Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity:

The eruption of Plosky Tolbachik volcano in Kamchatka continues with vigorous lava emission and strong tremor as during the beginning of the eruption. Lava flows have now reached a reported length of 20 km. The seismic activity from the volcano is so strong that the seismic recordings from nearby Klyuchevskoy and Bezymianny are obscured.

Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador remains very active, although the strength of explosions, compared to Saturday-Sunday, has calmed down since yesterday. Constant ash emissions, strong strombolian explosions and pulses of lava fountain up to 1 KM (!) height above the crater were reported seen during the night. In the morning, a small small pyroclastic flow descended through the gorge of La Hacienda. Occasionally, roars of varying intensity were heard. A dark ash column rises about 1.5 km and drifts westward. Tremor remains at high near saturation levels.

Seismicity has recently decreased and become more discontinuous at Reventador volcano, the second currently active volcano in Ecuador.

A stronger phase of activity occurred at the lava dome of Paluweh volcano this morning. VAAC Darwin reported an ash plume rising to 11,000 ft (3.4 km), i.a. 2.5 km above the crater.

The number of emissions of Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico has further increased; there were 121 events, i.e. about 4 per hour counted since yesterday. Most produced only puffs of steam and gas, and in some cases very small amounts of ash. Other monitoring parameters remain unchanged. During the night glow was observed in the crater. In the morning, a steam and gas plume was seen rising about 800 meters above the crater and drifting to the southeast.

A relatively strong SO2 cloud was detected over Turrialba volcano in Costa Rica today, suggesting increased degassing.

Mild strombolian activity was observed at Fuego volcano with with ash plumes rising up to 400 m and incandescent bombs reaching 150 m above the crater. The lava flow remains active and was about 300 m long this morning.

Weak incandescence was seen from the Santiaguito lava dome at night and the lava flows descending its flanks remained active.

Pacaya volcano remains calm at the surface, but small volcanic earthquakes are occurring frequently.

Occasional weak ash explosions continue to occur from time to time at Galeras volcano in Colombia, such as observed during exceptionally clear weather yesterday. Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia continues to have pulses of small quakes and produces a significant steam and gas plume, occasionally accompanied by ash venting. Seismic unrest continues at Cerro Machin volcano. On December 14 and 16, 2 felt earthquakes occurred under the volcano.