Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Asama (Honshu): A small eruption occurred at the volcano this morning around 9am local time. The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) confirmed light ash fall occurred in 4 km north of the volcano. A short phase of increased seismic activity preceded and accompanied the explosion. According to a news article, JMA scientists think that today's explosion will likely be followed by similar ones in the near future, but not lead to a larger scale eruption. There are no clear signs (such as deformation) of a major body of fresh magma is rising under the volcano. In that case, a possible scenario is that the eruption this morning is mostly phreatic in origin, i.e. driven by overheated ground water with no or little involvement of new magma.

Bulusan (Luzon Island, Philippines): Two small steam-driven (i.e. phreatic) explosions occurred at the volcano this morning at 11:02 and 11:20 local time, PHILVOLCS reported. The first lasted 2 minutes and generated a steam and ash plume that rose 1 km and drifted WSW. Rumbling sounds were heard in the villages of Cogon and Irosin on the WSW slopes.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Pyroclastic flows continue to threaten the southeastern and east-northeastern slopes of the volcano. According to a news article, approx. 1,200 people were evacuated yesterday, bringing the total number of current refugees to almost 4,000. Another 2,500 residents should be evacuated over the next few days.

Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): Japa's highest volcano has resumed its typical, intermittent ash-righ explosions.