Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): During the past days, the volcano has been in a very active state again, producing multiple and relatively strong vulcanian explosions that showered the upper crater area with incandescent bombs and generated ash plumes that rose up to 15,000 ft (4.5 km) altitude. It seems that along with the recent increase in explosions, most activity has again returned to the Showa crater.

Bromo (East Java, Indonesia): New ash emissions resumed at the volcano again since yesterday. A plume of steam and moderate ash content been rising a few hundred meters and drifting approx. 40 km into westerly directions over East Java. No additional details about the activity from the volcano observatory are currently available.

Sangay (Ecuador): The most recent (so far mild) summit eruption of the volcano continues. A steam and ash plume rising several 100 m above the crater and extending approx. 10 km west from the summit was reported this morning by VAAC Washington and can also be found on the occasional social media picture. No close-by observations are currently available (Sangay is one of the most remote and difficult-to-access active volcanoes in South America). Seismic data show rhythmic small bursts likely from strombolian explosions in the summit crater, whereas satellite-based spectrometers detected the presence of a strong heat source at the crater, possibly from a lava flow, since 22 March.

As Culture Volcan observed, the intense heat radiation thus appeared several weeks AFTER the first known onset of mild explosive activity, and thus, is an indication that something changed around that date, producing significantly more heat. The easiest explanation would be the appearance of a new lava flow (or a small lava lake) inside the crater, or perhaps on the upper flank.