Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - New activity for the week 8 February - 14 February 2023

Aira - Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported ongoing eruptive activity at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano during 6-12 February and nightly crater incandescence. Three eruptive events and two explosions were recorded at Minamidake Crater. The first explosion, at 1815 on 9 November, generated an ash plume that rose 2 km above the crater rim and drifted N and ejected large blocks 600-900 m from the crater rim. The second explosion, at 1007 on 11 February, produced an ash plume that rose 1.7 km and ejected large blocks 600-900 m from the crater rim. An ash plume from an eruptive event at 1323 on 12 February rose 1.7 km and drifted E. A very small eruption at Showa Crater at 1052 on 8 February produced an ash plume that rose 800 m above the crater rim. This was the first eruption at Showa Crater since 3 April 2018. Ash plumes from events recorded at 1110 and 1425 rose as high as 1 km and drifted SE and SW, respectively, and blocks were ejected 200-300 m from the crater. Ashfall was reported in an area from Arimura-cho (4.5 km SE) to Furusato-cho (3 km S).

Chikurachki - Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that a moderate explosive eruption at Chikurachki continued during 2-9 February. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images during 5-6 February and ash plumes drifted 125 km SE, E, and NE.

Karangetang - Sangihe Islands : According to PVMBG the eruption at Karangetang’s Main Crater (S crater) continued during 8-14 February. Multiple nighttime webcam images posted with daily reports showed three main incandescent lava flows of different lengths descending the S, SW, and W flanks. Incandescent rocks dotted the upper flanks, possibly from ejected or collapsed material from the crater; the incandescence was most intense at the summit.

Lascar - Northern Chile : SERNAGEOMIN reported that seismicity at Láscar was dominated by volcano-tectonic signals with smaller numbers of both long-period and tornillo-type events during 7-14 February. Seismicity increased during the week, associated with continuing effusion of the dome-like structure that had emerged on the crater floor on 30 January. Daily whitish gas emissions were mostly diffuse and rose around 400 m above the crater rim, though emissions rose as high as 700 m during 11-12 February. Sulfur dioxide emissions were low, no deformation was detected, and no thermal anomalies were identified in satellite images.

Tengger Caldera - Eastern Java : PVMBG sent a team of scientists to investigate Tengger Caldera’s Bromo cone after an increase in activity was detected on 3 February, characterized by crater incandescence, rumbling sounds, and a strong sulfur dioxide odor. They observed somewhat dense white emissions rising as high as 300 m during 9-12 February and heard moderate-to-strong rumbling noises. A sulfur dioxide odor was strong near the crater and measurements indicated that levels were above the healthy (non-hazardous) threshold of 5 parts per million; differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) measurements indicated an average flux of 190 tons per day on 11 February. During clear periods the largest solfatara on the NNW part of the crater floor was visible and ranged in temperature from 46 to 66 degrees Celsius based on handheld instruments. Crater incandescence, originating from the solfatara, was visible at night.