Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of15 November - 21 November 2017

Agung | Bali (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that a phreatic eruption at Agung began at 1705 on 21 November, following a low-frequency tremor signal. An ash plume rose 700 m above the crater rim and drifted ESE. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the exclusion zones remained intact (at 6 km, and an additional expansion to 7.5 km in the NNE, SE, S, and SW directions).

Oraefajokull | Iceland : The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported that on 17 November the Aviation colour Code for Öræfajökull was raised to Yellow because satellite images and photos showed that a new ice cauldron had formed within the caldera the previous week. The new cauldron was about 1 km in diameter and 15-20 m deep, and signified a recent increase in geothermal activity. Scientists conducted an overflight on 18 November; in addition, while on the ground, they took water samples, measurements of electrical conductivity, and gas levels at the Kvíárjökull outlet-glacier, a valley glacier on the SE flank of Öræfajökull. There was no obvious sign of flooding in the Kvíá river. A sulfur odor, which had been reported for about a week, was also noted. An increase in the seismic activity was recorded for the last few months (the largest earthquake, an M 3.4, occurred on the 3 October), but was low for the past few days. IMO noted that there were no signs of an imminent volcanic eruption, though there was considerable uncertainty about how the situation will evolve.

Sarychev Peak | Matua Island (Russia) : SVERT reported that weak steam-and-gas emissions from Sarychev Peak were observed on 13 November. Weather clouds prevented observations during 14-20 November. The Aviation colour Code remained at Green.