Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:

Etna (Sicily, Italy): During the night, the lava effusion and persistent mild explosive activity from the New SE crater ceased, after being nearly continuously active for over two months. If this is a true end or only a short pause to the latest eruptive phase which on 22 January remains to be seen. The tremor fell back to low levels in correspondence.

Karkar (Northeast of New Guinea): Several ash plumes at estimated altitude of 8,000 ft (2.4 km) were spotted during the past 2 days. This suggests a new eruptive phase could have started at the remote volcano.

Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): After a relatively long time with no spotted ash clouds, an ash plume was seen yesterday again on satellite imagery (VAAC Darwin). The remote volcano in the Fores Sea has been site of continuing strombolian activity since at least 2006. Some of the eruptions are strong enough to leave ash plumes that can be seen on satellite images.

Merapi (Central Java, Indonesia): A possibly strong eruption was reported from the volcano this afternoon (13:55 GMT). Satellite data showed an ash and SO2 plume drifting SW at estimated 32,000 ft (9 km) (VAAC Darwin). The plume is quickly dissipating, suggesting that the eruption was an isolated (possibly phreatic) explosion. No other details are at the moment available.

Marapi (Western Sumatra, Indonesia): The volcano erupted again yesterday afternoon at 16:15 local time, the volcano observatory post reported. It appears it was one of the largest explosions during the volcano's current phase of activity. Although the eruption was itself not visible due to cloud cover, the seismic signal showed a strong explosion that lasted 38 seconds and relatively "thick" ash fall occurred shortly afterwards in Batipuh and Tanahdatar districts until 17:45.

Dukono (Halmahera): Activity at the volcano continues to be intense. An ash plume was reported extending 80 nautical miles to the west at 10,000 ft (3 km) altitude this morning (VAAC Darwin).

Ubinas (Peru): The volcano's new lava dome continues to grow slowly within the crater. New field observations published yesterday in a detailed report showed that the lava dome is now approx. 120 m in diameter and has completely filled the inner pit left by the explosive activity in 2006 (as of 19 March). Visible glow (even in daylight) indicates very high temperatures. No explosions have occurred since the vent-clearing explosion on 14 Feb, but the volcano emits a significant plume of steam, SO2 gas and sometimes dilute ash. On 21 and 23 March, the steam-gas-ash plume rose 1800 m above the crater.