General Volcanic Activity Thread!

[john pike]

GUATEMALA CITY – Pacaya Volcano, located 47 kilometers south of the capital, has had increased activity in recent days with ash and gas being released into the air, said the Institute of Volcanology (Insivumeh).

http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edition/News-Briefs/Guatemala-s-Pacaya-Volcano-spits-ash-gases_Wednesday-December-19-2012

[john pike]

News reports indicate that a volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula has begun erupting for the first time in almost four decades

http://www.decodedscience.com/russia-volcano-erupting-plosky-tolbachik/22629?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DecodedScience+%28Decoded+Science%29

[john pike]

A Satellite image taken on 14:00 on 22 November shows a large ash plume drifting 110 KM SE from Copahue volcano. Ash fall has been reported in Loncopue village in Argentina, 50 KM SE of the volcano. The volcano's last confirmed eruption was in 2000, although one report stated eruptions in 2001 as well. It is apparently still a 'small' eruption, but the Alert Level for the volcano has been raised from GREEN to ORANGE.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VE-20121222-37603-ARG

Thousands of residents of the Palue Islands in Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara, have reportedly fled from their homes after their roofs and windows were rattled by erupting of Mount Rokatenda. Residents were evacuated to Maumere, Sikka, Ropa and Ende as the volcano sent debris and volcanic material cascading down its slopes. Residents reportedly found it hard to get clean water as many water sources had been contaminated with volcanic ash. Officials have called on residents to protect themselves by wearing masks.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VE-20121222-37600-IDN

[karyo]

Beautiful photos of Copahue volcano erupting in Argentina.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Copahue+volcano+Argentina+Chile+border+spewing+ashes+photos/7737842/story.html

Karyo

[john pike]

Red alert issued for Chilean volcano

A top level “red†alert has been issued by the Chilean authorities as Copahue volcano began spewing ash raising fears of an imminent eruption.

http://rt.com/news/chile-volcano-alert-raised-692/

[john pike]

http://aolbroadband.welcomescreen.aol.co.uk/video/chiles-copahue-volcano-spews-smoke-and-ash/517624055/

[john pike]

Nicaragua's San Cristobal Volcano Activity Prompts Evacuation

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/27/nicaraguas-san-cristobal-volcano_n_2369023.html?utm_hp_ref=world

[john pike]

Activity at Stromboli volcano in Italy has been at exceptionally high levels recently. We observed several active vents inside the crater terrace with near-continuous lava spattering and strombolian explosion at intervals of 10-30 minutes. The northeastern vent in particular has very powerful and bright explosions of very liquid lava, with ejections into all directions reaching several hundred meters in height. These explosions are accompanied by loud detonations that rattle doors and windows in the village.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VA-20130103-37701-ITA

[john pike]

A new submarine volcanic eruption might have recently started off Turkey's west coast in the Marmaris Sea between the mainland and the Greek Island of Simi near Rhodes. Scientists from Istanbul's Technical University announced that they have found evidence of 2 active vents at about 200 m water depth along a north-south trending fissure of 2.5-3 km length. According to local newspapers, a rise in sea temperature was detected which suggests that lava might be erupting from the vents. According to Prof. Ahmet Ercan, it might take 1-3, or 20 years for the volcano to surface if at all. The area is located at the eastern end of the volcanically active Hellenic Arc and volcanic activity here would not be a huge surprise, in fact. Possibly preceding the eruption, as magma was rising through the crust, the area was affected by a series of seismic swarms during the past months. According to the scientists, a previous submarine eruption already occurred here in 2009.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=UGE-20130103-37711-TUR

[john pike]

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/phlegrean-fields/news/26129/Campi-Flegrei-caldera-Italy-increase-in-uplift-and-temperature-as-possible-signs-of-magma-ascent.html

Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy): increase in uplift and temperature as possible signs of magma ascent

Measurements of a GPS station in Pozzuoli - during 2012, about 8 cm uplift was measured.

Increase of the temperature at a fumarole in the Solfatara

Increase in the proportion of magmatic gases at a fumarole of the Solfatara

According to a recent report by INGV Naples, the ground deformation of the Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields) near Naples has increased considerably lately. During the last 12 months, the ground in some places near the town of Pozzuoli was uplifted by about 8 cm.

The largest uplift, recorded by GPS devices, occurred during the months of July-August 2012 and since December. The trend appears to be continuing at the moment.

lets hope that this is just movement

Edited January 7, 2013 by john pike

[john pike]

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/read/index.php?pageid=svolcano_index&svid=12

info re camp flegri

Edited January 7, 2013 by john pike

[summer blizzard]

Assuming Vesuvius has a completely seperate magma chamber i wonder if activity here could potentially shift the pressure to Vesuvius along the fault.

[john pike]

Assuming Vesuvius has a completely seperate magma chamber i wonder if activity here could potentially shift the pressure to Vesuvius along the fault.

http://www.acsys.it/volume/php/home.php?&id=9

http://www.ov.ingv.it/ov/en/activities.html

hopefully these stay asleep

[The PIT]

I read somewhere when Vesuvius goes quite activity shifts towards Camp Flegri and when it's finished there shifts back towards Vesuvius. Eruptions at Camp Flegri have been getting smaller over time.

[summer blizzard]

http://www.acsys.it/.../home.php?&id=9

http://www.ov.ingv.i...activities.html

hopefully these stay asleep

True, the inflation at Camp Flegri is worrying though fortunately there are no signs of major activity at Vesuvius (Pompei was preceeded by a 2m rise and large earthquakes) though whats concerning in that regard is that the small eruptions have been fed by a magma pocket about 3km deep whilst the big ones have come from about 7km below (earthquakes recorded have been fairly deep even if small).

I read somewhere when Vesuvius goes quite activity shifts towards Camp Flegri and when it's finished there shifts back towards Vesuvius. Eruptions at Camp Flegri have been getting smaller over time.

It makes sense, it's interesting a few years ago that an eruption at Stromboli was followed by earthquake swarms at Vesubius within a week.

I've also heard theres a link between earthquakes in the L'Quilla mountain region 5-10 years before an eruption.

Edited January 9, 2013 by summer blizzard

[john pike]

Manam volcano (Papua New Guinea): large explosive eruption sending ash plume to 45,000 ft altitude

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/view_news/26523/Manam-volcano-Papua-New-Guinea-large-explosive-eruption-sending-ash-plume-to-45000-ft-altitude.html

[john pike]

Volcano lava flows worry Italian island

http://www.france24.com/en/20130114-volcano-lava-flows-worry-italian-island

[The PIT]

Interesting article about Camp Flegri http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/01/the-restless-campi-flegrei-caldera-volcano/#more-145236

[john pike]

Scientists are warning Mount Tongariro may erupt again as the Department of Conservation looks at re-opening the remainder of the iconic Tongariro Crossing next month. GNS Science say emissions of steam and a gas plume have been a continuous feature of the mountain since the August 2012 eruption. Scientist Tony Hurst said the volcano is still in an "active" state. "Therefore we have to be prepared there will be other events like that without any warning," said GNS Scientist Tony Hurst. The risk of another eruption is causing concern for the Department of Conservation as it prepares to reopen the northern section of the Tongariro Crossing which was damaged in the August eruption. Department of Conservation Ruapehu Area Manager Jonathan Maxwell told ONE News the eruption had not dampened the popularity of the 19.4 kilometre walking track. He said DOC was forced to close an access way to the track shortly before Christmas when tourists began flocking to the area. "It's become a destination so in the end total anarchy broke out with cars and buses," said Maxwell. "There were wing mirrors being knocked off and cars damaged as well as people trying to park in incredibly stupid places." GNS Scientists are also concerned neighbouring Mt Ruapehu may be due to erupt. Gas samples show there could be a blockage underneath the volcano's surface. The blockage could burst and erupt without warning. Tourism operator Stewart Barclay from Adrift Outdoors said tourism on Mt Ruaphu and Mt Tongariro is reliant on the findings of GNS scientists. "We can't do anything until the scientists scratch their heads and reckon it's all safe to go up," said Barclay. DOC has closed the area within 2km of the centre of crater lake at the summit of Mt Ruapehu.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VA-20130121-37941-NZL

http://info.geonet.org.nz/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=3801336

worth keeping an eye on

[john pike]

volcano update reports 21,01,2013

http://earthquake-report.com/2013/01/21/volcano-activity-of-january-21-2013/

[john pike]

Three volcanoes in Russia's Kamchatka continue to send steam and ash into the air while lava flows down their slopes. Plosky Talbachek volcano 3,140m, a part of two-dome volcanic pile (the second dome Ostry Talbachek is 3,689m), became active on November 27, 2012, some 36 years after precisely predicted "Great fissure Tolbachek eruption" in 1975-76. Plosky Talbachek has been erupting lava for weeks now. Two openings below the crater level were sending lava flows that reached 6 and 18km. The flows are glowing in the nighttime, which means that more and more masses of lava continue to arrive, reported Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team. Though increased volcanic activity and eruptions pose a certain threat to air travel over the Kamchatka Peninsula, volcanologists closely monitoring the situation report no imminent danger to settlements close to any of the three volcanoes.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VE-20130122-37960-RUS

http://rt.com/news/kamchatka-three-volcanoes-eruption-485/

[john pike]

Volcanic activity at White Island is the most "vigorous" in years and could mean a large explosive eruption is imminent, GNS Science says. The volcano, off the Bay of Plenty coast, is the country's most active and showed heightened signs of unrest last year. But it is the increased hydrothermal activity in the last three weeks which is of "significant concern", GNS vulcanologist Brad Scott says. "I don't think I've seen anything this strong since the late 90s and 2000s." The activity then led to a large eruption in July, 2000. "The hydrothermal activity is some of the most vigorous I have seen at White Island for many years. This type of activity usually leads to stronger volcanic activity and is a significant concern," Scott said. "Increases in hydrothermal activity often leads to explosive eruptions and that can be quite dangerous for visitors." The activity may mean an eruption is imminent, but there is also a chance it could cease.

The volcano poses no threat to the mainland, however, as it is 48 kilometres from shore. But White Island is a popular tourist attraction, with boat and flight tours heading there daily. If it does explode, ash may reach the mainland and Bay of Plenty locals might smell gas, Scott says. Scott's observations were based on a visit to the island yesterday. Hydrothermal activity in the small 'hot lake' had increased, large amounts of sediment had surfaced and vivid white steam and gas was flashing from the base. This was the sort of activity that had been increasing since late 2012 and was now semi-continuous, Scott says. The lava dome that was first observed in late November has not changed since earlier this month. There were elevated levels of volcanic tremors, likely generated by the hydrothermal activity, Scott says. As usual, the volcano could erupt with little or no warning.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VA-20130122-37953-NZL

[john pike]

more on white island

http://info.geonet.org.nz/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=3801373

[john pike]

Volcanic Alert Bulletin WI-2013/03 - White Island Volcano

http://info.geonet.org.nz/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=4292613

[john pike]

An earthquake swarm at depths between 2-10 km about 8 km NE of Bardabunga volcano under the Vatnajökull icecap has started.

The swarm appears to contain relatively large quakes, including a magnitude 3.8 quake, which, if magmatic origin, could mean a shallow intrusion, that potentially could lead to an eruption. (iceland)

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/bardarbunga/news/27595/Bardabunga-volcano-Iceland-earthquake-swarm.html

http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/earthquakes/