Ioto (Iwo-jima), located about 1,200 km S of Tokyo, lies within a 9-km-wide submarine caldera along the Izu-Bonin-Mariana volcanic arc. Previous eruptions date back to 1889 and have consisted of dominantly phreatic explosions, pumice deposits during 2001, and discolored water. A submarine eruption during July through December 2022 was characterized by discolored water, pumice deposits, and gas emissions (BGVN 48:01). This report covers a new eruption during October through December 2023, which consisted of explosions, black ejecta, discolored water, and floating pumice, based on information from the Japan Meteorological Association (JMA), the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), and satellite data.

JMA reported that an eruption had been occurring offshore of Okinahama on the SE side of the island since 21 October, which was characterized by volcanic tremor, according to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Iwo Jima Air Base (figure 22). According to an 18 October satellite image a plume of discolored water at the site of this new eruption extended NE (figure 23). During an overflight conducted on 30 October, a vent was identified about 1 km off the coast of Okinahama. Observers recorded explosions every few minutes that ejected dark material about 20 m above the ocean and as high as 150 m. Ejecta from the vent formed a black-colored island about 100 m in diameter, according to observations conducted from the air by the Earthquake Research Institute of the University of Tokyo in cooperation with the Mainichi newspaper (figure 24). Occasionally, large boulders measuring more than several meters in size were also ejected. Observations from the Advanced Land Observing Satellite Daichi-2 and Sentinel-2 satellite images also confirmed the formation of this island (figure 23). Brown discolored water and floating pumice were present surrounding the island.

Figure 22. Map of Ioto showing the locations of recorded eruptions from 1889 through December 2023. The most recent eruption occurred during October through December 2023 and is highlighted in red just off the SE coast of the island and E of the 2001 eruption site. A single eruption highlighted in green was detected just off the NE coast of the island on 18 November 2023. From Ukawa et al. (2002), modified by JMA.

Figure 23. Satellite images showing the formation of the new island formation (white arrow) off the SE (Okinahama) coast of Ioto on 18 October 2023 (top left), 27 November 2023 (top right), 2 December 2023 (bottom left), and 12 December 2023 (bottom right). Discolored water was visible surrounding the new island. By December, much of the island had been eroded. Courtesy of Copernicus Browser.

Figure 24. Photo showing an eruption off the SE (Okinahama) coast of Ioto around 1230 on 30 October 2023. A column of water containing black ejecta is shown, which forms a new island. Occasionally, huge boulders more than several meters in size were ejected with the jet. Dark brown discolored water surrounded the new island. Photo has been color corrected and was taken from the S by the Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo in cooperation of Mainichi newspaper. Courtesy of JMA.

The eruption continued during November. During an overflight on 3 November observers photographed the island and noted that material was ejected 169 m high, according to a news source. Explosions gradually became shorter, and, by the 3rd, they occurred every few seconds; dark and incandescent material were ejected about 800 m above the vent. On 4 November eruptions were accompanied by explosive sounds. Floating, brown-colored pumice was present in the water surrounding the island. There was a brief increase in the number of volcanic earthquakes during 8-14 November and 24-25 November. The eruption temporarily paused during 9-11 November and by 12 November eruptions resumed to the W of the island. On 10 November dark brown-to-dark yellow-green discolored water and a small amount of black floating material was observed (figure 25). A small eruption was reported on 18 November off the NE coast of the island, accompanied by white gas-and-steam plumes (figure 23). Another pause was recorded during 17-19 November, which then resumed on 20 November and continued erupting intermittently. According to a field survey conducted by the National Institute for Disaster Prevention Science and Technology on 19 November, a 30-m diameter crater was visible on the NE coast where landslides, hot water, and gray volcanic ash containing clay have occurred and been distributed previously. Erupted blocks about 10 cm in diameter were distributed about 90-120 m from the crater. JCG made observations during an overflight on 23 November and reported a phreatomagmatic eruption. Explosions at the main vent generated dark gas-and-ash plumes that rose to 200 m altitude and ejected large blocks that landed on the island and in the ocean (figure 26). Discolored water also surrounded the island. The size of the new island had grown to 450 m N-S x 200 m E-W by 23 November, according to JCG.

Figure 25. Photo of the new land formed off the SE (Okinahama) coast of Ioto on 10 November showing discolored water and a small amount of black floating material were visible surrounding the island. Photo has been color corrected. Photographed by JCG courtesy of JMA.

Figure 26. Photo of the new land formed off the SE (Okinahama) coast of Ioto on 23 November showing a phreatomagmatic eruption that ejected intermittent pulses of ash and dark material that rose to 200 m altitude. Photo has been color corrected. Photographed by JCG courtesy of JMA.

The eruption continued through 11 December, followed by a brief pause in activity, which then resumed on 31 December, according to JMA. Intermittent explosions produced 100-m-high black plumes at intervals of several minutes to 30 minutes during 1-10 December. Overflights were conducted on 4 and 15 December and reported that the water surrounding the new island was discolored to dark brown-to-dark yellow-green (figure 27). No floating material was reported during this time. In comparison to the observations made on 23 November, the new land had extended N and part of it had eroded away. In addition, analysis by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan using SAR data from Daichi-2 also confirmed that the area of the new island continued to decrease between 4 and 15 December. Ejected material combined with wave erosion transformed the island into a “J” shape, 500-m-long and with the curved part about 200 m offshore of Ioto. The island was covered with brown ash and blocks, and the surrounding water was discolored to greenish-brown and contained an area of floating pumice. JCG reported from an overflight on 4 December that volcanic ash-like material found around the S vent on the NE part of the island was newly deposited since 10 November (figure 28). By 15 December the N part of the “J” shaped island had separated and migrated N, connecting to the Okinahama coast and the curved part of the “J” had eroded into two smaller islands (figure 27).

Figure 27. Photos of the new island formed off the SE (Okinahama) coast of Ioto on 4 December 2023 (left) and 15 December 2023 (right). No gas-and-ash emissions or lava flows were observed on the new land. Additionally, dark brown-to-dark yellow-green discolored water was observed surrounding the new land. During 4 and 15 December, the island had eroded to where the N part of the “J” shape had separated and migrated N, connecting to the Okinahama coast and the curved part of the “J” had eroded into two smaller islands. Courtesy of Copernicus Browser.

Figure 28. Photo of new volcanic ash-deposits (yellow dashed lines) near the S vent on the NE coast of Ioto taken by JCG on 4 December 2023. White gas-and-steam emissions were also visible (white arrow). Photo has been color corrected. Courtesy of JMA.

References. Ukawa, M., Fujita, E., Kobayashi, T., 2002, Recent volcanic activity of Iwo Jima and the 2001 eruption, Monthly Chikyu, Extra No. 39, 157-164.

Geologic Background. Ioto, in the Volcano Islands of Japan, lies within a 9-km-wide submarine caldera. The volcano is also known as Ogasawara-Iojima to distinguish it from several other "Sulfur Island" volcanoes in Japan. The triangular, low-elevation, 8-km-long island narrows toward its SW tip and has produced trachyandesitic and trachytic rocks that are more alkalic than those of other volcanoes in this arc. The island has undergone uplift for at least the past 700 years, accompanying resurgent doming of the caldera; a shoreline landed upon by Captain Cook's surveying crew in 1779 is now 40 m above sea level. The Motoyama plateau on the NE half of the island consists of submarine tuffs overlain by coral deposits and forms the island's high point. Many fumaroles are oriented along a NE-SW zone cutting through Motoyama. Numerous recorded phreatic eruptions, many from vents on the W and NW sides of the island, have accompanied the uplift.

Information Contacts: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), 1-3-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8122, Japan (URL: http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html); Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Volcano Database, Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department, 3-1-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8932, Japan (URL: https://www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/GIJUTSUKOKUSAI/kaiikiDB/kaiyo22-2.htm); Copernicus Browser, Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, European Space Agency (URL: https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/browser/); Asahi, 5-3-2, Tsukiji, Chuo Ward, Tokyo, 104-8011, Japan (URL: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15048458).

Puracé, located in Colombia, is a stratovolcano that contains a 500-m-wide summit crater. It is part of the Los Coconucos volcanic chain that is a NW-SE trending group of seven cones and craters. The most recent eruption occurred during March 2022 that was characterized by frequent seismicity and gas-and-steam emissions (BGVN 47:06). This report covers a brief eruption during November 2023 based on monthly reports from the Popayán Observatory, part of the Servicio Geologico Colombiano (SGC).

Activity during November 2022 through November 2023 primarily consisted of seismicity: VT-type events, LP-type events, HB-type events, and TR-type events (table 4). Maximum sulfur dioxide values were measured weekly and ranged from 259-5,854 tons per day (t/d) during November 2022 through April 2023. White gas-and-steam emissions were also occasionally reported.

SGC issued a report on 25 October that noted a significant increase in the number of earthquakes associated with rock fracturing. These earthquakes were located SE of the crater between Puracé and Piocollo at depths of 1-4 km. There were no reported variations in sulfur dioxide values, but SGC noted high carbon dioxide values, compared to those recorded in the first half of 2023.

SGC reported that at 1929 on 16 November the seismic network detected a signal that was possibly associated with a gas-and-ash emission, though it was not confirmed in webcam images due to limited visibility. On 17 November an observer confirmed ash deposits on the N flank. Webcam images showed an increase in degassing both inside the crater and from the NW flank, rising 700 m above the crater.

Table 4. Seismicity at Puracé during November 2022-November 2023. Volcano-tectonic (VT), long-period (LP), hybrid (HB), and tremor (TR) events are reported each month. Courtesy of SGC.

Geologic Background. Puracé is an active andesitic volcano with a 600-m-diameter summit crater at the NW end of the Los Coconucos Volcanic Chain. This volcanic complex includes nine composite and five monogenetic volcanoes, extending from the Puracé crater more than 6 km SE to the summit of Pan de Azúcar stratovolcano. The dacitic massif which the complex is built on extends about 13 km NW-SE and 10 km NE-SW. Frequent small to moderate explosive eruptions reported since 1816 CE have modified the morphology of the summit crater, with the largest eruptions in 1849, 1869, and 1885.

Information Contacts: Servicio Geologico Colombiano (SGC), Diagonal 53 No. 34-53 - Bogotá D.C., Colombia (URL: https://www.sgc.gov.co/volcanes).

Suwanosejima is an 8-km-long island that consists of a stratovolcano and two active summit craters, located in the northern Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Volcanism over the past century has been characterized by Strombolian explosions, ash plumes, and ashfall. The current eruption began in October 2004 and has more recently consisted of frequent eruption plumes, explosions, and incandescent ejecta (BGVN 48:07). This report covers similar activity of ash plumes, explosions, and crater incandescence during July through October 2023 using monthly reports from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and satellite data.

Thermal activity during the reporting period was relatively low; only one low-power thermal anomaly was detected during mid-July and one during early August, based on a MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity) Log Radiative Power graph of the MODIS thermal anomaly data. On two clear weather days, a thermal anomaly was visible in infrared satellite images (figure 81).

Figure 81. Infrared (bands B12, B11, B4) satellite imagery showing a thermal anomaly (bright yellow-orange) at the Otake crater of Suwanosejima on 23 September 2023 (left) and 18 October 2023 (right). Courtesy of Copernicus Browser.

Low-level activity was reported at the Otake crater during July and no explosions were detected. Eruption plumes rose as high as 1.8 km above the crater. On 13 July an ash plume rose 1.7 km above the crater rim, based on a webcam image. During the night of the 28th crater incandescence was visible in a webcam image. An eruptive event reported on 31 July produced an eruption plume that rose 2.1 km above the crater. Seismicity consisted of 11 volcanic earthquakes on the W flank, the number of which had decreased compared to June (28) and 68 volcanic earthquakes near the Otake crater, which had decreased from 722 in the previous month. According to observations conducted by the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Toshima Village, and JMA, the amount of sulfur dioxide emissions released during the month was 400-800 tons per day (t/d).

Eruptive activity in the Otake crater continued during August and no explosions were reported. An eruptive event produced a plume that rose 1 km above the crater at 1447 on 12 August. Subsequent eruptive events were recorded at 0911 on 16 August, at 1303 on 20 August, and at 0317 on 21 August, which produced ash plumes that rose 1-1.1 km above the crater and drifted SE, SW, and W. On 22 August an ash plume was captured in a webcam image rising 1.4 km above the crater (figure 82). Multiple eruptive events were detected on 25 August at 0544, 0742, 0824, 1424, and 1704, which generated ash plumes that rose 1.1-1.2 km above the crater and drifted NE, W, and SW. On 28 August a small amount of ashfall was observed as far as 1.5 km from the crater. There were 17 volcanic earthquakes recorded on the W flank of the volcano and 79 recorded at the Otake crater during the month. The amount of sulfur dioxide emissions released during the month was 400-800 t/d.

Figure 82. Webcam image of an ash plume rising 1.4 km above Suwanosejima’s Otake crater rim on 22 August 2023. Courtesy of JMA (Volcanic activity commentary for Suwanosejima, August 2023).

Activity continued at the Otake crater during September. Occasionally, nighttime crater incandescence was observed in webcam images and ashfall was reported. An eruptive event at 1949 on 4 September produced an ash plume that rose 1 km above the crater and drifted SW. On 9 September several eruption events were detected at 0221, 0301, and 0333, which produced ash plumes that rose 1.1-1.4 km above the crater rim and drifted W; continuous ash emissions during 0404-0740 rose to a maximum height of 2 km above the crater rim (figure 83). More eruptive events were reported at 1437 on 10 September, at 0319 on 11 September, and at 0511 and 1228 on 15 September, which generated ash plumes that rose 1-1.8 km above the crater. During 25, 27, and 30 September, ash plumes rose as high as 1.3 km above the crater rim. JMA reported that large blocks were ejected as far as 300 m from the center of the crater. There were 18 volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the W flank and 82 volcanic earthquakes detected near the Otake crater. The amount of sulfur dioxide released during the month ranged from 600 to 1,600 t/d.

Figure 83. Webcam image of an ash plume rising 2 km above Suwanosejima’s Otake crater rim on 9 September 2023. Courtesy of JMA (Volcanic activity commentary for Suwanosejima, September 2023).

Activity during early-to-mid-October consisted of occasional explosions, a total number of 13, and ash plumes that rose as high as 1.9 km above the Otake crater rim on 29 October (figure 84). These explosions are the first to have occurred since June 2023. Continuous ash emissions were reported during 0510-0555 on 1 October. Explosions were recorded at 0304, 2141, and 2359 on 2 October, at 0112 on 3 October, and at 1326 on 6 October, which produced ash plumes that rose as high as 1 km above the crater rim and drifted SW and W. An explosion was noted at 0428 on 3 October, but emission details were unknown. A total of eight explosions were recorded by the seismic network at 1522 on 14 October, at 0337, 0433, 0555, 1008, and 1539 on 15 October, and at 0454 and 0517 on 16 October. Ash plumes from these explosions rose as high as 900 m above the crater and drifted SE. Eruptive events during 25-27 and 29-30 October generated plumes that rose as high as 1.9 km above the crater and drifted SE, S, and SW. Ash was deposited in Toshima village (3.5 km SSW). Eruptive activity occasionally ejected large volcanic blocks as far as 600 m from the crater. Nighttime crater incandescence was visible in webcams. Intermittent ashfall was reported as far as 1.5 km from the crater. There were 43 volcanic earthquakes detected on the W flank during the month, and 184 volcanic earthquakes detected near the Otake crater. The amount of sulfur dioxide emitted ranged between 400 and 900 t/d.

Figure 84. Webcam image of an ash plume rising 1.9 km above Suwanosejima’s Otake crater on 29 October 2023. Courtesy of JMA (Volcanic activity commentary for Suwanosejima, October 2023).

Geologic Background. The 8-km-long island of Suwanosejima in the northern Ryukyu Islands consists of an andesitic stratovolcano with two active summit craters. The summit is truncated by a large breached crater extending to the sea on the E flank that was formed by edifice collapse. One of Japan's most frequently active volcanoes, it was in a state of intermittent Strombolian activity from Otake, the NE summit crater, between 1949 and 1996, after which periods of inactivity lengthened. The largest recorded eruption took place in 1813-14, when thick scoria deposits covered residential areas, and the SW crater produced two lava flows that reached the western coast. At the end of the eruption the summit of Otake collapsed, forming a large debris avalanche and creating an open collapse scarp extending to the eastern coast. The island remained uninhabited for about 70 years after the 1813-1814 eruption. Lava flows reached the eastern coast of the island in 1884. Only about 50 people live on the island.

Information Contacts: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), 1-3-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8122, Japan (URL: http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html); MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) - MODVOLC Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); Copernicus Browser, Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, European Space Agency (URL: https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/browser/).

Etna, located on the Italian island of Sicily, has had documented eruptions dating back to 1500 BCE. Activity typically originates from multiple cones at the summit, where several craters have formed and evolved. The currently active craters are Northeast Crater (NEC), Voragine (VOR), and Bocca Nuova (BN), and the Southeast Crater (SEC); VOR and BN were previously referred to as the “Central Crater”. The original Southeast crater formed in 1978, and a second eruptive site that opened on its SE flank in 2011 was named the New Southeast Crater (NSEC). Another eruptive site between the SEC and NSEC developed during early 2017 and was referred to as the "cono della sella" (saddle cone). The current eruption period began in November 2022 and has been characterized by intermittent Strombolian activity, lava flows, and ash plumes (BGVN 48:08). This report updates activity during July through October 2023, which includes primarily gas-and-steam emissions; during July and August Strombolian explosions, lava fountains, and lava flows were reported, based on weekly and special reports by the Osservatorio Etneo (OE), part of the Catania Branch of Italy's Istituo Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologica (INGV) and satellite data.

Variable fumarolic degassing was reported at all summit craters (BN, VOR, NEC, and SEC) throughout the entire reporting period (table 15). The MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity) volcano hotspot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS data showed frequent low-to-moderate power thermal anomalies during the reporting period (figure 399). During mid-August there was a pulse in activity that showed an increase in the power of the anomalies due to Strombolian activity, lava fountains, and lava flows. Infrared satellite imagery captured strong thermal anomalies at the central and southeast summit crater areas (figure 400). Accompanying thermal activity were occasional sulfur dioxide plumes that exceeded 2 Dobson Units (DUs) recorded by the TROPOMI instrument on the Sentinel-5P satellite (figure 401).

Table 15. Summary of activity at the four primary crater areas at the summit of Etna during July-October 2023. Information is from INGV weekly reports.

Figure 399. Frequent thermal activity at Etna varied in strength during July through October 2023, as shown on this MIROVA plot (Log Radiative Power). There was a spike in power during mid-August, which reflected an increase in Strombolian activity. Courtesy of MIROVA.

Figure 400. Infrared (bands B12, B11, B4) satellite images showing strong thermal anomalies at Etna’s central and Southeast crater areas on 21 July 2023 (top left), 27 August 2023 (top right), 19 September 2023 (bottom left), and 29 October 2023 (bottom right). Courtesy of Copernicus Browser.

Figure 401. Sulfur dioxide plumes that exceeded 2 Dobson Units (DUs) rose above Etna on 14 July 2023 (top left), 14 August 2023 (top right), 2 September 2023 (bottom left), and 7 October 2023 (bottom right). These plumes drifted NE, S, SE, and SW, respectively. Courtesy of NASA Global Sulfur Dioxide Monitoring Page.

Activity during July and August was relatively low and mainly consisted of degassing at the summit craters, particularly at SEC and BN. Cloudy weather prevented clear views of the summit during early July. During the night of 2 July some crater incandescence was visible at SEC. Explosive activity resumed at SEC during 9-10 July, which was characterized by sporadic and weak ash emissions that rapidly dispersed in the summit area (figure 402). INGV reported moderate Strombolian activity began at 2034 on 14 July and was confined to the inside of the crater and fed by a vent located in the E part of SEC. An ash emission was detected at 2037. A new vent opened on 15 July in the SE part of BN and began to produce continuous gas-and-steam emissions. During an inspection carried out on 28 July pulsating degassing, along with audible booms, were reported at two active vents in BN. Vigorous gas-and-steam emissions intermittently generated rings. On rare occasions, fine, reddish ash was emitted from BN1 and resuspended by the gas-and-steam emissions.

Figure 402. Webcam image taken by the Monta Cagliato camera showing an ash emission rising above Etna’s Southeast Crater (SEC) on 10 July 2023. Photo has been color corrected. Courtesy of INGV (Report 28/2023, ETNA, Bollettino Settimanale, 03/07/2023 - 09/07/2023).

Around 2000 on 13 August INGV reported a sudden increase in volcanic tremor amplitude. Significant infrasonic activity coincided with the tremor increase. Incandescent flashes were visible through the cloud cover in webcam images of SEC (figure 403). Strombolian activity at SEC began to gradually intensify starting at 2040 as seismicity continued to increase. The Aviation Color Code (ACC) was raised to Yellow (the second lowest-level on a four-color scale) at 2126 and then to Orange (the second highest-level on a four-color scale) at 2129 due to above-background activity. The activity rapidly transitioned from Strombolian activity to lava fountains around 2333 that rose 300-400 m above the crater (figure 403). Activity was initially focused on the E vent of the crater, but then the vent located above the S flank of the cone also became active. A lava flow from this vent traveled SW into the drainage created on 10 February 2022, overlapping with previous flows from 10 and 21 February 2022 and 21 May 2023, moving between Monte Barbagallo and Monte Frumento Supino (figure 404). The lava flow was 350 m long, oriented NNE-SSW, and descended to an elevation of 2.8 km. Flows covered an area of 300,000 m² and had an estimated volume of 900,000 m³. The ACC was raised to Red at 2241 based on strong explosive activity and ashfall in Rifugio Sapienza-Piano Vetore at 1.7 km elevation on the S flank. INGV reported that pyroclastic flows accompanied this activity.

Figure 403. Webcam images of the lava fountaining event at Etna during 13-14 August 2023 taken by the Milos (EMV) camera. Images show the start of the event with increasing incandescence (a-b), varying intensity in activity (c-e), lava fountaining and pyroclastic flows (f-g), and a strong ash plume (g). Courtesy of INGV (Report 33/2023, ETNA, Bollettino Settimanale, 08/08/2023 - 14/08/2023).

Figure 404. Map of the new lava flow (yellow) and vent (red) at SEC (CSE) of Etna on 13 August 2023. The background image is a shaded model of the terrain of the summit area obtained by processing Skysat images acquired during on 18 August. The full extent of the lava flow was unable to be determined due to the presence of ash clouds. The lava flow extended more than 350 m to the SSW and reached an elevation of 2.8 km and was located W of Mt. Frumento Supino. CSE = Southeast Crater; CNE = Northeast Crater; BN = Bocca Nuova; VOR = Voragine. Courtesy of INGV (Report 34/2023, ETNA, Bollettino Settimanale, 14/08/2023 - 20/08/2023).

Activity peaked between 0240 and 0330 on 14 August, when roughly 5-6 vents erupted lava fountains from the E to SW flank of SEC. The easternmost vents produced lava fountains that ejected material strongly to the E, which caused heavy fallout of incandescent pyroclastic material on the underlying flank, triggering small pyroclastic flows. This event was also accompanied by lightning both in the ash column and in the ash clouds that were generated by the pyroclastic flows. A fracture characterized by a series of collapse craters (pit craters) opened on the upper SW flank of SEC. An ash cloud rose a few kilometers above the crater and drifted S, causing ash and lapilli falls in Rifugio Sapienza and expanding toward Nicolosi, Mascalucia, Catania, and up to Syracuse. Ashfall resulted in operational problems at the Catania airport (50 km S), which lasted from 0238 until 2000. By 0420 the volcanic tremor amplitude values declined to background levels. After 0500 activity sharply decreased, although the ash cloud remained for several hours and drifted S. By late morning, activity had completely stopped. The ACC was lowered to Orange as volcanic ash was confined to the summit area. Sporadic, minor ash emissions continued throughout the day. At 1415 the ACC was lowered to Yellow and then to Green at 1417.

During the night of 14-15 August only occasional flashes were observed, which were more intense during avalanches of material inside the eruptive vents. Small explosions were detected at SEC at 2346 on 14 August and at 0900 on 26 August that each produced ash clouds which rapidly dispersed into the atmosphere (figure 405). According to a webcam image, an explosive event detected at 2344 at SEC generated a modest ash cloud that was rapidly dispersed by winds. The ACC was raised to Yellow at 2355 on 14 August due to increasing unrest and was lowered to Green at 0954 on 15 August.

Figure 405. Webcam image of an ash plume rising above Etna’s SEC at 0902 (local time) on 26 August taken by the Montagnola EMOV camera. Photo has been color corrected. Courtesy of INGV (Report 35/2023, ETNA, Bollettino Settimanale, 21/08/2023 - 27/08/2023).

Activity during September and October was relatively low and mainly characterized by variable degassing from BN and SEC. Intense, continuous, and pulsating degassing was accompanied by roaring sounds and flashes of incandescence at BN both from BN1 and the new pit crater that formed during late July (figure 406). The degassing from the new pit crater sometimes emitted vapor rings. Cloudy weather during 6-8 September prevented observations of the summit craters .

Figure 406. Webcam image (top) showing degassing from Etna’s Bocca Nuova (BN) crater accompanied by nighttime crater incandescence at 0300 (local time) on 2 September 2023 by the Piedimonte Etneo (EPVH) camera and a photo of incandescence at BN1 and the new pit crater (bottom) taken by an observatory scientist from the E rim of BN during a survey on 2 September 2023. Courtesy of INGV (Report 36/2023, ETNA, Bollettino Settimanale, 28/08/2023 - 03/09/2023).

Geologic Background. Mount Etna, towering above Catania on the island of Sicily, has one of the world's longest documented records of volcanism, dating back to 1500 BCE. Historical lava flows of basaltic composition cover much of the surface of this massive volcano, whose edifice is the highest and most voluminous in Italy. The Mongibello stratovolcano, truncated by several small calderas, was constructed during the late Pleistocene and Holocene over an older shield volcano. The most prominent morphological feature of Etna is the Valle del Bove, a 5 x 10 km caldera open to the east. Two styles of eruptive activity typically occur, sometimes simultaneously. Persistent explosive eruptions, sometimes with minor lava emissions, take place from one or more summit craters. Flank vents, typically with higher effusion rates, are less frequently active and originate from fissures that open progressively downward from near the summit (usually accompanied by Strombolian eruptions at the upper end). Cinder cones are commonly constructed over the vents of lower-flank lava flows. Lava flows extend to the foot of the volcano on all sides and have reached the sea over a broad area on the SE flank.

Information Contacts: Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione di Catania, Piazza Roma 2, 95123 Catania, Italy (URL: http://www.ct.ingv.it/it/); MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); NASA Global Sulfur Dioxide Monitoring Page, Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC), 8800 Greenbelt Road, Goddard MD 20771, USA (URL: https://so2.gsfc.nasa.gov/); Copernicus Browser, Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, European Space Agency (URL: https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/browser/).

Aira caldera, located in the northern half of Kagoshima Bay, Japan, contains the post-caldera Sakurajima volcano. Eruptions typically originate from the Minamidake crater, and since the 8th century, ash deposits have been recorded in the city of Kagoshima (10 km W), one of Kyushu’s largest cities. The Minamidake summit cone and crater has had persistent activity since 1955; the Showa crater on the E flank has also been intermittently active since 2006. The current eruption period began during March 2017 and has recently been characterized by intermittent explosions, eruption plumes, and ashfall (BGVN 48:07). This report updates activity during July through October 2023 and describes explosive events, ash plumes, nighttime crater incandescence, and ashfall, according to monthly activity reports from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and satellite data.

Thermal activity remained at low levels during this reporting period, according to the MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity) system (figure 149). There was a slight increase in the number of anomalies during September through October. Occasional thermal anomalies were visible in infrared satellite images mainly at the Minamidake crater (Vent A is located to the left and Vent B is located to the right) (figure 150).

Table 30. Number of monthly explosive events, days of ashfall, area of ash covered, and sulfur dioxide emissions from Sakurajima’s Minamidake crater at Aira during July-October 2023. Note that smaller ash events are not listed. Ashfall days were measured at Kagoshima Local Meteorological Observatory and ashfall amounts represent material covering all the Kagoshima Prefecture. Data courtesy of JMA monthly reports.

Figure 149. Thermal activity at Sakurajima in the Aira caldera was relatively low during July through October 2023, based on this MIROVA graph (Log Radiative Power). There was an increase in the number of detected anomalies during September through October. Courtesy of MIROVA.

Figure 150. Infrared (bands B12, B11, B4) satellite images show a persistently strong thermal anomaly (bright yellow-orange) at the Minamidake crater at Aira’s Sakurajima volcano on 28 September 2023 (top left), 3 October 2023 (top right), 23 October 2023 (bottom left), and 28 October 2023 (bottom right). Vent A is located to the left and Vent B is to the right of Vent A; both vents are part of the Minamidake crater. Courtesy of Copernicus Browser.

JMA reported that during July, there were eight eruptions, three of which were explosion events in the Showa crater. Large blocks were ejected as far as 600 m from the Showa crater. Very small eruptions were occasionally reported at the Minamidake crater. Nighttime incandescence was observed in both the Showa and Minamidake crater. Explosions were reported on 16 July at 2314 and on 17 July at 1224 and at 1232 (figure 151). Resulting eruption plumes rose 700-2,500 m above the crater and drifted N. On 23 July the number of volcanic earthquakes on the SW flank of the volcano increased. A strong Mw 3.1 volcanic earthquake was detected at 1054 on 26 July. The number of earthquakes recorded throughout the month was 545, which markedly increased from 73 in June. No ashfall was observed at the Kagoshima Regional Meteorological Observatory during July. According to a field survey conducted during the month, the daily amount of sulfur dioxide emissions was 1,600-3,200 tons per day (t/d).

Figure 151. Webcam image showing a strong, gray ash plume that rose 2.5 km above the crater rim of Aira’s Showa crater at 1232 on 17 July 2023. Courtesy of JMA monthly report (Sakurajima volcanic activity explanatory material, July 2023).

There were three eruptions reported at the Minamidake crater during August, each of which were explosive. The explosions occurred on 9 August at 0345, on 13 August at 2205, and on 31 August at 0640, which generated ash plumes that rose 800-2,000 m above the crater and drifted W. There were two eruptions detected at Showa crater; on 4 August at 2150 ejecta traveled 800 m from the Showa crater and associated eruption plumes rose 2.3 km above the crater. The explosion at 2205 on 13 August generated an ash plume that rose 2 km above the crater and was accompanied by large blocks that were ejected 600 m from the Minamidake crater (figure 152). Nighttime crater incandescence was visible in a high-sensitivity surveillance camera at both craters. Seismicity consisted of 163 volcanic earthquakes, 84 of which were detected on the SW flank. According to the Kagoshima Regional Meteorological Observatory there was a total of 7 g/m² of ashfall over the course of 10 days during the month. According to a field survey, the daily amount of sulfur dioxide emitted was 1,800-3,300 t/d.

Figure 152. Webcam image showing an eruption plume rising 2 km above the Minamidake crater at Aira at 2209 on 13 August 2023. Courtesy of JMA monthly report (Sakurajima volcanic activity explanatory material, August 2023).

During September, four eruptions were reported, three of which were explosion events. These events occurred at 1512 on 9 September, at 0018 on 11 September, and at 2211 on 13 September. Resulting ash plumes generally rose 800-1,100 m above the crater. An explosion produced an ash plume at 2211 on 13 September that rose as high as 1.7 km above the crater. Large volcanic blocks were ejected 600 m from the Minamidake crater. Smaller eruptions were occasionally observed at the Showa crater. Nighttime crater incandescence was visible at the Minamidake crater. Seismicity was characterized by 68 volcanic earthquakes, 28 of which were detected beneath the SW flank. According to the Kagoshima Regional Meteorological Observatory there was a total of 3 g/m² of ashfall over the course of seven days during the month. A field survey reported that the daily amount of sulfur dioxide emitted was 1,600-2,300 t/d.

Eruptive activity during October consisted of 69 eruptions, 33 of which were described as explosive. These explosions occurred during 4 and 11-21 October and generated ash plumes that rose 500-3,600 m above the crater and drifted S, E, SE, and N. On 19 October at 1648 an explosion generated an ash plume that rose 3.6 km above the crater (figure 153). No eruptions were reported in the Showa crater; white gas-and-steam emissions rose 100 m above the crater from a vent on the N flank. Nighttime incandescence was observed at the Minamidake crater. On 24 October an eruption was reported from 0346 through 0430, which included an ash plume that rose 3.4 km above the crater. Ejected blocks traveled 1.2 km from the Minamidake crater. Following this eruption, small amounts of ashfall were observed from Arimura (4.5 km SE) and a varying amount in Kurokami (4 km E) (figure 154). The number of recorded volcanic earthquakes during the month was 190, of which 14 were located beneath the SW flank. Approximately 61 g/m² of ashfall was reported over eight days of the month. According to a field survey, the daily amount of sulfur dioxide emitted was 2,200-4,200 t/d.

Figure 153. Webcam image showing an ash plume rising 3.6 km above the Minamidake crater at Aira at 1648 on 19 October 2023. Photo has been color corrected. Courtesy of JMA monthly report (Sakurajima volcanic activity explanatory material, October 2023).

Figure 154. Photo showing ashfall (light gray) in Kurokami-cho, Sakurajima on 24 October 2023 taken at 1148 following an eruption at Aira earlier that day. Courtesy of JMA monthly report (Sakurajima volcanic activity explanatory material, October 2023).

Geologic Background. The Aira caldera in the northern half of Kagoshima Bay contains the post-caldera Sakurajima volcano, one of Japan's most active. Eruption of the voluminous Ito pyroclastic flow accompanied formation of the 17 x 23 km caldera about 22,000 years ago. The smaller Wakamiko caldera was formed during the early Holocene in the NE corner of the caldera, along with several post-caldera cones. The construction of Sakurajima began about 13,000 years ago on the southern rim and built an island that was joined to the Osumi Peninsula during the major explosive and effusive eruption of 1914. Activity at the Kitadake summit cone ended about 4,850 years ago, after which eruptions took place at Minamidake. Frequent eruptions since the 8th century have deposited ash on the city of Kagoshima, located across Kagoshima Bay only 8 km from the summit. The largest recorded eruption took place during 1471-76.

Information Contacts: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), 1-3-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8122, Japan (URL: http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html); MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); Copernicus Browser, Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, European Space Agency (URL: https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/browser/).

Nishinoshima is a small island in the Ogasawara Arc, about 1,000 km S of Tokyo, Japan. It contains prominent submarine peaks to the S, W, and NE. Recorded eruptions date back to 1973, with the current eruption period beginning in October 2022. Eruption plumes and fumarolic activity characterize recent activity (BGVN 48:10). This report covers the end of the eruption for September through October 2023, based on information from monthly reports of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) monthly reports, and satellite data.

No eruptive activity was reported during September 2023, although JMA noted that the surface temperature was slightly elevated compared to the surrounding area since early March 2023. The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) conducted an overflight on 20 September and reported white gas-and-steam plumes rising 3 km above the central crater of the pyroclastic cone, as well as multiple white gas-and-steam emissions emanating from the N, E, and S flanks of the crater to the coastline. In addition, dark reddish brown-to-green discolored water was distributed around almost the entire circumference of the island.

Similar low-level activity was reported during October. Multiple white gas-and-steam emissions rose from the N, E, and S flanks of the central crater of the pyroclastic cone and along the coastline; these emissions were more intense compared to the previous overflight observations. Dark reddish brown-to-green discolored water remained visible around the circumference of the island. On 4 October aerial observations by JCG showed a small eruption consisting of continuous gas-and-steam emissions emanating from the central crater, with gray emissions rising to 1.5 km altitude (figure 129). According to observations from the marine weather observation vessel Keifu Maru on 26 October, white gas-and-steam emissions persisted from the center of the pyroclastic cone, as well as from the NW, SW, and SE coasts of the island for about five minutes. Slightly discolored water was visible up to about 1 km.

Figure 129. Aerial photos of gray emissions rising from the central crater of Nishinoshima’s pyroclastic cone to an altitude of 1.5 km on 4 October 2023 taken at 1434 (left) and 1436 (right). Several white gas-and-steam emissions also rose from the N, E, and S flanks of the central crater. Both photos have been color corrected. Courtesy of JCG via JMA (monthly reports of activity at Nishinoshima, October, 2023).

Frequent low-to-moderate power thermal anomalies were recorded in the MIROVA graph (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity) during September (figure 130). Occasional anomalies were detected during October, and fewer during November through December. A thermal anomaly was visible in the crater using infrared satellite imagery on 6, 8, 11, 16, 18, 21, and 23 September and 8, 13, 21, 26, and 28 October (figure 131).

Figure 130. Low-to-moderate power thermal anomalies were detected at Nishinoshima during September through December 2023, showing a decrease in the frequency of anomalies after September, according to this MIROVA graph (Log Radiative Power). Courtesy of MIROVA.

Figure 131. Infrared (bands B12, B11, B4) satellite images showing a strong thermal anomaly at the crater of Nishinoshima on 21 September 2023 (left) and 13 October 2023 (right). A strong gas-and-steam plume accompanied the thermal activity, extending NW. Courtesy of Copernicus Browser.

Geologic Background. The small island of Nishinoshima was enlarged when several new islands coalesced during an eruption in 1973-74. Multiple eruptions that began in 2013 completely covered the previous exposed surface and continued to enlarge the island. The island is the summit of a massive submarine volcano that has prominent peaks to the S, W, and NE. The summit of the southern cone rises to within 214 m of the ocean surface 9 km SSE.

Information Contacts: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), 1-3-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8122, Japan (URL: http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html); MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); Copernicus Browser, Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, European Space Agency (URL: https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/browser/).

Kīlauea is on the island of Hawai’i and overlaps the E flank of the Mauna Loa volcano. Its East Rift Zone (ERZ) has been intermittently active for at least 2,000 years. An extended eruption period began in January 1983 and was characterized by open lava lakes and lava flows from the summit caldera and the East Rift Zone. During May 2018 magma migrated into the Lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) and opened 24 fissures along a 6-km-long NE-trending fracture zone that produced lava flows traveling in multiple directions. As lava emerged from the fissures, the lava lake at Halema'uma'u drained and explosions sent ash plumes to several kilometers altitude (BGVN 43:10).

The current eruption period started during September 2021 and has been characterized by low-level lava effusions in the active Halema’uma’u lava lake (BGVN 48:01). This report covers three notable eruption periods during February, June, and September 2023 consisting of lava fountaining, lava flows, and spatter during January through September 2023 using information from daily reports, volcanic activity notices, and abundant photo, map, and video data from the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO).

Activity during January 2023. Small earthquake swarms were recorded on 2 January 2023; increased seismicity and changes in the pattern of deformation were noted on the morning of 5 January. At around 1500 both the rate of deformation and seismicity drastically increased, which suggested magma movement toward the surface. HVO raised the Volcano Alert Level (VAL) to Watch (the second highest level on a four-level scale) and the Aviation Color Code (ACC) to Orange (the second highest color on a four-color scale) at 1520.

Multiple lava fountains and lava effusions from vents in the central eastern portion of the Halema’uma’u crater began on 5 January around 0434; activity was confined to the eastern half of the crater and within the basin of the western half of the crater, which was the focus of the eruption in 2021-2022 (figure 525). Incandescence was visible in webcam images at 1634 on 5 January, prompting HVO to raise the VAL to Warning (the highest level on a four-level scale) and the ACC to Red (the highest color on a four-color scale). Lava fountains initially rose as high as 50 m above the vent at the onset of the eruption (figure 526) but then declined to a more consistent 5-6 m height in the proceeding days. By 1930 that same day, lava had covered most of the crater floor (an area of about 1,200,000 m²) and the lava lake had a depth of 10 m. A higher-elevation island that formed during the initial phase of the December 2020 eruption remained exposed, appearing darker in images, along with a ring of older lava around the lava lake that was active prior to December 2022. Overnight during 5-6 January the lava fountains continued to rise 5 m high, and the lava effusion rate had slowed.

Figure 525. A reference map of Kīlauea showing activity on 6 January 2023, based on measurements taken from the crater rim at approximately 0900. Multiple eruptive vents (orange color) are on the E floor of Halema’uma’u crater effusing into a lava lake (red color). Lava from these vents flowed laterally across the crater floorcovering an area of 880,000 m2. The full extent of new lava from this eruption (red and pink colors) is approximately 1,120,000 m2. An elevated part of the lake (yellow color) that is higher in elevation compared to the rest of the crater floor was not covered in lava flows. Courtesy of USGS, HVO.

Figure 526. Image of the initial lava fountain at the onset of Kīlauea’s eruption on 5 January 2023 from a newly opened vent in the Halema’uma’u crater at 0449. This lava fountain rose as high as 50 m and ejected lava across the crater floor. Courtesy of USGS, HVO.

On 6 January at 0815 HVO lowered the VAL to Watch and the ACC to Orange due to the declining effusion rates. Sulfur dioxide emission rates ranged from 3,000-12,500 tonnes per day (t/d), the highest value of which was recorded on 6 January. Lava continued to erupt from the vents during 6-8 January, although the footprint of the active area had shrunk; a similar progression has been commonly observed during the early stages of recent eruptions at Halema’uma’u. On 9 January HVO reported one dominant lava fountain rising 6-7 m high in the E half of the crater. Lava flows built up the margins of the lake, causing the lake to be perched. On 10 January the eastern lava lake had an area of approximately 120,000 m² that increased to 250,000 m² by 17 January. During 13-31 January several small overflows occurred along the margins of the E lake. A smaller area of lava was active within the basin in the W half of the crater that had been the focus of activity during 2021-2022. On 19 January just after 0200 a small ooze-out was observed on the crater’s W edge.

Activity during February 2023. Activity continued in the E part of Halema’uma’u crater, as well as in a smaller basin in the W part of the 2021-2022 lava lake (figure 527). The E lava lake contained a single lava fountain and frequent overflows. HVO reported that during the morning of 1 February the large E lava lake began to cool and crust over in the center of the lake; two smaller areas of lava were observed on the N and S sides by the afternoon. The dominant lava fountain located in the S part of the lava lake paused for roughly 45 minutes at 2315 and resumed by midnight, rising 1-2 m. At 0100 on 2 February lava from the S part was effusing across the entire E lava lake area, covering the crusted over portion in the center of the lake and continuing across the majority of the previously measured 250,000 m² by 0400. A small lava pond near the E lake produced an overflow around 0716 on 2 February. On 3 February some lava crust began to form against the N and E levees, which defined the 250,000 m² eastern lava lake. The small S lava fountain remained active, rising 1-6 m high during 3-9 February; around 0400 on 5 February occasional bursts doubled the height of the lava fountain.

Figure 527. An aerial visual and thermal image taken of Kīlauea’s Halema’uma’u crater on 2 February 2023. The largest lava lake is in the E part of the crater, although lava has also filled areas that were previously active in the W part of the crater. The colors of the map indicate temperature, with blues indicative of cooler temperatures and reds indicative of warmer temperatures. Courtesy of USGS, HVO.

A large breakout occurred overnight during 2100 on 4 February to 0900 on 5 February on the N part of the crater floor, equal to or slightly larger in size than the E lava lake. A second, smaller lava fountain appeared in the same area of the E lava lake between 0300 and 0700 on 5 February and was temporarily active. This large breakout continued until 7 February. A small, brief breakout was reported in the S of the E lava lake around midnight on 7 February. In the W lake, as well as the smaller lava pond in the central portion of the crater floor, contained several overflows during 7-10 February and intermittent fountaining. Activity at the S small lava pond and the small S lava fountain within the E lake declined during 9-10 February. The lava pond in the central portion of the crater floor had nearly continuous, expansive flows during 10-13 February; channels from the small central lava pond seemed to flow into the larger E lake. During 13-18 February a small lava fountain was observed in the small lava pond in the central portion of the crater floor. Continuous overflows persisted during this time.

Activity in the eastern and central lakes began to decline in the late afternoon of 17 February. By 18 February HVO reported that the lava effusions had significantly declined, and that the eastern and central lakes were no longer erupting. The W lake in the basin remained active but at a greatly reduced level that continued to decline. HVO reported that this decrease in activity is attributed to notable deflationary tilt that began early on the morning of 17 February and lasted until early 19 February. By 19 February the W lake was mostly crusted over although some weak lava flows remained, which continued through 28 February. The sulfur dioxide emission rates ranged 250-2,800 t/d, the highest value of which was recorded on 6 February.

Activity during March 2023. The summit eruption at Halema’uma’u crater continued at greatly reduced levels compared to the previous two months. The E and central vents stopped effusing lava, and the W lava lake remained active with weak lava flows; the lake was mostly crusted over, although slowly circulating lava intermittently overturned the crust. By 6 March the lava lake in the W basin had stopped because the entire surface was crusted over. The only apparent surface eruptive activity during 5-6 March was minor ooze-outs of lava onto the crater floor, which had stopped by 7 March. Several hornitos on the crater floor still glowed through 12 March according to overnight webcam images, but they did not erupt any lava. A small ooze-out of lava was observed just after 1830 in the W lava lake on 8 March, which diminished overnight. The sulfur dioxide emission rate ranged from 155-321 t/d on 21 March. The VAL was lowered to Advisory, and the ACC was lowered to Yellow (the second lowest on a four-color scale) on 23 March due to a pause in the eruption since 7 March.

Activity during April-May 2023. The eruption at Halema’uma’u crater was paused; no lava effusions were visible on the crater floor. Sulfur dioxide emission rates ranged from 75-185 t/d, the highest of which was measured on 22 April. During May and June summit seismicity was elevated compared to seismicity that preceded the activity during January.

Activity during June 2023. Earthquake activity and changes in the patterns of ground deformation beneath the summit began during the evening of 6 June. The data indicated magma movement toward the surface, prompting HVO to raise the VAL to Watch and the ACC to Orange. At about 0444 on 7 June incandescence in Halema’uma’u crater was visible in webcam images, indicating that a new eruption had begun. HVO raised the VAL to Warning and the ACC to Red (the highest color on a four-color scale). Lava flowed from fissures that had opened on the crater floor. Multiple minor lava fountains were active in the central E portion of the Halema’uma’u crater, and one vent opened on the W wall of the caldera (figure 528). The eruptive vent on the SW wall of the crater continued to effuse into the lava lake in the far SW part of the crater (figure 529). The largest lava fountain consistently rose 15 m high; during the early phase of the eruption, fountain bursts rose as high as 60 m. Lava flows inundated much of the crater floor and added about 6 m depth of new lava within a few hours, covering approximately 10,000 m². By 0800 on 7 June lava filled the crater floor to a depth of about 10 m. During 0800-0900 the sulfur dioxide emission rate was about 65,000 t/d. Residents of Pahala (30 km downwind of the summit) reported minor deposits of fine, gritty ash and Pele’s hair. A small spatter cone had formed at the vent on the SW wall by midday, and lava from the cone was flowing into the active lava lake. Fountain heights had decreased from the onset of the eruption and were 4-9 m high by 1600, with occasional higher bursts. Inflation switched to deflation and summit earthquake activity greatly diminished shortly after the eruption onset.

Figure 528. Photo of renewed activity at Kīlauea’s Halema’uma’u crater that began at 0444 on 7 June 2023. Lava flows cover the crater floor and there are several active source vents exhibiting lava fountaining. Courtesy of USGS, HVO.

Figure 529. Photo of a lava fountain on the SW wall of Kīlauea’s Halema’uma’u crater on 7 June 2023. By midday a small cone structure had been built up. The fissure was intermittently obscured by gas-and-steam plumes. Courtesy of USGS, HVO.

At 0837 on 8 June HVO lowered the VAL to Watch and the ACC to Orange because the initial high effusion rates had declined, and no infrastructure was threatened. The surface of the lava lake had dropped by about 2 m, likely due to gas loss by the morning of 8 June. The drop left a wall of cooled lava around the margins of the crater floor. Lava fountain heights decreased during 8-9 June but continued to rise to 10 m high. Active lava and vents covered much of the W half of Halema’uma’u crater in a broad, horseshoe-shape around a central, uplifted area (figure 530). The preliminary average effusion rate for the first 24 hours of the eruption was about 150 cubic meters per second, though the estimate did not account for vesiculated lava and variations in crater floor topography. The effusion rate during the very earliest phases of the eruption appeared significantly higher than the previous three summit eruptions based on the rapid coverage of the entire crater floor. An active lava lake, also referred to as the “western lava lake” was centered within the uplifted area and was fed by a vent in the NE corner. Two small active lava lakes were located just SE from the W lava lake and in the E portion of the crater floor.

Figure 530. A compilation of thermal images taken of Kīlauea’s Halema’uma’u crater on 7 June 2023 (top left), 8 June 2023 (top right), 12 June 2023 (bottom left), and 16 June 2023 (bottom right). The initial high effusion rates that consisted of numerous lava fountains and lava flows that covered the entire crater floor began to decline and stabilize. A smaller area of active lava was detected in the SW part of the crater by 12 June. The colors of the thermal map represent temperature, with blue colors indicative of cooler temperatures and red colors indicative of warmer temperatures. Courtesy of USGS, HVO.

During 8-9 June the lava in the central lava lake had a thickness of approximately 1.5 m, based on measurements from a laser rangefinder. During 9-12 June the height of the lava fountains decreased to 9 m high. HVO reported that the previously active lava lake in the E part of the crater appeared stagnant during 10-11 June. The surface of the W lake rose approximately 1 m overnight during 11-12 June, likely due to the construction of a levee around it. Only a few small fountains were active during 12-13 June; the extent of the active lava had retreated so that all activity was concentrated in the SW and central parts of Halema’uma’u crater. Intermittent spattering from the vent on the SW wall was visible in overnight webcam images during 13-18 June. On the morning of 14 June a weak lava effusion originated from near the western eruptive vent, but by 15 June there were no signs of continued activity. HVO reported that other eruptive vents in the SW lava lake had stopped during this time, following several days of waning activity; lava filled the lake by about 0.5 m. Lava circulation continued in the central lake and no active lava was reported in the northern or eastern parts of the crater. Around 0800 on 15 June the top of the SW wall spatter cone collapsed, which was followed by renewed and constant spattering from the top vent and a change in activity from the base vent; several new lava flows effused from the top of the cone, as well as from the pre-existing tube-fed flow from its base. Accumulation of lava on the floor resulted in a drop of the central basin relative to the crater floor, allowing several overflows from the SW lava lake to cascade into the basin during the night of 15 June into the morning of 16 June.

Renewed lava fountaining was reported at the eruptive vent on the SW side of the crater during 16-19 June, which effused lava into the far SW part of the crater. This activity was described as vigorous during midday on 16 June; a group of observatory geologists estimated that the lava was consistently ejected at least 10 m high, with some spatter ejected even higher and farther. Deposits from the fountain further heightened and widened the spatter cone built around the original eruptive vent in the lower section of the crater wall. Multiple lava flows from the base of the cone were fed into the SW lava lake and onto the southwestern-most block from the 2018 collapse within Halema’uma’u on 17 June (figure 531); by 18 June they focused into a single flow feeding into the SW lava lake. On the morning of 19 June a second lava flow from the base of the eruptive cone advanced into the SW lava lake.

Figure 531. Nighttime photo of the upwelling area at the base of the spatter cone at Kīlauea’s Halema’uma’u crater on 17 June 2023. This upwelling feeds a lava flow that spreads out to the E of the spatter cone. Courtesy of M. Cappos, USGS.

Around 1600 on 19 June there was a rapid decline in lava fountaining and effusion at the eruptive vent on the SW side of the crater; vent activity had been vigorous up to that point (figure 532). Circulation in the lava lake also slowed, and the lava lake surface dropped by several meters. Overnight webcam images showed some previously eruptive lava still flowing onto the crater floor, which continued until those flows began to cool. By 21 June no lava was erupting in Halema’uma’u crater. Overnight webcam images during 29-30 June showed some incandescence from previously erupted lava flows as they continued to cool. Seismicity in the crater declined to low levels. Sulfur dioxide emission rates ranged 160-21,000 t/d throughout the month, the highest measurement of which was recorded on 8 June. On 30 June the VAL was lowered to Advisory (the second level on a four-level scale) and the ACC was lowered to Yellow. Gradual inflation was detected at summit tiltmeters during 19-30 June.

Figure 532. Photos showing vigorous lava fountaining and lava flows at Kīlauea’s Halema’uma’u crater at the SW wall eruptive vent on 18 June 2023 at 1330 (left). The eruption stopped abruptly around 1600 on 19 June 2023 and no more lava effusions were visible, as seen from the SW wall eruptive vent at 1830 on 19 June 2023 (right). Courtesy of M. Patrick, USGS.

Activity during July-August 2023. During July, the eruption paused; no lava was erupting in Halema’uma’u crater. Nighttime webcam images showed some incandescence from previously erupted lava as it continued to cool on the crater floor. During the week of 14 August HVO reported that the rate in seismicity increased, with 467 earthquakes of Mw 3.2 and smaller occurring. Sulfur dioxide emission rates remained low, ranging from 75-86 t/d, the highest of which was recorded on 10 and 15 August. On 15 August beginning at 0730 and lasting for several hours, a swarm of approximately 50 earthquakes were detected at a depth of 2-3 km below the surface and about 2 km long directly S of Halema’uma’u crater. HVO reported that this was likely due to magma movement in the S caldera region. During 0130-0500 and 1700-2100 on 21 August two small earthquake swarms of approximately 20 and 25 earthquakes, respectively, occurred at the same location and at similar depths. Another swarm of 50 earthquakes were recorded during 0430-0830 on 23 August. Elevated seismicity continued in the S area through the end of the month.

Activity during September 2023. Elevated seismicity persisted in the S summit with occasional small, brief seismic swarms. Sulfur dioxide measurements were relatively low and were 70 t/d on 8 September. About 150 earthquakes occurred during 9-10 September, and tiltmeter and Global Positioning System (GPS) data showed inflation in the S portion of the crater.

At 0252 on 10 September HVO raised the VAL to Watch and the ACC to Orange due to increased earthquake activity and changes in ground deformation that indicated magma moving toward the surface. At 1515 the summit eruption resumed in the E part of the caldera based on field reports and webcam images. Fissures opened on the crater floor and produced multiple minor lava fountains and flows (figure 533). The VAL and ACC were raised to Warning and Red, respectively. Gas-and-steam plumes rose from the fissures and drifted downwind. A line of eruptive vents stretched approximately 1.4 km from the E part of the crater into the E wall of the down dropped block by 1900. The lava fountains at the onset of the eruption had an estimated 50 m height, which later rose 20-25 m high. Lava erupted from fissures on the down dropped block and expanded W toward Halema’uma’u crater. Data from a laser rangefinder recorded about 2.5 m thick of new lava added to the W part of the crater. Sulfur dioxide emissions were elevated in the eruptive area during 1600-1500 on 10 September, measuring at least 100,000 t/d.

Figure 533. Photo of resumed lava fountain activity at Kīlauea’s Halema’uma’u crater on 10 September 2023. The main lava fountain rises approximately 50 m high and is on the E crater margin. Courtesy of USGS, HVO.

At 0810 on 11 September HVO lowered the VAL and ACC back to Watch and Orange due to the style of eruption and the fissure location had stabilized. The initial extremely high effusion rates had declined (but remained at high levels) and no infrastructure was threatened. An eruption plume, mainly comprised of sulfur dioxide and particulates, rose as high as 3 km altitude. Several lava fountains were active on the W side of the down dropped block during 11-15 September, while the easternmost vents on the down dropped block and the westernmost vents in the crater became inactive on 11 September (figure 534). The remaining vents spanned approximately 750 m and trended roughly E-W. The fed channelized lava effusions flowed N and W into Halema’uma’u. The E rim of the crater was buried by new lava flows; pahoehoe lava flows covered most of the crater floor except areas of higher elevation in the SW part of the crater. The W part of the crater filled about 5 m since the start of the eruption, according to data from a laser rangefinder during 11-12 September. Lava fountaining continued, rising as high as 15 m by the morning of 12 September. During the morning of 13 September active lava flows were moving on the N and E parts of the crater. The area N of the eruptive vents that had active lava on its surface became perched and was about 3 m higher than the surrounding ground surface. By the morning of 14 September active lava was flowing on the W part of the down dropped block and the NE parts of the crater. The distances of the active flows progressively decreased. Spatter had accumulated on the S (downwind) side of the vents, forming ramparts about 20 m high.

Figure 534. Photo of a strong lava fountain in the E part of Kīlauea’s Halema’uma’u crater taken on the morning of 11 September 2023. The lava fountains rise as high as 10-15 m. Courtesy of J. Schmith, USGS.

Vigorous spattering was restricted to the westernmost large spatter cone with fountains rising 10-15 m high. Minor spattering occurred within the cone to the E of the main cone, but HVO noted that the fountains remained mostly below the rim of the cone. Lava continued to effuse from these cones and likely from several others as well, traveled N and W, confined to the W part of the down-dropped block and the NE parts of Halema’uma’u. Numerous ooze-outs of lava were visible over other parts of the crater floor at night. Laser range-finder measurements taken of the W part of the crater during 14-15 September showed that lava filled the crater by 10 m since the start of the eruption. Sulfur dioxide emissions remained elevated after the onset of the eruption, ranging 20,000-190,000 t/d during the eruption activity, the highest of which occurred on 10 September.

Field crews observed the eruptive activity on 15 September; they reported a notable decrease or stop in activity at several vents. Webcam images showed little to no fountaining since 0700 on 16 September, though intermittent spattering continued from the westernmost large cone throughout the night of 15-16 September. Thermal images showed that lava continued to flow onto the crater floor. On 16 September HVO reported that the eruption stopped around 1200 and that there was no observable activity anywhere overnight or on the morning of 17 September. HVO field crews reported that active lava was no longer flowing onto Halema’uma’u crater floor and was restricted to a ponded area N of the vents on the down dropped block. They reported that spattering stopped around 1115 on 16 September. Nighttime webcam images showed some incandescence on the crater floor as lava continued to cool. Field observations supported by geophysical data showed that eruptive tremor in the summit region decreased over 15-16 September and returned to pre-eruption levels by 1700 on 16 September. Sulfur dioxide emissions were measured at a rate of 800 t/d on 16 September while the eruption was waning, and 200 t/d on 17 September, which were markedly lower compared to measurements taken the previous week of 20,000-190,000 t/d.

Geologic Background. Kilauea overlaps the E flank of the massive Mauna Loa shield volcano in the island of Hawaii. Eruptions are prominent in Polynesian legends; written documentation since 1820 records frequent summit and flank lava flow eruptions interspersed with periods of long-term lava lake activity at Halemaumau crater in the summit caldera until 1924. The 3 x 5 km caldera was formed in several stages about 1,500 years ago and during the 18th century; eruptions have also originated from the lengthy East and Southwest rift zones, which extend to the ocean in both directions. About 90% of the surface of the basaltic shield volcano is formed of lava flows less than about 1,100 years old; 70% of the surface is younger than 600 years. The long-term eruption from the East rift zone between 1983 and 2018 produced lava flows covering more than 100 km2, destroyed hundreds of houses, and added new coastline.

Information Contacts: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), U.S. Geological Survey, PO Box 51, Hawai'i National Park, HI 96718, USA (URL: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/).

Tinakula is a remote 3.5 km-wide island in the Solomon Islands, located 640 km ESE of the capital, Honiara. The current eruption period began in December 2018 and has more recently been characterized by intermittent lava flows and thermal activity (BGVN 48:06). This report covers similar activity during June through November 2023 using satellite data.

During clear weather days (20 July, 23 September, 23 October, and 12 November), infrared satellite imagery showed lava flows that mainly affected the W side of the island and were sometimes accompanied by gas-and-steam emissions (figure 54). The flow appeared more intense during July and September compared to October and November. According to the MODVOLC thermal alerts, there were a total of eight anomalies detected on 19 and 21 July, 28 and 30 October, and 16 November. Infrared MODIS satellite data processed by MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity) detected a small cluster of thermal activity occurring during late July, followed by two anomalies during August, two during September, five during October, and five during November (figure 55).

Figure 54. Infrared (bands B12, B11, B4) satellite images showed lava flows mainly affecting the W flank of Tinakula on 20 July 2023 (top left), 23 September 2023 (top right), 23 October 2023 (bottom left), and 12 November 2023 (bottom right). Some gas-and-steam emissions accompanied this activity. Courtesy of Copernicus Browser.

Figure 55. Low-power thermal anomalies were sometimes detected at Tinakula during July through November 2023, as shown on this MIROVA plot (Log Radiative Power). A small cluster of thermal anomalies were detected during late July. Then, only two anomalies were detected during August, two during September, five during October, and five during November. Courtesy of MIROVA.

Geologic Background. The small 3.5-km-wide island of Tinakula is the exposed summit of a massive stratovolcano at the NW end of the Santa Cruz islands. It has a breached summit crater that extends from the summit to below sea level. Landslides enlarged this scarp in 1965, creating an embayment on the NW coast. The Mendana cone is located on the SE side. The dominantly andesitic volcano has frequently been observed in eruption since the era of Spanish exploration began in 1595. In about 1840, an explosive eruption apparently produced pyroclastic flows that swept all sides of the island, killing its inhabitants. Recorded eruptions have frequently originated from a cone constructed within the large breached crater. These have left the upper flanks and the steep apron of lava flows and volcaniclastic debris within the breach unvegetated.

Information Contacts: MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) - MODVOLC Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); Copernicus Browser, Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, European Space Agency (URL: https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/browser/).

Fuego is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking the city of Antigua, Guatemala. It has been erupting since January 2002, with observed eruptions dating back to 1531 CE. Typical activity is characterized by ashfall, pyroclastic flows, lava flows, and lahars. Frequent explosions with ash emissions, block avalanches, and lava flows have been reported since 2018. More recently, activity has been characterized by multiple explosions and ash plumes each day, ashfall, block avalanches, and pyroclastic flows (BGVN 48:09). This report describes similar activity of explosions, gas-and-ash plumes, and block avalanches during August through November 2023 based on daily reports from the Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH) and various satellite data.

Multiple explosions each day were reported during August through November 2023 that produced ash plumes that rose to 4.9 km altitude and drifted as far as 30 km in different directions. The explosions also caused rumbling sounds of varying intensities, with shock waves that vibrated the roofs and windows of homes near the volcano. Incandescent pulses of material rose as high as 350 m above the crater, accompanied by block avalanches that descended multiple drainages. Light ashfall was often reported in nearby communities (table 29). MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity) analysis of MODIS satellite data showed intermittent low-to-moderate power thermal activity during the reporting period (figure 175). A total of seven MODVOLC thermal alerts were issued on 11 August, 1, 13, and 23 September, and 10, 17, and 18 November. On clear weather days thermal anomalies were also visible in infrared satellite imagery in the summit crater (figure 176).

Table 29. Activity at Fuego during August through November 2023 included multiple explosions every hour. Ash emissions rose as high as 4.9 km altitude and drifted in multiple directions as far as 30 km, causing ashfall in many communities around the volcano. Data from daily INSIVUMEH reports.

Figure 175. Intermittent low-to-moderate power thermal activity was detected at Fuego during August through November 2023, based on this MIROVA graph (Log Radiative Power). Courtesy of MIROVA.

Figure 176. Infrared (bands B12, B11, B4) satellite images showing a persistent thermal anomaly at the summit crater of Fuego on 27 August 2023 (top left), 1 September 2023 (top right), 16 October 2023 (bottom left), and 30 November 2023 (bottom right). Courtesy of Copernicus Browser.

Activity during August consisted of 1-11 explosions each day, which generated ash plumes that rose to 4-4.8 km altitude and drifted 8-30 km W, NW, SW, N, NE, and E. Fine ashfall was reported in Panimaché I and II (8 km SW), Morelia (9 km SW), Santa Sofía (12 km SW), Yepocapa (8 km NW), Finca Palo Verde (10 km WSW), Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW), Acatenango (8 km E), Aldeas, El Porvenir (11 km SW), La Reunión (7 km SE), San Miguel Dueñas (10 km NE), Ciudad Vieja (13.5 km NE), Antigua (18 km NE), Quisaché (8 km NW), and El Sendero. The explosions sometimes ejected incandescent material 50-250 m above the crater and generated weak-to-moderate block avalanches that descended the Santa Teresa (W), Seca (W), Taniluyá (SW), Ceniza (SSW), Las Lajas (SE), El Jute (ESE), Trinidad (S), and Honda (E) drainages. Lahars were reported in the Ceniza drainage on 8-9, 16, 26-27, and 29 August, carrying fine and hot volcanic material, branches, tree trunks, and blocks measured 30 cm up to 1.5 m in diameter. Similar lahars affected the Las Lajas, El Jute, Seca, and El Mineral (W) drainages on 27 August.

Daily explosions ranged from 3-11 during September, which produced ash plumes that rose to 4-4.8 km altitude and drifted 10-30 km SW, W, NW, S, and SE. The explosions were accompanied by block avalanches that affected the Seca, Taniluyá, Ceniza, Las Lajas, Honda, Santa Teresa, Trinidad, and El Jute drainages and occasional incandescent ejecta rose 50-300 m above the crater. Fine ashfall was reported in Panimaché I and II, Morelia, Palo Verde, Sangre de Cristo, Yepocapa, El Porvenir, Aldeas, Santa Sofía, Montellano, El Socorro, La Rochela (8 km SSW), La Asunción (12 km SW), San Andrés Osuna (11 km SSW), Guadalupe, La Trinidad (S). Lahars triggered by rainfall were detected in the Ceniza drainage on 3-4, 8, 13-14, 17, 20-21, 24, 26, 29-30 September, which carried fine and hot volcanic material, branches, tree trunks, and blocks measuring 30 cm to 3 m in diameter. Similar lahars were also detected in the Seca, El Mineral, Las Lajas, and El Jute drainages on 27 September.

There were 2-10 explosions recorded each day during October, which produced ash plumes that rose to 4-4.9 km altitude and drifted 10-30 km W, SW, S, NW, N, NE, and SE. Incandescent pulses of material rose 50-350 m above the crater. Many of the explosions generated avalanches that descended the Ceniza, Santa Teresa, Taniluyá, Trinidad, Seca, El Jute, Las Lajas, and Honda drainages. Ashfall was reported in Aldeas, Panimaché I and II, Morelia, Santa Sofía, El Porvenir, Sangre de Cristo, Yepocapa, Yucales, Palo Verde, Acatenango, Patzicía, Alotenango, La Soledad (11 km N), El Campamento, La Rochela, Las Palmas, and Quisaché. Lahars continued to be observed on 2-5, 7, 9, 11, and 21-22 October, carrying fine and hot volcanic material, branches, tree trunks, and blocks measuring 30 cm to 3 m in diameter. Similar lahars were also reported in the Seca and Las Lajas drainage on 2 October and in the Las Lajas drainage on 4 October. On 4 October lahars overflowed the Ceniza drainage toward the Zarco and Mazate drainages, which flow from Las Palmas toward the center of Siquinalá, resulting from intense rainfall and the large volume of pyroclastic material in the upper part of the drainage. On 9 October a lahar was reported in the Seca and Las Lajas drainages, and lahars in the Las Lajas and El Jute drainages were reported on 11 October. A lahar on 22 October was observed in the Seca drainage, which interrupted transportation between San Pedro Yepocapa and the communities in Santa Sofía, Morelia, and Panimaché.

During November, 1-10 daily explosions were recorded, sometimes accompanied by avalanches, rumbling sounds, and shock waves. Gas-and-ash plumes rose 4.5-4.8 km altitude and extended 10-30 km W, SW, S, E, SE, NW, and N. Incandescent pulses of material rose 50-200 m above the crater. Fine ashfall was reported in Panimaché I and II, Morelia, Yepocapa, El Porvenir, Palo Verde, Santa Sofía, Aldeas, Sangre de Cristo, Yucales, La Rochela, San Andrés Osuna, Ceilán (9 km S), Quisaché, Acatenango, La Soledad. Avalanches of material descended the Seca, Taniluyá, Ceniza, Las Lajas, El Jute, Honda, Santa Teresa, and Trinidad drainages.

Geologic Background. Volcán Fuego, one of Central America's most active volcanoes, is also one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's former capital, Antigua. The scarp of an older edifice, Meseta, lies between Fuego and Acatenango to the north. Construction of Meseta dates back to about 230,000 years and continued until the late Pleistocene or early Holocene. Collapse of Meseta may have produced the massive Escuintla debris-avalanche deposit, which extends about 50 km onto the Pacific coastal plain. Growth of the modern Fuego volcano followed, continuing the southward migration of volcanism that began at the mostly andesitic Acatenango. Eruptions at Fuego have become more mafic with time, and most historical activity has produced basaltic rocks. Frequent vigorous eruptions have been recorded since the onset of the Spanish era in 1524, and have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional pyroclastic flows and lava flows.

Information Contacts: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia e Hydrologia (INSIVUMEH), Unit of Volcanology, Geologic Department of Investigation and Services, 7a Av. 14-57, Zona 13, Guatemala City, Guatemala (URL: http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/ ); MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) - MODVOLC Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); Copernicus Browser, Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, European Space Agency (URL: https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/browser/).

The Santiaguito lava dome complex of Guatemala’s Santa María volcano has been actively erupting since 1922. The lava dome complex lies within a large crater on the SW flank of Santa María that was formed during the 1902 eruption. Ash explosions, pyroclastic flows, and lava flows have emerged from Caliente, the youngest of the four vents in the complex for more than 40 years. A lava dome that appeared within Caliente’s summit crater in October 2016 has continued to grow, producing frequent block avalanches down the flanks. More recently, activity has been characterized by frequent explosions, lava flows, ash plumes, and pyroclastic flows (BGVN 48:09). This report covers activity during August through November 2023 based on information from Guatemala's INSIVUMEH (Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meterologia e Hidrologia) and various satellite data.

Activity during August consisted of weak-to-moderate explosions, avalanches of material, gas-and-ash plumes, and incandescence observed at night and in the early morning. Weak degassing plumes rose 300-600 m above the crater. Frequent explosions were detected at a rate of 1-2 per hour, which produced gas-and-ash plumes that rose 200-1,000 m above the crater and drifted W, NW, SW, S, E, and NE. Two active lava flows continued mainly in the Zanjón Seco (SW) and San Isidro (W) drainages. Incandescent block avalanches and occasional block-and-ash flows were reported on the W, S, E, SE, and SW flanks, as well as on the lava flows. On 26 and 29 August, fine ash plumes rose to 3.5 km altitude and drifted E and NE, causing ashfall in Belén (10 km S) and Calaguache (9 km S), as well as Santa María de Jesús (5 km SE) on 29 August.

Daily degassing, weak-to-moderate explosions, gas-and-ash plumes, and nighttime and early morning incandescence in the upper part of the dome continued during September. Explosions occurred at a rate of 1-2 per hour. Gas-and-ash plumes rose 200-1,000 m above the crater and drifted SW, W, SE, and NW. Block avalanches descended the SW, S, SE, and E flanks, often reaching the base of the Caliente dome. These avalanches were sometimes accompanied by short pyroclastic flows, resulting in fires in some vegetated areas. Block-and-ash flows descended all flanks of the Caliente dome on 16 and 24 September following the eruption of gas-and-ash plumes that rose 700-1,000 m above the crater. Gray ash was primarily deposited in the drainages.

Continuous gas-and-steam emissions occurred in October, along with weak-to-moderate explosions, block avalanches, crater incandescence, and an active lava flow on the WSW flank. Explosions occurred at a rate of 1-4 per hour, that generated gas-and-ash plumes rose 200-1,000 m above the crater and drifted in different directions. Block avalanches traveled down the SW, S, SE, and E flanks, sometimes accompanied by small pyroclastic flows. On 21 and 25 October as many as 50 explosions occurred over the course of 24 hours.

Similar activity persisted during November, with frequent explosions, crater incandescence, and block avalanches. The active lava flow persisted on the WSW flank. Weak-to-moderate explosions occurred at a rate of 1-4 per hour. Incandescence was observed at night and in the early morning. Gas-and-ash emissions rose 700-900 m above the crater and drifted W, SW, S, and NW. Block avalanches were reported on the SW, W, S, SE, and E flanks, which deposited gray ash material in the drainages, sometimes reaching the base of the Caliente dome. Those avalanches were sometimes accompanied by small pyroclastic flows that reached the base of the dome on the W, SW, and S flanks. Ashfall was reported in Las Marías (10 km S), El Viejo Palmar (12 km SSW), El Patrocinio, and San Marcos (8 km SW) on 18 and 22 November. On 26 and 30 November ashfall was reported in San Marcos and Loma Linda Palajunoj (7 km SW).

The MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity) graph showed frequent moderate-power thermal anomalies during the reporting period (figure 140). A total of 26 MODVOLC thermal alerts were issued on 6, 7, 7, 15, 16, and 21 August, 15 and 23 September, 19, 26, 27, and 29 October, and 2, 7, 11, 27, 28, and 29 November. Clouds covered the summit of the volcano on most days, so thermal anomalies could not be identified in most Sentinel infrared satellite images.

Figure 140. Moderate-power thermal anomalies were frequently detected at Santa María during August through November 2023, as shown on this MIROVA graph (Log Radiative Power). Courtesy of MIROVA.

Geologic Background. Symmetrical, forest-covered Santa María volcano is part of a chain of large stratovolcanoes that rise above the Pacific coastal plain of Guatemala. The sharp-topped, conical profile is cut on the SW flank by a 1.5-km-wide crater. The oval-shaped crater extends from just below the summit to the lower flank, and was formed during a catastrophic eruption in 1902. The renowned Plinian eruption of 1902 that devastated much of SW Guatemala followed a long repose period after construction of the large basaltic andesite stratovolcano. The massive 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 vents, with activity progressing E towards the most recent, Caliente. Dome growth has been accompanied by almost continuous minor explosions, with periodic lava extrusion, larger explosions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars.

Information Contacts: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia e Hydrologia (INSIVUMEH), Unit of Volcanology, Geologic Department of Investigation and Services, 7a Av. 14-57, Zona 13, Guatemala City, Guatemala (URL: http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/); MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) - MODVOLC Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); Copernicus Browser, Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, European Space Agency (URL: https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/browser/).

Karangetang (also known as Api Siau), at the northern end of the island of Siau, Indonesia, contains five summit craters along a N-S line. More than 40 eruptions have been recorded since 1675; recent eruptions have included frequent explosive activity, sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic flows and lahars. Lava dome growth has occurred in the summit craters and collapses of lava flow fronts have also produced pyroclastic flows. The two active summit craters are Kawah Dua (the N crater) and Kawah Utama (the S crater, also referred to as the “Main Crater”). The most recent eruption began in early February 2023 and was characterized by lava flows, incandescent avalanches, and ash plumes (BGVN 48:07). This report covers similar activity through the end of the eruption during July through September 2023 using reports from Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM, or the Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation), MAGMA Indonesia, the Darwin VAAC (Volcano Ash Advisory Center), and satellite data.

Webcam images occasionally showed crater incandescence and lava flows on the flanks of Main Crater during July. Near daily white gas-and-steam plumes rose 50-400 m above the crater and drifted in multiple directions. A webcam image taken at 1732 on 1 July suggested that a pyroclastic flow descended the SE flank, as evident from a linear plume of gas-and-ash rising along its path (figure 66). Incandescent material extended about 1 km down the S flank and about 600 m down the SSW and SW flank, based on a Sentinel satellite image taken on 2 July (figure 67). During the evening of 3 July a lava avalanche descended the Kahetang drainage (SE), extending 1-1.8 km, and the Timbelang and Beha drainages, extending 700-1,000 m. There were 53 earthquakes also detected that day. According to a news article from 6 July the lava avalanche from 2 July continued down the SW flank of Main Crater toward the Batang, Timbelang, and Beha Barat drainages for 1.5 km. An avalanche was also visible on the S flank, affecting the Batuawang and Kahetang drainages, and extending 1.8 km. Incandescent avalanches were reported during 8-9 July, traveling 1.8 km toward the Kahetang, Batuawang (S), and Timbelang drainages (figure 68). PVMBG issued two VONAs (Volcano Observatory Notices for Aviation) at 0759 and 0850 on 10 July, which reported two pyroclastic flows that traveled about 2 km toward the Kahetang drainage (figure 69). There were also 55 earthquakes detected on 10 July. As a result, 17 residents from Bolo Hamlet, Tarorane Village, East Siau District, Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi were evacuated.

Figure 66. Webcam image showing a possible pyroclastic flow descending the SE flank of Karangetang at 1732 on 1 July 2023. Photo has been color corrected. Courtesy of MAGMA Indonesia.

Figure 67. Incandescent avalanches of material and summit crater incandescence was visible in infrared (bands B12, B11, B4) satellite images at both the N and S summit craters of Karangetang on 2 July 2023 (top left), 16 August 2023 (top right), 25 September 2023 (bottom left), and 25 October 2023 (bottom right). The incandescent avalanches mainly affected the S flank and gas-and-steam plumes (blue color) were also sometimes visible. Courtesy of Copernicus Browser.

Figure 68. Webcam image showing crater incandescence and lava flows from Main Crater descending Karangetang at 1936 on 8 July 2023. Courtesy of MAGMA Indonesia.

Figure 69. Webcam image showing a pyroclastic flow descending the SE flank of Karangetang at 0850 on 10 July 2023. Courtesy of MAGMA Indonesia.

An incandescent avalanche of material descended 1-1.8 km down the Kahetang drainage and 1 km down the Batang drainage on 14 July. During 18-29 July lava avalanches continued to move 1-1.8 km toward the Kahetang drainage, 700-1,000 m toward the Batuawang and Batang drainages, 700-1,000 m toward the Timbelang and Beha Barat drainage, and 1.5 km toward the West Beha drainage. Gray-and-white plumes accompanied the lava avalanches. During 20 July crater incandescence was visible in the gas-and-steam column 10-25 m above the crater. The Darwin VAAC reported that ash plumes rose to 2.4 km altitude at 1710 on 21 July, at 1530 on 22 July, and at 0850 on 23 July, which drifted NE and E. According to a news article, there were 1,189 earthquakes associated with lava avalanches recorded during 24-31 July.

Incandescent avalanches originating from Main Crater and extending SW, S, and SE persisted during August. Frequent white gas-and-steam plumes rose 25-350 m above the crater and drifted in different directions during August. Incandescent avalanches of material traveled S as far as 1.5 km down the Batuawang drainage, 1.8-1.9 km down the Kahetang drainage, and 2-2.1 km down the Keting drainage and SW 800-1,500 m down the Batang, Timbelang, and Beha Barat drainages. Occasional gray plumes accompanied this activity. According to a news article, 1,899 earthquakes associated with lava avalanches were recorded during 1-7 August. Incandescent ejecta from Main Crater was visible up to 10-25 m above the crater. Nighttime crater incandescence was visible in the N summit crater. There were 104 people evacuated from Tatahadeng and Tarorane during the first week of August, based on information from a news article that was published on 9 August. According to a news article published on 14 August the frequency of both earthquakes and lava avalanches decreased compared to the previous week; there were 731 earthquakes associated with avalanches detected during 8-15 August, and 215 during 24-31 August . Lava avalanches descending the Batang and Timbelang drainages continued through 24 August and the Batuawang, Kahetang, and Keting through 30 August. A news article published on 17 August reported pyroclastic flows due to collapsing accumulated material from lava flows.

Near-daily white gas-and-steam plumes rose 25-300 m above the crater and drifted in multiple directions during September. According to news articles, lava avalanches from Main Crater continued toward the Batuawang, Kahetang, and Keting drainages, reaching distances of 1-1.8 km. Lava avalanches also descended the Batang, Timbelang, and Beha Barat drainages as far as 1 km from Main Crater. Main Crater and N Crater incandescence were visible as high as 10 m above the crater. During 1-7 September the number of earthquakes associated with avalanches declined, although effusive activity continued. During 8-15 September lava effusion at Main Crater was not visible, although sounds of avalanches were sometimes intense, and rumbling was also occasionally heard. According to a news article published on 26 September, avalanches were no longer observed.

On 29 November PVMG lowered the Volcano Alert Level (VAL) to 2 (the second lowest level on a scale of 1-4) due to declining activity. Seismic data and visual observations indicated that effusion had decreased or stopped, and lava avalanches were no longer observed.

MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity) analysis of MODIS satellite data showed strong thermal activity during July through August 2023, which was mainly characterized by incandescent avalanches of material and lava flows (figure 70). During August, the frequency and intensity of the thermal anomalies declined and remained relatively low through December. There was a brief gap in activity in late September. According to data recorded by the MODVOLC thermal algorithm, there were a total of 22 during July and 19 during August. Infrared satellite images showed summit crater incandescence at both the N and S craters and occasional incandescent avalanches of material affecting mainly the S flank (figure 67).

Figure 70. Strong thermal activity was detected at Karangetang during July through August 2023, as recorded by this MIROVA graph (Log Radiative Power). The frequency and intensity of the thermal anomalies declined during August and remained relatively low through December. A brief gap in activity was visible in late September. Courtesy of MIROVA.

Geologic Background. Karangetang (Api Siau) volcano lies at the northern end of the island of Siau, about 125 km NNE of the NE-most point of Sulawesi. The stratovolcano contains five summit craters along a N-S line. It is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, with more than 40 eruptions recorded since 1675 and many additional small eruptions that were not documented (Neumann van Padang, 1951). Twentieth-century eruptions have included frequent explosive activity sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic flows and lahars. Lava dome growth has occurred in the summit craters; collapse of lava flow fronts have produced pyroclastic flows.

Information Contacts: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, CVGHM), Jalan Diponegoro 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/); MAGMA Indonesia, Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral (URL: https://magma.esdm.go.id/v1); Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB), National Disaster Management Agency, Graha BNPB - Jl. Scout Kav.38, East Jakarta 13120, Indonesia (URL: http://www.bnpb.go.id/); Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/); MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) - MODVOLC Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); Copernicus Browser, Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, European Space Agency (URL: https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/browser/); Antara News, Jalan Antara Kav. 53-61 Pasar Baru, Jakarta Pusat 10710, Indonesia (URL: antaranews.com).

Langila consists of a group of four small overlapping composite cones on the lower E flank of the extinct Talawe volcano in the Cape Gloucester area of NW New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It was constructed NE of the breached crater of Talawe. 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. The youngest and smallest crater (no. 3 crater) was formed in 1960 and has a diameter of 150 m. The current eruption period began in October 2015 and recent activity has consisted of small thermal anomalies and an ash plume (BGVN 48:04). This report covers similar low-level activity during April through October 2023, based on information from the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) and satellite images.

Activity was relatively low during the reporting period and primarily consisted of thermal activity. The MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity) graph showed intermittent low-power thermal anomalies: three anomalies were detected during late April, one during May, one during late June, four during mid-July, two during mid-August, one during mid-September, and seven during October (figure 33). A total of two thermal hotspots were detected by the MODVOLC thermal alerts algorithm on 20 July and 18 August. Some of this activity was also visible as a small thermal anomaly on clear weather days in infrared satellite images in the SE crater (figure 34). Small sulfur dioxide plumes, some of which had column densities exceeding 2 Dobson Units (DU), drifted in different directions, based on data from the TROPOMI instrument on the Sentinel-5P satellite (figure 35).

Figure 33. Intermittent low-power thermal anomalies were detected at Langila during April through October 2023, based on this MIROVA graph (Log Radiative Power). Three anomalies were detected during late April, one during May, one during late June, four during mid-July, two during mid-August, one during mid-September, and seven during October. Courtesy of MIROVA.

Figure 34. Infrared (bands B12, B11, B4) satellite images showing a continuous but small thermal anomaly (bright yellow-orange) in the SE crater on 6 May 2023 (top left), 12 June 2023 (top right), 21 June 2023 (bottom left), and 20 October 2023 (bottom right). Courtesy of Copernicus Browser.

Figure 35. Small sulfur dioxide plumes were detected above Langila based on data from the TROPOMI instrument on the Sentinel-5P satellite. Plumes drifted SW on 11 May 2023 (top left), SE on 19 July 2023 (top right), NW on 14 October 2023 (bottom left), and N on 18 October 2023 (bottom right). Weak plumes were also occasionally visible from Manam (to the W). Courtesy of the NASA Global Sulfur Dioxide Monitoring Page.

The Darwin VAAC reported that diffuse ash plumes were visible in satellite images at 1440 on 14 July that rose to 1.8 km altitude and drifted N. Diffuse ash emissions continued into most of the next day. By 1500 on 15 July the ash emissions dissipated, but gas-and-steam emissions continued. On 19 July the Darwin VAAC reported ash plumes that were visible in satellite images that rose to 1.8-2.4 km altitude and drifted SE.

Geologic Background. Langila, one of the most active volcanoes of New Britain, consists of a group of four small overlapping composite basaltic-andesitic cones on the lower E flank of the extinct Talawe volcano in the Cape Gloucester area of NW New Britain. A rectangular, 2.5-km-long crater is breached widely to the SE; Langila 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. The youngest and smallest crater (no. 3 crater) was formed in 1960 and has a diameter of 150 m.

Information Contacts: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) - MODVOLC Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); NASA Global Sulfur Dioxide Monitoring Page, Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC), 8800 Greenbelt Road, Goddard, Maryland, USA (URL: https://so2.gsfc.nasa.gov/); Copernicus Browser, Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, European Space Agency (URL: https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/br

The latest eruption of Barren Island began about 28 May 2005 (BGVN 30:05 and 30:07). The following additional information regarding this eruption was provided by Dhanapati Haldar (Presidency College). A photograph (figure 11) taken on 21 July by the Indian Coast Guard indicated that the lava pouring from the main crater had cascaded down to arrive at two points on the W shore. The seawater boiled profusely.

Figure 11. Photo taken on 21 July 2005 showing the Barren Island eruption continuing unabated. Lava cascaded down and into the sea along the island's W shore. It entered the sea at two points following the pre-existing lava routes of the 1991 and 1994-95 eruptions. Courtesy of the Indian Coast Guard.

On 28 August, a senior geologist with the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), A. Kar, made observations from a ship (figure 12). Kar noted that Strombolian eruptive activity had increased, and was both explosive and effusive in nature. The main crater and a newly created vent on the N flank were active. Streams of hot lava flowed down the slope of the cinder cone at the main crater. This cinder cone was built during the eruption in 1787-1832 and modified during subsequent eruptive pulses in 1991, in 1994-95, and (the current episode) in 2005. Kar's observations on 28 August 2005 noted that the descending lava flows traveled to the W shore, entering the sea near the lone preexisting landing site and ~ 250 m S of it. The latter was where the lava stream had met the sea during the 1994-95 eruption. Gas columns rose to more than 2 km, and fire fountains attained a height of around 300 m.

Figure 12. Photo taken 26 August 2005 showing Barren Island in Strombolian eruption. The main crater was active, and both explosive and effusive activity had shifted N. Hot lava (seen as incandescent strips) was flowing down the slope of the cinder cone. As before, lava entered the sea at two points on the W shore. Courtesy of A. Kar.

Kar visited the island again on 2 September and noted that eruptive activity was continuing unabated. As before, a thick gas plume hovered over the N part of the island, and hot lava still flowed down into the sea. The lava coming in contact with sea water was immediately broken into fine particles that were forcefully thrown into the air to a height of nearly 100 m. Accompanying steam rose to a height of about 300-400 m before being drawn away by the prevailing wind. The eruption column's top formed a spectacular mushroom of gas and smoke, blowing to the N. Subsequent reports received from the Indian Coast Guard indicated that the eruption was continuous until at least 25 September.

All the active vents so far observed during 2005 eruption, including the S footwall vent, lie in a zone trending almost N-S. This zone conforms with a pre-existing surficial fracture. This alignment of the active vents had been noted during the 1991 and 1994-95 eruptions, and, as previously mentioned, the lava streams of the current eruption retraced the 1991 and 1994-95 lava routes.

According to Haldar, recent lava samples show large (to 5 mm) megacrysts and phenocrysts of plagioclase (An 93-57), olivine (Fo 85-70), and diopside (Mg 47-44, Fe 16-10). The samples also included a groundmass of glass charged with microlites of plagioclase (An 50-45), augite, olivine, titanomagnetite, and rare orthopyroxene. The 2005 lavas contain relatively few olivine megacrysts, but are rich in plagioclase megacrysts, similar to the 1994-95 lavas.

The bulk chemical composition of the lava falls within the basalt field (table 2), which was comparable with the compositions of the 1994-95 lava. In comparison, the 2005 lava is slightly richer in both MgO and Na₂O and slightly lower in SiO₂.

Table 2. Analysis of one lava sample (number B1/05) erupted in June 2005 from Barren Island volcano. EMPA stands for electron microprobe analysis. Courtesy of Dhanapati Haldar.

As this issue went to press Haldar noted that Barren Island continued to vigorously spew lava, gas, and ash at least as late as 10 November 2005. The eruption was unabated since the last week of May 2005.

Geologic Background. Barren Island, a possession of India in the Andaman Sea about 135 km NE of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, is the only historically active volcano along the N-S volcanic arc extending between Sumatra and Burma (Myanmar). It is the emergent summit of a volcano that rises from a depth of about 2250 m. The small, uninhabited 3-km-wide island contains a roughly 2-km-wide caldera with walls 250-350 m high. The caldera, which is open to the sea on the west, was created during a major explosive eruption in the late Pleistocene that produced pyroclastic-flow and -surge deposits. Historical eruptions have changed the morphology of the pyroclastic cone in the center of the caldera, and lava flows that fill much of the caldera floor have reached the sea along the western coast.

Information Contacts: Dhanapati Haldar, Presidency College, Kolkata, 4/3K/2 Ho-Chi-Min Sarani, Shakuntala Park, Biren Roy Road (West), Kolkata-700 061, India; Geological Survey of India, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru road, Kolkata 700 016, India (URL: https://www.gsi.gov.in/); Indian Coast Guard, National Stadium Complex, New Delhi 110 001, India (URL: http://indiancoastguard.nic.in/indiancoastguard/).

Mount Cleveland produced significant ash plumes during March 2001 (BGVN 26:04). Volcanic unrest continued through 4 May 2001, and signals consistent with volcanic seismicity were detected by an Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) seismic network 230 km E. By the end of May, neither eruptive activity nor thermal anomalies were observed. Until July 2005, no alert level was assigned, and AVO monitoring produced no reports on Cleveland.

Cleveland lacks a real-time seismic network. Accordingly, even during times of perceived quiet there is an absence of definitive information that activity level is at background. AVO's policy for volcanoes without seismic networks is to not get assigned a color code of Green.

Satellite imagery of Cleveland taken during 24 June to 1 July 2005 showed increased heat flow from the volcano and a possible debris flow. AVO stated that although observations were inhibited by cloudy weather, they indicated the possibility of increased volcanic activity. AVO did not assign a Concern Color Code to Cleveland due to the lack of seismic monitoring and limited satellite observations.

Satellite images during 1-8 July showed increased heat flow, thin ash deposits, and possible debris flows extending ~ 1 km down the flanks from the summit crater. AVO assigned a Concern Color Code of Yellow on 7 July. On 18 July satellite imagery showed steam emanating from Cleveland's summit and evidence of minor ash emissions. Meteorological clouds obscured Cleveland during the third week of July. During 22-29 July satellite images showed minor steaming from the summit, possible fresh localized ash deposits, and a weak thermal anomaly.

On 4 August satellite images showed a thermal anomaly. On 27 August AVO reduced the Concern Color Code at Cleveland from Yellow to "Not Assigned" because there had been no evidence of activity since a thermal feature was observed on satellite imagery from 11 August. A thermal feature was detected on several satellite images obtained on 31 August, and one on 19 September, but there was no evidence of eruptive activity.

On 7 October, AVO raised the Concern Color Code to Orange after detecting a small drifting volcanic ash cloud. The cloud was seen in satellite data at a spot ~ 150 km ESE of Dutch Harbor at 1700 UTC. Based on data from a regional seismometer at Nikolski, AVO concluded that the ash came from a small Cleveland eruption at approximately 0145. AVO, in consultation with the National Weather Service, estimated the top of the ash cloud to be no more than 4,600 m altitude. The ash cloud dissipated and was not detected via satellite after 1800 UTC. Three days passed during which there were no new observations of eruptive activity at Cleveland from satellite data, pilots, or ground-based observers. Accordingly, on 10 October the Concern Color Code was reduced to Yellow.

Geologic Background. The beautifully symmetrical Mount Cleveland stratovolcano is situated at the western end of the uninhabited Chuginadak Island. It lies SE across Carlisle Pass strait from Carlisle volcano and NE across Chuginadak Pass strait from Herbert volcano. Joined to the rest of Chuginadak Island by a low isthmus, Cleveland is the highest of the Islands of the Four Mountains group and is one of the most active of the Aleutian Islands. The native name, Chuginadak, refers to the Aleut goddess of fire, who was thought to reside on the volcano. Numerous large lava flows descend the steep-sided flanks. It is possible that some 18th-to-19th century eruptions attributed to Carlisle should be ascribed to Cleveland (Miller et al., 1998). In 1944 it produced the only known fatality from an Aleutian eruption. Recent eruptions have been characterized by short-lived explosive ash emissions, at times accompanied by lava fountaining and lava flows down the flanks.

Information Contacts: Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, 4200 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508-4667, USA (URL: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/), Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, PO Box 757320, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320, USA, and Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, 794 University Ave., Suite 200, Fairbanks, AK 99709, USA; Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Washington, DC, USA (URL: http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/atmosphere/vaac/).

An eruption began on 26 September 2005 in the Afar triangle region of NW Ethiopia, near the Afar's W topographic margin, a spot ~ 330 km E of Lake Tan'a (the source of the Blue Nile river) and ~ 320 km NNW of the city of Djibouti. The venting took place on the flanks of Dabbahu (Boina), a volcano without previous historical eruptions. What follows is a brief synopsis of seismicity available from the USGS and some field observations from Gezahegn Yirgu, Dereje Ayalew, Asfawossen Asrat, and Atalay Ayele of Addis Ababa University (AAU). Shortly after the Bulletin editors received the AAU report, normal lines of communication were temporarily halted due to civil unrest. Consequently, this report was reviewed and augmented by Anthony Philpotts of the University of Connecticut, who had flown to Erta Ale and Dabbahu with them and other scientists on 16 October 2005.

Dabbahu, a stratovolcano, also goes by several other names, including Mount Dabbahu, Boina, Moina, and Boyna. The eruption occurred at least 5 km NE of Dabbahu's summit area, at a flat spot referred to by the names Da'Ure and Teru Boyna. The profusion of names and spellings for this region of Africa partly stems from widely dissimilar alphabets; the one used in the region has over 100 letters, complicating conversion into languages having only 26.

The Dabbahu eruption has been confusing. Initial news reports shed little light on the eruption's source, size, or impact. Several news reports stated that nearby earthquakes had caused an eruption at Erta Ale, which is 113 km N of Dabbahu, but that was not the critical eruption in this region during late September. (Seismicity, however, did appear associated with an elevated level of unrest at Erta Ale in October-see report in this issue.) The confusion propagated into the Smithsonian-USGS Weekly Report of 5-11 October 2005, which incorrectly attributed some details of the Dabbahu eruption to Erta Ale. A correction was issued and the report was withdrawn. Official sources and news reports also seem to have initially overstated the impact (e.g., statements like 50,000 nomads evacuated, almost 500 goats killed, etc.).

In a later, more measured report, The Ethiopian Herald posted a 6 October article on the web that noted the following.

"... the [Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission] has sent relief aid, household utensils and a tanker truck to areas affected by the natural disaster. A regional committee set up in charge of studying the magnitude of the disaster has already sent its report to the commission. According to the report, 1,215 quintals [121,500 kg] of food aid has been dispatched to 6,384 citizens displaced from Boya and Debawo ... and resettled in Debabo locality, 20 km from Teru. Some 18,234 various household utensils, 1,280 blankets as well as 119 roles of plastic sheets were being transported to the area."

According to faculty at Addis Ababa University, prior to the eruption and in addition to the earthquake swarm there was also volcanic tremor, as well as faulting, fracturing, and possible local landslides.

Earthquake swarm. During September-4 October 2005, an earthquake swarm consisting of 131 events occurred at and immediately surrounding Dabbahu (figure 1 and table 1). The swarm was sudden and comparatively intense, with magnitudes ranging from body-wave magnitude (mb) 3.9 to 5.2. Instruments registered earthquakes of both the highest number and magnitude during 24-26 September, just prior to the 26 September eruption. Seismicity in the area declined sharply on 27 September and stopped on 4 October. According to another data set, earthquakes occurred in the region during the 5 years prior to this swarm at an average rate of ~ 12 per year.

Figure 1. A map showing Dabbahu volcano in the Afar triangle, along with epicenters from the earthquake swarm of 14 September to 4 October 2005 The solid triangles indicate Holocene volcanoes, although the one for Dabbahu is swamped by the pattern of epicenters. The Alayta shield volcano (labeled "A") sits 32.7 km NNE of Dabbahu's summit and erupted several times in the early 1900's. Epicenters were compiled from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Earthquake Information Center website.

Table 1. Daily number and maximum magnitude of earthquakes located in the Dabbahu region during 14 September-4 October 2005 (up to 42 per day, with a total of 131 earthquakes). Mw stands for moment magnitude; mb stands for body-wave magnitude. Data courtesy of National Earthquake Information Center, USGS.

First-hand observations. Gezahegn Yirgu of AAU submitted a preliminary description of the eruption. He reported that people in the area noted that on 26 September at about 1300 a very strong earthquake occurred. That was followed by a dark column of "smoke" that rose high into the atmosphere and spread out to form an umbrella-shaped cloud. Emissions darkened the area for 3 days and 3 nights. On their first visit, provoked by the abnormal seismicity, his team departed the site just two hours before the 26 September eruption. He went back to Dabbahu for several more visits, some of which included geologists from overseas.

The visitors found that a minor explosive eruption had taken place from a fissure-vent system, producing a light-colored ash layer that extended over 500 m from the vent (figure 2). The eruption threw out pre-existing near-surface pyroclastic deposits (sediments) and felsic lavas, and redeposited them near the vent (figure 3). Some of the rocks that were thrown 20 m from the vent measured 2-3 m across. Fine white ash fell in the surrounding region as far as Teru village, 40 km SW of the eruption site.

Figure 2. An aerial view of the fissure vent at Da'Ure (Dabbahu) taken around 4-5 October 2005, showing the post-eruptive scene captured by a camera that was aimed down and toward the NW. The fissure vent, which extends ~500 m and trends nearly N-S, cuts across the photo diagonally (for sense of scale, see people in figure 4). The deepest part, ~100 m below the surface, lies along the vent's base at its widest point. It exposes dark material at the bottom (see figure 3). N of that wide segment lies a cauliflower-shaped pumice dome, a feature ~30 m in diameter. What appears as a short, narrow segment of the fissure vent continuing in the distance behind (to the N of) the dome is actually longer and more prominent than it appears, owing to foreshortening due to camera angle, surface topography, and perspective to the more distant location. This northernmost segment of the vent is roughly one-third as long as the segment in front of the dome. Photo taken by Asfawossen Asrat.

Figure 3. An aerial view of the fissure vent at Da'Ure (Dabbahu) taken around 4-5 October 2005, showing the post-eruptive scene captured by a camera aimed down and approximately NE. This image presents enlarged views of both the pumice dome and the fissure vent's lower portions. (For sense of scale, see figure 4). Photo taken by Asfawossen Asrat.

Roughly two-thirds of the way from the S end of the fissure vent, a 30-m-diameter pumice dome formed. From within the fractures in this dome, the team heard a sound from below resembling the sound of a helicopter engine or a boiling liquid.

The bulk of Yirgu's report on the second visit to the eruption site, on 4-5 October, follows.

"A team of three geologists and one geophysicist (Gezahegn Yirgu, Dereje Ayalew, Asfawossen Asrat, and Atalay Ayele) revisited the Da'Ure locality (at approximately 120° 43' 37" N, 40° 32' 55" E) immediately adjacent to the NE flank of the Quaternary Boina felsic complex. This locality is the southwestern extension of the area we visited a week earlier and where we observed a number of newly opened parallel fissures and a major reactivated normal fault.

"We first investigated the area where a volcanic eruption had been reported. Here we observed the presence of a wide and elongate fissure more than 500 m long and about 60 m deep [(figures 2-4)]. The elongate fissure attains a maximum width of about 100 m where a semi-circular pit has formed and from where the explosive eruption appears to have taken place. This elongate vent is oriented almost N-S [trending N10W] and has broken through felsic pyroclastic deposits and lavas. Two smaller pits were also observed farther N along the fissure [situated] to the N of the major pit. A very fine and light grey ash has been deposited on both sides of the elongate fissure with the ash cover extending more than 500 m away from the vent. Beneath the ash deposit lies a sequence of loose layers consisting of mixed volcanic ash and ejecta from pre-existing fissure wall rocks. These layers have a total thickness of about 20 m near the large pit."

Figure 4. A view taken from Da'Ure's (Dabbahu's) new pumice dome looking S down the fissure vent on 16 October 2005, with people for scale. Part of the outer flank of Dabbahu is visible on the right side of the photo; Dabbahu's central area lies farther to the right off the margin of the photo. Courtesy of Anthony Philpotts.

At the pumice dome Yirgu noted "... intense degassing is occurring with the production of SO₂ as evidenced by its smell as far as 500 m away. Degassing is also visible along the length of the vent as well as through nearby fissures. The local people have reported that on 26 September 2005 at about 1300 local time a very strong earthquake shook the area. This was followed by a dark column of 'smoke' that rose high into the atmosphere and spread out to form a cloud, which darkened the area for three days and three nights. Our field observations were consistent with . . . [a minor ejection] of volcanic ash from a small vent or vents along the opened fissure."

"In the same locality, we also studied the newly formed second-order fractures and fissures, most of which were located on the eastern side of the main eruptive fissure/vent. Here, the [roughly N- to S-trending] fractures and fissures were all parallel to each other .... They were better developed on unconsolidated pyroclastic deposits and sediments; they affected an area nearly 700 m away from the main eruptive vent/fissure; spacing is commonly between 10 and 20 m; some extend discontinuously along strike for over 500 m, as observed from the helicopter; open fissures in the pyroclastic deposits measure up to 20 cm wide with common elliptical pits or collapse structures between fissures up to 4 m wide and up to 4 m deep.

"We have also observed a major reactivation on a N- to S-trending normal fault located some 500 m to the E of the elongate eruptive vent/opening. This fault breaks through felsic lavas and unwelded pyroclastic deposits and has a reactivated displacement (down thrown to the W) reaching half a meter in places. This reactivated fault extends . . . discontinuously for at least three kilometers as observed from the helicopter. Degassing is occurring along some parts of this fault."

Yirgu also said that, according to the AAU Geophysical Observatory, seismicity continued in early October in the area affected by the eruption, faulting, and fissuring.

Other data from a 16 October visit. Anthony Philpotts accompanied a team who, along with AAU colleagues, were helicoptered to the eruption site, which had completely ceased by this time. At the eruption site and on the helicopter trip to and from it, he saw no dead nor injured livestock. The team also visited a refugee camp for displaced nomads.

In discussions with AAU colleagues who saw the fissure vent during multiple visits, and in comparing photographs, it appeared that material exposed at depth in the wall of the vent changed to a lighter color. Presumably, these color changes were linked to water, initially present but that had evaporated in the intense heat of the Afar day. Philpotts suggested that if the vent did provide a window into the water table, groundwater may have added to the explosive activity.

Philpotts said that when they arrived, on 16 October, the pumice dome (shown in close-up in figure 5) still yielded temperatures of 400°C in cracks. The pumice dome lacked any deposits on top of its upper surfaces, and thus clearly represented the last volcanic feature to form. Some post-eruptive faulting was noticed with offsets on the order of 10 m.

Figure 5. Curving fractures in the top of the new Da'Ure (Dabbahu) pumice dome; view looking N. Two people are visible in the photo, one immediately behind the large central fracture. It was from these fractures the boiling noise had been heard the previous week. No sound was heard during the visit on 16 October. Courtesy of Anthony Philpotts.

Philpotts made several thin sections of pumice dome samples, and found it to be almost totally aphyric. It contains a very few rounded (resorbed) sanidine phenocrysts (figure 6) and needle-shaped microlites with high refractive index (pyroxene?). He noted that "The microlites undoubtedly formed during emplacement of the dome, but the resorption of the sanidine phenocrysts must have occurred at depth prior to eruption and probably indicates heating of the source magma chamber with an influx of hotter (basaltic?) magma."

Figure 6. A rounded, twinned phenocryst of sanidine feldspar in pumice from the Da'Ure (Dabbahu) dome in the center of the vent. Dark circles are air bubbles trapped during preparation of the thin section. The photo was taken with partly crossed polarizing filters; the width of the entire field is 1.62 mm. Courtesy of Anthony Philpotts.

Geologic Background. Dabbahu (also known as Boina, Boyna, or Moina) is a Pleistocene-to-Holocene volcanic massif forming an axial range of the Afar depression SSW of the Alayta massif. Late-stage pantelleritic obsidian flows, lava domes, and pumice cones form the summit and upper flanks. The volcano rises above the Teru Plain and was built over a volumetrically dominant base of basaltic-to-trachyandesitic lava flows of a shield volcano. Late-stage basaltic fissure eruptions also occurred at the NW base of the volcano. Abundant fumaroles are located along the crest of the volcano and extend NE towards Alayta. The first historical eruption took place from a fissure vent on the NE flank in September 2005, producing ashfall deposits and a small pumice dome. More than 6000 people were evacuated from neighboring villages.

Information Contacts: Gezahegn Yirgu, Dereje Ayalew, Asfawossen Asrat, and Atalay Ayele, Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, PO Box: 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Anthony Philpotts, University of Connecticut, U-45, Beach Hall, Storres, CT 06269, USA; National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC), US Geological Survey, Geologic Hazards Team Office, Colorado School of Mines, 1711 Illinois St., Golden, CO 80401, USA (URL: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/); The Ethiopian Herald, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In conjunction with their investigation of eruptive activity related to a swarm of earthquakes at Dabbahu/Boina, a team of geologists from Addis Ababa University (AAU) also undertook field observations at Erta Ale, with the aid of a military helicopter (see map in this issue of BGVN, the report on Dabbahu/Boina). What follows is their report combined with other information they gathered.

Between 21 and 24 September 2005, the local people saw, from a distance, red and glowing light shooting and rising into the air above Erta Ale. This was an indication that a Strombolian eruption probably occurred, emitting a significant volume of fresh magma within and possibly out of the pit.

The AAU team surveyed Erta Ale's craters at about 0930 on 26 September from the helicopter, as landing was not possible. Within the small southern pit crater of the main crater, they observed a new cone-shaped construct and the presence of an actively convecting lava lake in the center of the new cone. The lava lake occupied the entire lower/inner pit with hot red lava visibly overturning at the edges of the pit. Molten lava was breaking through the lake's solidified black crust. In the northern pit crater, there was a conspicuous solidified lava bulge with dark emissions along the crater walls. No incandescent lava was visible in this pit.

In addition to their direct observations, the AAU team studied videos taken by Walta Information Center of the southern pit on November 2004 and 26 September 2005. The comparison revealed significant changes, particularly in the morphology and activity of the southern pit crater. In the later videos the main crater/pit had widened significantly, with portions of the earlier crater walls having collapsed into the lava lake. There was a new cone-shaped construct within the crater in place of the previous platform that existed between the rim of the outer crater/pit and the lower pit. The new cone was estimated to be some 20 to 30 m from the top of the crater rim. The new cone apparently contained layers of basaltic scoria covered by fresh lava flows. The combined thickness of tephra and lava was estimated to be 20 to 30 m. The lava lake occupied the entire width of the inner crater/pit and was then bounded by steep sides. The lake's surface stood 20 to 30 m below the cone's top.

Anthony Philpotts accompanied Gezahegn Yirgu and colleagues from Addis Ababa University faculty on a helicopter visit to Erta Ale on 15 October. They found the lava lake incredibly active, much more so than when filmed by earlier visitors in March 2005.

A brief review of satellite thermal anomaly data from MODIS/MODVOLC revealed an absence of thermal activity between 12 October 2004 and 31 March 2005, with a renewal beginning on 31 March 2005, increasing substantially in mid-2005 and continuing vigorously through at least 2 November 2005.

Geologic Background. The Erta Ale basaltic shield volcano in Ethiopia has a 50-km-wide edifice that rises more than 600 m from below sea level in the Danakil depression. The volcano includes a 0.7 x 1.6 km summit crater hosting steep-sided pit craters. Another larger 1.8 x 3.1 km wide depression elongated parallel to the trend of the Erta Ale range is located SE of the summit and is bounded by curvilinear fault scarps on the SE side. Basaltic lava flows from these fissures have poured into the caldera and locally overflowed its rim. The summit caldera usually also holds at least one long-term lava lake that has been active since at least 1967, and possibly since 1906. Recent fissure eruptions have occurred on the N flank.

Information Contacts: Gezahegn Yirgu, Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Walta Information Centre, Woreda Kirkos, Kebele 05, House No. 095, PO Box 12918, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (URL: http://www.waltainfo.com/); Anthony Philpotts, University of Connecticut, U-45, Beach Hall, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; MODIS/MODVOLC Thermal Alerts Team, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP), University of Hawaii, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/).

In a meeting abstract Gomez and others (2004) wrote, "Following 11 years of relatively low activity, Galeras . . . produced a sequence of ash eruptions in July and August 2004. . .. Initial evidence of the activity transition appeared in the gas measurements [of] early June, followed by a strong increase in the shallow seismic activity below the active cone on 27 June. As in many cases at other volcanoes, the most clear evidence for the transition came in the form of seismic swarms and tremor. The current activity has culminated in two brief episodes of ash emission, on 16 July and 21 July, followed by two longer episodes, [during] 27 July-8 August and 11-19 August. This last episode began with a large explosion and released more ash than any individual episode from 1989 to 1993. Sudden deformation, as well as changes in the electric and magnetic [EM] fields at the crater EM station, and [in] gas parameters such as CO₂ concentration and fumarole temperature accompanied the [16 and 21 July] ash emissions. Unfortunately, the EM and gas instruments were lost to ashfall shortly afterward."

The same abstract also noted that "Starting in March 1996, a multiparameter real-time monitoring system was installed at Galeras, as a part of a cooperative program between INGEOMINAS [Instituto Colombiano de Geología y Minería] (Colombia) and the BGR [Bundesanstalt f?r Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe] (Germany). Broadband seismometers were installed first, with electromagnetic (EM) sensors, sensors for the chemistry and physics of the fumarole gases, and a weather station following later. The data from these instruments augment the short-period seismic network and tiltmeters of Observatorio Vulcanológico de Pasto (OVP). Additional spot measurements [relied upon] visual inspection from the ground or helicopter, a thermal camera[,] and regular geological forays onto Galeras' slopes."

Our previous report covered events through late July 2004 (BGVN 29:07); this report discusses events through mid-October 2005. Besides the eruptions of July through August 2004, another month with vigorous activity was November 2004. A sudden explosion on 21 November drove a plume to 9-10 km altitude. The latter portion of this report interval (June to mid-October 2005) typically involved ongoing though diminished intensity of volcanism and seismicity.

In response to the crisis, authorities produced engaging graphics, reminiscent of landscape paintings, but also containing risk assessments (figures 108 and 109), in the originals as color-coded lines. These graphics accompanied explanatory text. The authorities also produced a colorful poster. In addition, articles on Galeras hazards appeared in local papers, many along with clear graphics. The distance from the summit to central Pasto is only ~ 9 km.

Figure 108. A hazards map prepared for Galeras. The key (upper left) shows symbols for risk zones (high, medium, and low). The settlement Genoy is also spelled Jenoy. This map is slightly modified from one by Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto, INGEOMINAS.

Figure 109. A sample of Galeras hazards graphics available during the 2004-2005 crisis. Galeras and surroundings appear in a series of perspectives that also illustrate likely paths of destructive processes. The artwork emphasizes important geography, labels many settlements, and portrays familiar buildings and skylines. Hazard zones are shown by symbols (see key at the bottom). Views are as follows: A: NW-looking view (S-SE flanks, "Pasto"), B: NE-looking view (SW flanks, "Consaca-Yacuanquer"), C: SE-looking view, (NW flanks, "La Florida-Sandona"), and D: SW-looking view, (NE flanks, "Genoy-Nariño"). Copyrighted images courtesy of Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto, INGEOMINAS.

July-December 2004. INGEOMINAS noted that the July 2004 emissions came from El Pinta crater and from Deformes fumarolic field. Field observations on 19 July disclosed ash freshly vented from El Pinta crater, forming a deposit that ranged in thickness from 3 mm at the base of the cone to ~ 20 cm near the point of emission.

During the latter half of July 2004 INGEOMINAS noted that emissions rose ~ 600 m above the volcano's summit. Ash was not then visible on satellite imagery. On 21 July 2004 a seismic signal corresponded with a visible plume rising ~ 500 m above the volcano and seen from Pasto. According to a news report, a wide area around the volcano had been declared off limits to visitors. Several higher plumes followed.

According to the Washington VAAC, several ash plumes emitted were visible on satellite imagery during 7-10 August 2004. The highest rising plume reached ~ 6 km altitude.

INGEOMINAS reported that on 11 August at 2349 an eruption sent an ash-and-gas cloud to an unknown height and generated visible incandescence. According to the Washington VAAC, satellite imagery showed an ash plume that rose to ~ 10.7 km altitude. This plume spread in all directions, but mainly to the NE, E, and SW. Later, a thin plume reached a height of ~ 7.3 km altitude and drifted SW into northern Ecuador. A distinctly separate plume also occurred, drifting NW at an altitude of ~ 6.1 km.

Figure 110 shows a graphical depiction of the two plumes issued by the Washington VAAC, which incorporated GOES-12 satellite imagery as part of an advisory sent out at 0807 on 12 August 2004. The observations were from about an hour earlier. This following message was in the 'remarks' part of the advisory."Ash heading [NE] earlier in the night can no longer be seen in satellite imagery. A faint plume of ash is heading SW into northern Ecuador but is slowly becoming diffused in satellite imagery. The ash heading SW is estimated to FL240 [~ 7.3 km altitude]. An ash plume moving NW from the summit is estimated to FL200 [~ 6.1 km altitude]. We will continue to closely monitor and advise earlier than normal if needed."

Figure 110. The Galeras ash plumes were distributed in a Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA) issued at 1307 UTC on 12 August 2004. When this image was taken at 1215 UTC, the two visible plumes had separated widely; one lingering slightly N of the volcano, the other, larger, reached a higher altitude and drifted over Ecuador. Plume top altitude estimates were 'flight level' (FL) 200 and 240, equivalent to 20,000 and 24,000 feet, ~ 6.1 and ~ 7.3 km altitude. Information sources listed included the GUAYAQUIL Meteorological Watch Office (MWO) and the GOES-12 satellite. (This VAA was issued under the header FVXX20 KNES 121307). Courtesy of the Washington VAAC; analysis by Jamie Kibler.

The next advisory noted that ash had ceased to be visible in the imagery after 0715 (1215 UTC) on 12 August 2004 (in other words, after the image associated with the graphic in figure 110).

Fine ash from the 11 August eruption was deposited in villages near the volcano, including La Florida (~ 10 km NW of the volcano), Nariño, Sandoná, and Consacá, and farther afield in Ancuya, Linares, and Sotomayor (~ 40 km NW of the volcano). News articles reported that during these episodes ~ 230 families were evacuated, mainly from the volcano's N flank. The village of La Florida on the volcano's NW flank was most strongly impacted by the eruption. Ash contaminated potable water in some villages, impacted farm animal's health, and left hundreds of dead fish floating in rivers. On 16 August, ash emissions continued, depositing ash in several villages.

INGEOMINAS reported that gas-and-ash emissions continued at Galeras as of 18 August. Ash fell in villages near the volcano, including La Florida, Sandoná, El Ingenio (within 15 km of the volcano), and farther afield in Samaniego and Sotomayor (between 20 and 40 km from the volcano). During 19 August to 1 September, there was a decrease in the level of seismicity and the number of ash emissions. But, gas-and-steam emissions continued.

During September 2004, tremor associated with ash-and-gas emissions was recorded at Galeras. On the 23rd, ash deposits were seen on the upper N flank. By the 27th, the amount of tremor had decreased significantly, a change that coincided with a decrease in ash emissions. During most of October 2004, emissions of gas and fine ash continued at Galeras. Plumes rose to a maximum height of ~ 1.5 km above the volcano. Instruments recorded small-amplitude tremor associated with gas-and-ash emissions.

INGEOMINAS reported that at 1544 on 21 November 2004 Galeras erupted explosively. A resulting shock wave was felt as far away as Cimarrones (18 km N of the volcano), Chachagui (17 km N of the volcano), and Laguna de La Cocha (20 km SW of the volcano). Effects of the shock wave varied from a loud roar, to the vibration of large windows, to the vibrating sensation of an earthquake. Hot ballistic blocks fell nearly 3 km from the volcano on its eastern flank, producing short-lived forest fires. The eruption produced an ash-and-gas column that rose to an estimated 9-10 km altitude and drifted to the S and W. The Washington VAAC reported that satellite imagery of 21 November at 1815 (i.e., 22 November at 0015 UTC) revealed two separate plumes, a situation somewhat analogous to 11-12 August (figure 110). One set of plumes from the 21 November eruption were estimated to reach 9 km altitude, and they blew to the W. Other plumes interpreted as low-level ash were estimated to be near 4-5 km altitude; these remained in the vicinity of the volcano and showed little motion.

January-September 2005. During January 2005, low-level relatively shallow seismicity continued, and a small amount of deformation towards the W portion of the volcanic cone occurred. On 30 January an emission of gas and ash rose ~ 800 m above the volcano. During the first week of February 2005, small gas-and-ash emissions continued. Ash was deposited in the sectors of Consacá (~ 15 km W of the volcano) and La Florida, and in the city of Pasto (~ 10 km E). Low-level seismicity and a small amount of deformation were recorded.

According to a news article, on 24 May 2005 the Colombian government ordered the evacuation of ~ 9,000 people living near Galeras due to an increase in volcanic activity. INGEOMINAS reported that during 16-23 May, small shallow earthquakes occurred beneath the volcano. Earthquakes believed associated with fracturing within the volcano increased during the night of 21 May to the morning of 22 May. Deformation continued to be recorded at the volcano's summit. There were no ash emissions. Galeras remained at alert level II ('probable eruption in terms of days or weeks') as it has since 19 April 2005.

During early June 2005, seismicity and deformation decreased in comparison to the previous week. On 6 June the alert level was decreased from II to III ('changes in the behavior of volcanic activity have been noted'). During July and August 2005, seismicity chiefly remained low. One exception, a M 2.5 volcano-tectonic earthquake on 4 July 2005, was felt in sections of some towns near the volcano. Generally, observers also noted small amounts of deformation and low rates of gas discharge, with continued emissions from the main and secondary craters. Thirty volcano-tectonic earthquakes were recorded at Galeras during 19-21 August 2005. The earthquakes occurred 3-4 km NW of the volcano's active cone, near the towns of Santa Bárbara, Nariño, and La Florida. About five earthquakes felt by nearby populations occurred at depths of 6-8 km, with the largest (M 4.7) occurring at a depth of 6 km on 21 August.

During September 2005, minor seismicity and minor deformation continued. Seismic signals included 365 minor events near the volcano at less than 6 km depth. The larger September record consisted of 179 volcano-tectonic events, 291 long-period events, 258 hybrid events, and 96 tremor episodes. Some of these earthquakes correlated with gas and fine ash discharges. Flyovers at the end of September confirmed that gas emissions were significantly reduced compared to August 2005.

October INGEOMINAS reports noted occasional steam plumes visible from Pasto, often correlated with and presumably related to increases in rainfall and infiltration of water into hot portions of the volcano. A 5 October 2005 overflight revealed a small increase in gas emissions compared to similar flights during September 2005. Seismicity fluctuated and some instrumentally measured deformation continued.

Reference. Gomez, D., Hellweg, M., Buttkus, B., Boker, F., Calvache, M. L., Cortes, Faber, E., Gil Cruz, F., Greinwald, S., Laverde, C , Narváez, L., Ortega, A., Rademacher, H., Sandmann, Seidl, D., Silva, B., and Torres, R., 2004, A Volcano Reawakens: Multiparameter Observations of Activity Transition at Galeras Volcano (Colombia), Transactions, American Geophysical Union, Fall meeting (session entitled "Sources of Oscillatory Phenomena in Volcanic Systems I; Posters"), December 2004, San Francisco, CA

Geologic Background. Galeras, a stratovolcano with a large breached caldera located immediately west of the city of Pasto, is one of Colombia's most frequently active volcanoes. The dominantly andesitic complex has been active for more than 1 million years, and two major caldera collapse eruptions took place during the late Pleistocene. Long-term extensive hydrothermal alteration has contributed to large-scale edifice collapse on at least three occasions, producing debris avalanches that swept to the west and left a large open caldera inside which the modern cone has been constructed. Major explosive eruptions since the mid-Holocene have produced widespread tephra deposits and pyroclastic flows that swept all but the southern flanks. A central cone slightly lower than the caldera rim has been the site of numerous small-to-moderate eruptions since the time of the Spanish conquistadors.

Information Contacts: Diego Gomez Martinez, Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto (OVSP), INGEOMINAS, Carrera 31, 1807 Parque Infantil, PO Box 1795, Pasto, Colombia (URL: https://www2.sgc.gov.co/volcanes/index.html; Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB), NOAA/NESDIS E/SP23, NOAA Science Center Room 401, 5200 Auth Road, Camp Springs, MD 20746, USA (URL: http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/atmosphere/vaac/); El Spectador; El Pais (URL: http://elpais-cali.terra.com.co/paisonline/); Reuters.

The first recorded eruption of Mt. Belinda volcano (Montagu Island), which began around 20 October 2001, continued (as reported in BGVN 28:02, 29:01, 29:09, 29:10) until at least the latter part of 2005. Information for the following report was prepared and submitted by Matt Patrick of the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) and John Smelie of the British Antarctic Survey, with the assistance of the HIGP Thermal Alerts Team.

This eruption was detected by the MODVOLC automated satellite detection system, which scans for anomalous thermal activity in MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite data over the entire Earth approximately twice per day (Wright and others, 2004). Investigators acquired a recent, 23 Sept 2005, cloud-free ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) image (15-30 m pixel size), which provided valuable information on a new phase of activity. It revealed a larger effusive eruption than previously identified in satellite imagery of Montagu Island (figure 9).

Figure 9. ASTER image showing Montagu Island's Mount Belinda on 23 September 2005. Courtesy of HIGP Thermal Alerts Team.

Based on frequent MODVOLC alerts (figure 10) and occasional high-resolution satellite data (ASTER, IKONOS, and Quickbird), Mount Belinda has maintained persistent activity since the start of the eruption. Activity has consisted of continuous steaming and low-intensity explosive events at the summit (presumably Strombolian), producing low-level ash plumes and ubiquitous tephra deposits on the island's ice cover, and at least three distinct effusive events. Several satellite images were posted by HIGP on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Observer website, 13 October 2004 and 19 October 2005.

Figure 10. (A) Chronological graph of radiant heat output from Mount Belinda measured from satellite sensors. The date range depicted along the x-axis of this graph is from late 2001 to September 2005. (B) A plot showing the distance of satellite-measured thermal anomaly pixels from the Mount Belinda vent during the period 2001 to September 2005. Courtesy of HIGP Thermal Alerts Team.

Scientists noted an intense shortwave-IR anomaly at the summit of Mt. Belinda in all cloud-free ASTER images acquired throughout the eruption. This suggested the presence of a lava lake in the summit crater (see Patrick and others, 2005, for more detailed information on the eruption).

Far from slowing down, the activity throughout 2005 marked the highest levels yet registered by MODVOLC (figure 10a). For the first time in 2005, radiant heat output exceeded 150 MW (see Wright and Flynn, 2004, and Wright and others, 2005, for calculation details).

By plotting the position of each anomalous MODVOLC pixel relative to the central vent (figure 10b) one can see that most pixels are within 1 km of the vent. This reflects the approximate scale of MODIS pixels and thus the inherent level of location ambiguity (note, however, these results fail to show the 2-km-long lava flow emplaced in mid-2003 — see BGVN 29:01).

For the first time during this eruption, anomalous pixels began appearing more than 2 km away from the central vent on the satellite image for 0100 UTC on 15 September 2005, some up to 3.3 km away (figure 10b). This suggested the presence of a ~ 3 km long lava flow. Corroborating this was the ASTER image from 23 September 2005 (figure 9), which indicated heightened activity and a 3.5-km long lava flow extending from the summit cone of Mt. Belinda into the sea. A steam plume originated in the vicinity of the ocean entry. Note that the steam plume appears to drift W from its origin (where the plume is whitest), while the ash plume from the summit of Mt. Belinda (1,370 m elev.) drifts E, indicating varying wind directions at different elevations.

The lava flow initially traveled NE from the vent, but farther on it ran into a rocky arete, which diverted its path to due N. A 90-m-wide lava channel is visible at a distance of 1 km from the summit. The flow appears to be covered (perhaps entering a tube) within its first kilometer, where no anomalous shortwave IR pixels exist. It is unlikely that the flow is subglacial in this first kilometer, as its path is coincident with emplacement of the previously mentioned lava flow of mid-2003, which was 2 km long and had already melted ice along this route.

At the request of the British Antarctic Survey, the Royal Air Force sent an airplane from the Falkland Islands on 11 October 2005. The plane encountered cloudy conditions but those on board recognized steam rising from the sea. This flight took place prior to study of the 23 September ASTER image and thus it marked the first observation that lava reached the sea.

References. Patrick, M., Smellie, J.L., Harris, A.J.L., Wright, R., Dean, K., Izbekov, P., Garbeil, H., and Pilger, E., 2005, First recorded eruption of Mount Belinda volcano (Montagu Island), South Sandwich Islands: Bulletin of Volcanology, v. 67, p. 415-422.

Wright, R., and Flynn, L.P., 2004, A space-based estimate of the volcanic heat flux into the atmosphere during 2001 and 2002: Geology, v. 32, p. 189-192.

Wright, R., Flynn, L.P., Garbeil, H., Harris, A.J.L., and Pilger, E., 2004, MODVOLC: near-real-time thermal monitoring of global volcanism: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 135, p. 29-49.

Wright, R., Carn, S., and Flynn, L.P., 2005, A satellite chronology of the May-June 2003 eruption of Anatahan volcano: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 146, p. 102-116.

Geologic Background. The largest of the South Sandwich Islands, Montagu consists of a massive shield volcano cut by a 6-km-wide ice-filled summit caldera. The summit of the 11 x 15 km island rises about 3,000 m from the sea floor between Bristol and Saunders Islands. Around 90% of the island is ice-covered; glaciers extending to the sea typically form vertical ice cliffs. The name Mount Belinda has been applied both to the high point at the southern end of the summit caldera and to the young central cone. Mount Oceanite, an isolated peak at the SE tip of the island, was the source of lava flows exposed at Mathias Point and Allen Point. There was no record of Holocene activity until MODIS satellite data, beginning in late 2001, revealed thermal anomalies consistent with lava lake activity. Apparent plumes and single anomalous pixels were observed intermittently on AVHRR images from March 1995 to February 1998, possibly indicating earlier volcanic activity.

Information Contacts: Matt Patrick, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alerts Team, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); John Smelie, British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingly Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom (URL: https://www.bas.ac.uk/); NASA Earth Observer (URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/).

At about 1730 on 22 October 2005 Sierra Negra began erupting. This shield volcano with a large oval-shaped caldera is located at the S end of Isabela Island. Circumferential fractures define the northern edge of the caldera. Volcán Chico, noted for its 1963 and 1979 eruptions, is comprised of a series of scoria cones and other vents aligned along several prominent fractures on the outer slope of the N caldera rim. The present activity is not related to the Volcán Chico fracture system, but is venting from fractures along the N inner caldera wall. The most prominent fracture can be traced westward ~3 km where it lies along the rim. This initial report was provided by a scientific team from the Instituto Geofísico.

The eruption was preceded by a seismic event at 1438 on 22 October, felt in the coastal village of Villamil (20 km SE of the caldera border) and by Park Wardens on Cerro Azul. Others reported single earthquakes on 19 October and two weeks earlier. At 1730 the eruption began with an explosion heard by many people in the Villamil area. Hikers in the area of the subsequent lava emission in the mid-afternoon of both 21 and 22 October witnessed no unusual activity. By 1745 the eruption column had reached an estimated altitude of 5 km, and the setting sun illuminated the light gray eruption column. At 1815 the team observed the column after sunset from Point (Punto) Ayora, Santa Cruz Island (80 km E) and estimated its height at 10 km. The still-rising column was 4-6 km wide, not spreading laterally, and a small lenticular cloud was beginning to form a cap over the column. As night fell, the western sky above the caldera was a burgundy red, suggesting that lava had covered an extensive area of the caldera floor. Satellite imagery of the eruption at 1745 showed an eruption cloud at an estimated altitude of at least 15 km moving SW. A very large hotspot in the multispectral imagery was also observed and continued on 27 October.

Observations at 1945 from the Santa Cruz highlands (75 km away) employing a camcorder with night vision capabilities confirmed extensive lava fountaining estimated to be 200-300 m high along a segment of the caldera rim, as well as the incandescence from a lava flow several kilometers long descending the NW outer flank. Although the complete eruption column was not visible, it may have reached an altitude close to 20 km and had spread out. Tourist boats between Isabela and Fernandina Island reported seeing two lava flows descending the N flank.

During an overflight between 0715 and 0900 on 23 October the team did not witness active lava flows or evidence of lava having entered the sea. A thin khaki-colored ash cloud layer was observed, between about 1,200 and 1,500 m altitude, that had spread out laterally and extended E as far as St. Cruz Island and N to Santiago Island. Later in the day the plume was directed NNW in agreement with satellite information. From the plane the team confirmed that the main eruption was venting from four craters along a 500-m-long fracture at the base of the NNE inner caldera wall. The highest lava fountaining (up to 200 m high) was being generated at the two middle vents, while the end vents were feeding many lava flows S onto the caldera floor. The fracture apparently extended W along the inner wall, but then climbed to the caldera rim where its trace was not obvious. However, small vents with fountaining and incandescent lava were observed on the rim along this general fracture system, implying that the active fracture extended ~ 2 km W of the main vents.

During the mid-day hours of 23 October the team ascended the S flank, followed the E rim of the caldera, and reached a point ~ 800 m from the active vents, from which the following description was made. From the four principal vents the lava flowed S with exceptional force, volume, and speed downslope in three main channels (figures 3 and 4). Based on the apparent speed of the lava, and the more than 10-m height of the waves in the stream of passing lava, the team estimated that the main lava flow was traveling nearly 20 m/second as it left its vent. The W channels, some 30-50 m wide, maintained their red incandescent color and high speeds, albeit less than that near the vent.

Figure 3. View looking W from the NE rim of Sierra Negra's caldera (right) on 23 October 2005. The caldera floor is to the left. The four active vents are superimposed in this photo, aligned along the E-W fracture that lies at the base of the inner caldera wall. Numerous lava flows descended southwards to the left where they joined to form one single flow of a'a lava ~ 1 km wide and 7 km long that had already reached the southern inner wall of the caldera on 23 October. Courtesy of M. Hall.

Figure 4. A 150-m-high lava fountain rises on 23 October 2005 from one of four active vents that define the active fracture system at the base of the northern inner wall of Sierra Negra's caldera. From these four principal vents lava flows moved southwards at velocities estimated at close to 20 m/second on 23 October. Courtesy of M. Hall.

By 1500 the E channel was slowing and cooling to a gray surface color; this thin solid veneer was subsequently fragmented when the flow went over the edge of the bench and cascaded to the caldera floor. On the caldera floor the incandescent lavas of all three channels disappeared under the black solidified a'a lava that already covered about 12% of the caldera. In the 22 hours since the eruption had begun, the lavas had formed one large flow 1-1.5 km wide that traveled SE along the base of the E interior caldera wall, then W along the S wall reaching a point almost halfway across the caldera. As such it had traveled a total distance of 7 km and had started small brush fires on the floor and interior walls of the caldera. With an estimated thickness of no more than 3 m, the volume of the lava ejected by 1530 on 23 October was calculated at about 25 million cubic meters.

Along the trail leading to the vent area an increasing amount of scoria fragments was observed on the rim's edge. Fragments ~ 1 cm in size were first observed ~ 4 km SE of the active vents, and they increased in size (up to 15 cm) and abundance towards the vents. Very little fine ash was in the air or on the ground along the E caldera rim. The scoria was black, exceedingly vesiculated, with vesicles from millimeter to many centimeters in diameter; it seemed comparable in density to popcorn. No crystals were observed in the glassy scoria material. At their closest approach to the vent, scoria fragments formed a deposit 3-5 cm thick.

An explosion heard at 1900 on 25 October was accompanied by a dark eruptive column and minor ashfall along the E rim of the caldera and probably elsewhere. By early 26 October the Park Wardens were reporting that one of the four principal vents had shut down. Observations made late on 26 October indicated that the a'a flow on the caldera floor had slowed and was still several kilometers from the sulfur mine area. Civil Defense officials also reported that apparently less lava was leaving the vents and that lava extrusion might have shifted to the outer N flank, possibly to the Volcán Chico fracture system.

The only inhabited areas include the small town of Villamil, located 20 km SE of the caldera's border on the S coast, plus several other small populated areas about halfway between the caldera and Villamil. There was no immediate threat to those residents, given the fact that in order to spill out of the caldera and descend the S flanks the entire 100-m depth of the caldera would have to fill with lava. The southern caldera border has not been active in the recent geologic past.

Geologic Background. The broad shield volcano of Sierra Negra at the southern end of Isabela Island contains a shallow 7 x 10.5 km caldera that is the largest in the Galápagos Islands. Flank vents abound, including cinder cones and spatter cones concentrated along an ENE-trending rift system and tuff cones along the coast and forming offshore islands. Although it is the largest of the five major Isabela volcanoes, it has the flattest slopes, averaging less than 5° and diminishing to 2° near the coast. A sinuous 14-km-long, N-S-trending ridge occupies the west part of the caldera floor, which lies only about 100 m below its rim. The Volcán de Azufre fumarolic area lies within a graben between this ridge and the west caldera wall. Lava flows from a major eruption in 1979 extend all the way to the north coast from circumferential fissure vents on the upper northern flank.

Information Contacts: Minard Hall and Patricio Ramón, Instituto Geofísico, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Apartado 17-01-2759, Quito, Ecuador (URL: http://www.igepn.edu.ec/); Washington Tapia and Oscar Caravajal, Parque Nacional Galápagos, Pto. Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador.

This report discusses a 1 October 2005 eruption at Santa Ana (also called Ilamatepec) that sent a plume to 14 km altitude and led to initial estimates cited in the press of two deaths (perhaps from landslides), several injuries, and the evacuation of over 2,000 people. Observations of glowing fumaroles and release of magmatic gas during 2000-2001 were previously reported at Santa Ana (BGVN 26:04). Servicio Nacional de Estudios Territoriales (SNET) scientists noticed that between the summer of 2000 and April 2001 there was increased venting of a well-developed hydrothermal system through the crater lake, hot springs, and fumaroles, but these changes were not accompanied by detected seismicity, which was then taken to suggest that the increase in hydrothermal activity was not driven by the arrival of new magma beneath the crater. An ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) image from 3 February 2001 shows the volcano's setting well before the eruption (figure 1).

Figure 1. An ASTER image of Santa Ana from 2001 featured in one of several Earth Observatory reports. N is to the top left of the image and Santa Ana is the large, blunt-topped edifice closest to the left side of the image. In the color version of this image can be seen a tiny blue spot in the center of the inner-most crater?a crater lake (often called the lagoon). Behind Santa Ana is a large (7-km-diameter) lake inside the Coatepeque caldera. In the center is Izalco volcano, with dark-colored historical lava flows. Courtesy of NASA's Earth Observatory.

SNET reported that a sudden eruption at Santa Ana took place around 0820 on 1 October 2005. They estimated that it produced an ash-and-gas plume to a height of ~ 10 km above the volcano. According to the Washington VAAC, ash was visible on satellite imagery at an altitude of ~ 14 km. The US Air Force Weather agency provided images of the plume (figure 2).

Figure 2. Two images of a Santa Ana eruptive plume on 1 October 2005. (top) The plume at 1516 UTC; (bottom) the plume at 1650 UTC. Note that the label 'FL 460,' stands for 'flight level 460,' which is equivalent to an altitude of 46,000 feet or 14 km. Courtesy of the US Air Force Weather Agency.

Ash fell in towns W of the volcano, including in Naranjos, Nahuizalco, Juayúa, Ahuachapán (NW), and La Hachadura (at the border, ~ 40 km W, figure 3). SNET produced a graphic similar to an isopach map that showed near-source thicknesses provisionally to over 10 cm. The 10 cm isopach stretched ~ 5 km W; the 1 mm isopach, ~ 20 km W. The outermost isopach, presumably where measurable ash fell, was not closed; instead it was cut off along the Guatemalan border (~ 40 km to W of Santa Ana) and the caption said that ash would fall into valleys in Guatemala and to the sea. Volcanic blocks up to a meter in diameter fell as far as 2 km S of the volcano's crater. Lahar deposits were seen SE of the volcano. The alert level within a 4-km radius around the volcano's central crater was raised to Red, the highest level.

Figure 3. Graphic from SNET showing ashfall distribution from Santa Ana that appeared in the newspaper, La Prensa Grafica, following the 1 October eruption. N is upwards; Santa Ana lies ~ 40 km E of the Guatemalan border. This clearly transmitted the message that the ashfall was variable and W-directed over parts of El Salvador and neighboring Guatemala. The bottom of the graphic discussed the impact of the ash fall, including damage to specialty coffee farms. Credit: Ricardo Orellana, La Prensa Grafica.

According to news reports, two people were killed by landslides (possibly caused by heavy rain in the area) in the town of Palo Campana, and thousands of residents near the volcano were evacuated. As many as 1,400 hectares of crops were damaged by ash (1 hectare = 10,000 m²). News also mentioned other processes such as a flood of boiling mud and water, and molten rocks, some the size of small automobiles, that will be discussed in later reports. A several-minute-long video from the LPG Television website appears as both a hyperlink and an active file on our website. In addition to numerous interviews with evacuees, it shows a host of features including what appear to be the swaths left by previously inflated mudflows passed down steep-sided valleys.

Prior to the eruption, no significant change in seismicity was observed. On 3 October, after the eruption, seismicity fluctuated and small explosions occasionally occurred. Earthquakes associated with explosions were recorded. In addition, there was a decrease in the amount of SO₂ emitted from the volcano.

Strong degassing had been measured at the volcano since June 2004. An ash emission occurred on 16 June 2005, and a slight increase in seismicity and a significant increase in gas emission were measured from 27 July until at least 30 August. SNET also reported a significant increase in seismic activity at Santa Ana on the night of 27 August. A cluster of 17 volcano-tectonic earthquakes were recorded, with four located S of the volcano. Afterwards, continuous high-frequency tremor was recorded until at least 30 August. Observations made on 29 August revealed incandescent rocks in the fumarole field, effects attributed to hot gases heating the rocks to sufficient temperature to glow. A significant increase in SO₂ emission was recorded, and gas-and-steam plumes rose 500-1,000 m above the volcano's crater. As a safety measure, access to the volcano's crater was restricted.

From 27 July until the eruption on 1 October, seismicity and gas emissions were above normal levels, and Santa Ana was at alert level yellow. During the first week of September, tremor continued to be recorded, and on 2 September a cluster of at least eight small earthquakes occurred, which were not felt by local residents. Gas plumes rose to ~ 500 m above the volcano, and the SO₂ flux was over 1,000 metric tons per day during the first two weeks of September. Satellite imagery from 5 September showed a thermal anomaly.

Microseismicity increased significantly on 12 September. During a visit to the volcano on 8 September, larger areas of incandescence were visible at a field of fumaroles than during a visit on 29 August. Satellite imagery showed a thermal anomaly at the volcano on several days during the second week of September.

During 15-19 September gas plumes rose to ~ 500 m above the volcano, and the SO₂ flux reached a maximum of 3,320 metric tons per day on 16 September. Microseismicity remained at relatively high levels. No significant changes were seen at the volcano's crater when observed on 19 September in comparison to 13 September. Intense degassing continued and the crater lake (lagoon) remained a dark coffee color. Incandescence was visible inside some cracks.

During a visit to the crater on 21 September, observers noted that the lagoon had become greener and small rock landslides occurred in the field of fumaroles. Gas plumes rose to ~ 1 km above the volcano on 26 September.

Following the eruption of 1 October, small explosions, degassing, and low-to-moderate seismicity occurred at Santa Ana during 5-11 October. Inclement weather prohibited ground and satellite observations, and sulfur-dioxide (SO₂) measurements during much of the report period. During an aerial inspection of the volcano on 11 October, no changes were observed at the crater. Around 11 October, SO₂ measurements were around 600-700 metric tons per day. The alert level within a 5-km radius around the volcano's central crater remained at Red.

Geologic Background. Santa Ana (also known as Ilamatepec), is a massive, dominantly andesitic-to-trachyandesitic stratovolcano in El Salvador immediately W of Coatepeque Caldera. Collapse during the late Pleistocene produced a voluminous debris avalanche that swept into the Pacific Ocean, forming the Acajutla Peninsula. Reconstruction of the volcano subsequently filled most of the collapse scarp. The broad summit is cut by several crescentic craters, and a series of vents and cones have formed along a 20-km-long fissure system that extends from near the town of Chalchuapa NNW of the volcano to the San Marcelino and Cerro la Olla cinder cones on the SE flank. Small to moderate explosive eruptions from both summit and flank vents have been documented since the 16th century. The San Marcelino cinder cone on the SE flank produced a lava flow in 1722 that traveled 13 km E.

Information Contacts: Servicio Nacional de Estudios Territoriales (SNET), Alameda Roosevelt y 55 Avenida Norte, Edificio Torre El Salvador, Quinta Planta, San Salvador, El Salvador (URL: http://www.snet.gob.sv); Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), NOAA/NESDIS Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB), 5200 Auth Road, Camp Springs, MD 20746, USA; Charles Holliday and Jenifer E. Piatt, U.S. Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA)/XOGM, Offutt Air Force Base, NE 68113, USA; NASA Earth Observatory (URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/); La Prensa Grafica and La Prensa Grafica Television, Final bulevar Santa Elena, frente a embajada de EUA, Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, San Salvador, El Salvador.

During the week of 22-28 August 2005, Ulawun often remained quiet but also displayed continued restlessness. People from Tauke, on the S side of the volcano reported occasional low roaring, rumbling, and booming noises on 21-22 and 26-28 August. Emissions from the summit crater consisted of moderate volumes of thick grayish vapor released forcefully. Some traces of blue vapor were also visible, but no glow was observed. Seismicity fluctuated between low and moderate, marked by small low-frequency earthquakes and small sporadic volcanic tremors. Only one high-frequency earthquake was recorded. An earthquake was felt on 22 August by people from Tauke. Apparently the earthquake was not reported by the observer at Ulamona, NW of the volcano, suggesting it was local and focused on the S side of the volcano.

Ulawun remained quiet through mid-September 2005, with the summit crater releasing weak to moderate volumes of thick white vapor.

Geologic Background. 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. The volcano, also known as the Father, rises above the N coast of the island of New Britain across a low saddle NE of Bamus volcano, the South Son. The upper 1,000 m is unvegetated. A prominent E-W escarpment on the south may be the result of large-scale slumping. Satellitic cones occupy the NW and E flanks. A steep-walled valley cuts the NW side, and a flank lava-flow complex lies to the south 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.

Information Contacts: Rabaul Volcano Observatory, Papua New Guinea.

During the observation interval 12-18 September 2005, Pago continued to be quiet. Very small volumes of thin white vapor were released from all vents. No noises were heard and no glow was observed. Seismic activity was low, with some small, high frequency earthquakes being recorded. The highest number of high frequency events on any given day was 3, recorded on 18 September.

Geologic Background. The active Pago cone has grown within the Witori caldera (5.5 x 7.5 km) on the northern coast of central New Britain contains the active Pago cone. The gently sloping outer caldera flanks consist primarily of dacitic pyroclastic-flow and airfall deposits produced during a series of five major explosive eruptions from about 5,600 to 1,200 years ago, many of which may have been associated with caldera formation. Pago cone may have formed less than 350 years ago; it has grown to a height above the caldera rim, and a series of ten dacitic lava flows from it covers much of the caldera floor. The youngest of these was erupted during 2002-2003 from vents extending from the summit nearly to the NW caldera wall. The Buru caldera cuts the SW flank.

Information Contacts: Ima Itikarai and Herman Patia, Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO), PO Box 386, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.