Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

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01/18/12--02:10: Kizimen (Russia) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (chan 1014504)

KVERT reported moderate seismic activity at Kizimen during 6-13 January and a large thermal anomaly that was detected daily in satellite images. Video and satellite observations indicated both continued effusion of a large lava flow on the E flank and accompanying hot avalanches. Video data showed strong gas-and-steam activity all week, and on 11 January satellite images showed a gas-and-steam plume that drifted 40 km E. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)




01/18/12--02:10: Fuego (Guatemala) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (chan 1014504)

INSIVUMEH reported that during 11-13 and on 16 January explosions from Fuego generated ash plumes that rose 400-1,000 m above the crater; the plumes drifted 10-15 km in multiple directions. Explosions generated shock waves and rumbling sounds that were detected to the SW, and windows and roofs vibrated in nearby villages. Avalanches traveled SW into the Ceniza drainage and on the W, S, and SW flanks. At night on 13 and 16 January incandescence emanated from the crater.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)




01/18/12--02:10: Kilauea (United States) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (chan 1014504)

During 11-17 January, HVO reported that the lava lake circulated and periodically rose and fell in the deep pit within Kilauea's Halema'uma'u Crater, remaining below the inner ledge (75 m below the crater floor). Almost daily measurements indicated that the gas plume from the vent continued to deposit variable amounts of ash and fresh spatter nearby.Incandescence was visible from small spatter cones on the E, S, and W edges of the Pu'u 'O'o crater floor during 11-17 January. Incandescence was also exhibited by short lava flows from the E pit on 13 January, small lava flows issuing from the SE spatter cone, and a small flow from the NE pit on 16 January. During 11-16 January a thermal anomaly about 2-4 km SE of Pu'u 'O'o cone was seen in satellite imagery. On 12 January, geologists on an overflight confirmed surface activity at this location. By 15 January the source of the thermal anomaly had extended to the coast.

Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)




01/18/12--02:10: Tungurahua (Ecuador) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 - NEW (chan 1014504)

IG reported a new episode of activity and increased seismicity from Tungurahua during 11-17 January. On 12 January ashfall was reported in Manzano (8 km SW), Cahuají (8 km SW), and Choglontus (13 km WSW). A lahar descended the Achupashal drainage, carrying blocks up to 1 m in diameter, and caused the road to Baños (9 km N) to be closed. Cloud cover prevented observations of the crater. On 13 January ash-and-gas emissions were observed, and ash plumes rose as high as 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W. Ash-fall was reported in Palitahua (6 km SSW) and roaring noises were heard in Cusúa (8 km NW) and Manzano. On 14 January ash emissions rose 500 m above the crater and drifted WSW; ashfall was reported in Choglontus, Palitahua, and Manzano. Clouds obscured views on 15 January; however ashfall was reported in Palitahua and Manzano. Lahars descended drainages in Juive (NW) and Pondoa (N), carrying blocks 10-20 cm in diameter.

Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG)




01/18/12--02:10: Popocatépetl (México) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (chan 1014504)

CENAPRED reported that during 11-17 January steam-and-gas emissions rose from Popocatépetl; the plumes contained small amounts of ash during 13-17 January. Crater incandescence was observed at night during 16-17 January.

Source: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED)




01/18/12--02:10: Karymsky (Russia) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (chan 1014504)

KVERT reported that seismic activity continued at a moderate level at Karymsky during 6-13 January and indicated that possible ash plumes rose to an altitude of 4.2 km (13,800 ft) a.s.l. Satellite imagery showed a thermal anomaly at the volcano during 5-11 January and weak ash plumes that drifted 40 km E and NE on 6, 7, and 11 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)




01/18/12--02:10: Shiveluch (Russia) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (chan 1014504)

KVERT reported that low levels of seismic activity were detected at Shiveluch during 6-13 January. Satellite imagery showed a daily thermal anomaly over the lava dome. Ground-based observers noted that a viscous lava flow continued to effuse in the crater that was formed during a 2010 eruption and hot avalanches from the lava flow were observed at night with a web camera. Moderate fumarolic activity at the lava dome was observed all week except on 10 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)




01/18/12--02:10: Sakura-jima (Japan) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (chan 1014504)

Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 11-17 January explosions from Sakura-jima produced plumes that rose to altitudes of 1.2-2.4 km (4,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE, E, and SE. On 14 January a pilot observed an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S.

Source: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)




01/18/12--02:10: Hierro (Spain) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (chan 1014504)

Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN) reported that during 11-17 January, the submarine eruption continued S of El Hierro Island. The mean amplitude of the tremor moderately increased during the week. Eighteen seismic events were located during this period, two of them felt by residents of the island. Most of the events were grouped in the central part of the island, extending offshore to the S, at depths between 6 and 29 km, with a maximum magnitude of 2.5. Analyses of GPS deformation showed stability both in vertical and horizontal components.

Source: Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN)




01/18/12--02:10: Suwanose-jima (Japan) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 - NEW (chan 1014504)

Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported an explosion from Suwanose-jima on 12 January. Details of a possible resulting plume were not reported.

Source: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)




01/18/12--02:10: Turrialba (Costa Rica) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 - NEW (chan 1014504)

OVSICORI-UNA reported that on 11 January local people around Turrialba heard several instances of rumbling. On 12 January an eruption occurred from a fissure on the SE flank of the main crater, in an area called La Quemada. An ash plume rose 500 m above the crater and drifted NNW, rising to an altitude of 4 km (13,000 ft) a.s.l. Later that day residents reported: a dark plume from La Quemada and a white vapor plume that rose from the fumarolic vent formed in the main crater on 5 January 2010.According to a news article, the Turriabla National Park closed on 12 January and the National Emergency Commission (CNE) raised the Alert Level from Green to Yellow in the communities of La Central (34 km SW), Santa Cruz (7 km SE), and around the perimeter of the crater. Towns of Jiménez (21 km N), Oreamuno (45 km SW), Alvarado (38 km SW), and Cartago (25 km SW) remained at Alert Level Green.

Sources: Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica-Universidad Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA), La Nacion




01/18/12--02:10: Nyamuragira (DR Congo) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 - NEW (chan 1014504)

According to observations by scientists from the Afar Consortium Project, the fissure eruption at Nyamuragira that began on 6 November 2011 continued on 8 January 2012. The initial scoria cone appeared inactive and second cone formed to the N of the first cone. Both cones were about 300 m high. The second cone was extremely active during the duration of the observations (about 15 hours) with fire fountains over twice the height of the cone; lava flowed N. The observers, about 1.5 km away, felt the heat from the eruption as well as lapilli fall.

Source: Afar Rift Consortium




01/18/12--02:10: Puyehue-Cordón Caulle (Chile) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (chan 1014504)

Based on seismicity during 11-16 January OVDAS-SERNAGEOMIN reported that the eruption from the Cordón Caulle rift zone, part of the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic complex, continued at a low level. Plumes observed with a web camera during the week rose 1-4 km above the crater, and satellite images showed ash plumes drifting 60-300 km N, NE, and SE. The Alert Level remained at Red. According to a news article, an airport cancelled all flights in and out of Bariloche, Patagonia, on 16 January because of ash plumes. An airport in Melbourne, Australia, was also forced to close due to ash from these eruptions.

Sources: Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN), BBC News




01/18/12--02:10: Santa María (Guatemala) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (chan 1014504)

INSIVUMEH reported that during 11-12 and on 16 January explosions from Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex generated ash plumes that rose 600-800 m above the complex and drifted SW. Lava flows on 16 January on the SE and SW flanks generated block avalanches and rumbling noises.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)




01/18/12--02:10: Zubair Group (Yemen) - Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 - NEW (chan 1014504)

Satellite imagery acquired on 15 January from the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA's EO-1 satellite showed that the eruption in the northern part of the Zubair Group appeared to have stopped. The S end of the new island is about 500 m NNW of Rugged Island.

Source: NASA Earth Observatory