Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:

Etna (Sicily, Italy): The recent eruptive episode, which could be called a mainly effusive paroxysm, seem to have more or less ended. Activity if still present (weak explosions at the NSEC and lava effusion from the fissure vent at its base) has decreased a lot. Visibility and weather are bad at the moment to have a more detailed picture.

Aso (Kyushu): (29 Jan) Weak ash emissions occurred this morning.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Lava effusion continues at the volcano and pyroclastic flows occurred this morning. During the past 7-10 days, the growing lava dome has effused an impressive thick extrusion lobe that managed to form a massive, approx. 800 m long coherent lava flow reaching the base of the mountain. The sticky lava flow followed and almost completely filled the deep ravine on the SE side of the volcano which before channeled the rockfalls and pyroclastic flows.

Dukono (Halmahera): (29 Jan) New explosions produced an ash plume this morning rising to 12,000 ft (3.6 km) and drifting 40 nautical miles to the southeast (VAAC Darwin).

Reventador (Ecuador): Activity at the volcano continues at moderate levels according to IG, but for the first time since a while, new ash emissions and incandescent material were reported. Since the afternoon of 28 Jan, the volcano's seismic signal showed episodes of continuous emission tremor and glowing material was seen descending on the eastern flank. A thermal hot spot is also visible on MODIS satellite data, suggesting that lava effusion from the dome has increased.

Tungurahua (Ecuador): A new eruptive phase has begun at the volcano. Since the early morning today, the seismic network detected an increase in earthquakes including signals of small explosions and long-period events and tremor typical for internal fluid movements (gasses and magma). The Tungurahua volcano Observatory while unable to make direct visual observations received reports from observers that fine black ash fell in Pungal and Penipe, and minor amounts in Palictahua. The black color of the ash suggests that it originates from fresh (so called juvenile) magma.