Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week of 3 January - 9 January 2018

Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that very small events occurred at Minamidake crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 28 December 2017-4 January 2018. An event at 1744 on 6 January ejected material from Minamidake Crater as far as 900 m from the crater. An event at Showa Crater on 8 January at 0359 ejected material as far as 800 m. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).

Aoba | Vanuatu : Based on information from VGO, the Wellington VAAC reported that on 8 January ash from Aoba fell on the N and NE parts of the island; weather clouds prevented webcam and satellite observations. The next day a local observer saw an ash plume rising to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifting NW.

Fuego | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 4-9 January explosions at Fuego generated ash plumes that rose as high as 1.1 km above the crater and drifted mainly 10-15 km S, SW, and W, with an occasional plume moving E or NE. Some of the explosions generated shock waves. Incandescent material was ejected 100-300 m above the crater rim, causing avalanches of material that traveled within the crater and sometimes down the Ceniza (SSW), Taniluyá (SW), and Seca (W), and Las Lajas (SE) drainages. Minor ashfall was noted in local areas including Panimaché I (8 km SW), Santa Sofía (12 km SW), Morelia (9 km SW), El Porvenir, La Rochela, and Ceylon.

Kilauea | Hawaiian Islands (USA) : During 3-9 January HVO reported that the lava lake continued to rise, fall, and spatter in Kilauea’s Overlook crater. Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu'u 'O'o Crater and from a small lava pond in a pit on the W side of the crater. Surface lava flows were active above and on the pali, and on the coastal plain.

Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : Based on satellite observations KVERT reported that gas-and-steam plumes from Klyuchevskoy contained some ash and drifted about 150 km in multiple directions during 1 and 3-4 January. A weak thermal anomaly was visible on 3 January. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.

Pacaya | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 4-9 January Strombolian explosions at Pacaya’s Mackenney cone ejected material as high as 50 m above the main cone.

Popocatepetl | Mexico : CENAPRED reported that at 1348 on 1 January an explosion at Popocatépetl generated a plume with low ash content that rose 0.5 km above the crater rim and drifted SE. Each day during 3-9 January there were 110-588 emissions, some of which contained minor amounts of ash. Beginning at 2032 on 6 January Strombolian activity generated an ash, gas, and water vapor emission that rose 800 m and drifted SE, and ejected incandescent material 200-300 m onto the flanks. Explosions were recorded at 0131 and 0222 on 8 January. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, Phase Two.

Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that at 1758 on 9 January an eruption at Rincón de la Vieja produced a plume that rose 1 km above the crater rim.

Sabancaya | Peru : Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that explosive activity at Sabancaya was similar to the previous week; there was an average of 41 explosions recorded per day during 1-7 January. Seismicity was dominated by long-period events, with signals indicating emissions. Gas-and-ash plumes rose 3 km above the crater rim and drifted 50 km N, NW, and W. The MIROVA system detected nine thermal anomalies. The sulfur dioxide flux was high, at 3,409 tons per day on 5 January. The report noted that the public should not to approach the crater within a 12-km radius.

Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 29 December 2017-5 January 2018. On 10 January satellite images captured an ash cloud, 192x132 km in dimension, from explosions rising to altitudes of 10-11 km (32,800-36,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifting 230 km NE. KVERT raised the Aviation colour Code to Red. Later that day satellite images showed an ash cloud 350x180 km in dimension drifting 400 km E; the Aviation colour Code was lowered back to Orange.

Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that events at Turrialba at 0600 and 1319 on 8 January generated ash emissions that rose 400-500 m above the crater rim and drifted NW and NE, respectively. An event at 2005 generated an ash plume that rose 800 m above the crater rim and drifted SW. At 0630 on 9 January an ash plume rose 300 m above the crater rim and drifted SW. An event was recorded at 1412, though weather conditions prevented visual conformation.