Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity - New Activity for the week of 23 October - 29 October 2019

Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : A small amount of ash began to be visible in gas-and-steam emissions at Klyuchevskoy beginning at 1020 on 24 October, prompting KVERT to raise the Aviation colour Code to Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-colour scale). Later that day video images showed an ash plume rising as high as 6 km (19,700 ft) a.s.l. and drifting 40 km NE. The Aviation colour Code was raised to Orange. KVERT and the Tokyo VAAC noted that during 25-28 October ash plumes rose to 5.5 km (18,000 ft) a.sl. and drifted 15-20 km SE, E, and NW. A weak thermal anomaly over the volcano was identified on 18 and 24 October.

Kuchinoerabujima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : A large shallow earthquake at Kuchinoerabujima was recorded at 2133 on 27 October, prompting JMA to raise the Alert Level to 3 (the middle level on a scale of 1-5) within a few hours. The report also stated that the number of volcanic earthquakes had increased on 18 October. A large earthquake was also detected on 18 October but had occurred at a slightly deeper location (below the W part of Shindake Crater) than the 27 October event.

Pavlof | United States : AVO reported that after a small explosion at Pavlof was recorded on 19 October and before 25 October clear satellite and webcam views did not show any deposits associated with the event. Weakly elevated surface temperatures and a small steam plume were occasionally visible. No other activity was detected during 26-29 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Advisory.

Shishaldin | Fox Islands (USA) : Pilot and local observations as well as webcam views all indicated that the incandescence at Shishaldin’s summit crater was from low-level Strombolian activity during 21-22 October. Seismicity and infrasound signals were consistent with low-level eruptive activity, and a steam plume was persistent. By 23 October lava had filled the crater and during 23-24 October overflowed the N crater rim. A 200-m-long lava flow on the N flank melted snow and caused a lahar which traveled 2.9 km and stopped at about 1,230 m elevation. A smaller lava flows caused a 1-km-long lahar to descend the NE flank. Spatter accumulated around the crater rim and melted snow. On 25 October AVO noted that trace ash deposits had extended at least 8.5 km SE. Low-level eruptive activity continued during 26-29 October. Seismicity remained elevated, with periods of high-amplitude tremor. Small explosions were recorded during 27-28 October. A satellite image from 28 October showed a 850-m-long SWIR anomaly on the NW flank from a lava flow. A central spatter cone was visible. Spatter deposits on the snow at the upper flanks was evident, and tephra deposits extended about 2.5 km N. The lahar on the NW flank branched extensively at lower elevations and was at least 5 km long. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.