Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - Ongoing Activity for the week 14 December - 20 December 2022

Aira - Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported ongoing eruptive activity at Minamidake Crater during 12-19 December. Crater incandescence was visible nightly. Two explosions on 14 December produced eruption plumes that rose as high as 1.7 km and disappeared into weather clouds. Blocks were ejected as far as 700 m. An explosion at 0805 on 17 December produced a plume that rose 700 m and into the clouds. Blocks were ejected 900 m.

Alaid - Kuril Islands (Russia) : KVERT reported that the eruption at Alaid was ongoing during 8-15 December. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images on 8, 12, and 14 December; weather clouds obscured observations on the other days.

Bezymianny - Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that during 8-15 December a daily thermal anomaly over Bezymianny was identified in satellite images.

Ebeko - Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that moderate activity at Ebeko was ongoing during 8-15 December. According to volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island, about 7 km E) explosions on 9 December generated ash plumes that rose to 2.6 km (8,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E. The volcano was obscured by weather clouds on the other days of the week.

Great Sitkin - Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that slow lava effusion likely continued at Great Sitkin during 13-20 December, though satellite and webcam observations were mostly obscured by clouds. Nothing notable was observed in clear webcam and satellite views during 19-20 December. No significant seismic activity was detected.

Karymsky - Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly at Karymsky was identified in satellite images on 12 and 13 December. Gas-and-steam emissions persisted.

Kerinci - Central Sumatra : PVMBG reported that daily white steam-and-gas plumes rose as high as 150 m above Kerinci’s summit and drifted NE and NW during 14-17 December. Brown plumes rose 100 m above the summit and drifted NW and E during 17-19 December.

Krakatau - Sunda Strait : PVMBG reported that at 1031 on 15 December an eruptive event at Anak Krakatau produced a dense gray ash plume that rose 700 m above summit and drifted NE. Four minutes later a white-and-gray ash plume rose 100 m and drifted NE. At 1910 a gray ash plume rose 100 m and drifted E. An image from 1936 showed incandescent material being ejected above vent. Weather clouds often prevented views of the volcano during 16-19 December, though white plumes were occasionally seen rising as high as 50 m above the summit.

Merapi - Central Java : BPPTKG reported that the eruption at Merapi continued during 9-15 December and seismicity remained at high levels. The SW lava dome produced four lava avalanches that traveled as far as 1.5 km down the SW flank (upstream in the Kali Bebeng drainage). No significant morphological changes to the central and SW lava domes were evident.

Nevado del Ruiz - Colombia : Servicio Geológico Colombiano’s (SGC) reported that seismicity at Nevado del Ruiz began to increase at around 1550 on 13 December. The signals indicated moving fluids within the volcano’s conduit, and some were associated with pulsating gas-and-ash emissions seen from several surrounding municipalities. Ashfall was reported on 14 December in several municipalities.

Pavlof - Alaska Peninsula, Alaska : AVO reported that no elevated surface temperatures or incandescent lava at Pavlof had been observed in satellite and webcam images since 2 December. Seismicity remained above background levels with intermittent seismic tremor, though explosions had not been recorded since 7 December.

Popocatepetl - Mexico : CENAPRED reported that there were 53-196 steam-and-gas emissions, sometimes containing minor amounts of ash, rising from Popocatépetl each day during 13-20 December. Explosions were recorded at 0747 and 0849 on 15 December. A series of 12 explosions were recorded midweek, at 2107 and 2143 on 17 December and at 0102, 0247, 0404, 0440, 0604, 0614, 0639, 0741, 0752, and 0957 on 18 December. Some of the explosions ejected incandescent material onto the upper flanks based on posted images and video. Two minor explosions were detected at 1323 and 2252 on 18 December. A minor explosion was recorded at 0250 on 19 December and two moderate ones occurred at 0045 and 0639 that same day.

Rincon de la Vieja - Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that small phreatic explosions continued at Rincón de la Vieja during 14-20 December. A small phreatic explosion at 0828 on 14 December produced a steam plume that rose 500 m above the crater rim. An associated sulfur dioxide anomaly was registered at a station located to the W of the crater. Small phreatic events were also recorded at 1433 on 15 December, at 0314 and 2042 on 16 December, at 1958 on 17 December, and 0119 on 20 December, though cloudy weather conditions prevented visual confirmation.

San Miguel - Eastern El Salvador : On 14 December MARN reported that activity at San Miguel continued to decrease. They noted that there were no major changes to seismicity and gas emissions, though minor explosions were occasionally detected by the seismic network and manifested as small gas emissions. 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 8-15 December was generally characterized by explosions, hot avalanches, lava-dome extrusion, and strong fumarolic activity. 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 12-19 December. No explosions were recorded. Eruption plumes rose at least 1.7 km above the crater rim and blocks were ejected as far as 100 m from the vent. Crater incandescence was visible at night during 12-16 December and ashfall was occasionally reported in Toshima village (3.5 km SSW) during 16-19 December.