Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Soputan (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): The volcano erupted this morning at 02:45 local time with a strong explosion from the summit lava dome. It sent an 6 km tall ash column to approx. 26,000 ft (8,5 km) altitude. The eruption followed an increase in seismic activity in December, when so-called "drumbeat" earthquakes appeared - a type of volcanic tremor typically associated with movements of viscous magma at shallow depths,- in this case new lava rising beneath the existing lava dome (in place since 1991). As a consequence, the alert status of the volcano had been raised to the second highest level "Siaga" (3 on a scale of 1-4, alert). Today's explosion caused parts of the summit dome that occupies the crater, open to the western flank, to collapse and produce a glowing avalanche that traveled approx. 2000 m, remaining within the volcano's caldera. It seems that no pyroclastic flow (which could sweep over the caldera walls and into inhabited areas below) occurred. No damage to people or infrastructure was reported.

Fogo (Cape Verde): Activity continues, but overall the eruption has been decreasing and seems slowly to be coming to an end. Still, short bursts of explosive and effusive activity occur from the vents occasionally, producing ash plumes and short-lived lava flows. Yesterday, such an increase resulted in an ash plume reaching 1.5 km and a new 50 m long lava flow near the vents. Minor ash fall occurred on the city of Sao Felipe. The recently active western lava flow has apparently stopped by now, but during the past days managed to destroy the last remaining buildings in Ilhéu Losna.

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): A very large vulcanian explosion occurred this morning at the volcano (at 00:41 UTC, 7:41 am local time). The explosion produced a 1.5 km wide ash column rising to approx. 27,000 ft (9 km) altitude and several pyroclastic flows from partial column collapse that traveled to the south.

Kilauea (Hawai'i): The June 27th lava flow front has stayed at approx. 1 km distance (approx. 1 km) from Pahoa, but the flow itself remains active and continues to expand laterally with several breakouts: "Surface breakouts along the distal part of the flow were scattered between 1 and 3.5 km (0.6 and 2.2 mi) upslope from the Pahoa Marketplace and posed no immediate threat. Amongst this activity, a narrow flow lobe (about 2.5 km (1.6 mi) upslope from Pahoa Marketplace) was advancing toward the north-northeast. This lobe has entered a drainage that leads to the steepest-descent path that crosses Highway 130 about 1 km (0.6 mi) south of the Makuʻu Farmer's Market, but the flow is still 3.5 km (2.2 mi) uplsope from that point and moving slowly. Small breakouts were also active in an area of persistent activity about 7 km (4 mi) upslope from Pāhoa." (HVO status update)

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (Tonga, Tonga Islands): Activity continues, but seems not to have breached the surface (for now). Recent satellite imagery with clear views show a discolored water plume and a steam plume but no ash, suggesting that that the activity is still well below the surface. Hunga Ha'apa and Hunga Tonga islands are subaerial parts of a large caldera of about 6 km diameter. A number of cones have been built near its rim during past eruptions, including the Hunga Ha'apa and Hunga Tonga islands themselves.