Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - New Activity for the week of 4 January-10 January 2017

Bezymianny | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported strong gas-and-steam emissions at Bezymianny during 31 December 2016-6 January 2017 and a daily thermal anomaly over the volcano. The Aviation Colour Code remained at Orange.

Bogoslof | Fox Islands (USA) : AVO reported that a five-minute-long seismic signal detected by sensors on islands near Bogoslof began at 2118 on 3 January along with a series of lightning strikes identified by the World Wide Lightning Location Network. An ash cloud identified in satellite data rose as high as 10 km (33,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N. AVO raised the Aviation Colour Code (ACC) to Red and the Volcano Alert Level (VAL) to Warning. No other indications of activity were noted for the next few days, the ACC and the VAL were lowered to Orange and Watch, respectively, on 5 January. Later that day, at 1324, seismicity again escalated, and lightning strikes indicated another significant and short-lived (five minutes) explosion. The ash plume was visible on satellite images and observed by pilots, and had risen to an estimated altitude of 10.7 km (35,000 ft) a.s.l., detached, and drifted NNW. The ACC was raised to Red and the VAL was raised to Warning, but were again lowered one level the next day. Seismic and infrasound data from neighbouring islands indicated another explosive event, beginning at 2230 on 8 January. Seismic data suggested two strong pulses, during 2233-2234 and at 2256, consistent with two distinct volcanic clouds observed in satellite images. The second cloud was larger, rising to an altitude of 10.7 km (35,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifting NW. The ACC was raised to Red and the VAL was raised to Warning, but were again lowered one level to Orange and Watch, respectively, the next day.

Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that gas-and-steam plumes sometimes containing minor amounts of ash were emitted from Ebeko during 30 December 2016-6 January 2017. The Aviation Colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).

Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that during 2-6 January daily satellite images showed a thermal anomaly over Klyuchevskoy. The Aviation Colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).

Sabancaya | Peru : Based on webcam and satellite views, the Buenos Aires VAAC reported that during 3-10 January intermittent ash puffs from Sabancaya likely rose as high as 9.1 km (30,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted WSW, W, N, and NE; weather clouds sometimes obscured satellite and webcam views, and the webcam was not operational during 5-6 January.

San Miguel | El Salvador : Based on satellite observations, the Washington VAAC reported that on 7 January steam plumes with minor amounts of ash rose from San Miguel to an altitude of 2.6 km (8,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 130 km SW. Only steam-and-gas plumes were detected later that day.