New Activity/Unrest:
| Bezymianny, Russia
| Shiveluch, Russia
| Soufrière Hills, Montserrat
Ongoing Activity:
| Bagana, Papua New Guinea
| Bulusan, Philippines
| Dukono, Indonesia
| Karymsky, Russia
| Kilauea, USA
| Langila, Papua New Guinea
| Popocatépetl, México
| Sangay, Ecuador
| Semeru, Indonesia
| St. Helens, USA
| Suwanose-jima, Japan
| Tungurahua, Ecuador
| Ulawun, Papua New Guinea
The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is a cooperative project between the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program and the US Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program. Updated by 2300 UTC every Wednesday, notices of volcanic activity posted on these pages are preliminary and subject to change as events are studied in more detail. This is not a comprehensive list of all of Earth's volcanoes erupting during the week, but rather a summary of activity at volcanoes that meet criteria discussed in detail in the "Criteria and Disclaimers" section. Carefully reviewed, detailed reports on various volcanoes are published monthly in the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network.
Note: Many news agencies do not archive the articles they post on the Internet, and therefore the links to some sources may not be active. To obtain information about the cited articles that are no longer available on the Internet contact the source.
New Activity/Unrest
BEZYMIANNY Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 55.98°N, 160.59°E; summit elev. 2,882 m
The level of Concern Color Code for Bezymianny was raised from Yellow to Orange on 24 December due to an increase in incandescent avalanches, seismicity, and the intensity of a thermal anomaly at the summit. Within a few hours, a series of ash explosions and "ash avalanches" produced plumes that rose to altitudes of 6-10 km (19,700-32,800 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE. The level of Concern Color Code was raised to Red. On 25 December, KVERT reported that seismic activity returned to background levels and explosive activity ceased. The level of Concern Color Code was returned to Orange.
Geologic Summary. 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.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team
Bezymianny Information from the Global Volcanism Program
SHIVELUCH Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 56.653°N, 161.360°E; summit elev. 3,283 m
According to observations, video data, and satellite imagery KVERT reported that ash plumes from Shiveluch rose to 10 km (32,800 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E on 16-17 and 20 December. Seismic activity was generally at background levels. Based on satellite imagery, the Tokyo VAAC reported that a possible eruption plume rose to an altitude of 9.1 km (30,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E on 24 December. Seismic and video data on 26 December indicated an ash plume above 10 km (32,800 ft.) a.s.l., extending 150 km NE in satellite imagery. The level of Concern Color Code was raised from Orange to Red <http://www.avo.alaska.edu/color_codes.php>.
Geologic Summary. 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 Kuril-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 (KVERT), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
Shiveluch Information from the Global Volcanism Program
SOUFRIÈRE HILLS Montserrat, West Indies 16.72°N, 62.18°W; summit elev. 1,052 m
During 15-22 December, moderate lava-dome growth at Soufrière Hills continued and was focused on the SW part of the dome. Rockfalls and pyroclastic flows occurred on the S side of the dome and in the upper parts of both White's and Tuitt's Ghauts. Based on satellite imagery and pilot reports, the Washington VAAC reported that steam emissions with variable amounts of ash drifted W on 23 and 24 December. A pilot reported that an ash plume rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W on 24 December. The MVO reported that the emissions originated from a vent on the W side of the dome. A small pyroclastic flow was visible NW in the upper reaches of Tyre's Ghaut and venting became more energetic. The alert level was raised to 4 (on a scale of 0-5). At night, incandescent rockfalls were visible from the NW and W.
Geologic Summary. The complex dominantly andesitic Soufrière Hills volcano occupies the southern half of the island of Montserrat. The summit area consists primarily of a series of lava domes emplaced along an ESE-trending zone. English's Crater, a 1-km-wide crater breached widely to the E, was formed during an eruption about 4,000 years ago in which the summit collapsed, producing a large submarine debris avalanche. Block-and-ash flow and surge deposits associated with dome growth predominate in flank deposits at Soufrière Hills. Non-eruptive seismic swarms occurred at 30-year intervals in the 20th century, but with the exception of a 17th-century eruption that produced the Castle Peak lava dome, no historical eruptions were recorded on Montserrat until 1995. Long-term small-to-moderate ash eruptions beginning in that year were later accompanied by lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows that forced evacuation of the southern half of the island and ultimately destroyed the capital city of Plymouth, causing major social and economic disruption.
Sources: Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
Soufrière Hills Information from the Global Volcanism Program
Ongoing Activity
BAGANA Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea 6.14°S, 155.19°E; summit elev. 1,750 m
The Darwin VAAC reported that ash-and-steam plumes from Bagana were visible on satellite imagery during 21-22 December drifting ENE and S.
Geologic Summary. Bagana volcano, occupying a remote portion of central Bougainville Island, is one of Melanesia's youngest and most active volcanoes. Bagana is a massive symmetrical lava cone largely constructed by an accumulation of viscous andesitic lava flows. The entire lava cone could have been constructed in about 300 years at its present rate of lava production. Eruptive activity at Bagana is characterized by non-explosive effusion of viscous lava that maintains a small lava dome in the summit crater, although explosive activity occasionally producing pyroclastic flows also occurs. Lava flows form dramatic, freshly preserved tongue-shaped lobes up to 50-m-thick with prominent levees that descend the volcano's flanks on all sides.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre
Bagana Information from the Global Volcanism Program
BULUSAN Luzon, Philippines 12.770°N, 124.05°E; summit elev. 1,565 m
According to a news report, a plume of gas and "white ash" was emitted from Bulusan on 22 December.
Geologic Summary. Luzon's southernmost volcano, Bulusan, was constructed within the 11-km-diameter dacitic Irosin caldera, which was formed more than 36,000 years ago. A broad, flat moat is located below the prominent SW caldera rim; the NE rim is buried by the andesitic Bulusan complex. Bulusan is flanked by several other large intracaldera lava domes and cones, including the prominent Mount Jormajan lava dome on the SW flank and Sharp Peak to the NE. The summit of Bulusan volcano is unvegetated and contains a 300-m wide, 50-m-deep crater. Three small craters are located on the SE flank. Many moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded at Bulusan since the mid-19th century.
Source: News Balita
Bulusan Information from the Global Volcanism Program
DUKONO Halmahera, Indonesia 1.70°N, 127.87°E; summit elev. 1,185 m
The Darwin VAAC reported that a diffuse ash plume from Dukono was visible on satellite imagery on 22 December drifting SE.
Geologic Summary. 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 Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre
Dukono Information from the Global Volcanism Program
KARYMSKY Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 54.05°N, 159.43°E; summit elev. 1,536 m
Seismic data from Karymsky were not available during 15-22 December. Based on ground and pilot observations, ash plumes rose to 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E and a thermal anomaly in the crater was detected on satellite imagery during the reporting period. The Level of Concern Color Code remained at Orange <http://www.avo.alaska.edu/color_codes.php>.
Geologic Summary. 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 (KVERT)
Karymsky Information from the Global Volcanism Program
KILAUEA Hawaii, USA 19.43°N, 155.29°W; summit elev. 1,222 m
During 20-26 December, lava from Kilauea continued to flow off of a lava delta into the ocean at the East Lae'apuki and East Ka'ili'ili entries. Incandescence on the pali was visible during the reporting period. Intermittent incandescence was seen coming from the East Pond and January vents, South Wall complex, and Drainhole vent in Pu'u 'O'o's crater.
Geologic Summary. 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 broad areas on the S flank of Kilauea and adding new land beyond the former coastline.
Sources: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Kilauea Information from the Global Volcanism Program
LANGILA New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea 5.53°S, 148.42°E
The Darwin VAAC reported that diffuse ash-and-steam plumes from Langila were visible on satellite imagery on 22 December drifting WNW.
Geologic Summary. Langila, one of the most active volcanoes of New Britain, consists of a group of four small overlapping composite cones on the lower eastern flank of the extinct Talawe volcano. Talawe is the highest volcano in the Cape Gloucester area of NW New Britain. A rectangular, 2.5-km-long crater is breached widely to the SE; Langila volcano was constructed NE of the breached crater of Talawe. An extensive lava field reaches the coast on the N and NE sides of Langila. Frequent mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions, sometimes accompanied by lava flows, have been recorded since the 19th century from three active craters at the summit of Langila. The youngest and smallest crater (no. 3 crater) was formed in 1960 and has a diameter of 150 m.
Source: Herman Patia, Rabaul Volcano Observatory
Langila Information from the Global Volcanism Program
POPOCATÉPETL México 19.02°N, 98.62°W; summit elev. 5,426 m
Based on information from the Mexico City MWO, pilot reports, and satellite imagery, the Washington VAAC reported that an eruption plume from Popocatépetl rose to an altitude of 7.9 km (26,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E on 20 December. A hotspot was also visible on satellite imagery.
Geologic Summary. 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.
Source: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
Popocatépetl Information from the Global Volcanism Program
SANGAY Ecuador 2.03°S, 78.34°W; summit elev. 5,188 m
Based on a pilot report, the Washington VAAC reported that an ash plume from Sangay rose to an altitude of 7.6 km (25,000 ft) a.s.l. on 23 December.
Geologic Summary. 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.
Source: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
Sangay Information from the Global Volcanism Program
SEMERU Java, Indonesia 8.11°S, 112.92°E; summit elev. 3,676 m
The Darwin VAAC reported that a plume from Semeru was visible on satellite imagery on 21 December at an altitude of 4.3 (14,000 ft) a.s.l.
Geologic Summary. Semeru is the highest volcano on Java and one of its most active. The symmetrical stratovolcano rises abruptly to 3,676 m above coastal plains to the S and lies at the southern end of a volcanic massif extending N to the Tengger caldera. Semeru has been in almost continuous eruption since 1967. Frequent small-to-moderate Vulcanian eruptions have accompanied intermittent lava dome extrusion, and periodic pyroclastic flows and lahars have damaged villages below the volcano. A major secondary lahar on 14 May 1981 caused more than 250 deaths and damaged 16 villages.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre
Semeru Information from the Global Volcanism Program
ST. HELENS Washington, USA 46.20°N, 122.18°W; summit elev. 2,549 m
Data from deformation-monitoring instruments showed that during 20-26 December the lava dome at Mount St. Helens continued to grow. Seismicity continued at low levels, punctuated by earthquakes of M 1.5-2.5 and occasionally larger sizes.
Geologic Summary. Prior to 1980, Mount St. Helens formed a conical, youthful volcano sometimes known as the Fuji-san of America. During the 1980 eruption the upper 400 m of the summit was removed by slope failure, leaving a 2 x 3.5 km horseshoe-shaped crater now partially filled by a lava dome. Mount St. Helens was formed during nine eruptive periods beginning about 40-50,000 years ago, and has been the most active volcano in the Cascade Range during the Holocene. The modern edifice was constructed during the last 2,200 years, when the volcano produced basaltic as well as andesitic and dacitic products from summit and flank vents. Historical eruptions in the 19th century originated from the Goat Rocks area on the N flank, and were witnessed by early settlers.
Source: US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory
St. Helens Information from the Global Volcanism Program
SUWANOSE-JIMA Ryukyu Islands, Japan 29.53°N, 129.72°E; summit elev. 799 m
Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that an eruption from Suwanose-jima occurred on 19 December.
Geologic Summary. The 8-km-long, spindle-shaped island of Suwanose-jima in the northern Ryukyu Islands consists of an andesitic stratovolcano with two historically active summit craters. Only about 50 persons live on the sparsely populated island. The summit of the volcano is truncated by a large breached crater extending to the sea on the E flank that was formed by edifice collapse. Suwanose-jima, one of Japan's most frequently active volcanoes, was in a state of intermittent Strombolian activity from On-take (also called Otake), the NE summit crater, that began in 1949 and lasted nearly a half century. The largest historical eruption took place in 1813-14, when thick scoria deposits blanketed residential areas, after which the island was uninhabited for about 70 years. The SW crater produced lava flows that reached the western coast in 1813, and lava flows reached the eastern coast of the island in 1884.
Source: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
Suwanose-jima Information from the Global Volcanism Program
TUNGURAHUA Ecuador 1.47°S, 78.44°W; summit elev. 5,023 m
On 21 December, IG reported that lahars from Tungurahua traveled NW down the Mandur gorge resulting in a road closing and W down the Bilbao gorge. Gas-and-steam emissions produced small plumes on 22, 23, and 25 December.
Geologic Summary. 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 initially prompted temporary evacuation of the entire town of Baños on the N side of the volcano.
Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional
Tungurahua Information from the Global Volcanism Program
ULAWUN New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea 5.04°S, 151.34°E; summit elev. 2,334 m
The Darwin VAAC reported that ash plumes from Ulawun were visible on satellite imagery on 21, 22, and 25 December drifting ENE, NW, and SW, respectively.
Geologic Summary. The symmetrical basaltic to andesitic Ulawun stratovolcano is the highest volcano of the Bismarck arc, and one of Papua New Guinea's most frequently active. Ulawun rises above the N coast of New Britain opposite Bamus volcano. The upper 1,000 m of the 2,334-m-high volcano is unvegetated. A steep-walled valley cuts the NW side of the volcano, and a flank lava-flow complex lies to the S of this valley. Historical eruptions date back to the beginning of the 18th century. Twentieth-century eruptions were mildly explosive until 1967, but after 1970 several larger eruptions produced lava flows and basaltic pyroclastic flows, greatly modifying the summit crater.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre
Ulawun Information from the Global Volcanism Program
URL: http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/
