Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity - New Activity for the week of 30 October - 5 November 2019

Kikai | Japan : An eruption at Satsuma Iwo-jima, a subaerial part of Kikai’s NW caldera rim, was detected at 1735 on 2 November, prompting JMA to raise the Alert Level to 2 (on a 5-level scale). A grayish-white plume rose 1 km above the Iodake crater rim. The report noted that the number of volcanic earthquakes has been low, with no variations before or after the event. The next day during an overflight conducted by the Coast Guard and the Japan Meteorological Agency Mobile Survey Team (JMA-MOT) observers noted no changes to the geothermal field and no new deposits from the event the day before. Views of the crater were obscured by white plumes rising 300 m above the crater rim.

Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that ash plumes and steam-and-gas plumes with some ash drifted 130 km SW on 25 October according to video and satellite data. A weak thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images during 26-27 and 30 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.

Metis Shoal | Tonga Islands : GeoNet reported that by 1 November the eruption at Metis Shoal (Lateiki) had formed an elongated island, with no visible evidence of the old 1995 dome. According to a news article the new island is about 100 m wide and 400 m long, and had emerged at a location 120 m away from the former island. The article noted that the eruption had ceased.

Shishaldin | Fox Islands (USA) : AVO reported that by 28 October two stalled lava flows extended as far as 1.8 km down Shishaldin’s NW flank, lahars had traveled at least 4 km down the NW flank, and trace ash deposits on the N flank were identified in satellite images. Activity paused during 29-30 October but resumed on 31 October. Numerous small explosions were detected by the local seismic network during 31 October-1 November and incandescence was visible in webcam images. There was no evidence of active lava flows outside of the summit crater. During 1-2 November seismicity remained elevated characterized by periods of high-amplitude tremor. Small explosions were recorded in seismic and infrasound data. Elevated surface temperatures were detected in satellite images and incandescence was observed in webcam images overnight. A pilot observed a lava flow in the morning of 2 November. Sporadic incandescence recorded by the webcam overnight during 2-3 November suggested minor explosive activity and/or lava fountaining. On 3 November lava overflowed the summit crater and traveled at least 400 m down the NW flank and 300 m down the SE flank. By 4 November the flow on the NW flank had branched and lengthened to 1 km. Lahars were as long as 2 km on the N and S flanks. Spatter deposits from explosions or fountaining were visible on the summit cone. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.