Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:

Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Tremor remains elevated and small amounts of lava continues to spill over the rims of the NE crater. The big question is when a larger breach will occur and larger amounts of lava can exit to form a flow until the sea.

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): The past few days, activity has been calmer with only 1-2 weak to moderate explosions per day (ash plume heights 5-8,000 ft / 1.5-2.4 km).

Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): An ash plume was observed again today, rising 8000 ft (2.4 km), caused by what is likely a larger-than-normal explosion at the volcano.

Paluweh (off Flores Island, Indonesia): The lava dome remains very active. A new explosion or dome collapse last evening produced an ash plume rising to approximately 12,000 ft (3.7 km) observers from Flores' north coast reported to VAAC Darwin.

Lokon-Empung (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): No recent reports of explosions have become available, suggesting that the volcano has quieted down considerably compared to Nov-Jan when it produced almost daily eruptions.

White Island (New Zealand): After showing a very slow and gradual increase during the past days, tremor has jumped to some of the highest levels recorded since increased unrest and minor explosive activity has started last August.

Kamchatka: There are no significant changes in activity at any of the volcanoes in Kamchatka: lava continues to erupt from Tolbachik volcano, accompanied by stable, still relatively high tremor levels. Moderate seismicity suggests ongoing lava extrusion and dome building at Sheveluch and Kizimen. Low seismic activity was reported from Karymski and Klyuchevskoi volcano. The strong seismicity from Tolbachik obscures the signals from Bezymianny, which also continues to slowly build a lava dome. Gorely continues to show medium levels of tremor caused by fluid movements and strong degassing.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): After being relatively quiet yesterday, activity has picked up today again. VAAC Washington has just received information about a probable explosion that generated an ash plume of unknown height. Volcanic tremor has also shown an increased phase earlier today. At the moment, a significant steam plume can be seen on webcam images. SO2 emissions remain high as the latest NOAA satellite image shows.

Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): No significant changes occurred. Explosions of small and moderate size up to about 1 km height continue frequently and produce an ash plume drifting 15 km to the East and Northeast. Ash fall occurred in some parts of the city of Quetzaltenango where also faint odor of sulfur was noted. The lava flows on the sides of the dome remain active as well.

Pacaya (Guatemala): Weak gas and ash emissions continue. The seismic signal shows small superficial explosion signals and pulses of tremor lasting up to about 30 minutes.

Fuego (Guatemala): The volcano has been calmer today, with only 10 mostly weak strombolian explosions registered, and maximum ash plume heights of 600 m. Incandescent tephra was seen ejected to 100 m above the crater and rolling down towards the Ceniza canyon. Strong degassing with turbine-like noises lasting up to 3 minutes were heard.

Telica (Nicaragua): Another relatively strong seismic swarm has been in progress at the volcano since this morning. (The large signal is the regional magnitude 4.3 quake off the west coast and has nothing to do with the volcano).

San Cristobal (Nicaragua): Seismic activity has decreased. The large signal is the recent 4.3 quake off the west coast of Nicaragua.

Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): A cluster of stronger earthquakes occurred today.

Reventador (Ecuador): Seismicity has declined a bit today.

Tungurahua (Ecuador): Today and yesterday, the volcano has been taking a pause, but until the the evening of 16 March, eruptive activity had continued to increase gradually. IG reported a large explosion at 18:00 local time on 16 March, creating an ash column rising 4 km, accompanied by load roars. During this energetic phase, large bombs and blocks were ejected as well and a pyroclastic flow descended into the Mandur gully on the northwest flank in the axis of the Potato River.

Heard (Australia, Southern Indian Ocean): A significant hot spot continues to be detected at the summit crater of Heard volcano. A recent Terra / Modis satellite image of parts of the volcano (which usually is completely hidden under clouds) shows a dark area immediately to the west of Mawson Peak. This could correspond to a fresh lava flow.