Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:

Etna (Sicily, Italy): The 20th paroxysm at the New SE crater in 2013 began yesterday evening and ended at dawn, shortly after reaching its peak. The eruption lasted relatively long, but was relatively weak in intensity (compared to previous paroxysms). It produced only relatively low pulsating lava fountains with associated ash plumes and a small lava flow to the SE towards the Valle del Bove. Tremor has dropped sharply, but at the moment of updating, strombolian explosions, ash emission and the effusion of the lava flow continue at reduced level.

Puyehue-Cordón Caulle (Central Chile and Argentina): A significant ash(?) plume was spotted on Terra's satellite images yesterday afternoon. Since there are no other reports suggesting that a (larger in this case) eruption has occurred (e.g. heat signals, eyewitness reports, webcam), it seems likely that the plume was from wind-mobilized ash from the 2011-12 eruption. If new evidence of an eruption becomes available, we'll follow up, and please post a comment if you have other data. A passenger on a cruise ship reported: "Cruise ship Seabourn Quest sailing out of Castro, Chile, just passed what we believe is the actively erupting Chaiten volcano. Eruption ash cloud clearly visible throughout sunset, 8.15 to 9.00pm, 12/14/2013. Pyroclastic cloud going down left (north) flank. Secondary vents erupting on the flanks."