General Volcanic Activity Thread!

[john pike]

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Cerro Negro de Mayasquer volcano news & activity updates: Cerro Negro de Mayasquer volcano (Colombia): continuing earthquakes, appearance of seismic tremor

Saturday Nov 22, 2014 10:27 AM | BY: T

The seismic crisis that began last year continues at high intensity. During the ongoing swarm more than 206,000 earthquakes have been detected in an area 4 km south of the Chiles-Cerro Negro complex since 29 Sep alone. Daily numbers of quakes have ranged between 3700-5400 earthquakes.
While most quakes have been very small, a few were strong enough to be felt by local inhabitants.

• All news about: Cerro Negro de Mayasquer volcano
• Information about: Cerro Negro de Mayasquer volcano

 

 

[john pike]

Fogo volcano news & eruption updates Fogo volcano (Cape Verde): new eruption

Sunday Nov 23, 2014 17:34 PM | BY: T

A new eruption started at the volcano this morning around 10:00 local time. The aviation alert was raised to red due to possible ash emissions that could harm aircraft in the area.

Not much detail about the eruption is so far available, but a strong thermal anomaly was detected on satellite data, suggesting the presence of lava at the vent, perhaps in the form of lava fountains. Typical eruptions of Fogo start with lava fountains / strombolian activity that build a new cone, followed by lava flow effusion.

According to news articles, strong precursory seismic activity since yesterday night caused many people to sleep outside their houses. Approx. 1000 people have been evacuated from the Fogo caldera.

Increased CO2 emissions had been detected from Fogo during the past months already, an early sign that fresh magma was rising under the volcano. When measured in March, CO2 emissions had increased from averages of around 90 to more than 300 tons per day.

• All news about: Fogo volcano
• Information about: Fogo volcano

[john pike]

[john pike]

Fogo volcano (Cape Verde) eruption update - lava flows cut road

Monday Nov 24, 2014 11:59 AM | BY: T

Lava fountains and flow from the new eruption at Fogo (Fogonews)

Ash plume from Fogo (HOTVOLC / OPGC-LMV / Culture Volcan)

Lava flow from Fogo cutting the road in the caldera (Fogonews)

Lava flow from Fogo (Fogonews)

The new eruption, so far small inside the Cha caldera, continues. It is taking place from a fissure with two closely spaced vents on the southwest side of the Pico de Fogo, very near to the 1995 eruption vents.

The upper vent produces ash, the lower one feeds lava fountains (or continuous strombolian activity) and several 'a'a lava flows. One of the lava flows quickly cut the main road through the caldera, but no other major damage has been reported.

A SO2 plume mixed with some ash is visible on satellite data in distances of up to 150-200 km from Fogo.

Army, Civil Protection and the Red Cross have been mobilized to monitor the situation and coordinate possible evacuations if needed. Ships have been called to be on standby.

Video of the eruption:

• All news about: Fogo volcano
• Information about: Fogo volcano

 

 

 

put your sound on

[john pike]

Shishaldin volcano (Alaska): increased activity

Current seismic signal (SSLW station, AVO)

A surge of activity was detected at the volcano. The Alaska Volcano Observatory writes: "Seismic activity has increased over the past two hours and more sharply over the past 30 minutes, suggesting that the eruption at Shishaldin has intensified. Ash emissions beyond the immediate summit crater are more likely while seismic activity is increased. Satellite images from earlier tonight show elevated surface temperatures near the volcano's summit.

 

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/shishaldin/news.html

[john pike]

Volcanoes Today, 26 Nov 2014: Semeru volcano, Pavlof, Aso, Fogo

Wednesday Nov 26, 2014 10:00 AM |

Explosive activity at the eruptive vents of Fogo on 25 Nov 2014 (MuzikaTV)

Incandescence at Nakadake crater (JMO)

The active lava dome of Semeru in late Nov 2014 (photo: Andi / VolcanoDiscovery Indonesia)

Fogo (Cape Verde): The eruption continues, but the situation is critical inside the Cha caldera. The northern lava flow branch has started to enter the village of Portela and today destroyed and/or damaged several buildings, including the headquarters of the Fogo Nature Park.

The village, located at the northern end of the main road inside the caldera, is at risk of being cut of by lava flows: If the main road becomes covered, only a difficult and long passage to the NE via Monte Velha remains as land evacuation route.

According to a geologist from the Instituto da Meteorologia e Geofísica in an interview with Televisão de Cabo Verde (TCV), the intensity of the eruption started to decrease today. As of today, only the northern branch of the lava flow seemed to be active. Its advance rate decreased from 35-40 meters per hour yesterday to approx. 25 m per hour today.

On the other hand, other local news sources and recent video footage rather suggest an increase in activity: Several vents have opened at the fissure on the southwestern foot of the Pico del Fogo cone. Activity at most of the vents is violently explosive with significant gas and ash emissions:

Aso (Kyushu): Activity from the Nakadake crater has intensified. Since yesterday, ash emissions and comparably strong incandescence have been observed, suggesting that a new magmatic eruption could be under way.

The height of the emitted ash plumes was up to 8,000 ft (2.4 km) and light ash fall was reported from Namino village 11 km NE of the Nakadake cone:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rJseJWnr4E

The volcano had been showing signs of unrest since 2013, with intermittent small, probably phreatic explosions and weak to moderate glow sometimes visible from the crater.

Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): A recent visit at the summit of the volcano by our expedition leader Andi and Markus confirmed that "Semeru's lava dome is growing bigger and wider, and now has a diameter of 100-200 m.

Strombolian explosions occur from time to time and eject bombs up to 100 m above the vent. Gas venting from two vents is loud and continuous.

According to our observations, part of the dome has collapsed recently to the south flank. A moderately viscous lava forms a long tongue descending into the southern ravine"

Pavlof (Alaska Peninsula, USA): The Alaska Volcano Observatory concluded that "the most recent period of explosive eruptive activity at Pavlof Volcano has ended" and downgraded the volcano alert level again.

"For about the past week, seismicity at the volcano has remained at low levels and shows no indication of the unrest typically associated with lava fountaining or ash emission.

Satellite observations show no evidence for continuing eruptive activity. Thermal signals at the summit are occasionally visible, but are likely being generated by the cooling of previously emplaced lava and debris and not newly erupted material.

[john pike]

http://new.livestream.com/muzikatv/fogo/videos/69755269

link above for fogo eruption

 

 

Volcanoes Today, 28 Nov 2014: Aso volcano, Fogo, Zhupanovsky

Friday Nov 28, 2014 17:00 PM |

Screenshot of eruption video showing the two active vents at Fogo

Eruption at Aso volcano Wednesday (Kumamoto university webcam)

Fogo (Cape Verde): Activity, after having slowed down a bit yesterday, picked up again this morning, as a new vent opened above the eruption fissure.
Lava fountaining and associated lava effusion mainly occur from the lower vent, while the upper one shows strombolian explosions, strong degassing and ash emissions. As typical for flank eruptions, eruptive activity has by now concentrated to and continues from two vents (as compared to 6 active ones on the first day):


The main lava flow, as well as several secondary ones that start as overflows in the vent area, remain well alimentated. The lava flows have covered approx. 400 hectars of land, including 26 hc of farmland.


Zhupanovsky (Kamchatka, Russia): A moderately strong ash emission occurred this morning. A plume at 20,000 ft (6 km) drifted east. Weaker ash venting continued afterwards. (Tokyo VAAC).

Aso (Kyushu): Activity at the volcano picked up and went through an intense phase of strong, continuous ash emissions Wednesday. An ash plume rose to approx. 3 km altitude, according to Tokyo VAAC.
A video showed incandescent ash-rich fountains from the crater, confirming that new magma has arrived there, i.e. a new magmatic eruption has formally started at the volcano:


After the most intense phase, activity calmed down again and turned into strong steaming mixed with minor ash emissions.

Edited November 28, 2014 by john pike

[john pike]

Nyamuragira volcano (DR Congo): new lava lake

Saturday Nov 29, 2014 02:14 AM |

The lava lake at the summit of Nyamuragira volcano in DR Congo.Photo: Benoit Smets

A satellite view of lava lakes and gas plumes from Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo volcanoes. Photo: NASA Earth Observatory

Time series of monthly SO2 amounts detected near Nyamuragira volcano. Images framed in red represent the most recenteruption. Comparison between SO2 emissions registered before and after this eruption clearly show elevated amounts of SO2 gas after the eruption. Image: Robin Campion

Volcanic gas steams from Nyamuragira volcano. Photo: Benoit Smets

The Nyiragongo lava lake is presently the world’s largest lava lake with a diameter of approximately 250m. Photo: Tom Pfeiffer / www.VolcanoDiscovery.com

For the first time in 75 years, a new lava lake appeared on some of Africa’s most active stratovolcanoes: Mount Nyamuragira in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The neighbouring volcanoes of Nyamugira and Nyiragongo are both part of the Virunga volcanic chain in the East African Rift, situated along DR Congo's border with Rwanda. They are famous as two of the few volcanoes on Earth that have sustained lava lakes for several decades. The previous lava lake at Nyamuragira emptied in 1938 as its lava poured out of the summit and flowed more than 30 kilometres down to Lake Kivu. The new lava lake seems to have formed at the bottom of the 500 m deep crater that was left behind by this 1938 lava flood.

Nyamuragira’s last eruption started in November 2011 and ended in March 2012 by the partial emptying of the magma chamber through the effusion of large lava flows. This eventually resulted in the collapse of the pit crater, an event after which the magma is likely forced to follow a new route higher up to the volcano’s summit. Such reconstruction of the volcano’s plumbing system with transport of magma higher in the volcano’s cone could trigger the formation of a lava lake. Nyamuragira’s past eruptions all seem to follow a typical eruptive cycle of lava being progressively emitted from the volcano’s base to its summit, ending in the formation of a lava lake.

But when exactly did this lava lake form?

Robin Campion, volcanologist at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City, has been monitoring the emission of sulphur dioxide gas in Nyamuragira’s surroundings during and after the most recent 2012 eruption. As expected, SO2 emissions were very high throughout the volcano’s last eruption. After the pit crater collapse that marks the end of this eruption, however, sulphur dioxide levels remained high – something Campion could only explain by the formation of a lava lake. He published his findings in the November 7 issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research Letters.

Campion’s suggestion of an early-formed lava lake seems supported hotter-than-usual temperatures picked up by sattelites above Nyamuragira in April and late Juneand interpreted by NASA's Earth Observatory as the presence of a new lava lake. Nyamuragira’s summit also started to glow red at night in April and June, and scientists at the Goma Volcano Observatory (the Congolese scientific institute in charge of volcano monitoring) detected unusual earthquake swarms that are typical of molten rock (magma) moving underground during these months.

Benoit Smets, a volcanologist at the European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology in Luxembourg. is however not convinced that the Nyamuragira lava lake formed that long ago. Last July, United Nations peacekeepers dropped Smets and an international group of scientists off at the volcano’s summit by helicopter, to check on the crater. Their October 21 report in Eos, the weekly newspaper of the American Geophysical Union, describes observations of lava fountains but no sight of a lava lake.

This disagreement reflects both science-in-progress (varying scientific monitoring methods might lead to different interpretations) and the difficulty of working in the DR Congo (instruments can’t be left in the field for safety reasons and dozens of armed groups continue to fight in the area). The debate whether or not there is a lava lake at Nyamuragira was finally settled when on the 6th of November a helicopter survey of the Goma Volcano Observatory reported visual confirmation of an active lava lake.

Likely evolution of this volcanic activity

Benoit Smets describes the present volcanic activity at Nyamuragira as ‘a very small, bubbling lava lake’. And although the churning lava seems to come and go, scientists think within a few years to decades the volcano may spawn a long-lived lava lake similar to the one at neighbouring Nyiragongo volcano.

Both Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo can show volcanic activity that threatens nearby towns such as Sake and Goma. The January 2002 eruption of Nyiragongo, for example, destroyed large parts of Goma and left 200,000 people homeless. Nyiragongo’s closer proximity to local communities does, however, make it more of a hazard than Nyamuragira which is surrounded by a national park. Nyamuragira’s immediate threat is therefore not so much lava flows or volcanic debris but acid rain from its volcanic gas which can corrode roofs, destroy crops and affect human health.

• All news about: Nyamuragira volcano
• Information about: Nyamuragira volcano

[john pike]

Fogo volcano (Cape Verde) eruption update: lava flows pick up, threaten Portela village

Sunday Nov 30, 2014 15:22 PM | BY: T

The eruptive vents at Fogo this morning (MuzikaTV)

Advancing lava flow at Portela village (MuzikaTV)

Although explosive activity has decreased at the vents, it seems that lava effusion picked up. The advance of some of the lava flow fronts in Portela village picked up again this morning, reaching 20 meters per hour. Local sources mention that seismic activity also increased.

If no changes occur, it seems that within a few days, the whole village of Portela could become a victim of the lava flows. Evacuation of remaining goods from the still standing, threatened buildings continue.

Most of the Nature Park has by now been covered by lava. The Park's Headquarters building, already damaged by lava flows and looting earlier on in the eruption, has now been completely destroyed.

• All news about: Fogo volcano
• Information about: Fogo volcano

[john pike]

Volcanoes Today, 2 Dec 2014: Raung volcano, Nevado del Ruiz, Santiaguito, Medvezhia, Chirpoi

Tuesday Dec 02, 2014 11:00 AM |

Recent saltellite images showing the currently 4 active volcanoes in the Kuriles (credit: Culture Volcan / @CultureVolcan / Twitter)

Raung volcano with a steam plume on 17 Nov 2014

Thermal image, Landsat 8 satellite, 29 Nov 2014 (credit: Rudiger Escobar Wolf @rudigerescobar / twitter)

Aerial image of Nevado del Ruiz on 24 Nov 2014 (INGEOMINAS)

Chirpoi (Kurile Islands, Russia): Thermal hot spots continue to be detected at the summit of Snow volcano. SVERT thinks that a new phase of effusive activity could have been going on since September.

Medvezhia (Kurile Islands, Russia): The Moyorodake-Kudryavy and Chirinkotan volcanoes were placed on yellow alert by SVERT on 27 Nov, as an increase in degassing was observed at both. Recent satellite image shows steam plumes drifting from the volcanoes.

At the moment, 4 of the Kuriles volcanoes are on yellow alert. The other two are Chirpoi since September, Sinarka since 12 Nov.

 

#volcan

#volcano

#Moyorodake

-

#Kudryavy

#Chirpoi

#Chirinkotan

#Sinarka

en images/with pict

pic.twitter.com/neK78eh8sH

— CultureVolcan (@CultureVolcan)

November 29, 2014

Raung (East Java): Mild, probably strombolian activity seems to be in progress at the volcano. Since mid November, local observers reported steam plumes and the volcano observatory reported increased seismic activity, typical of mild strombolian activity in the crater.

A hot spot visible on MODIS satellite data fits well into this picture.

Santiaguito (Guatemala): The recently active, viscous lava flow on the southeastern side of the dome might have stopped being alimented, a recent satellite image suggests, showing that the lava flow has not advanced recently, although is still hot. INSIVUMEH no longer reports observed movements at the flow fronts.

Degassing and occasional small explosions continue to occur from the Caliente lava dome.

Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): According to the latest report of the Manizales observatory, the volcano's activity recently changed and is showing increased signs of unrest, which could announce a new eruption to come.

A recent aerial survey by the Colombian air force revealed a deposit of fresh ash on the southern flank, indicating that at least sporadic explosions or ash emissions - presumably phreatic in nature - do indeed occur.

In addition, since about 2 weeks ago, seismic activity has been significantly higher than previously. Phases of tremor and more frequent shallow volcano-tectonic earthquakes suggest increased movements of fluids (magma, gas, water) inside the volcano. Most of the events are concentrated in an area southeast under Arenas crater.

According to a press article, the volcano observatory considers raising the alert level to orange if activity continues to pick up and the risk of a new eruption increases. Authorities have been advised to prepare for possible evacuation scenarios.

[john pike]

Volcanoes Today, 3 Dec 2014: Fuego volcano, Santiaguito, Reventador, Copahue

Wednesday Dec 03, 2014 17:00 PM |

Strong eruption at Fuego volcano in Guatemala last night

Glow from Reventador's summit this morning

Ash emission from Copahue this morning

Santiaguito (Guatemala): INSIVUMEH reports that the lava flow on the southeastern side remains active, and has been advancing at approx. 3 meters per day.

Weak explosions continue to occur from the Caliente lava dome, with ash plumes rising up to 5-600 m.

Fuego (Guatemala): Explosive activity has been relatively high recently with up to 6-8 explosions per hour. Some of them covered the whole upper cone with incandescent bombs and their shock waves are reported to be felt or heard in up to 30 km distance. Ash plumes rose to up to 5 km altitude, i.e. 1,400 m above the crater.

Reventador (Ecuador): Activity remains similar to the past months at moderate, but fluctuating levels. A more intense phase seems to be going on at the moment, as bright glow has been visible at the summit since yesterday night.

A cake-like viscous lava dome is slowly growing at the summit crater and produces occasional incandescent avalanches and rockfalls. During phases of more intense activity such as around mid-late November, regular small to moderate explosions, occasional pyroclastic flows and short-lived lava flows occur (last on 20 Nov).

Copahue (Chile/Argentina): The volcano continues to produce steam and ash emissions of varying intensity. Phases of hour-long continuous ash emissions have become more frequent recently and incandescence is often visible from the El Agrio crater at night:

SERNAGEOMIN keeps the alert level at yellow.

 

[john pike]

Piton de la Fournaise volcano (La Réunion): alert level raised, eruption warning

Thursday Dec 04, 2014 10:01 AM | BY: T

A new eruption could be under way at the volcano. An increase in seismic activity, inflation of the volcanic edifice, and SO2 gas mixed into the degassing plume, typical for a fresh magma intrusion at shallow depth have been detected by the volcano observatory (OVPF).

The prefecture raised the alert for the volcano again to "Vigilance", after it had been lowered on 1 Dec only.

The changed status means that police, civil protection and other authorities are on standby to react quickly if an eruption occurs. Access to Enclos Fouque is not yet closed to public, but hikers must stay on marked trails.

• All news about: Piton de la Fournaise volcano
• Information about: Piton de la Fournaise volcano

[john pike]

Copahue volcano (Chile / Argentina): spectacular eruption video

Thursday Dec 04, 2014 20:01 PM | BY: T

Screenshot of a video from 3 Dec looking at the erupting vent in Copahue's crater (Robin Campion, Univ. Mexico)

A recent video by Robin Campion (Univ. Mexico) shows that the activity at the volcano is now magmatic in nature, i.e. fresh magma is being erupted as a small jet of mostly finely fragmented incandescent ash:

 

[john pike]

Nishino-shima volcano (Volcano Islands, Japan) activity update

Steam plume from Nishinoshima on 27 Nov 2014 (Landsat 8 image / NASA Earth Observatory)

Comparison of Nishinoshima from shortly after the birth of the new island (image 21 Nov 2013, lt), the merging with the old island (25 Dec, rt), formation of extensive lava deltas (7 April 2014, lb), and the disappearance of the old island under new lava (13 Nov 2014, rb) (Source. Asahi.com)

The eruption continues and has been going for more than a year now. It has enlarged the island to 1.89 square km (0.73 square miles). The highest point is now approx. 100 m above sea level.

 

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/nishino-shima/news.html

[john pike]

Volcanic activity worldwide 5 Dec 2014: Shiveluch volcano, Bardarbunga, Kilauea, Fogo, Mayon, Kuchin...

Friday Dec 05, 2014 16:50 PM |

Aerial view of the Holuhraun eruption yesterday (credit: Martin Hensch / IMO)

The vents at Fogo volcano and the new lava flow near its source (image: GeoVol)

Lahar hazard map for Mayon volcano (PHILVOLCS)

Map showing the location of the new lava flow finger headed north (HVO/USGS)

Bardarbunga (Iceland): The eruption continues to with fluctuating intensity. Lava effusion rates are still very high, but overall seem to follow a decreasing trend. Also, gas supply to the lava lake above the vent seems to be becoming less.

It is too early to predict an end of the eruption, which already has created the largest lava flow on earth since the massive 1783 Laki fissure eruption - only 50 km to the south and likely also fed by the Bardarbunga volcanic system.

Fogo (Cape Verde): The eruption continues. A new lava flow that appeared last night is heading again towards the village of Portela, which it might hit in less than 2 days.

At the eruptive fissure, 3 vents seem to still be active and explosive activity has decreased a lot. The eruption continues to be dominated by lava effusion.

The large flow that covered part of Portela during the past days stopped yesterday, probably caused by a temporary (?) drop in effusion rate which in turn lead to the clogging of the tube that alimented it.

Authorities took the opportunity to try to open a fifth road through the lava flow in order to reach Portela and facilitate the transport of goods that remain to evacuate - mostly wine and food for livestock.

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): A large eruption (but not unusually large for Shiveluch!) was reported to have occurred this afternoon (14:42 UTC), producing an ash plume to 30,000 ft (9 km) altitude.

Webcam images show nothing due to night-time and likely cloud cover.

Kuchinoerabu-jima (Ryukyu Islands): JMA reported that no eruptions occurred from the volcano during 25-28 November although the level of activity remained elevated. White plumes rose 200 m above the crater.

Low-level seismicity continued and tremor was absent. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5). (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 26 November-2 December 2014)

Mayon (Luzon Island): PHIVOLCS warns against possible lahars (mud flows) that will likely occur in river beds draining from Mayon and Bulusan volcanoes during the expected heavy rains from typhoon Ruby.

Lahars, althoug not directly the result of volcanic activity, are among the most destructive hazards on active volcanoes, where much loose material has been accumulated on typically steep slopes and as a result can be easily re-mobilized by rain.

Kilauea (Hawai'i): The new lava flow finger from the 27 June flow continues to advance towards Pahoa and is now approx. 4 km (2.5 miles) above the intersection of PÄhoa Village Road and Highway 130, near the Pahoa Marketplace.

It is moving to the north at rates of several hundred meters per day. It has reached an area where several lines of steepest descent nearly converge due to flat topography. Until the flow passes this area of flat topography, the future flow path is uncertain. (Source: HVO daily updates)

Heard (Australia, Southern Indian Ocean): Thermal anomalies on the E flank were detected during 1-2 Dec on NASA satellite data (VIIRS). satellite images during 2-30 November.

MODIS detected thermal anomalies from September 2014 to 21 July 2014, and again on 16 November 2014, due to a persisting lava lake and possible lava flows. (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 26 November-2 December 2014) ##########

[john pike]

Volcanoes Today, 7 Dec 2014: Reventador volcano, Aso, Fogo

 

Lava flow from Fogo in Portela (Asociación Canaria de Volcanología / facebook)

The active vents of Nakadake (Aso volcano)

Reventador's new lava flow seen with infrared webcam this morning

Fogo (Cape Verde): The eruption intensified according to news reports on Saturday, and destroyed most of what still had been left of Portela. The new lava flow advanced at 30 meters per hour and consumed another 20 houses and the sports center.

The flow is now headed towards Bangaeira village, which is threatened to suffer the same fate as Portela in a short time. Authorities ordered full evacuation of the area. One of the main access roads, only opened a few days ago, was also destroyed again by the lava flows, making the evacuation of people and remaining goods difficult.

Aso (Kyushu): The strombolian activity from Nakadake crater continues to be quite intense. At least 2 vents are active, producing frequent explosions with incandescent ejecta and ash plumes that rise a few 100 meters.

Reventador (Ecuador): A new lava flow started to descend the southwest flank of the summit cone on 2 Dec and is still active. It has reached the base of the cone and is now approx. 1 km long.

The recent surge in lava effusion began on 2 Dec. A similar lava flow occurred earlier in November. The following time-lapse shows the start of the lava flow and its evolution between 1-5 Dec:

 

[john pike]

Authorities are monitoring increased activity from the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, which last erupted in 1985, killing some 20,000. Colombian experts continue monitoring the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, the most active volcano in the country, given its increased activity in recent days with emissions of gases and ash, and also internal earthquakes. Specialists reported a tectonic-volcanic quake inside the volcano Saturday, with a depth of about three kilometers which resulted in fractured rocks. The quake was felt in the nearby town of Las Brisas in Manizales an in northern Tolima. The 19 municipalities in the departments of Caldas and Risaralda remain on yellow alert (medium), however. Located 220 kilometers west of Capital Bogota, the crater is part of the Andean Volcanic Belt which including another 74 similar formations. The first eruptions of Nevado del Ruiz occurred about 1.8 million years ago. However, on November 13, 1985, after 69 years of dormancy the volcano's erupted, catching the nearby towns off guard. The lava from the volcanic crater melted the mountain's glaciers, sending enormous mudslides, landslides, and debris flowing down its slopes at 50 kilometers per hour. The mass engulfed the town of Armero, killing more than 20,000 of its almost 29,000 inhabitants. Casualties in other towns raised the overall death toll to 23,000. The magnitude of the disaster captured worldwide attention, along with widespread criticism for the Colombian government which had ignored warnings from multiple specialists to evacuate the area due to the volcanic activity detected.

 

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/index.php?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VA-20141207-46242-COL

[john pike]

Volcanoes Today, 8 Dec 2014: Cerro Negro de Mayasquer volcano, Erebus, Fogo, Pavlof, Sinabung

Monday Dec 08, 2014 16:00 PM |

The lava flow of Fogo passing near a destroyed building (image: INVOLCAN / @involcan / twitter)

Fogo's lava flow reaching Bangaeira in the background - parts of destroyed Portela in the foreground

Pyroclastic flow on Sinabung Saturday noon (source: Leopold Kennedy Adam â€@LeopoldAdam / twitter)

Steam plume from Pavlof volcano on 5 Dec (AVO)

Histogram of earthquakes at Chiles volcano (IGPEN)

Seismic recording from Mt. Erebus on 5 Dec 2014

Fogo (Cape Verde): The second village Bangaeira in the path of the rapidly advancing lava flow has been destroyed within only a few hours.

With 2 villages destroyed, more than 1700 people displaced and without some of their most valuable economic possession, farmland, this now 15 days old eruption is the worst volcanic disaster of the century. The history of 150 years of settlement in the Cha caldera is now under lava.

The flow continues to be well alimented, but it is still too early to predict how far it will eventually go: Following the natural gradient, it still needs to travel for another 4 km until it can reach the break-in-slope towards the steep outer eastern flank. From there, it could rapidly reach the coastal area where another 3 villages would be at risk: Corvo, Achada Grande, and Relva.

No historic lava flow from inside the caldera (vents west of the Pico cone) seems to have achieved this, i.e. reached the sea,- so far.

...8 Dec:

The new lava flow, more fluid than the earlier one, continues to advance rapidly. It has reached and started to engulf Bangaeira village, downslope of the already destroyed Portela village.

If the eruption continues long enough, the lava flow, following the downwards slope, would eventually reach the eastern coast.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): The volcano remains active and dangerous although it has been generally quieter during the past weeks as compared to the surge in activity in Oct. However, sudden collapses of the still growing lava flow and/or explosions occur from time to time: a moderately sized, 2 km long pyroclastic flow traveled down the southern flank Saturday noon (local time).

Pavlof (Alaska Peninsula, USA): Weak activity continues at the volcano. The volcano observatory showed photographs showing the volcano emitting a steam plume and reports seismic activity is still elevated.

Increased temperatures at the summit, detectable on satellite data, are coming from the recent lava flow.

Cerro Negro de Mayasquer (Colombia): Seismic activity continues to be important. In the last week, almost 20,000 earthquakes with a daily average of 2845 were detected. 5 of them were felt by the local population, the largest one was a 3.8 event on 2 Dec at 17:58 local time.

Compared to October and November this year, when daily averages were 3740 and 4579, respectively, seismic activity has declined a lot, but remains high.

The epicenters of most quakes are located a few kilometers south-west of the Chiles volcano.

Erebus (Antarctica): The Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory (MEVO) reported yesterday that "it has been an active time for the last 24 hours. There were 6 significant eruptions which show up nicely on the MACZ (short period single vertical component) seismometer.

... There is no knowing if this will continue or was just a one off. It does show that gas is accumulating somewhere at depth and migrates to the lava lake as a big bubble where it bursts explosively sending volcanic bombs shooting above the lava lake and sometimes out onto the crater rim where people may be working."########################

 

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcanoes/today.html

[john pike]

December 08 11:00 h (December 08 17:00 GMT)

In the last 24 hours the monitoring system of Popocatepetl volcano recorded 70 low-intensity exhalations along with emissions of steam, gases and occasionally small quantities of ash.

 

http://www.cenapred.gob.mx/cgi-bin/popo/reportes/ultrepi2.cgi

 

pics and images in link above

 

 

http://www.cenapred.gob.mx/popo/2014/dic/p1208143.mp4

[john pike]

Volcanoes Today, 9 Dec 2014: Turrialba volcano, Laguna del Maule, Aso

Tuesday Dec 09, 2014 11:00 AM |

Glow and ash emissions from Aso's Nakadake crater

Aso (Kyushu): Mild strombolian activity and ash emissions continue at Nakadake crater.

Turrialba (Costa Rica): A new eruption occurred last evening at 21:30 local time. Not much detail about the eruptions is available, but it seems to have been a rather small event. Light ash fall was noted in areas up to 20 km distance. There are no reports of damage or injuries.

A volcanologist from the National Seismic Network said in an interview that the new eruption possibly was triggered by the recent earthquakes in the region.

Laguna del Maule (Central Chile): The volcanic field of Laguna del Maule is a potentially dangerous volcano. Scientists have found alarming levels of uplift, suggesting its magma chamber is filling up. What does this mean? In a recent study published at GSA, scientists try to give an answer.

 

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/laguna-del-maule/unrest.html

read the study

its very interesting

 

 

"The rate of deformation at Laguna del Maule has been among the highest ever measured at a volcano that is not actively erupting", the authors write.

It has been known since Roman times (and is still far from understood) that large, active calderas can undergo periods of significant up- and downlift of the ground. An example is the Campi Flegrei caldera which in parts rose more than 2 meters in just 3 years between 1982-85!

[karyo]

Interesting clip showing fast flowing lava in Cape Verde islands as the eruption is continuing.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/volcanic-eruption-cape-verde-destroys-villages-130602449.html

 

Karyo

[karyo]

Etna is pretty active tonight!

 

This photo was posted on volcanocafe: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203391660815581&set=gm.367518616765174&type=1&theater

 

Karyo

[karyo]

New eruption near Tonga!

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/64548453/big-volcanic-eruption-near-tongas-capital

 

Karyo

[Crepuscular Ray]

New island emerges off Tonga:

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/tongafrenchpolynesia/11463853/First-photographs-emerge-of-new-Pacific-island-off-Tonga.html

[knocker]

Video of the Calbuco Volcano eruption in southern Chile

… Edited April 22, 2015 by knocker