Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity 11 November 2012 Update:

New explosions occurred earlier today from Paluweh (Rokatenda) volcano in Flores, Indonesia. An ash plume was observed at 09:30 GMT reaching 8,000 ft (2.4 km) altitude and extending 80 nm (about 140 km) to the NW.

A new explosion occurred earlier today at Cleveland volcano in the Aleutian Islands. A small ash cloud was detected on satellite images. AVO raised the Aviation Color Code to orange.

Lokon volcano in North Sulawesi produced another small explosion today at 13:47 local time. Residents heard a loud bang and observed ash coming out from the crater. Ash was not seen on satellite data.

The seismic swarm in the Tjörnes Fracture Zone north off Iceland regained some strength the past days. The seismic swarm has now been ongoing for almost 3 weeks.

After being unusually quiet, two of the volcanoes in the Philippines seem to become more restless: Mayon volcano has started to show some signs of renewed activity. PHILVOLS has detected a slightly elevated number of quakes and weak inflation of parts of the volcanic edifice. The volcano is producing a gas and steam plume. It is not expected to erupt in the near future, but PHILVOLCS recommends a safety distance of 6 km due to the risk of sudeen phreatic explosions and lahars.

Taal volcano has been showing increased CO2 emissions, but otherwise no significant changes in the ongoing weak volcanic unrest.

Popocatépetl in Mexico had more than 120 emissions of steam and sometimes small amounts of ash during 9-10 November, in other words more than 3 times what has been reported for most of the previous days. It is unclear whether this is due to better observation circumstances (clearer weather etc.) or reflects a true increase of activity.

During 9-10 Nov, Fuego volcano was unusually quiet with only 3 weak explosions. The latest INSIVUMEH report also mentions the length of the lava flow at only 200 m, which would suggest that effusion rate has dropped a lot (temporarily).

During the past days, also Santiaguito seems to have been calm compared to previous periods. INSIVUMEH reports steaming and a few weak explosions, but states the dome was "calm".

A strong thermal anomaly remains visible at Alaid volcano in the Northern Kuriles, Russia.

MODIS satellite data continues also to show a hotspot at Heard Island volcano.