Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the Week 23 December 2020 – 29 December 2020

Aira – Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that during 21-28 December incandescence from Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) was often visible nightly. The sulfur dioxide emission rate remained high, with 2,900 tons measured on 21 December. Six explosions were recorded, generating plumes that rose as high as 2.4 km above the crater rim and ejected bombs 0.6-1.3 km away from the crater. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).

Dukono – Halmahera (Indonesia) : PVMBG and the Darwin VAAC reported that on most days during 23-29 December ash plumes from Dukono rose 100-600 m above the summit. Weather conditions sometimes prevented visual observations. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.

Ebeko – Paramushir Island (Russia) : Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 18-21 and 24 December; ash plumes rose up to 5 km (16,400 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and SE. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images during 18-19 December. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).

Karymsky – Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was visible during 19-20 and 24 December. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).

Klyuchevskoy – Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that Strombolian and sometimes Vulcanian activity at Klyuchevskoy continued during 18-25 December and lava advanced down the Kozyrevsky drainage on the S flank. Lava first flowed down the S flank on 8 December. A large bright thermal anomaly was identified daily in satellite images. Steam-and-gas plumes with some ash rose to 6 km (19,700 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 340 km mainly E. The Kamchatka Volcanological Station field team visited the area on 24 December to do work on field stations. They observed explosions that ejected incandescent material 300 m above the crater rim. A growing cinder cone in the summit crater was about 75 m higher than part of the crater rim. The lava flow ended at about 3,700 m elevation and spalled off incandescent material, descending an additional 350 m. The Aviation colour Code remined at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).

Merapi – Central Java (Indonesia) : BPPTKG reported that during 12-17 December white emissions from Merapi rose as high as 150 m above the summit. A comparison of photos taken on 11 and 15 December showed some slight morphological changes in the summit area; drone footage from 14 December revealed no new lava dome material in the summit crater. Rock avalanches traveled as far as 1.5 km down the Senowo drainage on the NW flank on 14 December. Seismic activity was less intense than the previous week. Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) data continued to measure a distance shortening between points in the NW at a rate of 9 cm per day. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4).

Sheveluch – Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 18-25 December. Two strong explosive events on 22 and 24 December generated large ash clouds that rose as high as 8 km (26,200 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 625 km E. The Aviation colour Code was briefly raised to Red (the highest level on a four-colour scale) on 22 December, but then was lowered back to Orange.

Sinabung – Indonesia : PVMBG reported that white plumes rose 100-500 m above Sinabung’s summit during 23-29 December. At 1751 on 28 December an ash plume rose 500 m above the summit and drifted S. At 1227 on 29 December an ash plume drifted SW. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), with a general exclusion zone of 3 km and extensions to 5 km in the SE sector and 4 km in the NE sector.

Villarrica – Chile : POVI reported that increased seismicity, more intense crater incandescence, and a notable sulfur odor was noted at Villarrica during 18-19 December. Minor ash emissions rose to low heights above the crater rim on 22 December. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, the second lowest level on a four-colour scale. ONEMI maintained an Alert Level Yellow (the middle level on a three-colour scale) for the municipalities of Villarrica, Pucón (16 km N), Curarrehue, the commune of Panguipulli, and the exclusion zone for the public of 500 m around the crater.

Whakaari/White Island – North Island (New Zealand) : GeoNet reported that beginning around 1500 on 29 December a series of small steam explosions at Whakaari/White Island were recorded for about 30 minutes by local seismic and acoustic instruments. Vigorous steam plumes rising from the main vents were observed in webcam images. Ash was not evident in satellite images though ash may have been present in the plumes near the vent. The Volcanic Alert Level remained at 1 and the Aviation colour Code remained at Green.

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