Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week of 24 January - 30 January 2018

Agung | Bali (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that white-and-gray plumes rose as high as 1 km above Agung’s crater rim during 24-25 January. Foggy conditions prevented visual observations of the crater during 26-30 January. The Alert Level remained at 4 (on a scale of 1-4) and the exclusion zone continued at a 6-km radius.

Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that very small events occurred at Minamidake crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 22-29 January. Crater incandescence from the summit crater was visible during the morning of 29 January. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).

Cleveland | Chuginadak Island (USA) : AVO reported that unrest at Cleveland continued during 24-30 January. A possible cold vapor plume drifted S on 24 January. Slightly elevated surface temperatures were identified in satellite images a few times during 26-30 January. Nothing significant was detected in seismic or infrasound data. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.

Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : Based on observations by volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, explosions during 22-23 January generated ash plumes that rose as high as 2 km (6,600 ft) a.s.l. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).

Etna | Sicily (Italy) : INGV reported that activity at Etna during 22-28 January was relatively unchanged compared to the previous weeks and was mainly characterized by variable-intensity gas emissions from the summit craters. Weak and sporadic ash emissions rose from the New Southeast Crater (NSEC). On 22 January ash fell in areas on the S flank and also in Catania, though the crater which produced the ash emission was unknown due to poor visibility.

Karymsky | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was identified in satellite images on 19 and 23 January. Gas-and-steam plumes drifted 30 km NE and NW on 21 and 25 January, and an ash plume drifted about 100 km NE on 23 January. An explosion at 1430 on 27 January generated ash plumes that rose as high as 5.2 km (17,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 80 km NNE, prompting KVERT to raise the Aviation colour Code to Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).

Kilauea | Hawaiian Islands (USA) : During 24-30 January HVO reported that the lava lake continued to rise, fall, and spatter in Kilauea’s Overlook crater; spattering was briefly visible from the visitor overlook on 27 and 29 January. Surface lava flows were active above and on the pali, and on the coastal plain.

Reventador | Ecuador : During 24-30 January IG reported a high level of seismic activity including explosions, long-period earthquakes, harmonic tremor, and signals indicating emissions at Reventador. Steam, gas, and ash plumes rose at around 600 m above the crater rim and drifted mainly W and sometimes N. Incandescent blocks rolled as far as 800 m down the E flank and 200 m down the S and SE flanks. Weather clouds sometimes prevented visual observations.

Sabancaya | Peru : Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that explosive activity at Sabancaya had decreased compared to the previous week; there was an average of 33 explosions recorded per day during 22-28 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 NW and SW. The MIROVA system detected five thermal anomalies. The sulfur dioxide flux was high, at 3,477 tons per day on 22 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 on 19 and 23 January. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.

Sinabung | Indonesia : PVMBG reported that ash plumes at Sinabung rose as high as 2.5 km above the crater during 24-30 January and drifted E, S, SW, and W. Avalanches of incandescent material traveled as far as 1.5 km down the ESE flank. A pyroclastic flow traveled 2.5 km down the ESE flank on 27 January. The Alert Level remained at 4 (on a scale of 1-4), with a general exclusion zone of 3 km and extensions of 7 km on the SSE sector, 6 km in the ESE sector, and 4 km in the NNE sector.

Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that events at Turrialba at 1101 and 1427 on 26 January and at 0920 on 30 January generated plumes that rose 100-200 m above the crater rim and drifted SW.