Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:

Hekla (Iceland): The famous Icelandic volcano is showing further signs that indicate an eruption could occur in a near future. Significant rapid inflation, concentrated in the northern part of the volcano, has been detected since early April and likely represents accumulation of rising magma underneath. Already in mid March this year, an earthquake swarm, volcanic tremor and deformation caused an alert, because it was believed that this was caused by rapid movement of magma under the volcano.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Activity has decreased again to average levels of the past months. CENPARED reported less than 1 weak steam-gas-ash emission per hour during the 24 hours since yesterday. A slightly more powerful explosion this morning produced an ash plume rising 800 m and ejected incandescent bombs onto the NE crater rim.

Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): Activity remains more or less stable, with occasional explosions from the lava dome producing ash plumes up to about 800 m high. Effusive activity in the form of avalanches from the blocky lava flows on the sides of the Caliente dome has remained relatively weak.

Pacaya (Guatemala): Small strombolian activity continues from the Mackenney crater.

Fuego (Guatemala): Lava effusion feeding the two active flows remains abundant and there are now near-constant strombolian explosions from the summit crater, accompanied by locomotive-like degassing sounds. Some of the explosions generate shock waves. Ash reaches about 6-700 m above the crater and drifts 10 km to the S and SW.

Tungurahua (Ecuador): Eruptive activity remains strong with ash emissions interrupted by strong vulcanian-type explosions. An explosion at 18h30 local time the day before yesterday produced an ash plume rising 5 km above the crater, and ejected incandescent blocks to 400 m distance from the crater. Strong noises were heard from Pondoa. Yesterday morning, the volcano was mostly hidden in clouds, but generated dark gray ash emissions drifting ESE. Several explosions occurred that rattled windows and caused vibrations of the ground. Ash falls were reported in the areas of El Manzano, Cahuají, Puela, Penipe and Riobamba.