Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Aso (Kyushu): Mild to moderate strombolian explosions from the Nakadake crater have become continuous.

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): Strong vulcanian explosions have been occurring at the volcano, which remains in a state of elevated activity. During the past 48 hours, at least 17 explosions with ash plumes up to 16,000 ft (5 km) altitude occurred. This approaches the record levels of activity observed during the summer 2013.

Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): Several ash plumes were reported by VAAC Tokyo during the past days. The volcano is having intermittent moderate strombolian type eruptions from the On-take crater.

Ngauruhoe (North Island): The alert level was lowered back to the lowest level green, after signs of unrest at the volcano gradually had declined during the past weeks.

Calbuco (Southern Chile and Argentina): Mild to moderate emissions of ash and incandescent material (probably as strombolian explosions) continue at the summit vent(s). A small ash plume rises approx. 1 km and is currently drifting east. Alert level remains red. A new intensification of activity cannot be ruled out as it is not known how much of eruptible magma in the volcano's storage system has been evacuated during the strong eruptions on 22-23 April. ...24 Apr: Starting from 23:30 local time last night (23 April), activity at the volcano has again increased. The volcano started to produce more or less continuous small to moderate ash emissions, that have been reaching up to 2 km height and drifted mainly northeast. This increase in activity has also been accompanied by volcanic tremor in the seismic signals, Sernageomin reported.

Vast magma under Yellowstone super-volcano

A large reservoir has been discovered underneath Yellowstone’s supervolcano containing magma which could be filling the Grand Canyon 11.2 times. The reservoir, 12 to 28 miles underneath the volcano is filled with hot, sponge-like rock with pockets of molten rock.

The reservoir has been discovered by University of Utah seismologists who completed the first picture of the “continuous volcanic plumbing system under Yellowstone,” said postdoctoral researcher Hsin-Hua Huang. He also added, “That includes the upper crustal magma chamber we have seen previously plus a lower crustal magma reservoir that has never been imaged before and that connects the upper chamber to the Yellowstone hotspot plume below.”

Previously, only the upper crust chamber was known of and it could fill the Grand Canyon 2.5 times. It was emphasized by scientists that the research does not indicate that there is enhanced risk or that it is close to erupting. Advanced techniques to get hold of better picture of the system have been employed by them.