Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Copahue volcano (Chile/Argentina) activity update: ash explosions and crater incandescence Activity has picked up at the volcano: at least two moderately strong explosions occurred yesterday 11 Oct at 06:25 and 14:53 local time, with ash plumes rising more than 1000 m. In addition, intermittent incandescence from the crater has been visible during the night 10-11 Oct. At the moment, it is unclear whether this activity is driven by fresh magma approaching the crater or simply phreatic in nature, i.e. caused by steam explosions from the hydrothermal system that could have lead to the release of hot, incandescent gasses seen at night. The frequent, sometimes continuous steam and ash emissions that had been observed during the previous days seem to have gradually become stronger, webcam imagery suggests.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): (11 Oct) Activity has picked up considerably at the volcano during the past days. Several pyroclastic flows (dangerous hot avalanches of fragmented lava and hot gasses) traveled down the SE (and some on the NE) flanks of the volcano, threatening again the closest inhabited areas to the S of Sinabung. The flows originated by collapses on the viscous growing lava lobe on the steep southeastern flank of the volcano and traveled distances of 3-4.5 km. Some still inhabited villages on the southern feet of the volcano are now at elevated risk. Ash fall has occurred in more than 12 km distances as a result of the so-called co-ignimbrite ash plumes (rising ash from the avalanches) that rose to several km height. Some ash plumes reached Medan airport where several flights have been cancelled.