Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:

Kizimen (Kamchatka): A rock spine that had been growing at the summit of the active lava dome has collapsed, producing pyroclastic flows and an ash plume rising to 20,000 ft (6 km) altitude.

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): An explosion and/or partial dome collapse produced an ash plume rising to 15,000 ft (4.7 km) last night and drifting east (Tokyo VAAC).

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): A strong vulcanian explosion occurred last night at 11:02 GMT (20:02 local time), following several hours of near complete calm at the volcano. A loud cannon-shot bang accompanied the explosion, which generated a large mushroom cloud that reached 12,000 ft (3.7 km) altitude and engulfed the NE half of the Sakurajima peninsula and was followed by several smaller ones within about half an hour. The volcano and much of the surrounding areas remained under the ash plume for several hours until it started to clear up again. In the hours after the explosion, the Showa crater continued to emit ash plumes in often near-continuous pulses, sometimes reaching several 100 m height, but with no visible incandescence or audible sounds.

Bagana (Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea): An small SO2 plume is seen on satellite images drifting from Bagana volcano. This suggests continuing activity.

Merapi (Central Java): Merapi volcano, on the island if Java, Indonesia produced a moderate emission of ash earlier today. Locals reported an eruption of dark red material to a height of 1 km was reported. Rainfall that was occurring at the time, mixed with the ash to create a heavy mud that forced locals to evacuate the slopes of the volcano.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): The volcano has quieted down and produces only smaller emissions of mainly steam and gas at rates of 1-2 per hour.

Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): Activity remains low with no significant changes. Few explosions occur, but the lava flow on the southern slope of the Caliente dome remains weakly active.

Pacaya (Guatemala): Activity has dropped at bit apparently. Although the seismic signal suggests that small strombolian-type explosions still seem to continue, INSIVUMEH reported only degassing and no sounds of explosions heard.

Fuego (Guatemala): There are no significant changes in activity, which remains weak (8 small to moderate explosions during 20-21 July) and mainly effusive; the lava flow on the southern side was about 300 m long and produced small avalanches of blocks towards the Taniluya canyon.

Tungurahua (Ecuador): An increase of activity occurred yesterday. IGPEN recorded 3 strong pulses of volcanic tremor since midnight 20-21 July (local time), which were accompanied by strombolian activity and strong explosions that produced loud roars, heavy gunfire sounds, and vibrations that rattled floors, windows and doors of houses in areas nearby. Some were heard even in the Tungurahua Volcano Observatory (OVT), located 14 km north of the volcano. The largest explosion yesterday at 14h18 (local time) generated an eruption column of 5 km height moving east.