Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - Ongoing Activity for the week of 7 December-13 December 2016

Kilauea | Hawaiian Islands (USA) : During 7-13 December HVO reported that the lava lake continued to rise and fall, circulate, and spatter in Kilauea’s Overlook vent; the lake level rose as high as 9 m below the Halema’uma’u floor. Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu'u 'O'o Crater and from a vent high on the NE flank of the cone. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean near Kamokuna at the easternmost lava delta. An active branch of 61G remained active E of Pu'u 'O'o and advanced slowly E at a rate of only a few tens of meters per day.

Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia : Servicio Geológico Colombiano’s (SGC) Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Manizales reported that during 6-12 December seismicity at Nevado del Ruiz was characterized by a decrease in the number and magnitude of earthquakes compared to the previous week. Significant amounts of water vapor and gas rose from the crater. On 7 December a low-energy thermal anomaly near Arenas Crater was detected by the MIROVA system. On 9 December gas and water vapour plumes sometimes containing ash rose 2 km above the crater rim and drifted between SW and NW directions. The Alert Level remained at III (Yellow; the second lowest level on a four-colour scale).

Sabancaya | Peru : Although weather clouds often prevented webcam and satellite views of Sabancaya, the Buenos Aires VAAC noted that some clear observations during 7-13 December revealed continuous gas-and-water-vapour emissions with sporadic ash puffs which rose to variable heights. Plumes drifted SW, SE, and ENE.

Suwanosejima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : Based on JMA notices, pilot observations, and satellite-image analyses, the Tokyo VAAC reported that explosions at Suwanosejima on 13 December generated ash plumes that rose to an altitude of 4 km (13,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE.

Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that after three days of continuous ash emissions at Turrialba activity decreased during the morning of 8 December. Weak and sporadic emissions rising no higher than 200 m above the vent were observed in the afternoon. Events at 0919 and 0934 on 9 December produced ash plumes that rose 500 m and drifted NW. Weak and sporadic ash emissions the rest of the day rose no higher than 500 m. Passive ash emissions on 12 December did not exceed 500 m and drifted NW.