Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - Ongoing Activity for the week of 7 June - 13 June 2023

Aira - Kyushu (Japan), : JMA reported ongoing activity at both Minamidake Crater and Showa Crater during 5-12 June. Eruptive events at Showa were recorded at 0211, 0352, 0440, and 1436 on 5 June and generated ash plumes that rose as high as 1.5 km above the crater rim and sometimes drifted E and SE. Explosions at Minamidake produced ash plumes that rose 1.5 and 2.5 km above the crater rim at 0012 on 5 June and 1401 on 7 June, respectively, and ejected blocks 500-700 m from the vent. Ash-and-gas emissions were continuous with plumes rising as high as 1.5 km and then declining to 800 m during 1401-1505 on 7 June, and drifting SE. Since the volcano is so active, JMA noted that only emissions above a certain threshold of density and height get reported; at 1505 the emission characteristics declined to below that threshold.

Cotopaxi - Ecuador : IG reported that moderate eruptive activity continued at Cotopaxi during 6-13 June. Seismic activity was mainly characterized by long-period earthquakes and tremors associated with daily emissions; one volcano-tectonic event was recorded during 6-7 June. Small gas-and-steam emissions rose as high as 300 m above the crater rim during 6-9 June. A small lahar was detected by the seismic network on 8 June and descended the NW flank. Several daily ash-and-gas emissions were visible during 10-13 June and were continuous during part of 12 June. The plumes rose 200-600 m above the crater rim and drifted NW, W, and SW.

Ebeko - Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that moderate activity at Ebeko was ongoing during 1-8 June. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images during 2, 4, and 7-8 June. According to volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island, about 7 km E) explosions during 5-8 June generated ash plumes that rose as high as 3.5 km (11,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and SE.

Great Sitkin - Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that slow lava effusion continued at Great Sitkin during 6-13 June, producing a thick lava flow confined to the summit crater. Seismicity remained low. Steam emissions were visible in satellite images during 7-8 June and slightly elevated surface temperatures were identified on 8 June; weather clouds prevented satellite and webcam observations on the other days.

Karangetang - Sangihe Islands : PVMBG reported that daily white gas-and-steam plumes from Karangetang were visible rising as high as 200 m and drifting W, NW, and NE during 7-13 June. Webcam images published in the daily reports showed incandescence at Main Crater (S crater) and from material on the flanks of Main Crater at 2225 on 7 June and 2051 on 9 June.

Krakatau - Sunda Strait : PVMBG reported that multiple dense ash plumes were visible rising above Krakatau’s summit during 8-11 June. On 8 June at 0746 a gray ash plume rose 500 m and drifted SW, and at 1537 a dark-gray ash plume rose 1 km and drifted SW. At 0746 on 9 June gray plume rose 800 m and drifted SW; a dark gray ash plume at 0846 rose 3 km and drifted SW. At 0423, 1431, and 1750 on 10 June gray ash plumes rose 1.5-3.5 km and drifted NW. A webcam image showed incandescent material being ejected above the crater at 0455. At 0030 on 11 June a dense gray ash plume rose 2 km and drifted NW. A webcam image about a half an hour later, at 0102, showed incandescent material being ejected above the crater. Diffuse white gas-and-steam plumes rose just 50 m during 12-13 June.

Lewotolok - Lembata Island : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Lewotolok continued during 7-13 June. Daily white-and-gray ash plumes rose as high as 700 m above the summit and drifted SW, W, and NW.

Merapi - Central Java : BPPTKG reported that the eruption at Merapi (on Java) continued during 2-8 June and seismicity remained at elevated levels. The SW lava dome produced 99 lava avalanches that traveled as far as 2 km down the SW flank (upstream in the Bebeng drainage). Morphological changes to the SW lava dome due to continuing collapses of material were evident in webcam images.

Nyiragongo - DR Congo : The Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma (OVG) reported that the eruption at Nyiragongo continued during 5-11 June and sulfur dioxide levels in the emissions remained low. Crater incandescence and gas emissions were visible at 1800 on 10 June

Reventador - Ecuador : IG reported that the eruption at Reventador was ongoing during 6-13 June. Seismicity was characterized by explosions, long-period earthquakes, harmonic tremor, and tremor associated with emissions. Though weather clouds hindered visual observations of emissions during 6-7 June, several explosions overnight ejected incandescent material onto the flanks; some of the material rolled down the E flank. During 7-10 June several steam-and-ash emissions rose as high as 1 km above the crater rim and drifted W. Crater incandescence was visible during overnight hours and incandescent blocks sometimes rolled 400-500 m down the flanks. Crater incandescence was visible overnight during 11-13 June. Weather conditions prevented views on 11 June. Gas-and-ash plumes rose 600-800 m and drifted W during 12-13 June.

Semeru - Eastern Java : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 7-13 June. A dense gray ash plume rose 500 m above the summit and drifted SW at 0534 on 8 June. White-and-gray ash plumes rose 300-400 m above the summit and rifted W and SW at 1214 on 8 June, 0942 on 9 June, and 0653 on 10 June.

Sheveluch - Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that the eruption at Sheveluch was ongoing during 1-8 June. Intense fumarolic activity at the active crater was likely associated with growth of Karan lava dome. A daily thermal anomaly over the active crater area was identified in satellite images.

Suwanosejima - Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that the eruption at Suwanosejima's Ontake Crater continued, though monitoring parameters had been showing a declining trend. Blocks had not been ejected more than 1 km from the crater after 15 February and the number of explosions had decreased since March. GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) deformation measurements did not indicate accumulating magma beneath the W part of the island and the number volcanic earthquakes in that area was low. Eruptive activity during 7, 9-10, and 12 June generated ash plumes that rose 1-1.5 km above the crater rim and drifted in multiple directions. An explosion at 1803 on 7 June produced an ash plume that rose 1.4 km and drifted E. Explosions were recorded at 0230 on 9 June and 1758 on 10 June, though details of any emissions were unknown.

Taal - Luzon (Philippines) : PHIVOLCS reported continuing low-level unrest at Taal during 6-13 June characterized by elevated seismicity, upwelling in the lake, and sulfur dioxide gas emissions. Volcanic tremor located at shallow depths along the Daang Kastila fissure was continuous with almost 166 hours recorded during 2-9 June; periods of volcanic tremor also took place 4-7 times each day during 9-12 June, each lasting 2-97 minutes. There were 1-11 volcanic earthquakes recorded on most days. Upwelling gasses and hot fluids in the lake continued to be visible almost daily, and voluminous white steam-and-gas plumes that rose as high as 3 km above the lake drifted NW, E, and SSE. Daily sulfur dioxide emissions averaged 2,941-6,884 tonnes per day. The steam-and-gas plumes produced voggy conditions in the caldera during 6-9 June, prompting an advisory to the public to be issued on 7 June.