GVP-Weekly-20130227 gvp@si.edu 2013-05-22T03:06:52 -0500 Actual Alert Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) and Volcano Hazards Program (US Geological Survey) Public Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameCLEVELAND New ActivityYes Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for CLEVELAND (Chuginadak Island), 15 May-21 May 2013 AVO reported that during 14-15 and 18-19 May elevated surface temperatures over Cleveland were observed in satellite images. Clouds obscured views during 16 and 20-21 May. Satellite image analysis revealed that a small lava flow had breached the SE rim of the summit crater and traveled as far as1.5 km down the flank. The Volcanic Alert Level remained at Watch and the Aviation Color Code remained at Orange. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NamePAVLOF New ActivityYes Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for PAVLOF (Alaska Peninsula), 15 May-21 May 2013 AVO reported that on 14 May a diffuse ash plume from Pavlof drifted about 160 km NE at an altitude of 4.6 km (15,000 ft) a.s.l. before dissipating. Pilot reports and photographs indicated that the lava flow extending down the NW flank was still active and generated debris-laden flow deposits, presumably from the interaction of hot lava with the snow and ice on the flank. Light ashfall was reported the evening of 14 May in a mining camp 80 km NE of the volcano. No other nearby communities had reported ash fall. During 14-15 May elevated seismicity persisted and steam-and-ash clouds observed with a web camera occasionally rose up to 6.1 km (20,000 ft) a.s.l. Residents in Cold Bay (37 km SW) observed incandescence from the summit during the night. On 15 May a pilot reported a dark ash cloud drifting ENE at an altitude of 6.1 km (20,000 ft) a.s.l. On 16 May lava fountaining at the summit was observed and photographed, and a continuous ash, steam, and gas cloud extended downwind 50-100 km at an altitude of about 6.1 km (20,000 ft) a.s.l. Satellite images showed persistent elevated surface temperatures at the summit and on the NW flank, commensurate with the summit lava fountaining and resulting lava flow. During 18-19 May a narrow plume of steam, ash, and gas, occasionally rising up to 6.7 km (22,000 ft) a.s.l., and drifting southeast, was visible in satellite images. Pilot reports indicated that lava fountaining and ash emission continued. Overnight, trace amounts of ash fell on the community of Sand Point. During the afternoon on 19 May pilots reported that ash plumes rose to altitudes of 4.6-6.7 km (15,000-22,000 ft) a.s.l. Trace amounts of ash fell in Nelson Lagoon, 78 km NNE, during 19-20 May. The Volcanic Alert Level remained at Watch and the Aviation Color Code remained at Orange. A news article stated that on 20 May a regional airline canceled about a dozen flights to several remote communities, including Sand Point. Another regional airline canceled a few flights, but mostly re-routed flights. On 21 May AVO reported that a low-level plume of steam, gas, and ash occasionally rose to an altitude of 6.1 km (20,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NNE. Trace amounts of ash again fell in Nelson Lagoon. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Sources: Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO),Associated Press Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NamePOPOCATEPETL New ActivityYes Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for POPOCATEPETL (México), 15 May-21 May 2013 CENAPRED reported that during 15-21 May seismicity at Popocatépetl indicated continuing gas-and-steam emissions that contained variable amounts of ash; the plumes were sometimes visually confirmed although cloud cover often prevented observations. Incandescence from the crater was often observed at night. At 0956 on 14 May an explosion generated an ash plume that rose 3 km above the crater and drifted NE, and ejected tephra onto the NE flank at a distance of 600 m. Volcanologists aboard an overflight observed a lava dome 350 m in diameter and 50 m thick, that had slightly deflated after the earlier explosion. An explosion at 0146 on 15 May again generated an ash plume that rose 3 km above the crater, and ejected incandescent tephra onto the flanks at a maximum distance of 1.5 km. At 1804 an explosion produced an ash plume that rose at least 3.5 km and drifted N. On 16 May gas-and-ash plumes rose 2 km and drifted NE. Minor ashfall was reported in Paso de Cortés, 7 km N. Incandescent tephra was ejected onto the N and NE flanks at a maximum distance of 400 m. The ejections corresponded with several periods of high-frequency, low-amplitude tremor detected between 2020 and 2308, and a swarm that began at 0011 on 17 May. At 2214 an intense explosion ejected incandescent tephra 1.5 km from the crater, and generated an ash plume that rose over 3 km and drifted NE. At 0028 on 17 May another strong explosion ejected incandescent tephra 1.5 km from the crater, and generated an ash plume that rose over 4 km and drifted NE. Later that day plumes of vapor and gas rose 1 km and drifted SW. During an overflight on 18 May volcanologists observed a crater 200 m wide and 40 m deep in the dome's surface; the material was likely excavated by the explosions during 14 and 16-17 May. The rest of the dome was covered with rock fragments. Gas-and-ash plumes rose 500 m and drifted SW. During 19-20 May gas-and-ash plumes drifted E and SW and incandescent tephra was deposited mainly on the NE flanks 400 m away, although most ejected fragments fell back inside the crater. On 21 May steam-and-gas plumes rose a few meters then drifted SSE. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameSANGEANG API New ActivityYes Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for SANGEANG API (Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia)), 15 May-21 May 2013 CVGHM reported that during 1-19 May diffuse white plumes rose 10 m above Sangeang Api's crater. Both the lava dome and surrounding areas showed no changes since November 2012. Seismicity had increased on 26 April and remained high. The Alert Level was raised to 3 (on a scale of 1-4) on 19 May. Residents and tourists were advised not to approach the craters within a radius of 5 km. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameTUNGURAHUA New ActivityYes Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for TUNGURAHUA (Ecuador), 15 May-21 May 2013 IG reported that during 15-20 May seismicity at Tungurahua remained at a moderate level and then decreased on 21 May. Visual observations were often limited due to cloud cover; steam plumes were observed rising from the crater on 17 and 19 May. A slight amount of ash fell in Choglontus (SW) on 15 May, and small lahars traveled down the Bilbao (W), Pingullo (NW), and La Pampa (S) on 20 May. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameFUEGO New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for FUEGO (Guatemala), 15 May-21 May 2013 INSIVUMEH reported that during 16-17 May white plumes rose 300 m from Fuego's crater and drifted W and SW. Explosions during 17 and 19-21 May generated ash plumes that rose 350-650 m and drifted 6 km W and SW. On 19 and 21 May explosions ejected incandescent material 100 m above the crater. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameGALERAS New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for GALERAS (Colombia), 15 May-21 May 2013 INGEOMINAS reported that during 15-21 May seismicity at Galeras was at a low level; during 19-20 May earthquakes with magnitudes 2.6 or less were concentrated in an area 3 km SW at depths near 4 km. Gas plumes rose 500 m above the crater and contained small amounts of ash during 15-16 and 20-21 May. Sulfur dioxide emissions were low. The Alert Level remained at III (Yellow; "changes in the behavior of volcanic activity"). http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Instituto Colombiano de Geología y Minería (INGEOMINAS) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameKILAUEA New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for KILAUEA (USA), 15 May-21 May 2013 During 15-21 May HVO reported that the circulating lava lake occasionally rose and fell in the deep pit within Kilauea's Halema'uma'u Crater. The plume from the vent continued to deposit variable amounts of ash, spatter, and Pele's hair onto nearby areas. At Pu'u 'O'o Crater, glow emanated from three spatter cones and a small lava pond on the E part of the crater floor. Lava from base of Pu'u 'O'o cone traveled N and was named the Kahauale'a II flow. Peace Day activity, fed by lava tubes extending from Pu'u 'O'o, consisted of lava flows active on the coastal plain that were entering the ocean at a location outside the National Park boundary. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameKIZIMEN New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for KIZIMEN (Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)), 15 May-21 May 2013 KVERT reported that during 10-16 May moderate seismic activity continued at Kizimen. Video and satellite data showed that lava continued to extrude from the summit, producing incandescence, strong gas-and-steam activity, and hot avalanches on the W and E flanks. A thermal anomaly was detected daily in satellite images. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameMANAM New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for MANAM (Northeast of New Guinea (SW Pacific)), 15 May-21 May 2013 RVO reported that during 29 April-16 May activity at Manam was low, characterized by white, and sometimes blue, vapor plumes rising from Southern Crater. White vapor plumes also rose from Main Crater. Seismicity fluctuated but remained high until 1 May; seismicity then declined to a low on 4 May where it stayed for the rest of the period. RVO reminded people to stay away from the four main radial valleys, and especially the SE and SW ones where most products from the activity at Southern Crater were channeled. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NamePACAYA New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for PACAYA (Guatemala), 15 May-21 May 2013 INSIVUMEH reported that weak incandescence from Pacaya's MacKenney cone was observed through the night during 15-16 May. Blue and white plumes rose 800 m and drifted S. On 17 May white plumes drifted W and NW. Incandescence from the crater was again observed at night during 19-21 May. On 20 and 21 May Strombolian activity ejected material 25 m above the crater. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameRABAUL New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for RABAUL (New Britain), 15 May-21 May 2013 RVO reported that during 29 April-16 May white vapor plumes sometimes containing fine ash rose at most 200 m from Rabaul caldera's Tavurvur cone and drifted NW. Ashfall was reported in areas downwind including Rabaul town (3-5 km NW). Roaring and rumbling noises also continued. Seismicity was low. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameSAKURA-JIMA New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for SAKURA-JIMA (Kyushu), 15 May-21 May 2013 JMA reported that during 13-17 May Sakura-jima's Showa Crater had 13 explosions ejecting tephra that fell at most 1.8 km from the crater. Crater incandescence was occasionally detected at night. Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 15, 17-18, and 20-21 May explosions produced plumes that rose to altitudes of 1.2-3.7 km (4,000-12,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E and W. On 21 May a pilot observed an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 3.4 km (11,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameSANTA MARIA New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for SANTA MARIA (Guatemala), 15 May-21 May 2013 INSIVUMEH reported that on 16 May an explosion from Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex produced an ash plume that rose 600 m and drifted 6 km SE. Ashfall was reported in La Florida and Monte Claro. A lava flow on the NE lava dome traveled S. During 20-21 May a few explosions generated ash plumes that rose 500-700 m and drifted 10 km W and SW. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameSHIVELUCH New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for SHIVELUCH (Central Kamchatka (Russia)), 15 May-21 May 2013 Based on visual observations and analyses of satellite data, KVERT reported that during 10-16 May a viscous lava flow effused on the N flank of Shiveluch's lava dome, accompanied by hot avalanches, incandescence, and fumarolic activity. Satellite imagery showed a daily thermal anomaly on the lava dome. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange. Based on analyses of satellite imagery and notices from Yelizovo Airport (UHPP), the Tokyo VAAC reported that on 18 May ash plumes rose to an altitude of 5.5 km (18,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Sources: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT),Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Geo Volcano None Unknown Unknown Observed Volcano NameTOLBACHIK New ActivityNo Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution) Volcanic activity report for TOLBACHIK (Central Kamchatka (Russia)), 15 May-21 May 2013 KVERT reported that the S fissure along the W side of Tolbachinsky Dol, a lava plateau on the SW side of Tolbachik, continued to produce very fluid lava flows during 10-16 May that traveled to the W, S, and E sides of the plateau. Cinder cones continued to grow along the S fissure and gas-and-ash plumes were observed. A large thermal anomaly on the N part of Tolbachinsky Dol was visible daily in satellite imagery. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange. http://www.volcano.si.edu/weekly_report.cfm Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)