Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): No significant changes have occurred in the ongoing effusive-explosive eruption of the volcano. The slow lava dome growth continues to feed a prominent lava lobe on the upper ESE flank that sheds glowing avalanches. Occasional larger collapses of this lava lobe produce more violent pyroclastic flows. In addition, the volcano continues to produce explosions, caused by trapped, pressurized gasses contained in the magma from the upper conduit or the dome itself. These vertical explosions have been occurring at rates of one per day on average recently. This morning, an ash plume rose to 15,000 ft (4.5 km) altitude, i.e. approx. 2 km above the summit.

Bromo (East Java, Indonesia): Mild to moderate ash emissions continue, generating a plume that rises up to 500-1000 m and drifts mostly northwest before dissipating.

Kilauea (Hawai'i): The latest mapping of the active lava flow in the coastal plain shows that the leading tip was about 870 m from the coast yesterday. Most of the activity in recent days has been the overriding and widening of the lava flow field, with only little net advance of the farthest lava front towards ocean. However, if the feeding of fresh lava through the main tube into the lava field in the coastal plain continues, and eventually establishes itself over increasing distance, it is more and more likely that the lava eventually reaches the sea. This is likely to occur in the near or medium-term future (days to weeks).

Santiaguito (Guatemala): A strong explosion (another in the ongoing series) occurred at the Caliente lava dome yesterday at 13:30 local time. According to INSIVUMEH, it generated an ash column that rose to approx. 5 km altitude, i.e. about 2500 m above the dome.

Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion): The volcano is showing signs of unrest that could be (but not necessarily) precursors of a new eruption. Since the beginning of the month, shallow (0-2 km depth) volcanic earthquakes of rock-fracturing type under the Dolomieu crater (the main vent of the volcano) have been more frequent, probably caused by a new magma intrusion. The volcano observatory's (OVPF) latest statement mentions that 111 "collapses" have occurred recently on the Dolomieu crater, the Enclos and on the lava flow of Aug-Oct 2015. In addition, it seems that new deformation has started during the past days, which would fit into the picture that the volcano is likely preparing itself for a new eruption, although the trend was still unclear and needs to be confirmed.