an evacuation order for 800 people living in villages to the south of the volcano. The authorities in the province of Albay, where Mayon is located, are also reported to be preparing for a potential evacuation of over 20,000 people if the volcano’s activity increases.
For all our Mayon coverage: Mayon « The Volcanism Blog.
News
Mayon rumbles, quakes rock Agusan – Manila Bulletin, 11 November 2009
Philippines’ Mayon volcano spews ash, could erupt – Associated Press, 11 November 2009
(UPDATE 2) Mayon Volcano erupts – Philippines Daily Inquirer, 11 November 2009
Albay prepares for evacuation from Mayon – Philippines Daily Inquirer, 11 November 2009
Mayon spews ash: nearby residents told to prepare – GMANews.tv, 11 November 2009
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Mayon – summary information for Mayon (0703-03=)
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology – website for Phivolcs
Apologies for the lack of posts… 7 November 2009
Posted by admin in admin.comments closed
… but it’s turning out to be a busy weekend. I’ll catch up with things as soon as I can.
SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 28 October – 3 November 2009 5 November 2009
Posted by admin in activity reports, Barren Island, Caribbean, Chaitén, Chile, Colombia, Dukono, Ebeko, eruptions, Galeras, Hawaii, India, Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Japan, Kamchatka, Karangetang, Karymsky, Kilauea, Kliuchevskoi, Krakatau, Manam, Mexico, Nevado del Huila, Papua New Guinea, Popocatépetl, Rabaul, Sakura-jima, Shiveluch, Soufrière Hills, Suwanose-jima, 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 28 October – 3 November 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: Ebeko (Russia), Galeras (Colombia), Karangetang [Api Siau] (Indonesia), Manam (Papua New Guinea), Nevado del Huila (Colombia), Soufrière Hills (Montserrat).
Ongoing activity: Barren Island (India), Chaitén (Chile), Dukono (Indonesia), Karymsky (Russia), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Kliuchevskoi (Russia), Krakatau (Indonesia), Popocatépetl (Mexico), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Sakura-jima (Japan), Shiveluch (Russia), Suwanose-jima (Japan).
Nevado del Huila update, 4 November 2009 4 November 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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Nevado del Huila: picture from 2 November 2009 overflight (copyright INGEOMINAS). [source]
Colombian volcano Nevado del Huila remains at the second-highest level of Orange, ‘eruption likely within the next few days or weeks’.
Colombia’s state geological service INGEOMINAS has issued two bulletins about Nevado del Huila within the last 24 hours. The most recent bulletin, a brief ‘reporte extraordinario’ published at 20:30 local time on 3 November, reports a partial collapse of the new lava dome, with effects limited to the summit area of the volcano:
… during the evening, localized collapses of the dome towards its western sector [were observed], which generated small pyroclastic flows and incandescence, both limited to the upper part of the volcano, without compromising, for the moment, the Páez river.
The previous bulletin, released at 17:00 local time on 3 November, includes information from the most recent overflight which took place on 2 November. This bulletin notes that ‘in the current week 1177 seismic events were recorded’, of which 82 were rock-fracturing events, 1014 related to fluid dynamics with the volcanic system, 10 were hybrid events, and there were 71 pulses of tremor related to gas and ash emissions. Two tremor pulses are described as particularly notable:
The first occurred on 28 October at 02:00 (07:00 UTC); according to a VAAC report a column of 4 km altitude was observed from the summit of the volcano. The second pulse was recorded in the early morning today, at 02:54 (07:54 UTC). This event was associated with an acoustic signal reported by local inhabitants, and ash fall in Inzá, Mosoco, Jambaló and Belalcázar, to the south-west of the volcano. The VAAC report for this event shows a column which reached an altitude of 7 km above the summit of the volcano and that dispersed mainly towards the south-west.
Through the Nevado del Huila webcam ‘intense degasification of the system with pulsing escape of ash at the surface’ has been observed. The overflights of 30 October and 2 November monitored the growth of the new lava dome which has developed on top of the dome constructed in November 2008: ‘the volume of the new dome extruded at the surface is estimated to be about nine million cubic metres’.
A short video of the 2 November overflight (.mpg, 10.1 MB) is available from this page at the Popayán observatory website. The photograph at the top of this post was taken during this overflight and shows Nevado del Huila from the north-west. Intense degassing can be seen around the new dome, located on the western flank, and fresh ash deposits blanket the slopes of the volcano (image copyright INGEOMINAS, reproduced here for non-commercial purposes in accordance with the terms of use).
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
