Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Alaid (Northern Kuriles): The ´most recent eruption of the volcano, which began in October last year, can be regarded as over and the aviation color code was lowered back to green. Satellite data compiled by Culture Volcan show no more heat emission from the volcano since January and visible satellite imagery now show that the crater has been partially filled with fresh lava from the eruption.

Chirpoi (Kurile Islands, Russia): Satellite images detected a thermal anomaly over Snow, a volcano of Chirpoi, during 25, 27-28, and 30-31 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Egon (Flores): Volcanic unrest has decreased at the volcano, making the likelihood of an impending eruption smaller. The volcano's alert level was lowered from 3 to 2 (on a scale of 1-4).

Soputan (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): A larger explosive eruption was reported to have occurred about an hour ago (11:45 UTC). Darwin VAAC issued alerts to aviation about an ash plume that rose to estimated 23,000 ft (7 km) altitude and is drifting NW. Aviation color code was immediately raised to RED.

Pagan (Mariana Islands): Satellite data and ground-based observations from a field crew and local residents near Pagan indicated that steam-and-gas emissions have significantly decreased since March 2015. The Aviation Colour Code and Volcano Alert Level were lowered to Unassigned on 30 January.

MacDonald (Austral Islands, ): Some activity might be occurring at the remote volcano: Scientists and crew aboard CSIRO’s (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Marine National Facility research vessel Investigator observed a plume rising from McDonald Island (the largest island) during the last week of January. Visual observations of the McDonald Islands are very rare due to its remote location.

Santiaguito (Guatemala): (5 Feb) A strong explosion occurred from the active Caliente lava dome this morning around 10:30 local time. It generated a pyroclastic flow that traveled down the southeast flank of the dome complex reaching a length of approx. 2-3 km. No damage or injuries were reported. Ash plumes from both the explosion and the pyroclastic flow rose to an elevation of 17,000 ft (5.5 km) and produced moderate ash falls in the southern sectors of the volcano, in particular in the village and coffee farm of El Palmar. Authorities ordered preventive evacuations in areas to the S and SE closest to the volcano.

Cotopaxi (Ecuador): On 29 January IG reported that in recent weeks superficial activity at Cotopaxi was characterized by minor steam emissions from the crater and sporadic gas emissions with minor amounts of ash. Sulfur dioxide emissions were less than 1,000 tons per day (pre-eruptive levels) and seismicity had almost returned to baseline levels. At 1843 on 24 January a plume with low-to-moderate levels of ash rose 700 m above the crater and drifted W. The emission coincided with a hybrid earthquake.