Topic 77 of 99: Living with Volcanoes
Sun, May 26, 2002 (17:37) |
Marcia (MarciaH)
Common sense may not be enough.
192 responses total.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 1 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, May 26, 2002 (17:39) * 1 lines
With Julie hiking Mount Saint Helens and my living between the world's most active and most maasive volcanoes, it seems to be a good idea for first hand experiences and learned-the-hard-way wisdom to be shared.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 2 of 192: Curious Wolfie (wolf) * Mon, May 27, 2002 (18:15) * 1 lines
good topic, marcia!!!
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 3 of 192: Rob Glennie (AotearoaKiwi) * Mon, May 27, 2002 (18:30) * 5 lines
Hi all
Definitely true. I was wondering what it is like to live with volcanoes like Mayon where there is a permanent dangerzone. Mayon is a perfect stratovolcano rising off the fertile plain around Legaspi in the Philippines.
Rob
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 4 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, May 27, 2002 (18:38) * 3 lines
Try Mexico City in the shadow of Popocatépetl or Tokyo with Mt Fuji. We have much to consider.
Currently, in Hawaii, the State Forestry people and Park Rangers are still battling the brush fires started by the current lava flows going in new areas of the park.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 5 of 192: Curious Wolfie (wolf) * Mon, May 27, 2002 (20:42) * 1 lines
i was wondering about that since i saw a glimpse of some volcanic activity on the news near the hilo area....i sure hope you're far from it!
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 6 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, May 27, 2002 (20:46) * 3 lines
Though it is about 50 miles from me by car whihc sounds close, it is on the other side of Kilauea from Hilo, so we are safe. Besides, a very wet rainforest exists between us and the summit and/or fire area, so though it sounds scary, it really isn't.
If I get the birthday present I want, I'll see the eruption and take more pictures of it. Once a year hardly sounds like enough...
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 7 of 192: Curious Wolfie (wolf) * Mon, May 27, 2002 (20:53) * 1 lines
ooooooooooohhhhh!!!!!!! fingers are crossed for you, sweetie!
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 8 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, May 28, 2002 (00:06) * 1 lines
Right now, my life is so messed up, a volcano would be peaceful. Just wish me a peaceful birthday. Happiness will be delayed this year.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 9 of 192: Curious Wolfie (wolf) * Tue, May 28, 2002 (19:09) * 1 lines
talk to me sweetie!! *HUGS*
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 10 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, May 28, 2002 (22:34) * 1 lines
It's the same thing over and over... but this time I may just "jump ship" and flee. Sorry I missed you on IM. Stuff has pretty much settled down again. Still it makes my insides hurt. Ulcers anyone?!
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 11 of 192: Rob Glennie (AotearoaKiwi) * Wed, May 29, 2002 (07:43) * 7 lines
Hi all
I have two (and a suspected third existing in geological theory)large stratoshield volcanoes near me but they are extinct. The 5000 feet between where the summit was and sea level has been eroded taking much of the magma chamber with it. These volcanoes have not erupted for least 5.8 million years, and since the magma chamber has been flooded for probably a couple million years, you can safely assume they are extinct.
Marcia, dear. Take what time you can with Wolfie since things are decidely messy and you don't know when push will come to shove. Be careful, and scream if you need anything. *HUGS FROM ME AND JULIE*.
Rob
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 12 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, May 29, 2002 (15:19) * 1 lines
I'll be ok. Thanks Rob. You are there in the middle of the night for me and I appreciated it. Back to our very NON-dormant volcano. I will thump on it and take it's temperature and other vital signs. I would really like to see some fountaining again. I have gotten spoiled in not being content to see just plain molten lava. Having my own volcano is very special. Especially when it is so safe to visit and appreciate. I'll be taking my digital camera with me. Now is when I need that strong telephoto lens that mine lacks.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 13 of 192: Curious Wolfie (wolf) * Wed, May 29, 2002 (18:41) * 3 lines
oh sweetie girl!!!
*****HUGS!!!!*****
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 14 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, May 29, 2002 (23:18) * 16 lines
HUGS back, Wolfie! It looks good for viewing on the 31st. This is today's eruption report :
0750 May 29
The west arm of the Mother's Day flow has broken into fairly open grassland and is now rapidly moving down Pulama pali. This morning at 0444, the broad front of the flow is about 250 m wide and down as low as the 950-foot elevation. Spectacular scenes of the rolling lava, flaming grass and brush, and flaring trees can be seen from the end of the Chain of Craters Road. The west arm is moving south-southeast and is now about 2.8 km from the road. Its front is close to, if not below, the historic Kalapana Trail that once was the main route between Kilauea's summit and Kalapana.
The central and east arms of the flow (a simplification of the complex front) are moving southeastward toward the 1995 Jason flow. These arms have moved fairly swiftly during the past 24 hours, as they have encountered rather steep slopes on Pulama pali. Consequently they are nearly as low as the west arm, down to about 1000 feet or perhaps a little less. They remain in forest, their traces being best seen by the smoke and fire of burning vegetation.
The Boundary flow remains dark this morning, though lava is feeding onto the coastal flat through one or more tubes. As of May 25, the front of the flow was about 1.8 km from the coastline. Another branch, which turns east at the foot of Pulama pali, is less active. On May 25, it had reached about 1.3 km east of the foot of the cascade down the pali and was adding more lava to the previously buried intersection of Lehua and Prince Streets in Royal Gardens.
The HALP flow continues its slow advance into upper Royal Gardens subdivision. Glow from just above its front is plainly visible this morning. How far the flow has moved from the intersection of Warrior and Ekaha Streets is not known.
The crater of Pu`u `O`o is dark this morning, though incandescent spatter cones were observed from the air yesterday.
Seismicity across the volcano is at a background level. Volcanic tremor at Kilauea's summit is low, broken occasionally by short-lived long-period earthquakes. Pu`u `O`o has weak to moderate tremor. Tiltmeters are showing nothing unusual.
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/main.html
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 15 of 192: John Tsatsaragos (tsatsvol) * Fri, May 31, 2002 (06:21) * 4 lines
It is 31st. See these spectacular scenes but think Marcia first. Take care yourself Marcia. Stay far off an unforeseen event.
John
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 16 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Jun 1, 2002 (01:26) * 1 lines
My travel to the volcano is off until the first of the week. I have asked Mme Pele to please plan on more good things for me to photograph for you.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 17 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Jun 8, 2002 (19:54) * 97 lines
USGS volcano news June 6, 2002 - Eruptions and fires
Lava is not fire. People sometimes talk about lava as fire, as in "fire
fountain," "curtain of fire," and "river of fire." Most realize that these
and similar terms are misleading and confusing metaphors, but bad habits
are hard to break. Volcanologists are weaning themselves away from using
the terms, and they are no longer used by HVO scientists in their
publications. Lava is liquid rock, nothing else.
Lava can, however, cause fire. In that sense, the two words are
sometimes intertwined. The fire caused by the Mother's Day lava flow at
Kilauea is an example. The fire owes its start to hot lava igniting
vegetation. The lava didn't need a fire to get going, but the fire needed
the lava's heat.
The Pu`u `O`o eruption has caused many fires in the past 19 years,
some fairly large but most of them small. The Kupukupu Fire, the name given
by Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to the fire ignited by the Mother's Day
lava flow, is the largest of the eruption, burning more than 1,480
hectares (3,660 acres) by June 4. But it is only the latest fire of the
eruption. Each time lava enters even the tiniest vegetated kipuka, a fire
is generated.
Old-timers will recall the heroic efforts of the park to save the
Naulu Forest and picnic area during the Mauna Ulu eruption in 1970-1972.
Most of this forest, consisting almost entirely of native vegetation,
eventually succumbed to the lava flows that spread downslope near and east
of the Kealakomo shelter and overlook. The largest fire burned 1,300
hectares (3,200 acres) in 1972, but an earlier fire in 1970 took the real
jewels. It was a sad day, indeed, when a large `ulu (breadfruit) tree, a
landmark to those driving down the new Chain of Craters Road, was caught by
the fire near the base of Holei Pali in 1970. Sad, perhaps, but perfectly
natural. Lava has been starting fires since there was vegetation to light.
Recent investigation into the past 1,500 years of Kilauea's eruptive
history has uncovered evidence for a number of fires in the relatively dry
area between the Hilina Pali Road and the Mauna Ulu lava flows. Some of
these fires were almost certainly caused by lava flows, because charcoal is
found directly under a flow or in a tree mold formed in a flow.
Other old fires, however, have no certain cause, yet circumstantial
evidence suggests a lava origin. For example, lots of charcoal in alluvial
debris has radiocarbon ages from the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. This
was a time when lava flows were frequently erupting from the summit and
upper east rift zone of Kilauea. The charcoal is found in deposits on top
of, or beyond the ends of, these flows, so we can't really relate it to a
particular flow or even to any eruption at all. Nonetheless, it is a
logical inference that lava started the fires.
There is even 1,300-year-old charcoal sitting near the ground surface
and indicating an old fire possibly ignited by an explosive eruption of
about that age.
Fire is just one of many indirect consequences of eruptions. There
are others that don't involve fire. For example, many readers will remember
the problems at Kilauea 10-15 years ago with acid rain from vog leaching
lead out of paint and solder. On a similar note, the upper part of the Ka`u
Desert is largely an acid rain desert, caused indirectly by sulfur dioxide
emitted in Halemaumau. At other volcanoes, mudflows are commonly disastrous
indirect results of an eruption, although they can be direct as well.
Volcanic ash can down high-flying jetliners that enter nearly invisible ash
concentrations before they know it. On a larger scale, crop failures and
short-term weather change can be consequences of very large eruptions.
The Kupukupu Fire reminds us again that eruptions may pose
significant problems above and beyond the area actually covered by lava or
ash. The earth is a complex system, and even minor natural perturbations in
that system can have indirect, often unexpected results.
Eruption Update
Eruptive activity of Kilauea Volcano continued unabated at the Pu`u
`O`o vent during the past week. The "Mother's Day" lava flow is slowly
advancing in the flats between Pulama pali and Paliuli with the distal end
of the flow located 1.6 km (1 mi) above the Chain of Craters road. The two
flows emanating from the "rootless" shields continue to be active. The
lower flow along the National Park-Royal Gardens boundary is inflating and
spreading on the coastal flats with only minimal movement toward the ocean.
The higher flow that entered the top of Royal Gardens subdivision last week
has one lobe moving down Prince past Pakalana and another between Prince
and Royal approaching Pikake. At least four houses are in the probable
path of the flow.
There were no earthquakes reported felt during the week ending on June 6.
This article was written by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Alaska, Russian and Worldwide Volcanoes
For updates on U.S. and Russian volcanoes see:
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/update.html
For updates on volcanoes worldwide see:
http://www.volcano.si.edu/gvp/usgs/index.htm
Carolyn Bell
Acting Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Geological Survey
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 18 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Jun 8, 2002 (21:09) * 59 lines
Seafloor studies reveal a huge volcanic blast 2 million years ago
Associated Press
Scientists drilling into the ocean floor say they have
found the first evidence of a giant volcanic eruption 2
million years ago on Oahu.
A similar eruption could occur on the Big Island, according
to one of the project leaders.
The discovery by 15 scientists on the multinational Ocean
Drilling Program expedition was reported this week by the
Joint Oceanographic Institutions of Washington, D.C., which
manages the program.
The expedition known as Leg 200 was drilling a deep hole
into the oceanic crust near Hawaii in December when
evidence emerged of a "cataclysmic volcanic event,"
according to the report.
The drilling penetrated two layers that had been blasted
out to sea at temperatures nearly 400 degrees Fahrenheit,
said Ralph Stephen, co-chief scientist of the project.
"Our drilling results from Leg 200 indicate that this event
was not merely a landslide, but a hot explosion," Stephen
said. "The same process could happen again to the Big
Island."
The hole more than 180 miles northeast of Oahu eventually
will house a deep-sea observatory with seismic and other
geophysical, geochemical and microbiological monitoring
devices.
Volcanoes along the Hawaiian and Canary chains have been so
steep that large segments collapse into huge landslides
onto the ocean floor. Scientists say the Nuuanu landslide
removed half of what was Oahu 2 million years ago.
"The evidence indicates that this large landslide was
associated with an explosive event similar to the Mount
Saint Helens' eruption in Washington State in 1980, but was
an order of magnitude (10 times) larger," Stephen said.
Under normal conditions, volcanic magma is held in place,
but when a landslide removes it, explosions send the hot
magma into surrounding air and sea, he said.
The drilling provided the first evidence that the landslide
was accompanied by such explosions.
Scientists are continuing to study material extracted
during the drilling.
The Ocean Drilling Program is an international partnership
that is studying the evolution and structure of the Earth.
Funding comes primarily from the U.S. National Science
Foundation and its international partners.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 19 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Jun 15, 2002 (11:56) * 51 lines
*************************************************************
New web-page: Commission on Mitigation of Volcanic Disasters
*************************************************************
From: Giovanni Orsi
A new web-page of the Commission for Mitigation of Volcanic Disasters of IAVCEI
is online !!!!.
The web-page is accessible either trough the IAVCEI web site or at
http://www.ov.ingv.it/cmvd/index.htm.
This site is intended to serve as a vehicle of communication between its
members (professional volcanologists) and individuals or institutions
(including laymen) interested in the reduction and mitigation of volcanic
disasters. The leaders of this commission have decided to focus on hazard maps
as they are the most important tool for designing monitoring systems,
emergency plans as well as socio-economic development strategies for a given
region. Unfortunately, for most active volcanoes in the world such maps do not
exist. For this reason it is important to promote achievements in this
direction with the introduction of the "Volcanic Hazard Information Project".
As part of this project on the site you will find a World-wide Catalogue of
Hazard and Risk Maps which are grouped according to geographic areas.
Eventually, the Commission intends to help facilitate the production of a
Volcanic Hazard Atlas for each area.
The World-wide Catalogue of Hazard and Risk Maps is not just another catalogue
of active volcanoes, rather a more specialised repository of technical
information related to volcanic hazards and mitigation of volcanic disasters.
This database is intended to be constantly updated and, although focussed
mainly on technical information on hazard maps, includes information also on
risk maps, geophysical and geochemical monitoring systems, populations at
risk, volcanic alert systems, and civil defence mitigation programs.
All individuals and members of an institution working on hazard and risk maps
in a volcanic area are invited to contribute to the World-wide Catalogue of
Hazard and Risk Maps and to the Volcanic Hazard Atlas.
Giovanni Orsi
*****************************************
Giovanni ORSI
Osservatorio Vesuviano - I.N.G.V.
Via Diocleziano, 328
80124 NAPOLI (Italia)
Tel. +39 081 6108343
Fax +39 081 6108344
e-mail: orsi@ov.ingv.it
web site: http://www.ov.ingv.it
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 20 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Jul 29, 2002 (16:33) * 8 lines
Kilauea's Mother's Day lava flow eats Chain of Craters road:
And falls into the sea:
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 21 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jul 29, 2002 (17:35) * 1 lines
Oh Terry, they are lovely! That is exactly what they look like and I can even smell and hear what it is like. Wouldn't you know - when I am 6000 miles away!
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 22 of 192: Curious Wolfie (wolf) * Mon, Jul 29, 2002 (19:02) * 1 lines
those are great pictures!! and marcia, these things always happen when we're away!! *HUGS*
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 23 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Jul 30, 2002 (08:50) * 1 lines
Kilauea's mothers day present!
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 24 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jul 30, 2002 (18:12) * 1 lines
Alas, they closed the viewing road for Mother's Day because the lava was coming down too close to the road and heading for a vast area of what was available space to view. Thus I was not allowed down then, nor my birthday and I have not seen it since May 31, 2001 - a year and 2 months ago! There is little left of the coast road now. I wonder if we willbe able to watch it with such convenience again in the near future.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 25 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jul 30, 2002 (18:54) * 38 lines
New Lava From Kilauea Volcano Entering the Sea
USGS Web Site Features Daily Lava Flow Updates and Photographs
Lava flows from the Pu`u `O`o vent on the east rift zone of Kilauea Volcano
in Hawaii are entering the sea and are rapidly adding new land to the
coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory. The USGS Web site http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/
features near real time lava flow updates as well as photographs.
Detailed descriptions of lava flow and videos and photographs of lava
breakouts, lava streams, and lava entering the ocean offer the public as
well as scientists an opportunity to safely observe Kilauea's activity from
their computers. Web site viewers can access the site daily and find out
new information and see current photographs of Kilauea's lava flows.
Kilauea Volcano has been erupting since Jan. 3, 1983. The current lava
flows are arms of the larger lava flow that erupted earlier this year on
Mother's Day (May 12).
Since 1952, there have been 34 eruptions, and since 1983, eruptive activity
has been nearly continuous.
The eruption that began in 1983 continues at the cinder-and-spatter cone of
Pu`u `O`o (high point on skyline).
Kilauea is the youngest and southeastern-most volcano on the Big Island of
Hawaii.
The Hawaiian name "Kilauea" means "spewing" or "much spreading," apparently
in reference to the lava flows it erupts.
The USGS serves the nation by providing reliable scientific information to:
describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from
natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources;
and enhance and protect our quality of life.
***USGS***
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 26 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Aug 1, 2002 (08:17) * 13 lines
Oldest Volcanoes Discovered
Tuesday 30th July 2002
Geologists in Brazil claim they have found the oldest volcanoes in the world.
The pair are in the Amazon and date back 1.9 billion years.
Professor Caetano Juliani of Sao Paulo University says the oldest previously
known volcano was just 500 million years old.
He told Estado de SP newspaper: "Usually old volcanoes are destroyed very
fast, in a few million years."
The volcanoes were found near the Tapajos and Jamanxin rivers. The larger of
the two is 700 feet high and just over a mile in diameter at the base. The
scientists expect the rocks to give up valuable information about the region's
formation . (Ananova)
http://www.volcanolive.com/volcanolive.html
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 27 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Aug 1, 2002 (08:18) * 64 lines
Yucca Mountain Volcano Dangers
Thursday 1st August 2002
A volcanic eruption at Yucca Mountain could do more damage than previously
thought, possibly forcing radioactive waste from its burial site to the surface,
according to a new study. If long-dormant volcanoes near the prospective
high-level nuclear waste dump sprang back to life, molten rock could fill the
repository deep beneath the Nevada desert within hours, said an article in the
July issue of Geophysical Research Letters, a publication of the American
Geophysical Union. Intense heat and pressure could cause some canisters of
spent nuclear fuel that are to be buried at Yucca to rupture and allow
radioactive material to flow toward the surface.
Seven extinct volcanoes are within 27 miles but the last eruption was 80,000
years ago. Yucca project scientists calculate that the chance of one occurring
within the waste repository over the next 10,000 years is one in 70 million. Last
week Yucca was designated as the USA's lone long-term waste repository. It
is scheduled to open in 2010.
More on Yucca Mountain Volcanoes...
Volcanoes of USA...
Large Earthquake Hits Costa Rica and Panama (Magnitude 6.5)
Thursday 1st August 2002
An earthquake of 6.5 magnitude shook Costa Rica on Tuesday evening,
knocking down three houses and injuring at least two people, Costa Rica's
national seismological service said. The quake, also felt in San Jose, was the
strongest in the nation's south, near the border with Panama, where it also
knocked out electricity in several communities.
The earthquake was also felt in Panama, where communities near to the
border with Costa Rica reported interrupted electricity and telephone service.
There were no injuries reported. (Reuters) More on Costa Rica...
More on Panama...
Lava Enters Ocean at Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Wednesday 31st July 2002
Lava is entering the sea at two locations as of 30th July. Another arm of the
Mother's Day lava flow (the Highcastle arm) is zeroing in on the remnant of
the Chain of Craters Road in the Highcastle kipuka. At 0647hr, the front of the
flow was in the grassy kipuka, about 150 m from the pavement. Small fires and
methane explosions are taking place. The short stretch of roadway in the
Highcastle kipuka, long cut off from the rest of the Chain of Craters Road, has
been a landmark for years. It now appears in grave danger of being covered
by lava.
Lava entering the ocean entry at the West Highcastle entry, about 500 m
southwest of the Highcastle kipuka, is confined to one place. Lava is dripping
into the water from a height of some 5-7 m.
The Wilipe`a entry is again mainly active on the west side of the new bench,
the very spot the visitors can access most easily. Quite a crowd was on hand
this morning before dawn to witness the numerous entry points, breakouts on
the bench, and the play of rose to orange glow in the steam plume. (HVO)
More on Kilauea volcano...
Oldest Volcanoes Discovered
Tuesday 30th July 2002
Geologists in Brazil claim they have found the oldest volcanoes in the world.
The pair are in the Amazon and date back 1.9 billion years.
Professor Caetano Juliani of Sao Paulo University says the oldest previously
known volcano was just 500 million years old.
He told Estado de SP newspaper: "Usually old volcanoes are destroyed very
fast, in a few million years."
The volcanoes were found near the Tapajos and Jamanxin rivers. The larger of
the two is 700 feet high and just over a mile in diameter at the base. The
scientists expect the rocks to give up valuable information about the region's
formation . (Ananova)
http://www.volcanolive.com/volcanolive.html
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 28 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Aug 1, 2002 (08:39) * 3 lines
Kentucky Lava - July 2002- both sides of same 3 inch rock
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 29 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Aug 1, 2002 (08:41) * 1 lines
It is most impressive full size which is about twice your monitor area. There are bits of shell and whatever ground rock it rolled over stuck in the matrix of the lava. I am certain it is the top of a VERY old a'a flow.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 30 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Aug 1, 2002 (22:22) * 89 lines
French Volcanologist Injured
Friday 2nd August 2002
A French volcanologist was badly scalded when he tried to climb up the side
of New Zealand's only mud volcano, on the eastern outskirts of Rotorua. The
Frenchman had ignored a barrier around the volcano at Tikitere in the
incident on Wednesday. He climbed over on to the volcano to take a closer
look and get pictures inside the cone when the side of the vent collapsed
under him. The injured man's wife ran for help, returning about 10 minutes
later with park staff and a trained first-aider, who bathed the man's scorched
legs and feet in a nearby cold-water stream.
He was later taken to Rotorua Hospital.
The man's weight had left a 60-70cm hole in the volcano's side, and boiling
mud and water were still gushing from it yesterday. His wife said he had had
a similar experience in Hawaii.
About three weeks ago an Australian teenager suffered burns at Hell's Gate
when he wandered off marked tracks into an active thermal area. (New
Zealand Herald)
More on volcanoes of New Zealand...
More on Mud Volcanoes...
Update on Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Friday 2nd August 2002
The Mother's Day flow on Pulama pali is putting one of the most awesome
displays of the flow in some time, according to the Hawaii Volcano
Observatory. West Highcastle has a sparkly breakout covering a large part
of the bench and a couple of lava falls from the front of the bench into the
water.
Yucca Mountain Volcano Dangers
Thursday 1st August 2002
A volcanic eruption at Yucca Mountain could do more damage than
previously thought, possibly forcing radioactive waste from its burial site to
the surface, according to a new study. If long-dormant volcanoes near the
prospective high-level nuclear waste dump sprang back to life, molten rock
could fill the repository deep beneath the Nevada desert within hours, said an
article in the July issue of Geophysical Research Letters, a publication of the
American Geophysical Union. Intense heat and pressure could cause some
canisters of spent nuclear fuel that are to be buried at Yucca to rupture and
allow radioactive material to flow toward the surface.
Seven extinct volcanoes are within 27 miles but the last eruption was 80,000
years ago. Yucca project scientists calculate that the chance of one occurring
within the waste repository over the next 10,000 years is one in 70 million.
Last week Yucca was designated as the USA's lone long-term waste
repository. It is scheduled to open in 2010.
Lava Enters Ocean at Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Wednesday 31st July 2002
Lava is entering the sea at two locations as of 30th July. Another arm of the
Mother's Day lava flow (the Highcastle arm) is zeroing in on the remnant of
the Chain of Craters Road in the Highcastle kipuka. At 0647hr, the front of
the flow was in the grassy kipuka, about 150 m from the pavement. Small
fires and methane explosions are taking place. The short stretch of roadway
in the Highcastle kipuka, long cut off from the rest of the Chain of Craters
Road, has been a landmark for years. It now appears in grave danger of
being covered by lava.
Lava entering the ocean entry at the West Highcastle entry, about 500 m
southwest of the Highcastle kipuka, is confined to one place. Lava is dripping
into the water from a height of some 5-7 m.
The Wilipe`a entry is again mainly active on the west side of the new bench,
the very spot the visitors can access most easily. Quite a crowd was on hand
this morning before dawn to witness the numerous entry points, breakouts on
the bench, and the play of rose to orange glow in the steam plume. (HVO)
Congo Eruption Threatens Animals
Tuesday 30th July 2002
A large plume of ash over Mount Nyimuragira, which erupted on Thursday,
poses no immediate danger to man, but may hurt animals west of the
volcano, Dario Tedesco, the resident volcanologist of the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said on Sunday.
Reporting on the activity of Nyimuragira and the nearby Mount Nyiragongo,
he said Nyiamuragira’s eruptions were continuing to produce "huge
quantities" of ash, which was being blown in a westerly direction. These
ashes contained "extremely sharp" glassy needles and other particles, often
eaten by cows and other animals, he said, and were responsible for stomach
haemorrhage leading to death.
He also warned that harvests might be in endangered in "all regions" in the
path of ash clouds, and by local acid rain. However, he said there were no
reports of danger to the quality of water in the area. But villagers living
downwind of the direction of the plumb could suffer eye irritations due to
halogens and sulphur, and particularly fluorine. Others might suffer breathing
problems associated with the heavy ash emissions.
Scientists said there were gas discharges and "large amounts" of magma close
to the nearby Mount Nyiragongo, which last erupted on 17 January, causing
extensive damage to the lakeside town of Goma. That eruption caused
thousands of people to flee, some to neighbouring Rwanda. (IRIN)
More on Nyimuragira volcano...
http://www.volcanolive.com/volcanolive.html
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 31 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Aug 5, 2002 (18:12) * 104 lines
How the lava viewing got to be so great - KILAUEA
The past two weeks have been exceptional for viewers of Kilauea's lava
flows. Both colorful and convenient, the flows have drawn visitors to the
island and attracted many residents as well. How did this happen?
Everything started on Mother's Day, May 12, when a new vent opened near
the southwest base of Pu`u `O`o. This area had not been the site of a
previous vent, but nearby areas hosted many small vents during the past
several years.
The Mother's Day flow poured southwest into the nearest forest, turned
south-southeast, and began its long, slow descent through the forest to the
coastal flat below Paliuli. Along the way, the flow started the 3,600-acre
Kupukupu fire, which burned throughout much of June and has had flare-ups
since. By early June, lava had crossed the Kalapana Trail and almost
reached the top of Paliuli. A park trail was readied for the time when the
lava would pour down the pali onto the coastal flat and be easily
accessible to visitors.
Lava cascades started down Paliuli on the night of June 9-10, 1.5 km (1
mile) from the coast. For the next five-and-a-half weeks, the flow fed by
the cascades slowly worked its way across the coastal flat, feinting this
way and that, first to the west, then to the east, then in the middle. By
June 25, an arm had moved along the west side of the 1995 flow to within
450 m (1,500 feet) of the Chain of Craters Road. It looked as if the flow
were going to continue, and several small buildings at the end of the road
were moved.
But the threatening flow stagnated, and all activity became concentrated
in the central and eastern parts of the 1-km-wide (0.6-mile-wide) flow
front. By June 30, the leading edge of the flow was 1 km (3,300 feet) from
water; by July 5, 800 m (2,600 feet); by July 10, 550 m (1,800 feet); and
by July 15, 400 m (1,300 feet).
Then, two fingers of the eastern lobe really took off. The west finger
led on July 16-18, but the east rapidly closed in and was only 10 m (30
feet) shy on the 18th. That evening, a final push sent lava from the east
arm into the ocean, at a place we now call West Highcastle.
Meanwhile, a rapidly developing western arm of the flow was surging
seaward, along the general route of the June threat. By morning of July
19, its front was 700 m (2,300 feet) from the Chain of Craters Road. The
front moved 400 m (1,300 feet) in the next 20 hours and then 300 m (1,000
feet) in the next 12 hours, crossing the road in the early evening.
Fortunately, the park had just enough time to move the building over the
lua before it was destroyed. The lava quickly poured the next 230 m (750
feet) and entered the water in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 21,
at a place known as Wilipe`a.
The Wilipe`a entry quickly built a large bench, which at this writing
reaches about 90 m (300 feet) offshore and is 470 m (1,540 feet) wide along
the shore line. Visitors have outstanding viewing across the west end of
the bench with favorable wind. If stinging acidic steam covers that area,
visitors can take a marked trail across the warm flow to an upwind vantage
point on the east side of the bench.
Talk about a media splash! Amid the many truths, one misconception stands
out. The flow is NOT the most dangerous in years. Lava flows have been
entering the water off and on for the past 16 years, and each had a similar
set of hazards. The current activity is not exceptional, but it is easily
accessible. More people are therefore at risk, but the hazards they face
are no greater than before. The difference between hazard (a natural
process or event) and risk (the impact on society) is often confused. To
the individual, there is no greater danger than before. To society, there
are more people observing the entry, so there is more chance of someone
getting hurt.
How long will the great viewing last? Probably not long, so enjoy it
while you can!
Eruption Update
Eruptive activity of Kilauea Volcano continued unabated at the Pu`u `O`o
vent during the past week. As mentioned above, both the West Highcastle
and Wilipe`a ocean entries of the Mother's Day flow are active and forming
benches. More than seven acres of new land have been mapped in the first
10 days since lava reentered the ocean, and the area is rapidly increasing
and adding to the size of the island. Lava viewing is spectacular, and the
National Park Service is allowing visitors to hike out and get up close to
the active flows.
The eastern Boundary flow emanating from the "rootless" shields remains
prominent. Two incandescent streams are seen on Pulama pali from just
above to one-third of the way down.
Two earthquakes were reported felt during the week ending on August 1. A
resident on Kama`ili Road in Puna felt an earthquake at 6:33 p.m. on July
25. The magnitude-2.4 earthquake was located 5 km (3 mi) north of
`Opihikao at a depth of 5.9 km (3.5 mi). A magnitude-2.0 earthquake
located 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Pa`auilo at a depth of 8.1 km (5 mi) was
felt by a resident of Papa`aloa at 7:52 p.m. on July 30.
This article was written by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
U.S. Geological Survey
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
PO Box 51, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Phone (808) 967-7328 FAX (808) 967-8890
Carolyn Bell
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Geological Survey
Mail Stop 119 National Center
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 32 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Aug 5, 2002 (18:23) * 3 lines
I am delighted to announce this website is ready for the world to see. I was fortunate enough to see it in its infancy.
http://www.volcano.si.edu/gvp/
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 33 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Aug 13, 2002 (21:31) * 8 lines
A volcano on NBC News tonight.
"It is a lava junkies paradise in Hawaii.
Kilua's most dramatic performance in years. It's drawing 2500 visitors a day.
Don Swanson was interviewed about the dangers of people walking oout on the shelves.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 34 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Aug 16, 2002 (22:03) * 7 lines
Stay back of the ranger lines and you will be perfectly safe. They are there for your protection and they are not keeping you from seeing it. They are trying to keep you alive!
Enjoy!
(I'll be back there by the end of the month so it will stop before then!)
I did see a photo and caption in ARCHAEOLOGY magazinel about making corn impressions on fresh lava by laying dried ears in front of the flows. I wonder if it worked.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 35 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Aug 16, 2002 (22:41) * 2 lines
The eruption continues at Kilauea. For update and wonderful pictures
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/main.html
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 36 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Aug 20, 2002 (08:39) * 15 lines
Some great shots of volcanoes from satellites!
http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/default.htm
This sequence of ASTER nighttime thermal images shows the Pu'u O'o lava
flows entering the sea at Kamokuna on the southeast side of the Island of
Hawaii. Each image covers an area of 9 x 12 km. The acquisition dates are
April 4 2000, May 13 2000, May 22 2000 (upper row) and June 30 2000,
August 1 2000 and January 1 2001 (lower row). Thermal band 14 has been
color coded from black (coldest) through blue, red, yellow and white
(hottest). The first 5 images show a time sequence of a single eruptive
phase; the last image shows flows from a later eruptive phase.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 37 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Aug 20, 2002 (23:11) * 1 lines
Oooh! I had not seen them before. Thanks for posting them. Lovely! Imagine what it must have been like at ground level ! That was my last chance to go and they closed the viewing to the public until the eruption stablized. This is the usual process done for eruptions.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 38 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sat, Aug 24, 2002 (09:47) * 18 lines
Truly amazing stuff.
"Spigots are turned on, and lava pours into ocean off front of
Highcastle Stairs bench. Each spigot is mouth of small lava tube within
bench":
Front of bench:
The stairs a few days ago:
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 39 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Aug 24, 2002 (12:30) * 3 lines
Terry's pictures and more http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/main.html
Today's activity update sounds like more and vigorous flows are being emitted from around Pu'u 'O'o and will make for even more spectacular photos in the days to come.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 40 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, Oct 17, 2002 (07:59) * 1 lines
Which Hawaii volcano is coming to life after decades?
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 41 of 192: Cheryl (CherylB) * Thu, Oct 24, 2002 (16:19) * 1 lines
See what happened when Marcia left Hawaii. Madame Pele is sending a farewell, maybe.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 42 of 192: Moon Dreams (Moon) * Thu, Oct 24, 2002 (16:51) * 1 lines
Marcia left Hawaii? I have a lot of catching up to do.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 43 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Oct 29, 2002 (10:39) * 5 lines
Etna erupting.
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=651326D8-37F2-4E42-
A29678B740A829CC
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 44 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Oct 29, 2002 (22:02) * 1 lines
Mauna Loa is reactivating... Yes, wouldn't you know! Two active volcanoes and I am in the oldest stuff on the continent.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 45 of 192: Cheryl (CherylB) * Mon, Nov 25, 2002 (20:47) * 37 lines
Hidden island off Sicily may reappear
Monday, November 25, 2002 Posted: 12:20 PM EST (1720 GMT)
ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- A volcanic island submerged off the coast of Sicily for the last 170 years could reappear in the coming weeks if furious seismic rumblings continue, Italy's chief seismologist said Monday.
"We've seen Etna erupting, seismic activity to the north and east of Sicily and gas activity around the Aeolian Islands," Enzo Boschi, head of Italy's Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, said.
"The island could come back to the surface, but we'll have to wait and see ... It could be a few weeks or months."
Diplomatic spat could resurface
Formed by the tip of a submerged volcano, the island last popped up in 1831, sparking a diplomatic spat among several nations, before it sank beneath the Mediterranean waves six months later.
The volcano's peak now sits just 26 feet under water about 19 miles south of Sicily, near Tunisia.
"We are monitoring things very closely," Boschi said. "The process could begin at any time ... It would be a very beautiful and fascinating event."
Over the centuries, the island has emerged four times, with underwater volcanic eruptions first recorded during the first Punic War of 264-241 BC.
The last emergence on July 2, 1831, caused months of international wrangling with four nations making territorial claims including Britain, Spain and the Bourbon court of Sicily.
Call it what you will
The rock, which rose some 213 feet above the surface and had a circumference of about three miles, emerged for six months, giving the British time to claim it as Graham Island, while Sicily's King Ferdinand II called it Ferdinandea.
Scientists refer to it as Graham Bank, but Italians still call it Ferdinandea.
This time, Sicilian divers have gone down and planted a flag on the rock in the hope of claiming it as Italian the moment it rises above the surface, Boschi said.
While it may not spark the same diplomatic spat as 171 years ago if it emerges, there could well be a new claimant.
"I'm sure the European Union will want it as a member, won't they?" Boschi said.
Here's the link:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/11/25/italy.island.reut/index.html
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 46 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Nov 28, 2002 (13:03) * 1 lines
Ooh Cheryl! Many thanks for finding that article about the hidden volcano. Volcanoes are pretty hard to hide! Even when Mauna Loa decided to erupt just after the invasion of Pearl Harbor. No one would admit it was happening lest the Japanese planes use it as a beacon to do more damage to Hawaii.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 47 of 192: Cheryl (CherylB) * Wed, Dec 4, 2002 (19:52) * 1 lines
I didn't know that Mauna Loa erupted shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The story about no one admitting that it was erupting is fascinating. You're right, though. It is really hard to hide an erupting volcano.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 48 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Dec 10, 2002 (20:08) * 1 lines
Makes you wonder who Mme Pele was rooting for.It is still referred to as the "secret" eruption. Secret from NO ONE!!!
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 49 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jan 7, 2003 (02:02) * 44 lines
Stromboli Volcano (Italy)
Italian rescue workers set up a satellite-linked early
warning system on Stromboli Sunday amid fears the
volcanic island off the toe of Italy could trigger
another Tsunami. Volcanic activity on Stromboli caused
a tsunami on Monday that crashed into a coastal
village, injuring three people, damaging several homes
and overturning boats. The risk of further landslides
and thus of another anomalous wave cannot be excluded.
Rescue workers have launched a buoy equipped with
sensors a short distance off the coast of Stromboli
that is designed to sound the alarm if a tidal wave
starts to form.
Semeru Volcano (Indonesia)
Semeru volcano is currently showing a high level of
activity. Seismic record on 1 January 2003 are : 88
events of explosion earthquake, 18 events of avalanche
earthquake.
Volcano Tours for 2003
Join us on expedition to the great erupting volcanoes
of the world. In 2003 we are travelling to Italy,
Hawaii, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Indonesia.
You are welcome to join a trip.
See www.volcanolive.com/travel.html
for full details.
John Seach
Volcano Live
www.volcanolive.com
NSW, Australia
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 50 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jan 14, 2003 (13:48) * 3 lines
An interesting and amusing discussion of Hollywood "Volcano movies"
plus a whole lot of good links:
http://geology.about.com/library/weekly/aa042797.htm
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 51 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sat, Jan 18, 2003 (07:03) * 6 lines
There were a lot of them weren't there?
I remember some but can't recall their names right now.
Which ones do you like, Marci?
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 52 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, Jan 19, 2003 (19:05) * 4 lines
I am partial to the one for Jack Lockwood was the volcanologist and technical advisor. I think it was "Dante's Peak." One has to suspend science for the sake of the story. My first viewing of the volcano movies were with a small group of young volcanologists. They were more fun to listen to than the movie.
In that vein, when Don and I watched anything archaological, we agreed that we will suspend critical comments on the technical aspects. However, a few are so funny we can't help it. By the way, Indiana Jones does not respresent the usual
archaeologist's pursuits, thank goodness.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 53 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, Jan 19, 2003 (19:06) * 5 lines
Joe vs The Volcano
Dante's Peak
Volcano
...are the three that come to mind.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 54 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jan 21, 2003 (23:59) * 59 lines
*****************************
Kilauea 20th Anniversary
*****************************
From: Stephen James O'Meara
Kilauea 20th Anniversary
FYI: The National Geographic Society has a PHOTO GALLERY of images of
Kilauea Volcano up at:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/01/photogalleries/kilauea/index.ht
ml
and a news story comemmorating the 20th year of eruption at:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/01/0102_030103_kilauea.html
*****************************
New volcano show at NGC
*****************************
From: Stephen James O'Meara
Please note this new National Geographic Television program will air Monday
January 27, 2003 at 4Pm EST: see Ad Below or click on the web addresses to
read more about the programs:
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL--TELEVISION
Inside Base Camp
with Steve & Donna O'Meara
For the past 20 years, this married couple has gathered scientific data on
eruptions, a very risky business. Volcanologists are at least three times
more likely to be killed in the line of duty than New York City cops.
Send Yourself a Program Reminder
If you would like to be reminded one day before this particular episode is
going to air, click on the website below--then click on the icon by the
specific tv program.
4 p.m. Monday : January 27, 2003
For more details click on this website;
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/ET/daily/20030127.html
Read about at These National Geographic Society websites:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/01/0102_030103_kilauea.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/02/0215_020215_volcanohunter.ht
ml
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/explorer/exp021702.html
OR View the O'Meara's VOLCANO Photo Gallery at:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/01/photogalleries/kilauea/index
.html
http://db2.photoresearchers.com/cgi-bin/query.cgi?api=100967797&row=4&col=4&
pg=1
http://www.volcanoworld.org/
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 55 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Jan 22, 2003 (00:13) * 1 lines
Has anyone heard of a 7.6 earthquake in Mexico City? Sounds very bad. They have not repaired everything from the last one.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 56 of 192: Rob Glennie (AotearoaKiwi) * Wed, Jan 22, 2003 (02:38) * 5 lines
Hi all
No, but a magnitude 7.2 earthquake rocked the Solomon Islands last night. No casualties, but some damage.
Rob
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 57 of 192: lance8 (lance8) * Sun, May 4, 2003 (22:54) * 3 lines
I know it was a while since this came into the conversation, but does any one else remember "Krakatoa; East of Java"? Not sure who did the effects, but it was like a combination of Ray Harryhausen and Irwin Allen. Good for its time.
As to the Earthquakes, The South had one recently, if you can believe it. But most people were so dense and dull that it went mostly unnoticed!
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 58 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, May 7, 2003 (00:23) * 1 lines
I remember it. Actually, it is WEST of Java, but the author got it wrong and so is history changed.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 59 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, May 23, 2003 (16:21) * 13 lines
Eruption
Space Station Science Picture of the Day for May 23, 2003
Tiny Anatahan Island is blanketed in ash. Its only inhabitants--thousands
of feral goats and wild pigs--have perished. A churning plume of brown
smoke reaches 4 miles into the air. International Space Station (ISS)
science officer Ed Lu saw it first.
PICTURE AND INFO at
http://science.nasa.gov/ppod/y2003/23may_eruption.htm?list89800
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 60 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, May 23, 2003 (17:02) * 7 lines
First historic eruption of Mariana volcano Anatahan.
On 10 May, Mariana Island volcano Anatahan was seen erupting ash on satellite imagery, which would be the first historic eruption of this volcano. Volcanic cloud reached an estimated 44,000 feet a.s.l. (~13.4km a.s.l.). Hot spot on satellite imagery. Source: http://www.bom.gov.au/products/Volc_ash_recent.shtml
Anatahan began erupting around 9 p.m. on 10 May. A large red-brown cloud rose at least 6km, and there was a red pulsating glow over the island as well. Fortunately the winds are blowing the ash away from inhabited islands for now. This report mentions some sort of increased activity in 1990 of which I have no knowledge. Restless? Eruption? Unclear. Current eruption was still ongoing on 11 May. Source: http://www.guampdn.com/news/stories/20030512/localnews/283954.html Photo: http://www.guampdn.com/news/stories/20030512/localnews/283954-photos.html#1
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 61 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Jul 6, 2003 (17:22) * 5 lines
New Spring source of information on volcanoes, with a link to Geo very prominent.
http://stonedom.com/Geology/Volcanoes/
Hopefully, this will drive more traffic to Geo and to Stonedom.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 62 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jul 11, 2003 (01:21) * 1 lines
Excellent, Terry. Thanks for telling us about it.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 63 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Jul 15, 2003 (18:16) * 27 lines
**********************************
MVO activty report, 14 July 2003
**********************************
Soufriere Hills Volcano - Activity Report - 14th July 2003
Activity at the Soufriere Hills Volcano has been high with a major dome collapse and explosive activity.
The hybrid swarm that began on Wednesday 9th July slowly intensified, with events becoming larger and more closely spaced. By 07:00* on the 12th of July, the events had merged into a continuous tremor signal. A period of prolonged and heavy rainfall occurred between 06:00 and 09:00, causing mudflows in the Belham Valley.
Pyroclastic flow activity in the Tar River Valley began with a moderate-sized flow at 06:53. A series of similar-sized pyroclastic flows occurred in the Tar River Valley throughout the morning. Initially the flows were quite pale and weakly convective. The first pyroclastic flow reached the sea at 10:45. Flow activity increased slowly through the afternoon until it became almost continuous. Flows also occurred in Tuitt's Ghaut and White's Ghaut. The activity picked up markedly at 18:27, with more energetic pyroclastic flows. The level of activity fluctuated thereafter, with several smaller pyroclastic flows in the Tar River Valley, before escalating again at 20:05 with a phase of near-continuous pyroclastic flows. The flows increased in size and several surges traveled 2km over the sea at the mouth of the Tar River Valley. Pyroclastic flows also reached the sea in White's Ghaut and the Spanish Point area. These flows resulted in heavy fall out of ash and accretionary lapilli, particularly between Sa
em and Woodlands.
A number of explosive events took place during this collapse, with the largest occurring between 23:00 and midnight. Showers of rock fragments fell over the island, with dense clasts up to 40mm across falling at the MVO and up to 16mm at Lookout Yard. The Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) provided a column height of 48-50,000 feet for this event. The activity persisted at a high level until around 02:00 on the 13th of July before subsiding slowly.
Heavy ash fall and fall of rock fragments was experienced over all the inhabited parts of Montserrat. The ash fall deposit was 115mm thick at Lime Kiln Bay. The ash burden resulted in the collapse of several wooden buildings in the Salem area. Vegetation damage was extensive with downed trees and branches broken from many others. Many birds were killed by the ash or trapped alive in it. Ash fall from this event was reported from Nevis, St Kitts, Anguilla and St Maarten, and resulted in the closure of several airports.
At 09:10 on July 13th an explosive eruption occurred, following two hours of very low seismic activity. The eruption column was largely obscured due to the low cloud cover, but it was been pale in colour and did not collapse. Fallout of lithic clasts and pumice followed a few minutes later with pumice fragments up to 65mm in length falling in Lime Kiln Bay. The Washington VAAC provided a column height of 40,000 feet for this explosion. A second explosion occurred at 01:15 on July 14th.
The dome and deposits were seen during a helicopter flight this morning. A large collapse scar has formed in the dome directed down the Tar River Valley. The western limit of the scar could not be seen, but the northern and southern walls of the scar are around 850m above sea level. The Tar River Valley is extensively modified and eroded with a deep canyon gouged by the pyroclastic flows. The fan has been extended eastwards into the sea and northwards along the coast. North of Tar River Valley to Killyhawk Ghaut has been devastated. Between Killyhawk Ghaut and Whites Ghaut the vegetation has been burnt and there is thick ash accumulation, but it does not appear to have been violently surged. Large pyroclastic flows have filled the lower reaches of Whites Bottom Ghaut with deposits and impacted Spanish Point.
The MVO and our collaborators from Arkansas suffered significant equipment loses in the activity. The continuous GPS stations at Hermitage and White's Yard and the remote digital camera at White's Yard were destroyed in the event. The broadband seismometer at Long Ground survived.
* All time in this report are Montserrat local time (GMT -4:00)
4 pm, 14th July 2003
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 64 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Jul 28, 2003 (16:09) * 30 lines
Fall 2003 AGU session - "The Growth and Collapse of Hawaiian Volcanoes"
We would like to announce a Fall 2003 AGU session, "The Growth and
Collapse of Hawaiian Volcanoes" (see session summary below). Results
of new research on Hawaiian and other ocean island volcanoes,
especially research that builds upon the pioneering work of Jim Moore,
are welcomed. The electronic abstract submission deadline is 4 September 2003,
1400 UT.
Session summary:
V02 The Growth and Collapse of Hawaiian Volcanoes
The Hawaiian Islands are the most studied hot spot-related ocean island
chain on Earth, and recent work on the submarine flanks of the islands
has revealed much about their internal structure and development. Giant
submarine landslides off island flanks, as well as less catastrophic
volcano spreading and slumping processes, are now recognized as
integral to the life cycles of the islands. Volcaniclastic
sedimentation during island building, interplay between volcano growth
and subsidence, and the formation of rift zones play important roles as
well. James Moore has led the way in pinpointing many of the critical
processes outlined above. In this session we solicit abstracts that
present new results on all aspects of volcano growth, structure, and
deformation that build on his fundamental contributions to our
understanding of the development of the Hawaiian Islands, as well as
other ocean island volcanoes.
Conveners:
Michelle L Coombs, USGS Menlo Park, CA, USA, email: mcoombs@usgs.gov
Barry Eakins, USGS Menlo Park, CA, USA, email: beakins@usgs.gov
Eiichi Takahashi, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 65 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sat, Nov 29, 2003 (18:23) * 92 lines
GOMA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY Volcano Activities :
During all this 3 months period, volcanic activity has been concentrated inside
the Nyiragongo crater : an almost permanently boiling lava lake occupies the
crater at the depth of 700m. If the level of the lake inside the crater seems
to remain constant, its size is slowly growing due to collapses of the active
pit walls. Degassing remains also very important marked by a large gas plume
above the crater. This plume is generally deported to the West by the
prevailing winds and extends on several tens of km. Impact of this permanent
activity on the environment becomes to be quite important : inside the National
Park a 50 km2 area of forest is totally destroyed by volcanic gases and acid
rains, a zone with 50% destruction extends on more than 700 km2 with important
impact on crops (potatoes, corn, beans, bananas). In the same areas important
pollution by Fluoride was also detected and in several localities water tanks
collecting rain water are showing F concentrations up to 23 mg/l (WHO
tolerance = 1.5 mg/l).
GVO, with several partners, has initiated a survey of the impact of the
permanent volcano activity.
Seismology :
In the Nyiragongo area, long period events are commonly detected but at reduced
number, and mainly located at the NW and SW of the volcano. The activity is
largely dominated by permanent tremor generated by the activity of the lava
lake.
In the Nyamulagira area, seismicity is dominated by long period events,
localized along a NNE-SSW direction on the main fracture between Nyamulagira
and Nyiragongo volcano.
Intermittent swarms of longs period seism (60 to 80 events each time) occurred
on Nyamulagira twice or three times a week. A more important swarm was observed
on July 23 (100 long period events). This activity remained fairly stable for
the whole period.
Some fracturation earthquakes are always occurring : they are mainly located in
the South of Nyiragongo volcano (North of Lake Kivu ) and at the North-East of
volcano Nyamulagira
Deformation :
No noticeable change has been recorded along the fracture system.
Temperature Monitoring :
No noticeable change has been measured in the different points under survey.
Goma Volcano Observatory Activities:
This period has been a quite important one for the activities of GVO.
The routine work of surveillance plus the visits on top of Nyiragongo have been
maintained on a regular basis.
At the same time, it has been several important improvements at GVO :
- Mr Kasereka Mahinda Célestin has been elected as Director of the Department
of Geophysics (CRSN) and Chief Scientist of GVO
- Two researchers from GVO team have followed the CSAV session in Hawaii and
later have participated to the congress “Cities on Volcanoes” (Hilo Hawaii)
plus the special “Nyiragongo Workshop” held at this occasion.
- One researcher has made a stay in Italy, on the volcano Etna, to improve his
skills in deformation monitoring.
- Another researcher has made a stay in the University of Florence, for some
geochemical laboratory training, and later participated to a sampling campaign
on the Eolian Islands volcanoes.
- A new deformation surveillance network has been established on the south
flank of the volcano and across the rift, with 9 benchmarks built on the field.
GVO has also been donated with the whole equipment (EDM bases, reflective
prisms targets, etc…) Two complete measurements of the network have been
realized and are showing very good accuracy in the measures. Two tiltmeter
stations have been installed on South and East flanks of the volcano.
- A new telemetered seismic network (7 seismometers 3 components) has also
been deployed through our traditional seismic stations. So far, five of the
seven stations are already radio-connected to GVO and are working in real-time.
Another campaign, planned for February 2004, will complete the network and
install a radio repetitor for a best coverage of the area.
- On June / July 2003, a main expedition has been organized on volcano
Nyiragongo. The inner crater walls being equipped with fixed ropes and a
powered winch, it has been possible to put a small camp on the second platform,
300m below the crater rim. From there, scientists have been able to sample high
temperatures fumaroles (D.Tedesco O.Vaselli) but also fresh lava from the
active lava lake (J.Durieux). Results will be published in separate papers.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 66 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Nov 30, 2003 (21:15) * 2 lines
What's the closest volcano to your new digs, Marci?
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 67 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Dec 4, 2003 (15:01) * 1 lines
Wow...... active or extinct? I guess The Soufriere Hills on Montserrat are the closest now.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 68 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Dec 4, 2003 (15:03) * 1 lines
The New Madrid fault is the closest world hazard.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 69 of 192: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, Dec 4, 2003 (19:06) * 2 lines
Are you going to be visiting any Kentucky caves? Or other geological
formations?
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 70 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Dec 22, 2003 (15:34) * 1 lines
We were at Mammoth Cave last month on the way to Bowling Green for a conference, but only did the entrance and I decided to try it on a less tight schedule. The hike down in and back up again is more than a casual stroll. I do want to see it, though. That whole area is full of caves.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 71 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Dec 22, 2003 (15:37) * 1 lines
Actually, most of our time is devoted to writing and editing the book in progress. It sounds prosaic, but it is a very exciting happening to us, and this book will be very important to the local literature. Hopefully, we publish it with the idea of stimulating further research and publishing. This part of archaeology has not been covered at all till now.
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 72 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Dec 22, 2003 (19:59) * 220 lines
******************************************
GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 19-25 November 2003
******************************************
New Activity/Unrest
KAVACHI Solomon Islands 9.02°S, 157.95°E; summit elev. -32 m (submarine)
An observer from The Wilderness Lodge reported that a 15-m-high island formed
at Kavachi during an eruptive cycle 3 months prior to a visit on 16 November.
By 16 November the summit had reduced to ~32 m below sea level. No evidence of
volcanic activity was observed during the 3 previous months, which is the first
time this has occurred in 4 years of observation.
Background. Kavachi, one of the most active submarine volcanoes in the SW
Pacific, occupies an isolated position in the Solomon Islands far from major
aircraft and shipping lanes. Kavachi, sometimes referred to as Rejo te Kvachi
("Kavachi's oven"), is located S of Vangunu Island only 30 km N of the site of
subduction of the Indo-Australian plate beneath the Pacific plate. The shallow
submarine basaltic-to-andesitic volcano has produced ephemeral islands up to
150 m long at least eight times since its first recorded eruption during 1939.
The roughly conical volcano rises from water depths of 1.1-1.2 km on the N and
greater depths to the S.
Source: The Wilderness Lodge http://www.thewildernesslodge.org/news&updates.htm
Kavachi information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0505-06=
Ongoing Activity
COLIMA western México 19.514°N,103.62°W; summit elev. ~3,850 m; All times are
local (= UTC - 5 hours)
A subtle ash plume, visible in satellite imagery, was emitted from Colima on 18
November at 1900 and rose to ~5.5 km a.s.l.
Background. The Colima volcanic complex is the most prominent volcanic center
of the western Mexican Volcanic Belt. It consists of two southward-younging
volcanoes, Nevado de Colima (the 4,320 m high point of the complex) on the N
and the historically active Volcán de Colima on the S. Volcán de Colima (also
known as Volcán Fuego) is a youthful stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-
wide caldera, breached to the S, that has been the source of large debris
avalanches. Major slope failures have occurred repetitively from both the
Nevado and Colima cones, and have produced a thick apron of debris-avalanche
deposits on three sides of the complex. Frequent historical eruptions have
mostly originated from Colima's summit crater. The current eruptive episode
began in November 1998 and has included summit lava-dome growth, block lava
flows, pyroclastic flows, and intermittent explosive activity.
Source: Washington VAAV http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/messages.html
Colima information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1401-014=
DUKONO Halmahera, Indonesia 1.70°N, 127.87°E; summit elev. 1,185 m; All times
are local (= UTC + 9 hours)
Satellite imagery showed ash plumes emitted from Dukono on 19 November at 1403,
20 November at 0713, and 21 November at 1428, extending ~185 km NE, ~170 km NE,
and ~150 km ESE, respectively. A possible ash plume was observed on 22 November
at 1349. All plumes were below ~3 km a.s.l.
Background. Reports from this remote volcano in northernmost Halmahera are
rare, but Dukono has been one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes. More-or-
less continuous explosive eruptions, sometimes accompanied by lava flows,
occurred since 1933 until at least the mid-1990s, when routine observations
were curtailed. During a major eruption in 1550, a lava flow filled in the
strait between Halmahera and the N-flank cone of Gunung Mamuya. Dukono is a
complex volcano presenting a broad, low profile with multiple summit peaks and
overlapping craters. Malupang Wariang, 1 km SW of Dukono's summit crater
complex, contains a 700 x 570 m crater that has also been active during
historical time.
Source: Darwin VAAC http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/OTH/AU/messages.html
Dukono information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0608-01=
FUEGO Guatemala 14.47°N, 90.88°W; summit elev. 3,763 m
Small explosive eruptions at Fuego produced gas-and-ash plumes up to 1.2 km
above the crater. During the night of 18-19 November moderate-sized avalanches
were observed in the upper Santa Teresa and Trinidad ravines. Night-time
incandescence at the summit was common during the week. Periods of harmonic
tremor, lasting between 0.5-3 hours, were recorded on 23 November, and almost
continuous harmonic tremor was recorded for a period of 21 hours on 24 November.
Background. Fuego, one of Central America's most active volcanoes, is one of
three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's former capital, Antigua.
Collapse of the ancestral Meseta volcano about 8,500 years ago produced a
massive debris avalanche that traveled about 50 km onto the Pacific coastal
plain. Growth of the modern Fuego volcano followed, continuing the southward
migration of volcanism that began at Acatenango, the northern twin volcano of
Fuego. Frequent vigorous historical eruptions have been recorded since 1524 and
have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional pyroclastic flows and lava
flows. The last major explosive eruption from Fuego took place in 1974,
producing spectacular pyroclastic flows visible from Antigua.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meterologia, e
Hidrologia http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/geofisica/boletin%20formato.htm
Fuego information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1402-09=
KARYMSKY Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 54.05°N, 159.43°E; summit elev. 1,536 m
During 15-21 November, intermittent explosive eruptions at Karymsky produced
gas-and-ash plumes that rose to 1.5-2 km above the crater. Karymsky remained
at Concern Color Code Orange
.
Background. Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic
zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera
that formed about 7,600-7,700 radiocarbon years ago. Construction of the
Karymsky stratovolcano began about 2,000 years later. The latest eruptive
period began about 500 years ago, following a 2,300-year quiescence. Much of
the cone is mantled by lava flows less than 200 years old. Historical eruptions
have been Vulcanian or Vulcanian-Strombolian with moderate explosive activity
and occasional lava flows from the summit crater. Most seismicity preceding
Karymsky eruptions has originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, which is
located immediately S of Karymsky volcano and erupted simultaneously with
Karymsky in 1996.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team via the Alaska Volcano
Observatory
Karymsky information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1000-13=
KILAUEA Hawaii, USA 19.43°N, 155.29°W; summit elev. 1,222 m
Minor surface lava flows were observed upslope of Kilauea’s coastal plain the
week of 19-25 November. Small amounts of inflation and deflation were recorded
through the week with sharp deflation beginning at both Uwekahuna and Pu`u O`o
early on the morning of 25 November. Moderate, shallow seismicity was recorded
beneath the summit, and moderate-to-high seismicity occurred beneath Pu`u O`o.
Background. Kilauea, one of five coalescing volcanoes that comprise the island
of Hawaii, is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Eruptions at Kilauea
originate primarily from the summit caldera or along one of the lengthy E and
SW rift zones that extend from the caldera to the sea. About 90% of the surface
of Kilauea is formed by lava flows less than about 1,100 years old; 70% of the
volcano's surface is younger than 600 years. The latest Kilauea eruption began
in January 1983 along the E rift zone. This long-term ongoing eruption from
Pu`u `O`o-Kupaianaha has produced lava flows that have traveled 11-12 km from
the vents to the sea, paving about 104 km2 of land on the S flank of Kilauea
and building more than 200 hectares of new land.
Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/update.html
Kilauea Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1302-01-
KLIUCHEVSKOI Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 56.06°N, 160.64°E; summit elev. 4,835
m
Strombolian activity was observed at Kliuchevskoi on 14-15 November. During 14-
15 and 18 November, gas-and-ash plumes rose to ~2.5 km above the crater and
extended more than 10 km W, E, and NE. During 15-20 November, seismic activity
continued to be above background levels with 75 shallow M 1.9-2.5 earthquakes
and many small, shallow earthquakes recorded. Kliuchevskoi remained at Concern
Color Code Orange .
Background. Kliuchevskoi is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since
its origin about 7,000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4,835-m-high
basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and
effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. More than 100 flank
eruptions have occurred during the past 3,000 years, mostly on the NE and SE
flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3,600 m elevation. The
morphology of its 700-m-wide summit crater has been frequently modified by
historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century.
Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have
also included major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) via the Alaska
Volcano Observatory, http://www.avo.alaska.edu/avo4/updates/kvertweekly.htm
Kliuchevskoi Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1000-26=
POPOCATÉPETL México 19.02°N, 98.62°W; summit elev. 5,426 m
Activity at Popocatépetl remained stable during the week with numerous gas-and-
steam emissions. Based on information from the Mexico City MWO, the Washington
VAAC reported that an ash plume was emitted on 22 November that rose to ~9.5 km
a.s.l. and extended ~19 km NE.
Background. Popocatépetl, whose name is the Aztec word for smoking mountain,
towers to 5,426 m 70 km SE of México City and is North America's second-highest
volcano. Frequent historical eruptions have been recorded since the beginning
of the Spanish colonial era. A small eruption on 21 December 1994 ended five
decades of quiescence. Since 1996 small lava domes have incrementally been
constructed within the summit crater and destroyed by explosive eruptions.
Intermittent small-to-moderate gas-and-ash eruptions have continued,
occasionally producing ashfall in neighboring towns and villages.
Sources: Centro Nacionale de Prevencion de Desastres
http://www.cenapred.unam.mx/, Washington VAAC
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/messages.html
Popocatépetl Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1401-09=
SANTA MARÍA Guatemala 14.756°N 91.552°W; summit elev. 3,772 m; All times local
(= UTC - 6 hours)
Small eruptions on 18 and 23 November at Santa María’s Santiaguito lava dome
produced localized tephra fall. Small avalanches from the SW portion of the
dome occurred on 18 November. On 24 November at 0745, five explosions occurred
at 1-minute intervals, producing a gas-and-ash plume that rose to 2 km above
the crater and was dispersed up to 12 km SSW.
Background. Symmetrical, forest-covered Santa María volcano is one of a chain
of large stratovolcanoes that rises dramatically above the Pacific coastal
plain of Guatemala. The stratovolcano has a sharp-topped, conical profile that
is cut on the SW flank by a large, 1-km-wide crater, which formed during a
catastrophic eruption in 1902 and extends from just below the summit to the
lower flank. The renowned plinian eruption of 1902 followed a long repose
period and devastated much of SW Guatemala. The large dacitic Santiaguito lava-
dome complex has been growing at the base of the 1902 crater since 1922.
Compound dome growth at Santiaguito has occurred episodically from four
westward-younging vents, accompanied by almost continuous minor explosions and
periodic lava extrusion, larger explosions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars.
Sources: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meterologia, e
Hidrologia, http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/geofisica/boletin%20formato.htm,
Washington VAAC http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/messages.html
Santa María Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1402-03=
TUNGURAHUA Ecuador 1.47°S, 78.44°W; summit elev. 5,023 m
During 19-25 November, activity at Tungurahua remained high, with numerous
moderate explosions producing plumes that were frequently visible on satellite
imagery and rose up to 2 km above the crater. Ash was dispersed to the SSW and
SW on 19 and 20 November and WNW and NW on 23 and 24 November, respectively.
Throughout the week Strombolian activity was visible at night.
Background. The steep-sided Tungurahua stratovolcano towers more than 3 km
above its northern base. It sits ~140 km S of Quito, Ecuador’s capital city,
and is one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes. Historical eruptions have been
restricted to the summit crater. They have been accompanied by strong
explosions and sometimes by pyroclastic flows and lava flows that reached
populated areas at the volcano's base. The last major eruption took place from
1916 to 1918, although minor activity continued until 1925. The latest eruption
began in October 1999 and prompted temporary evacuation of the town of Baños on
the N side of the volcano.
Sources: Instituto Geofisico-Escuela Poltecnica Nacional
http://www.igepn.edu.ec/vulcanologia/tungurahua/actividad/informet.htm,
Washington VAAC http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/messages.html
Tungurahua Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1502-08=
Topic 77 of 99 [Geo]: Living with Volcanoes
Response 73 of 192: Marcia (MarciaH) * Fri, Jan 23, 2004 (20:59) * 363 lines
GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report - 14-20 January 2004
New Activity/Unrest
ASO Kyushu, Japan 32.88°N, 131.10°E; summit elev. 1,592 m; All times are local
(= UTC + 9 hours)
According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency, a “mud eruption” occurred at
Aso’s Crater 1 on 14 January at 1541. The eruption was accompanied by volcanic
tremor and ash emissions that rose to low levels above the crater. Small
amounts of very fine ash fell in Takamori Town about 10 km ESE of the crater.
The level of thermal activity at Aso had risen during the previous year, with
the last “mud eruption” occurring in July 2003. The Alert Level at Aso was
raised from 2 to 3, and no tourists were permitted entrance within 1 km of the
crater.
Background. The 24-km-wide Aso caldera was formed during four major explosive
eruptions from 300,000 to 80,000 years ago. These produced voluminous
pyroclastic flows that covered much of Kyushu. A group of 17 central cones was
constructed in the middle of the caldera, one of which, Naka-dake, is one of
Japan's most active volcanoes. It was the location of Japan's first documented
historical eruption in 553 AD. The Naka-dake complex has remained active
throughout the Holocene. Several other cones have been active during the
Holocene, including the Kometsuka scoria cone as recently as about 210 AD.
Historical eruptions have largely consisted of basaltic to basaltic-andesite
ash emission with periodic Strombolian and phreatomagmatic activity. The summit
crater of Naka-dake is accessible by toll road and cable car, and is one of
Kyushu's most popular tourist destinations.
Sources: Volcano Research Center (VRC-ERI, Univ. Tokyo) http://hakone.eri.u-
tokyo.ac.jp/vrc/erup/aso.html,
Reuters http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?
tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040114/sc_nm/japan_volcano_dc_1
Aso Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/gvp/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0802-11=
BEZYMIANNY Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 55.98°N, 160.59°E; summit elev. 2,882 m;
All times are local (= UTC + 12 hours)
Video footage showed a strong explosion at Bezymianny on 14 January at 1053
producing an ash plume that rose to 6-8 km a.s.l. and extended ENE. A large
pyroclastic flow probably traveled SSE down the volcano’s flank. This abrupt
increase in activity at Bezymianny led KVERT to raise the Concern Color Code
from Green (the lowest level) to Red (the highest level), but later the same
day they reduced it to Orange
. By 1134 on 14 January
the ash plume extended ~55 km and was at a height around 6 km a.s.l, and by
1421 it extended ~190 km and was at 4-6 km a.s.l. No ash was deposited in the
nearby settlement of Ust’-Kamchatsk. On 16 January the Concern Color Code was
further reduced to Yellow. On that day a lava dome was growing and viscous lava
was probably flowing slowly from it. Precise seismic monitoring at Bezymianny
was hampered due to high-level volcanic tremor at nearby Kliuchevskoi volcano.
Visual observations at Bezymianny revealed that gas-and-steam plumes rose to
100 m above the lava dome.
Prior to the 14 January eruption, a weak thermal anomaly has been registered at
Bezymianny since an eruption on 26 July 2003. On 9 January one shallow M 2.2
earthquake was recorded at the volcano. During 10-13 January, a 1-2 pixel
thermal anomaly was noted at the volcano and during 10-12 January gas-and-steam
plumes rose to low levels above the volcano.
Background. Prior to its noted 1955-56 eruption, Bezymianny volcano had been
considered extinct. Three periods of intensified activity have occurred during
the past 3,000 years. The latest period, which was preceded by a 1,000-year
quiescence, began with the dramatic 1955-56 eruption. That eruption, similar to
the 1980 event at Mount St. Helens, produced a large horseshoe-shaped crater
that was formed by collapse of the summit and an associated lateral blast.
Subsequent episodic but ongoing lava-dome growth, accompanied by intermittent
explosive activity and pyroclastic flows, has largely filled the 1956 crater.
Sources: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team via the Alaska Volcano
Observatory http://www.avo.alaska.edu/avo4/updates/kvertweekly.htm, Tokyo VAAC
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/OTH/JP/messages.html, Anchorage VAAC
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/OTH/AK/messages.html, Pravda News
http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2004/01/15/51940.html
Bezymianny Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1000-25=
CERRO NEGRO Nicaragua 12.506°N, 86.702°W; summit elev. 726 m
According to INETER, an unusually large amount of seismic tremor occurred at
Cerro Negro from December 2003 to at least mid January. The tremor had variable
intensity, but was too small to be felt by the population near the volcano.
During visits to Cerro Negro on 6 and 10 January, scientists did not observe
any surficial changes or measure a temperature increase at fumaroles in
comparison to previous months. INETER reported that the alert level may be
increased from no alert to Green (the lowest alert level) if the amplitude of
the tremor increases, or if there is an increase in other precursory activity.
Background. Central America's youngest volcano, Cerro Negro, was born in April
1850 and has since been one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua. Cerro
Negro is the largest, southernmost, and most recent of a group of four youthful
cinder cones constructed along a NNW-SSE-trending line in the central Marrabios
Range 5 km NW of Las Pilas volcano. Strombolian-to-subplinian eruptions at
Cerro Negro at intervals of a few years to several decades have constructed a
roughly 250-m-high basaltic cone and an associated lava field that is
constrained by topography to extend primarily to the NE and SW. Cone and
crater morphology have varied significantly during its eruptive history.
Although the volcano lies in a relatively unpopulated area, heavy ashfalls
during eruptions of Cerro Negro have caused damage to crops and buildings in
populated regions of the Nicaraguan depression.
Sources: Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales (INETER)
http://www.ineter.gob.ni/geofisica/vol/comunicados/20040113-cerronegro.html, La
Prensa
http://www.laprensa.com.ni/nacionales/nacionales-20040114-12.html
Cerro Negro Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1404-07=
KIRISHIMA Kyushu, Japan 31.93°N, 130.87°E; summit elev. 1,700 m
Seismicity increased from “normal” levels at Kirishima on 13 December, and the
same day Dr. Kobayashi of Kagoshima University found new fumarole pits at the
volcano’s Ohachi Crater. A video camera at the volcano showed steam rising
above the crater rim. Observers saw two new pits that formed in the middle of
the crater’s southern inner wall and steam rising to ~100 m. Also, pebbles
(that were 2-3 cm across) and mud were scattered within about 10 m of these
pits. JMA issued a volcanic advisory on 16 December, as the possibility of a
small eruption had increased, judging from the high level of seismic and
thermal activity. On 17 December authorities announced that tourists were not
permitted to visit Ohachi Crater. The level of seismicity peaked in mid
December, then declined somewhat, continuing at a relatively high level through
at least mid January.
Background. Kirishima is a large group of more than 20 Quaternary volcanoes
located north of Kagoshima Bay. The late-Pleistocene to Holocene volcano group
consists of stratovolcanoes, pyroclastic cones, maars, and underlying shield
volcanoes located over an area of 20 x 30 km. The larger stratovolcanoes are
scattered throughout the field, with the centrally located, 1,700-m-high
Karakuni-dake being the highest. Onami-ike and Mi-ike, the two largest maars,
are located SW of Karakuni-dake and at its far eastern end, respectively.
Holocene eruptions have been concentrated along an E-W line of vents from Mi-
ike to Ohachi, and at Shinmoe-dake to the NE. Frequent small-to-moderate
explosive eruptions have been recorded since the 8th century.
Source: Volcano Research Center (VRC-ERI, Univ. Tokyo) http://hakone.eri.u-
tokyo.ac.jp/vrc/erup/kiri.html
Kirishima Information form the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0802-09=
SANGAY Ecuador 2.03°S, 78.34°W; summit elev. 5,188 m; All times are local (=
UTC - 5 hours)
According to the Washington VAAC, satellite imagery showed a plume emitted from
Sangay on 14 January around 0500 extending ~45 km E. The plume most likely
contained ash. During this time a hotspot was also visible on satellite
imagery.
Background. The isolated Sangay volcano, located E of the Andean crest, is the
southernmost of Ecuador's volcanoes, and its most active. It has been in
frequent eruption for the past several centuries. The steep-sided, 5,230-m-high
glacier-covered volcano grew within horseshoe-shaped calderas of two previous
edifices, which were destroyed by collapse to the E, producing large debris
avalanches that reached the Amazonian lowlands. The modern edifice dates back
to at least 14,000 years ago. Sangay towers above the tropical jungle on the E
side; on the other sides flat plains of ash from the volcano have been sculpted
by heavy rains into steep-walled canyons up to 600 m deep. The earliest report
of an historical eruption was in 1628. More or less continuous eruptions were
reported from 1728 until 1916, and again from 1934 to the present. The more or
less constant eruptive activity has caused frequent changes to the morphology
of the summit crater complex.
Sources: Washington VAAC http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/messages.html, New
Zealand Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?
storyID=3543881&thesection=news&thesubsection=world
Sangay Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1502-09=
SHIVELUCH Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 56.653°N, 161.360°E; summit elev. 3,283
m; All times are local (= UTC + 12 hours)
During 11-12 January, explosions at Shiveluch produced ash plumes to 4 km
a.s.l. that drifted W. The explosions were accompanied by pyroclastic flows
with run-out distances around 1 km. On 16 January at 1125 an eruption produced
an ash plume that rose ~5.5 km a.s.l. and drifted W. The same day KVERT raised
the Concern Color Code to Orange from Yellow <
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/avo4/updates/color_code.html>. During 9-16 January,
seismicity was above background levels at Shiveluch, with the recording of ~70
shallow earthquakes greater than M 1.75 and a large number of weaker
earthquakes beneath the active lava dome. In addition, intermittent spasmodic
tremor was recorded during 11-16 January.
Background. The high, isolated massif of Shiveluch volcano (also spelled
Sheveluch) rises above the lowlands NNE of the Kliuchevskaya volcano group and
forms one of Kamchatka's largest and most active volcanoes. The currently
active Molodoy Shiveluch lava-dome complex was constructed during the Holocene
within a large horseshoe-shaped caldera formed by collapse of the massive late-
Pleistocene Strary Shiveluch volcano. At least 60 large eruptions of Shiveluch
have occurred during the Holocene, making it the most vigorous andesitic
volcano of the Kurile-Kamchatka arc. Frequent collapses of lava-dome complexes,
most recently in 1964, have produced large debris avalanches whose deposits
cover much of the floor of the breached caldera. During the 1990s, intermittent
explosive eruptions took place from a new lava dome that began growing in 1980.
The largest historical eruptions from Shiveluch occurred in 1854 and 1964.
Sources: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team via the Alaska Volcano
Observatory http://www.avo.alaska.edu/avo4/updates/kvertweekly.htm, Itar-Tass
News http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=317648&PageNum=0
Shiveluch Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1000-27=
Ongoing Activity
GUAGUA PICHINCHA north-central Ecuador 0.17°S, 78.60°W; summit elev. 4,784 mm
During the afternoon of 7 January, strong rains occurred at Guagua Pichincha
and a series of seismic signals attributed to rockfalls and lahars were
recorded. A visit to the area by IG scientists on 13 January confirmed that a
lahar traveled down the NNE wall of the volcano’s crater. In addition, there
were small fractures in the SE sector of the volcano and in the crater. IG
noted that this activity does not indicate a change in volcanic activity at
Guagua Pichincha.
Background. Guagua Pichincha rises immediately west of Quito, Ecuador’s
capital city. The broad volcanic massif is cut by a large horseshoe-shaped
summit caldera, ~6 km in diameter and 600 m deep, that was breached to the W
during a slope failure ~50,000 years ago. Subsequent late-Pleistocene and
Holocene eruptions from the central vent consisted of explosive activity with
pyroclastic flows accompanied by periodic lava dome growth and destruction. A
major eruption in 1660 deposited 30 cm of ash in Quito, but most of the many
eruptions since the Spanish colonial era have been minor. The latest eruptive
period began with phreatic explosions in 1998. Magmatic eruptions first
occurred in October 1999, and intermittent eruptions of varying scale since
then have blanketed Quito and surrounding towns with ash.
Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional
http://www.igepn.edu.ec/vulcanologia/pichincha/actividad/isemana.htm
Guagua Pichincha Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1502-02=
KARYMSKY Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 54.05°N, 159.43°E; summit elev. 1,536 m
Seismicity was above background levels at Karymsky during 9-16 January, with
150-300 earthquakes recorded. Ash-and-gas plumes may have risen 1.5-3 km above
the volcano. According to the Airport Meteorological Center (AMC) in Yelizovo,
during the report period a pilot saw an ash plume rise ~5.5 km above the
volcano and extend SSW. On 12 January staff of the Kamchatkan Experimental &
Methodical Seismological Department (KEMSD) saw an ash plume rise ~2 km above
the volcano and explosions that occured every 5-7 minutes. On 10 January ash
deposits were seen on the volcano’s snow-covered flanks extending SE. Karymsky
remained at Concern Color Code Orange
.
Background. Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic
zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera
that formed about 7,600-7,700 radiocarbon years ago. Construction of the
Karymsky stratovolcano began about 2,000 years later. The latest eruptive
period began about 500 years ago, following a 2,300-year quiescence. Much of
the cone is mantled by lava flows less than 200 years old. Historical eruptions
have been Vulcanian or Vulcanian-Strombolian with moderate explosive activity
and occasional lava flows from the summit crater. Most seismicity preceding
Karymsky eruptions has originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, which is
located immediately S of Karymsky volcano and erupted simultaneously with
Karymsky in 1996.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team via the Alaska Volcano
Observatory http://www.avo.alaska.edu/avo4/updates/kvertweekly.htm
Karymsky information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1000-13=
KILAUEA Hawaii, USA 19.43°N, 155.29°W; summit elev. 1,222 m; All times are
local (= UTC 10 hours)
On 18 January during 0550 to 0830 a large period of deflation occurred at
Kilauea’s Pu`u `O`o cone, amounting in 18.1 microradians of net deflation.
During this period a fissure opened at the SE base of Pu`u `O`o, trending
approximately radial to the cone. Lava was emitted from the fissure and from
three to four vents nearby. The initial flow reached about 1.5 km S of the
cone. The S side of Pu`u `O`o was cut by many new fractures. The longest
fracture constituted the N boundary of a shallow graben (a linear trough
bounded by faults) that was ~75 m long and up to 1 m deep. Surface lava flows
were emitted from the E end of the graben, at the base of Pu`u `O`o. The area S
of Pu`u `O`o cone appeared to be quite unstable, so HVO scientists warned that
no one should venture into the area. Seismicity at Kilauea’s summit during 15-
20 January was at low levels, while tremor at Pu`u `O`o was continuous and at
moderate levels. The tremor picked up during the formation of the graben on 18
January. As of 20 January tilt continued to steadily decline following the 18
January deflation event.
Background. Kilauea, one of five coalescing volcanoes that comprise the island
of Hawaii, is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Eruptions at Kilauea
originate primarily from the summit caldera or along one of the lengthy E and
SW rift zones that extend from the caldera to the sea. About 90% of the surface
of Kilauea is formed by lava flows less than about 1,100 years old; 70% of the
volcano's surface is younger than 600 years. The latest Kilauea eruption began
in January 1983 along the E rift zone. This long-term ongoing eruption from
Pu`u `O`o-Kupaianaha has produced lava flows that have traveled 11-12 km from
the vents to the sea, paving about 104 km2 of land on the S flank of Kilauea
and building more than 200 hectares of new land.
Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/update.html
Kilauea Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1302-01-
KLIUCHEVSKOI Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 56.06°N, 160.64°E; summit elev. 4,835
m
Seismicity was above background levels at Kliuchevskoi during 9-16 January,
with ~175 shallow M 1.9-2.5 earthquakes and a large number of weaker events
recorded. Ash explosions rose 0.5-1 km above the volcano during 11-13 January.
Strombolian activity was observed at the central crater during 11-12 January.
Kliuchevskoi remained at Concern Color Code Orange
.
Background. Kliuchevskoi is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since
its origin about 7,000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4,835-m-high
basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and
effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. More than 100 flank
eruptions have occurred during the past 3,000 years, mostly on the NE and SE
flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3,600 m elevation. The
morphology of its 700-m-wide summit crater has been frequently modified by
historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century.
Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have
also included major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) via the Alaska
Volcano Observatory http://www.avo.alaska.edu/avo4/updates/kvertweekly.htm
Kliuchevskoi Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1000-26=
SANTA MARÍA Guatemala 14.756°N 91.552°W; summit elev. 3,772 m
On the morning of 15 January a moderate explosion at Santa Maria’s Santiguito
lava-dome complex caused a collapse at the edge of the crater. Volcanic
material traveled down the volcano’s SW flank, reaching the base. Ash rose ~900
m above the crater and fell on the observatory and property near the volcano.
Weak avalanches occurred in the SE portion of the lava dome. On 19 January
moderate explosions occurred and avalanches descended the lava dome. The plumes
produced from the explosions traveled E, depositing small amounts of fine ash
around the volcano, including on the ranches of San Jose, Quina, and San Juan
Patzulín.
Background. Symmetrical, forest-covered Santa María volcano is one of a chain
of large stratovolcanoes that rises dramatically above the Pacific coastal
plain of Guatemala. The stratovolcano has a sharp-topped, conical profile that
is cut on the SW flank by a large, 1-km-wide crater, which formed during a
catastrophic eruption in 1902 and extends from just below the summit to the
lower flank. The renowned plinian eruption of 1902 followed a long repose
period and devastated much of SW Guatemala. The large dacitic