Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of 7 March - 13 March 2018

Kick 'em Jenny | North of Grenada : The University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre (SRC) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) reported that on 12 March the Alert Level for Kick 'em Jenny was raised to Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale) due to non-specified increased activity. The report reminded marine operators of the 5-km maritime exclusion zone.

Kirishimayama | Kyushu (Japan) : According to news articles, ash plumes from Shinmoedake (Shinmoe peak), a stratovolcano of the Kirishimayama volcano group, caused the cancelation of about 80 flights in and out of Kagoshima airport on 6 March. JMA reported that daily explosions during 6-13 March generated ash plumes that generally rose 3 km above the crater rim, though an ash plume on 10 March rose as high as 4.5 km. Explosions also ejected tephra that fell 700-1,800 m from the vent. Ashfall was reported in a wide area including in the prefectures of Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. An explosion at 1558 on 9 March rattled structures in the Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures. Satellite images showed an increase in the crater diameter from 550 m on 7 March to 650 m on 9 March. During overflights on 9 March observers noted white plumes rising from the margins of the lava covering the crater floor, from lava flows on the S flank, and from newly forming lava flows on the NW flank. The volume of erupted lava was an estimated 14 million cubic meters. The NW lava flow had advanced 226 m by 13 March. A high number of volcanic earthquakes continued to be recorded, in addition to many low-frequency earthquakes with shallow hypocenters. Volcanic tremor was continuous from 1 March until 1536 on 8 March; afterwards the signals had small amplitudes and were intermittent. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5).

Turrialba | Costa Rica : RSN and OVSICORI-UNA reported that a new eruptive phase at Turrialba began at 2240 on 6 March with minor ash emissions that rose 500 m above the vent rim and drifted NW. The activity intensified around midnight, with dense ash emissions and the ejection of incandescent blocks, and remained elevated almost until 0300 on 7 March. At 1740 activity again intensified; emissions with an increased volume of ash was recorded by the webcam from 1801-1820 drifting W. OVSICORI-UNA reported that events at 1515 on 8 March and 0920 on 13 March generated ash plumes that rose 300 m and drifted SW and NW, respectively.