Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - Ongoing Activity for the week 7 December - 13 December 2022

Aira - Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported ongoing eruptive activity at Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 5-12 December consisting of a few eruptive events and three explosions. Crater incandescence was visible nightly. Explosions produced ash plumes that rose as high as 2.7 km above the crater rim and ejected large blocks as far as 1.1 km away. Sulfur dioxide emissions were high at 2,800 tons per day on 6 December.

Alaid - Kuril Islands (Russia) : KVERT reported that the eruption at Alaid was ongoing during 1-8 December. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images on 2 and 8 December; weather clouds obscured observations on the other days.

Cotopaxi - Ecuador : IG reported that the low-level eruption at Cotopaxi continued during 7-13 December characterized by steam-and-gas emissions and occasional ash emissions. Sulfur dioxide emissions measured by satellite almost daily averaged 665-2,745 tons per day. Steam-and-gas emissions observed during 7-10 December rose as high as 2 km above the crater rim and drifted SW, W, and NW. Ash emissions during 0758-0816 on 8 December rose 1 km and drifted WNW. The Washington VAAC issued three advisories noting that ash rose 800-1,100 m and drifted W. A tremor signal that started at 0832 on 9 December was probably related to gas-and-ash emissions, though cloudy weather conditions prevented visual confirmation. During the night of 9-10 December several steam-and-ash emissions were identified in satellite images rising as high as 1.1 km and drifting NW. Minor ashfall was reported in Conocoto-Pichincha in the morning of 10 December. At 0930 on 11 December the seismic stations recorded a signal related to gas-and-ash emissions that rose 2 km and drifted W. Ash fell in Control Caspi, located at the S entrance to Parque Nacional Cotopaxi. Several gas-and-steam emissions with low ash content were visible that afternoon and during the morning of 12 December rising as high as 500 m and drifting W.

Ebeko - Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that moderate activity at Ebeko was ongoing during 1-8 December. According to volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island, about 7 km E) explosions during 1-2 and 7 December generated ash plumes that rose to 2.5 km (8,200 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE. The volcano was quiet or obscured by weather clouds on the other days of the week.

Great Sitkin - Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that slow lava effusion continued at Great Sitkin during 27 November-11 December based on satellite images. Cloud cover mostly prevented satellite and webcam observations during 7-12 December. Seismicity remained at low levels.

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 6-8 December and entered the lava lake, though the eruption rate had diminished, and the floor of the crater had deflated. The eruption ceased on 9 December. During 10-12 December the lake crusted over, no incandescence was visible, and sulfur dioxide emissions had decreased to near pre-eruption background levels.

Merapi - Central Java : BPPTKG reported that the eruption at Merapi continued during 2-8 December and seismicity remained at high levels. The SW lava dome produced two lava avalanches that traveled as far as 1.6 km down the SW flank (upstream in the Kali Bebeng drainage). No significant morphological changes to the central and SW lava domes were evident.

Pavlof - Alaska Peninsula, Alaska : AVO reported that seismic tremor and a few low-frequency earthquakes at Pavlof indicated continuing unrest during 7-13 December; one explosion was recorded on 7 December. No explosions or lava flow activity was detected in seismic, infrasound, satellite, or webcam data during the rest of the week. The report noted that events on 3 December resulted in the erosion of a narrow, 2-km-long gully beneath the ice below the vent.

Sabancaya - Peru : Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP) reported moderate levels of activity at Sabancaya during 5-11 December with a daily average of 40 explosions. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as high as 2 km above the summit and drifted SW, S, and NE. Two thermal anomalies originating from the lava dome in the summit crater were identified in satellite data. Minor inflation continued to be detected near Hualca Hualca (4 km N).

San Miguel - Eastern El Salvador : On 7 December MARN reported that activity at San Miguel had decreased. No explosions had been recorded since 29 November and seismicity had decreased. Sulfur dioxide emissions were below the baseline of 300 tons per day.

Sheveluch - Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that the ongoing eruption at Sheveluch during 2-8 December was generally characterized by explosions, hot avalanches, lava-dome extrusion, and strong fumarolic activity. A daily thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images. Collapses generated hot avalanches and ash plumes that drifted 60 km NE and E during the week.

Stromboli - Aeolian Islands (Italy) : INGV reported that lava continued to flow from the vent that opened on 4 December just downslope of the N2 vent in Stromboli’s Area N. The flow had descended the Sciara del Fuoco and reached the coast by around 1700 on 4 December. By 7 December only the top third of the flow was active while the rest of the flow was cooling. The flow was last confirmed to be active in webcam images on 8 December, but afterwards the webcam stream was interrupted. Explosions at three vents in Area N ejected coarse material (bombs and lapilli) less than 80 m high at a rate of 1-7 explosions per hour during 5-11 December.

Suwanosejima - Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that the eruption at Suwanosejima's Ontake Crater continued during 5-12 December and crater incandescence was visible nightly. No explosions were recorded. Eruption plumes rose as high as 1.7 km above the crater rim and blocks were ejected as far as 200 m from the vent. Ashfall was occasionally reported in Toshima village (3.5 km SSW).

Villarrica - Central Chile : SERNAGEOMIN reported that during an overflight of Villarrica on 6 December scientists observed intense gas emissions from the lava lake and tephra deposits on the S and SE flanks, as far as 500 m from the crater. During 7-12 December seismicity slightly increased, whitish, low-altitude gas plumes were emitted, and incandescence from the crater was sometimes visible.

Whakaari/White Island - North Island (New Zealand) : On 12 December GeoNet reported continuing unrest at Whakaari/White Island characterized by minor-to-moderate gas-and-steam emissions and low levels of gas. During an overflight on 6 December sulfur dioxide gas emissions averaged around 273 tonnes per day and carbon dioxide emissions averaged around 787 tonnes per day, levels similar to those last measured on 14 October. The lake level had decreased. No signs of ash emissions or other eruptive activity were recorded.