Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - Ongoing Activity for the week 12 October -18 October 2022

Aira - Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that 10 eruptive events and four explosions at Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) were recorded during 10-17 October. Volcanic plumes rose as high as 1.7 km above the crater rim and large blocks were ejected as far as 1.7 km from the vent. Incandescence at the crater was visible nightly. No notable changes at the summit were visible during an overflight on 12 October. Sulfur dioxide emissions were characterized as extremely high on 14 October at 4,000 tons per day.

Ebeko - Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that moderate activity at Ebeko was ongoing. According to volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island, about 7 km E) explosions generated ash plumes that rose to 4 km (13,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E and SE during 7-13 October. Ashfall was reported in Severo-Kurilsk during 6-7 and 13 October.

Great Sitkin - Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that slow lava effusion continued at Great Sitkin during 11-18 October. Satellite images were mostly cloudy, though continued slow growth of the flow field and steaming from a new flow margin were identified in satellite images on 12 October. Seismicity remained at low levels.

Home Reef - Tonga Ridge : The Tonga Geological Services reported that the last eruptive event at Home Reef occurred at 0209 on 13 October, based on satellite images processed by VOLCAT (Volcanic Cloud Analysis Toolkit) software. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images at 0146 on 17 October.

Karymsky - Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : On 15 October KVERT lowered the Aviation Color Code for Karymsky to Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-color scale), noting that strong explosions were last recorded on 7 August. Though a thermal anomaly continued to be identified in satellite images, the temperature of that anomaly had been decreasing since the explosions. Gas-and-steam emissions persisted, and in recent days snow sometimes covered the volcano.

Kilauea - Hawaiian Islands (USA) : HVO reported that lava continued to effuse from a vent in the lower W wall of Kilauea’s Halema`uma`u Crater during 11-18 October entering the lava lake and flowing onto the crater floor. Part of the lake’s surface was continuously active.

Lewotolok - Lembata Island : PVMBG reported that the Strombolian eruption at Lewotolok continued during 11-18 October. White emissions rose as high as 500 m above the summit almost daily and drifted in multiple directions. At 0351 on 14 October an eruptive event produced a dense gray ash plume that rose about 1.2 km above the summit and drifted SW.

Mauna Loa - Hawaiian Islands (USA) : HVO reported continuing unrest at Mauna Loa during 12-18 October. The seismic network detected 22-65 daily small-magnitude (below M 3) earthquakes 3-5 km beneath Mokua?weoweo caldera and 6-8 km beneath the upper NW flank of Mauna Loa. Data from Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments at the summit and flanks showed continuing inflation, though data from tiltmeters at the summit did not show significant surface deformation over the past week. A pair of earthquakes, M 4.6 and M 5, were recorded at 0907 on 14 October. The first one was located S of Pahala, just offshore, at a depth of about 13 km. The second earthquake followed 24 seconds later and was located S of Pahala (beneath Highway 11) at a depth of 7.4 km. The earthquakes were followed by more than 150 aftershocks in the Pahala region over the next two days. Twenty of the aftershocks were greater than M 2.5 and four were M 3-4. HVO noted that the unrest was likely driven by accumulation of new magma 3-8 km beneath the summit.

Mayon - Luzon (Philippines) : PHIVOLCS reported that white steam plumes from Mayon rose no higher than 500 m above the summit and drifted E. Sulfur dioxide emissions averaged 301 tonnes per day on 12 October. One volcanic earthquake was detected during 16-17 October. Electronic Distance Measuring (EDM), precise leveling, continuous GPS, and electronic tilt monitoring data showed that the volcano had been slightly inflated, especially on the NW and SE flanks, since 2020.

Merapi - Central Java : BPPTKG reported that the eruption at Merapi continued during 7-13 October and seismicity remained at high levels. The SW lava dome produced as many as seven lava avalanches that traveled as far as 1.5 km down the Bebeng drainage on the SW flank. No significant morphological changes to the central and SW lava domes were evident in drone photographs.

Nevados de Chillan - Central Chile : SERNAGEOMIN reported continuing activity at Nevados de Chillán’s Nicanor Crater during 11-18 October. At 0043 on 12 October a long-period earthquake was recorded and was possibly associated with an emission, but weather clouds prevented visual confirmation. A long-period earthquake at 1504 on 13 October was followed by a dense gray-black ash plume that rose almost 2.3 km and drifted NNE. Pyroclastic flows descended the NNE flank. Another long-period event, at 2108 on 15 October, was followed by the ejection of incandescent material as high as 800 m above the crater rim and as far as 700 m NE onto the flank. Explosions at 1613 on 16 October produced a dense grayish-black ash plume that rose more than 400 m and drifted SE, though weather clouds inhibited views. A pyroclastic flow traveled more than 500 m NNE.

Pavlof - Alaska Peninsula, Alaska : AVO reported that a minor eruption at a vent on Pavlof’s upper E flank was ongoing during 11-18 October and seismic tremor continued. Multiple explosions were recorded in seismic and infrasound data almost daily. Clear webcam views captured very small ash emissions and lava in the immediate vicinity of the vent during 11-14 October, and incandescent rock fragments being ejected from the vent during 13-14 October. Elevated surface temperatures were identified in satellite images on most days during 13-18 October.

Sheveluch - Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that the ongoing eruption at Sheveluch was characterized by explosions, hot avalanches, and lava-dome extrusion during 6-14 October. A daily thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images.

Suwanosejima - Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that the eruption at Suwanosejima's Ontake Crater continued during 10-17 October. A total of 71 explosions produced eruption plumes that rose as high as 2 km above the crater rim and ejected blocks as far as 600 m from the vent. Crater incandescence was visible nightly. Occasional ashfall was reported in Toshima village (3.5 km SSW) during the first half of the week.

Villarrica - Central Chile : POVI posted an 18 October photo of Villarrica showing incandescence above the crater rim and noted that crater incandescence had been visible on clear nights.