Eruption at Bezymianny: ash reaches over 8 km a.s.l. 9 March 2012
Posted by admin in activity reports, Bezymianny, eruptions, Kamchatka, Russia.comments closed
As the scientists at the Kamchatka Volcano Emergency Response Team (KVERT) anticipated, Bezymianny has erupted. KVERT reported at 2226Z last night:
Strong explosive eruption began about 21:27 UTC on March 08 – according to seismic data. Explosive eruption will continue and strong ash explosions up to 43,000 ft (13 km) a.s.l. possible at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.
The same bulletin reports plumes then reaching 5 km a.s.l. A later bulletin, issued at 2313Z, described the eruption by this time as ‘moderate’ and reported ‘Culmination phase of the explosive eruption occurred at 21:40 UTC on March 08, when ash plumes from pyroclastic deposits rose up to 26,200 ft (8 km) a.s.l.’ The latest bulletin, released at 0700Z today, summarizes the activity as follows:
Activity of the volcano after strong explosive phase of eruption is gradually decreasing but continues. Ongoing activity could affect low-flying aircraft. Strong explosive eruption began at 21:27 UTC on March 08. According to seismic data, the culmination phase of the eruption occurred from 21:27 till 22:10 UTC on March 08, a magnitude of volcanic tremor was 7.52 µm/s at that time. From 23:00 UTC on March 08, volcanic tremor was not registering. Ash plumes from pyroclastic deposits rose up to 26,200 ft (8 km) a.s.l. and extended to the northeast of the volcano on the height about 19,700 ft (6 km) a.s.l. At about 00:15 UTC on March 09, probably a new portion of ash began to extending a little to northern to northeast of the volcano. According to satellite data, a length of ash plume was about 434 mi (700 km) at 04:32 UTC on March 09. At present, the moderate eruption is continuing. According to video data, gas-steam plumes containing ash are raising up to 11,500-13,100 ft (3.5-4.0 km) a.s.l. and extending to the north-east of the volcano.
Tokyo VAAC issued its latest advisory for Bezymianny at 0559 today, describing ’emissions continuing’ and ash moving NE of the volcano and reaching airspace at FL270 (27,000 feet or 8.2 km a.s.l.). Things currently look reasonably quiet (and, of course, dark) at the Bezymianny webcam. KVERT has uploaded some pictures of the March 8-9 activity to its Bezymianny activity page; latest images at the top.
News
Bezymianny volcano (Kamchatka): new explosive eruption sends ash to 27,000 ft altitude – VolcanoDiscovery, 9 March 2012
Bezymianny volcano erupts again – Voice of Russia, 9 March 2012
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Bezymianny – summary information for Bezymianny (1000-25=)
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
Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 29 February – 6 March 2012 8 March 2012
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Bagana, Bezymianny, Canary Islands, Chile, Cleveland, Ecuador, eruptions, Etna, Fuego, Guatemala, Hawaii, Hierro, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Kanaga, Karymsky, Kilauea, Kizimen, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Popocatépetl, Puyehue, Russia, Sakura-jima, Santa María, Shiveluch, Spain, Suwanose-jima, Tungurahua, United States, Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports.Tags: Global Volcanism Program
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The latest Smithsonian Institution and United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report has been published by the Global Volcanism Program, covering the week 29 February to 6 March 2012. The report is compiled by Sally Kuhn Sennert. Some of the highlights of the volcanic week:
- Continuing activity at Etna including strombolian eruptions, lava fountaining and lava flows
- Explosions at Fuego produced plumes that reached 0.6 km above the crater
- Plumes rose to 1 km above Puyehue-Cordón Caulle as low-level eruptive activity continues
Click on the map for a larger version (1211 x 784 pixels).
The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 29 February – 6 March 2012 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/unrest: Bezymianny (Russia), Cleveland (Alaska, USA), Etna (Italy), Kanaga (Alaska, USA), Tungurahua (Ecuador).
Ongoing activity: Bagana (Papua New Guinea), Fuego (Guatemala), Hierro (Canary Islands), Karymsky (Russia), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Kizimen (Russia), Popocatépetl (Mexico), Puyehue-Cordón Caulle (Chile), Sakura-jima (Japan), Santa María (Guatemala), Shiveluch (Russia), Suwanose-jima (Japan).
Note: ‘a.s.l.’ = ‘above sea level’.
Bezymianny on alert for eruption – KVERT 7 March 2012
Posted by admin in activity reports, Bezymianny, Kamchatka, Russia.comments closed
Bezymianny volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s far east has been put on red alert for a possible eruption by the Kamchatka Volcano Emergency Response Team (KVERT). In a bulletin issued late yesterday KVERT reports: ‘Activity of the volcano continuously increases. Strong ash explosions up to 42,640 ft (13 km) a.s.l. possible at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft’. Based on increasing seismic activity since mid-February and the presence of a thermal anomaly which abruptly increased in ‘size and brightness’ on 2 March, KVERT scientists suspect that ‘a strong explosive eruption’ of the volcano is in preparation.
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Bezymianny – summary information for Bezymianny (1000-25=)
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
Restless Tungurahua causes ash problems 6 March 2012
Posted by admin in activity reports, Ecuador, Tungurahua.comments closed
Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador is one of the world’s more active volcanoes, and it is certainly restless at the moment, with an upswing in activity and explosive eruptions being reported over the weekend. Activity continues at a ‘moderate’ level according to reports from Ecuador’s Instituto Geofísico: an explosion occurred in the early hours of Monday 5 March which produced ashfall in the Choglontus area, which lies ~13 km WSW of the volcano (IG report for 5 March 2012 PDF). Much of the region around Tungurahua has been covered in low cloud which has obscured views of the volcano: a weak emissions column in a westerly direction was visible on 5 March at an altitude of under 1 km. The bulletin for 6 March (PDF) reports the summit of Tungurahua is still obscured by cloud. Elevated seismicity has continued, with seven episodes of emission tremor and one explosion, so some eruptive activity has occurred today.
The ashfall from the current activity has been causing problems, with reports of crop damage in agricultural areas to the west of the Tungurahua.
News
Cuatro explosiones se registraron en el volcán Tungurahua – El Comercio, 4 March 2012
Desde anoche aumentó actividad de volcán ecuatoriano Tungurahua – El Universo, 4 March 2012
Volcán Tungurahua mantiene nivel de actividad moderado – Confirmado.net, 5 March 2012
Ceniza del volcán Tungurahua vuelve a causar problemas – El Universo, 5 March 2012
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Tungurahua – summary information for Tungurahua (1502-80=)
Instituto Geofísico (Escuela Politecnica Nacional) – Geophysical Institute of Ecuador
Renewed activity at Tungurahua 4 March 2012
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Ecuador’s Tungurahua volcano had a busy year in 2011, notably producing its biggest eruption for several years in April, and ending with a period of marked restlessness from November into January of this year including significant explosive events on 27 and 28 November 2011. Since then the level of activity has been rising and falling, with episodes of moderate activity including steam plumes and lahars throughout January and February interspersed with more active episodes involving significant ash plumes, strombolian activity and the eruption of significant quantities of incandescent material.
In bulletins issued yesterday Ecuador’s geological service, the Instituto Geofísico, reports a new upswing in activity at Tungurahua marked by the eruption of incandescent blocks, rumbling sounds and emission columns, and lava fountains reaching 500 metres above the crater. There are press reports of ashfall in nearby communities.
News
El volcán Tungurahua se reactivó ayer – El Comercio, 4 March 2012
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Tungurahua – summary information for Tungurahua (1502-80=)
Instituto Geofísico (Escuela Politecnica Nacional) – Geophysical Institute of Ecuador
Kanaga quietens: alert level lowered 3 March 2012
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Kanaga, United States.comments closed
A couple of weeks ago eruptive activity was reported at Kanaga volcano in the Aleutian Islands: Eruptions has all the information and relevant links, as well as one of those impressive, almost abstract, coldly beautiful Alaskan volcano pictures. It seems that the rumblings have ceased, and the Alaska Volcano Observatory has lowered the Alert Level for Kanaga from Advisory to Normal, and the Aviation Color Code from Yellow to Green.
News
Alert level for Kanaga Volcano lowered – Alaska Public Radio, 2 March 2012
Alert level reduced for remote Aleutians volcano – Anchorage Daily News, 3 March 2012
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Kanaga – summary information for Kanaga (1101-11-)
Alaska Volcano Observatory – main page for the AVO
Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 22-28 February 2012 1 March 2012
Posted by admin in activity reports, Alaska, Bezymianny, Canary Islands, Chile, Cleveland, Costa Rica, Ecuador, eruptions, Guatemala, Hawaii, Hierro, Japan, Kamchatka, Kanaga, Karymsky, Kilauea, Kizimen, Mexico, Popocatépetl, Puyehue, Russia, Sakura-jima, Santa María, Shiveluch, Spain, Tungurahua, United States, Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports.Tags: Global Volcanism Program
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The latest Smithsonian Institution and United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report has been published by the Global Volcanism Program, covering the week 22 February to 28 February 2012. The report is compiled by Sally Kuhn Sennert. Some of the highlights:
- Rincón de la Vieja: two eruptions from Rincón de la Vieja’s active crater
- Tungurahua: moderate activity continues, with ashfall, incandescence, steam-and-ash plume
- Puyehue-Cordón Caulle: low-level eruptive activity continues, with lava flows and ash plumes
- Santa María: explosions produced 0.6-1.3 km plumes and ashfall, pyroclastic flows reported
Click on the map for a larger version (1211 x 784 pixels).
The Smithsonian Institution/United States Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 22-28 February 2012 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/unrest: Cleveland (Alaska, USA), Kanaga (Alaska, USA), Rincón de la Vieja (Costa Rica), Tungurahua (Ecuador).
Ongoing activity: Bezymianny (Russia), Hierro (Canary Islands), Karymsky (Russia), Kilauea (Hawaii, USA), Kizimen (Russia), Popocatépetl (Mexico), Puyehue-Cordón Caulle (Chile), Sakura-jima (Japan), Santa María (Guatemala), Shiveluch (Russia).
Note: ‘a.s.l.’ = ‘above sea level’.
Another large eruption at Lokon (updated) 17 July 2011
Posted by admin in activity reports, eruptions, Indonesia, Lokon-Empung.comments closed
Another large eruption of Mount Lokon in Sulawesi this morning (Sunday 17 July), according to news reports: a 3.5 km altitude ash plume, and the first confirmed fatality of the current eruptive episode, a woman suffering a heart attack as she fled the eruption [CORRECTION: apparently this unfortunate event occurred during last week’s eruptions]. Indonesian volcanologist Surono describes today’s eruption as the largest yet. As the eruption started, local residents who had been returning to their homes and crops following earlier evacuations cleared out in a hurry once again.
Darwin VAAC issued a volcanic ash advisory at 07:37 GMT reporting no volcanic ash emissions visible on satellite imagery, but noting media reports of ash between 3 km and 5 km altitude, moving north, and confirming that ‘situation will be closely monitored’. According to the New Zealand Herald flights from Manado airport have not yet been affected by the eruption, but the airport has been warned to be on alert for possible ash at altitude. The Jakarta Post reported earlier today that ‘at least 4,889 people’ had been evacuated following the latest eruption. The local paper Tribun Manado reports that civil protection authorities have been touring villages in the area and warning their residents to evacuate, and that the security of the exclusion zone around the volcano has been tightened following today’s eruption, with even local residents being denied access. Tribun Manado also has extensive photo galleries of the eruption: gallery 1– gallery 2 – gallery 3 – gallery 4 – gallery 5 (links from Earthquake-Report.com).
Some distinctly oddball stories on the eruption have also been appearing in Tribun Manado: one on traditional beliefs that certain areas will be protected by supernatural agencies from the volcano’s activity, and another on an alleged appearance of Jesus’s face in the volcano’s ash cloud.
Regularly updated coverage of the Lokon eruption can be found at Earthquake-Report.com. Thanks to Raj in Manado for reports and translations, and thanks also to reader Raving who has posted a video of the eruption in the comments below.
News
Indonesia volcano spews ash in biggest eruption – Associated Press, 17 July 2011
Indonesians flee new volcano eruption on Sulawesi – BBC News, 17 July 2011
4,889 evacuated after Mt. Lokon eruptions – Jakarta Post, 17 July 2011
Indonesia’s Mount Lokon volcano erupts – Daily Telegraph, 17 July 2011
Sketsa mirip wajah Yesus muncul saat letusan lokon – Tribun Manado, 17 July 2011
‘Katanya Desa Warembungan dilindungi Tatawiran dan opo Lokon’ – Tribun Manado, 17 July 2011
SAR imbau warga Desa Tinoor 1 untuk berhati-hati – Tribun Manado, 17 July 2011
Kapolres perintahkan tutup akses ke pos pemantauan Lokon – Tribun Manado, 18 July 2011
Flight alert after new Lokon eruption – New Zealand Herald, 18 July 2011
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Lokon-Empung – summary information for Lokon-Empung (0606-10=)
Volcanological Survey of Indonesia – information and status reports in Indonesian
Mount Lokon eruption continues 15 July 2011
Posted by admin in activity reports, eruptions, Indonesia, Lokon-Empung.comments closed
Mount Lokon volcano, North Sulawesi, erupting on 14 July 2011 (image courtesy Tribun Manado, via Earthquake-Report.com).
The eruption of Sulawesi’s Mount Lokon that began yesterday (after days of lower-level eruptive activity) continues, with spectacular explosive activity and the eruption of ash and lava. Ash has darkened the sky over the city of Manado. Darwin VAAC has issued a Volcanic Ash Advisory for the eruption which notes that no ash cloud is yet detectable on satellite imagery, but that volcanic ash from the eruption has reached 1,500 metres above the crater. The Indonesian aviation authorities are warning flights in the area of the presence of volcanic ash at low altitudes, but Manado airport is operating normally and no diversions or cancellations have yet been ordered. No casualties have been reported from this eruption, and evacuations had already taken place around the volcano earlier this week; the evacuations have now been expanded to encompass over 4,000 people.
Mount Lokon is the higher peak of the very active twin volcanoes Lokon and Empung. The latter peak last erupted from its summit crater some time around 1775 (give or take 25 years or so), but all 24 subsequent eruptions listed by the Global Volcanism Program (and the current activity) have originated from Tompaluan Crater, situated in the saddle between the two peaks. Most of these eruptions were VEI 1 or 2, although eruptions in July 1951 to March 1953, May 1991 to January 1992 and September 2003 were VEI 3.
More up-to-date coverage of this eruption is available at Earthquake-Report.com.
News
Peringatan kemenhub: Lokon meletus, maskapai miminta waspada – Tribun Manado, 15 July 2011
Thousands evacuated as Sulawesi volcano erupts – Jakarta Globe, 15 July 2011
Indonesians flee volcano eruption on Sulawesi – BBC News, 15 July 2011
Indonesia’s Mount Lokon erupts, thousands take refuge – Reuters India, 15 July 2011
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Lokon-Empung – summary information for Lokon-Empung (0606-10=)
Volcanological Survey of Indonesia – information and status reports in Indonesian
Indonesia: new eruption at Lokon 14 July 2011
Posted by admin in activity reports, eruptions, Indonesia, Lokon-Empung.comments closed
Reports from Indonesia indicate a significant increase in the intensity of the ongoing eruptive activity at Mount Lokon in eastern Sulawesi. Under the superb headline ‘Blarrr!! Gunung Lokon Meletus Kuat, Api Keluar dari Kawah’ (‘Blarrr!! Strong eruption at Mount Lokon, fire from crater’) the local paper Tribun Manado quotes local residents reporting powerful earth tremors, ‘a very loud roar’ and ‘huge fire’ from the Lokon. Another Indonesian-language report describes the eruption as producing ‘red fire’, ‘lava and billowing smoke’ and ‘powerful tremors’; according to an eye-witness, the eruption was visible at 10 km distance from the volcano. An AFP report, quoting an Indonesian government volcanologist, says that there was a large eruption at around 22:31 local time (15:31 GMT) on Thursday in which ash and rocks were thrown 1,500 metres into the air, and vegetation within 500 metres of the crater was set on fire.
An Associated Press report adds a few more details, reporting that there were three eruptions in all: the first eruption was at 22:46 local time on Thursday night and was followed by a second just after a midnight and a third at around 01:10 on Friday morning. Soldiers and police were said to be helping about 500 people evacuate the slopes of the volcano. Some pictures of the latest activity can be found at NowPublic.
No new reports on this activity have so far appeared on the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia web site.
(Thanks to VB reader Raj in Manado for reports and translations.)
News
Blarrr!! Gunung Lokon meletus kuat, api keluar dari kawah – Tribun Manado, 14 July 2011
Indonesian volcano erupts after red alert warning – AFP, 14 July 2011
Volcano erupts in central Indonesia – Associated Press, 14 July 2011
Volcano erupts in central Indonesia, triggering evacuation – Washington Post, 14 July 2011
Gunung Lokon kembali meletus – detikNews, 15 July 2011
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Lokon-Empung – summary information for Lokon-Empung (0606-10=)
Volcanological Survey of Indonesia – information and status reports in Indonesian
The Volcanism Blog 