Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): The activity of the volcano remains essentially unchanged at currently low to moderate levels. The slow growth of the lava dome continues as viscous (sticky) lava accumulates in the dome. A (small) part of the inherently unstable dome collapsed yesterday morning and generated a pyroclastic flow that traveled down the SW valley between the dome and the remnants of the 1964 collapse scar, which forms a horse-show shaped wall around the dome. The flow reached approx. 1500 m length and was 300-400 m wide. A second flow of similar size occurred immediately after. The resulting ash plume rose approx. 1 km.

Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): The volcano's activity has picked up again. Since yesterday, webcam images show constant red glow and intense degassing as well as intermittent ash emissions some of which have also been reported by Tokyo VAAC. Most likely, a new phase of intense strombolian activity is currently taking place at the active O-Take crater on the remote island.

Dukono (Halmahera): Continuous ash emissions have been observed during the past days. Satellite images show a plume extending into various directions (to the east today). In short, the intense activity of the volcano (one of the most active of Indonesia) observed also during recent visits by various people seems to continue.

Yasur (Tanna Island, Vanuatu): Wellington VAAC reports ash plumes, mostly confined to Tanna Island, visible on satellite imagery today. This suggests that activity at the volcano is elevated at the moment. It is currently at GeoHazard's level 2, on a scale of 0-5 (5 being highest), meaning that "volcanic explosions remain intense, volcanic bombs may fall in and/or around the crater and volcanic gas and ashes can also affect some villages." Yasur is one of the few in the world with persistent strombolian activity, is elevated at the moment. We will visit the volcano again in September and report from on location.

Aoba (Vanuatu): Wellington VAAC received a pilot report of plumes of white steam and ash rising 1000 ft (300 m) above the active crater lake Voui this morning. This could suggest that perhaps some phreatic explosions have taken place, but it is far from certain whether the volcano (with almost no monitoring on ground) is about to erupt or not. The remote location of the volcano's large caldera and its extremely difficult make direct observations very rare.

Santiaguito (Guatemala): The series of strong vulcanian explosions continues although they hve become rarer. This morning, another one occurred that produced a mushroom-shaped eruption column that rose to approx. 18,000 ft (6 km) altitude. Partially collapsing parts of the eruption column generated moderately large pyroclastic flows on the eastern side and perhaps on the SW slope of the lava dome as well. As usual, ash falls have occurred in nearby towns and villages such as San Felipe and Mazatenango Retalulehu.