Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:

Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Lava continues to intermittently flow over and out of vents at the rim and the base of the NE crater. Yesterday, the active flow front had reached about half way down the Sciara, local guides reported. Today, tremor has decreased again a bit, but overflows remain active at least in the upper parts of the slope. Relatively large explosions and near-constant rockfalls on the Sciara continue during the whole time.

Etna (Sicily, Italy): After 3 days of quiet, strombolian activity has resumed at the New SE crater yesterday. This has been accompanied by a rise of the tremor signal. Most likely, Etna is preparing again for yet another paroxysm in the near future.

Bagana (Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea): Heightened activity continues at Bagana. The latest NOAA satellite data reveal a significant plume of SO2 from the volcano.

Dukono (Halmahera): An unusually large SO2 plume from Dukono suggests the volcano, in semi-permanent strombolian-type eruption for many years, is currently in a phase of elevated activity.

Ambrym (Vanuatu): A SO2 plume is hovering over Ambrym island, suggesting that the lava lakes continue to be active. Our next group going there next week will hopefully be able to confirm this by direct observation.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Activity has remained low, with only about 1 weak emission of mainly steam per hour. Glow at the summit continues to be seen at night.

Fuego (Guatemala): Activity has decreased - the lava flows stopped being alimented yesterday and the explosive activity has become weaker. Different from previous eruptive phases, this time, it did not culminate in a paroxysmal eruption.

Galeras (Colombia): Activity (seismic and at the surface) has recently calmed down at the volcano.

Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): More earthquakes have occurred at shallow depth beneath the volcano, including a magnitude 2.6 quake yesterday noon (local time) at 5 km NE beneath the Arenas crater, as well as some larger events later at night (no updates from Manizales observatory yet, though). The seismic swarm continues.

Cumbal (Colombia): Pasto observatory reported an increase in seismic activity during the past week, with many small volcanic-tectonic quakes u to magnitudes of 2.6 at varying depths of up to 20 km underneath of La Plazuela crater on the northern sector of the volcanic complex.

Reventador (Ecuador): Last night, emissions of steam and some ash produced a column rising bout 1 km above the crater.

Tungurahua (Ecuador): Activity remains at moderate levels. Steam and ash emissions produce plumes rising about 2 km from the crater, and occasional stronger explosions with cannon-shot noises can be heard (rarely seen) ejecting blocks that fall onto the outer upper slopes and tumble downhill.

Heard (Australia, Southern Indian Ocean): Effusive eruptive activity at the remote volcano continues. A recent satellite picture shows a new lava flow on the SW flank of Mawson Peak. A MODIS hot spot is visible as well. Starting in October 2012, satellites measured subtle signals that suggested volcanic activity on remote Heard Island. The recent satellite images (NASA Earth Observatory) have now provided proof of an eruption otherwise likely undetected.