Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Bardarbunga (Central Iceland): No significant changes in seismic and volcanic activity have occurred recently at the ongoing Holuhraun eruption, but overall, a slowly decreasing trend of the activity is becoming evident. Still, magma effusion remains quite impressive, especially the large lava lake inside Baugur crater on the main part of the fissure. Although still elevated, the average number of larger earthquakes under the caldera is decreasing slowly.

Shishaldin (United States, Aleutian Islands): The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) reported "strongly elevated" temperatures in the summit crater on satellite data from yesterday. This could indicate lava is present there, possibly strombolian activity. What seems to be light ash fall deposits on the upper snowy flanks was visible on webcam images. Seismic activity has been slightly above background, a phase of elevated activity occurred today. Aviation color code remains orange.

Sabancaya (Peru): A small magmatic intrusion has been taking place under the volcano recently, a report of the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) concludes. Activity at the volcano could increase over the next few days, but no violent explosive activity is currently expected. An increase in shallow earthquake activity with both characteristics of rock fracturing and disturbance of the hydrothermal system was noted last week. Most quakes occurred at shallow depth in an area few NNE of the volcano and south of the villages Pinchollo and Maca. The strongest quake of magnitude 3.8 on the evening of 19 Jan was felt by the local population. Intermittent steam and bluish gas (SO2) emissions rose to a maximum of 1300 m above the crater. This and other monitored parameters showed no significant changes compared to the previous weeks.

Ubinas (Peru): No ash emissions or explosions have occurred recently at the volcano. While overall seismicity has decreased during the past weeks, tremor and long-period earthquakes, indicators of internal fluid movements, along with degassing activity have increased again since 6 January. Although the general tendency seems to be that the volcano is progressively calming down, the current crisis is not yet over, IGP warns. Explosions could occur again with little or no warning and it is recommended not to approach the summit crater.