Activity for the week of 22 June-28 June 2005
The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is a cooperative project between the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program and the US Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program. Updated by 2300 UTC every Wednesday, notices of volcanic activity posted on these pages are preliminary and subject to change as events are studied in more detail. This is not a comprehensive list of all of Earth's volcanoes erupting during the week, but rather a summary of activity at volcanoes that meet criteria discussed in detail in the "Criteria and Disclaimers" section. Carefully reviewed, detailed reports on various volcanoes are published monthly in the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network.
New Activity / Unrest
Ebeko
| Paramushir Island (Russia)
| 50.686°N, 156.014°E
| Elevation 1103 m
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry's Sakhalin department reported renewed activity at Ebeko. Emission clouds reportedly rose to a maximum height of 200 m above the crater and drifted SW.
Sources: Gazeta.ru News, Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), RIA Novosti
Fuego
| Guatemala
| 14.473°N, 90.88°W
| Elevation 3763 m
From 22-24 June, small incandescent lava expulsions reached ~50 m high and columns of grayish smoke rose ~300 m above the vent (13,300 ft a.s.l.) and drifted W. Weak rumbling and short avalanches of incandescent material accompanied these expulsions. On 27 June a lava flow was observed on the South flank extending approximately 300 m.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
Karymsky
| Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
| 54.049°N, 159.443°E
| Elevation 1513 m
Seismic activity at Karymsky increased starting on 22 June. Ash explosions up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) a.s.l. traveling SW were observed by pilots. According to seismic data, about 10 ash-and-gas plumes and avalanches occurred at the volcano. On 23 June Karymsky increased to Concern Color Code Orange.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Pacaya
| Guatemala
| 14.382°N, 90.601°W
| Elevation 2569 m
By 27 June a lava flow extended ~300 m down the SW flank. A white column reached ~150 m (8,860 ft a.s.l.) over the central crater and extended SW. Incandescent lava expulsions reached a height of 15-50 m. On the night of 27 June two rivers of lava were observed in front of the Chinese hill, and were 75 and 150 m long. A constant expulsion of pyroclastic material was observed to reach 20-30 m above the crater.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
Popocatepetl
| Mexico
| 19.023°N, 98.622°W
| Elevation 5393 m
During 22-27 June, Popocatépetl volcano had several steam explosions. On 22 June, there was a volcano-tectonic micro-earthquake of magnitude 2.0, located 500 m NW of the crater at a depth of 4.6 km. On 23 June a pilot reported an ash cloud 8 km (26,000 ft) a.s.l. This ash cloud was not observed in satellite imagery due to dense weather clouds. On 24 June a VT earthquake of magnitude 2.3, was located 2.5 km S of the crater and a depth of 6.4 km (21,000 ft). On 23 June CENAPRED received reports of ash fall in Tetela del volcán and Ocuituco, municipalities of Morelos.
Sources: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Rabaul
| New Britain (Papua New Guinea)
| 4.271°S, 152.203°E
| Elevation 688 m
On 27 June the Darwin VAAC received a pilot report of an ash plume 37 km (20 nautical miles) to the NW of the volcano.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Santa Maria
| Guatemala
| 14.757°N, 91.552°W
| Elevation 3745 m
On 22-24 June explosion columns from Santa Maria reached ~900 m above the crater (15,300 ft a.s.l.) and extended several kilometers to the SSW and W. On 27 June, in the region of Palajunoj, on the SW flank, constant avalanches of lava blocks were observed.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
Tungurahua
| Ecuador
| 1.467°S, 78.442°W
| Elevation 5023 m
On 24 June a narrow plume was identified in multispectral satellite imagery about an hour after an ash eruption was observed by the Instituto GeofÃsico. The ash plume was at an altitude of ~5.5 km (18,000 ft a.s.l.) and extended 35-45 km (20-25 nautical miles) W from the summit.
Sources: Instituto GeofÃsico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Ongoing Activity
Anatahan
| Mariana Islands (USA)
| 16.35°N, 145.67°E
| Elevation 790 m
During 22-27 June the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) observed in satellite imagery a moderately dense cloud of ash and steam that rose to a maximum elevation of ~3 km (9,800 ft) a.s.l., and drifted W. Additional thin ash and volcanic fog (VOG) were visible to the W and N-NW of the island. On 26 June the AFWA also identified in satellite imagery a dense cloud of ash and steam rising to ~3.7 km (12,000 ft) a.s.l. moving towards the W, and VOG to the W, N and NE of the island. No particular seismic signal was associated with the eruptions. By 28 June the seismicity level dropped by about 80% from the continuously high levels of the last week.
Sources: Emergency Management Office of the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands and United States Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program, Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Colima
| Mexico
| 19.514°N, 103.62°W
| Elevation 3850 m
Several explosions occurred at Colima 22-28 June, reached ~5.5 km (18,040 ft) a.s.l., and drifted W-NW.
Source: Centro Universitario de Estudios e Investigaciones de Vulcanologia - Universidad de Colima
Kilauea
| Hawaiian Islands (USA)
| 19.421°N, 155.287°W
| Elevation 1222 m
On 22 June lava in the west branch of the current flow descended onto the coastal flat for the first time in several months. Volcanic tremor remains above normal levels at Kilauea's summit. On 24 June it was noted that Kilauea's summit continued its inflation, while Pu`u `O`o was deflating during the same period. On 27 June part of the active East Lae`apuki lava delta collapsed. Lava stored within the delta gushed out onto the surface of the delta and thence into the water. Fountains of lava reported to be about 25 m high spurted from the central part of the delta soon afterward.
Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Reventador
| Ecuador
| 0.077°S, 77.656°W
| Elevation 3562 m
On 24 June the Geophysical Institute observed ash over the volcano moving NW. No ash or hot spot activity was visible in satellite data, but detection may have been hindered by low-level weather clouds.
Sources: Instituto GeofÃsico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Sheveluch
| Central Kamchatka (Russia)
| 56.653°N, 161.36°E
| Elevation 3283 m
Shiveluch's lava dome continued to grow as of 24 June. A persistent thermal anomaly and fumarolic activity was also reported during the week of 18-24 June. Shiveluch remained at Concern Color Code Orange.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Soufriere Hills
| Montserrat
| 16.72°N, 62.18°W
| Elevation 915 m
Seismic and volcanic activity at Soufrière Hills were at elevated levels during 17-24 June. The seismic network at the volcano recorded 8 hybrid earthquakes, 5 long-period earthquakes, 4 volcano-tectonic earthquakes, and 3 rockfalls. On 27 June a steam and ash cloud at ~3 km (9,800 ft) a.s.l. was reported to be drifting W. The daily recorded sulphur dioxide flux varied from a low of 430 metric tons per day (t/d) on 20 June, to a maximum of 1150 t/d on 23 June, with an average of 627 t/d for the week. By 28 June satellite imagery shows a plume of ash and steam at ~1.8 km (5,900 ft) a.s.l. extending NW of the volcano.
Sources: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
St. Helens
| United States
| 46.2°N, 122.18°W
| Elevation 2549 m
During 22-28 June, growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continued, accompanied by seismic and deformation data trends similar to those of the past few weeks. The smooth lava spine continued to grow at a rate of about 1.8-3.7 m per day. Rockfalls from the top of the spine keep its height from increasing by that same rate. St. Helens remained at Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code Orange.
Source: US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO)
Ulawun
| New Britain (Papua New Guinea)
| 5.05°S, 151.33°E
| Elevation 2334 m
A short plume was visible in satellite imagery at ~3 km (9,800 ft) a.s.l. during 22-27 June and on 27 June a pilot report noted that the plume extended 37 km (20 nautical miles).
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Criteria & Disclaimers
Criteria
The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report does not necessarily include all volcanic activity that occurred on Earth during the week. More than a dozen volcanoes globally have displayed more-or-less continuous eruptive activity for decades or longer, and such routine activity is typically not reported here. Moreover, Earth's sea-floor volcanism is seldom reported even though in theory it represents the single most prolific source of erupted material. The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report summarizes volcanic activity that meets one or more of the following criteria:
- A volcano observatory raises or lowers the alert level at the volcano.
- A volcanic ash advisory has been released by a volcanic ash advisory center (VAAC) stating that an ash cloud has been produced from the volcano.
- A verifiable news report of new activity or a change in activity at the volcano has been issued.
- Observers have reported a significant change in volcanic activity. Such activity can include, but is not restricted to, pyroclastic flows, lahars, lava flows, dome collapse, or increased unrest.
Volcanoes are included in the "New Activity/Unrest" section of the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report if the activity occurs after at least 3 months of quiescence. Once a volcano is included in the "New Activity/Unrest" section, updates will remain in that section unless the activity continues for more than 1 month without escalating, after which time updates will be listed in the "Continuing Activity" section. Volcanoes are also included in the "New Activity/Unrest" section if the volcano is undergoing a period of relatively high unrest, or increasing unrest. This is commonly equal to Alert Level Orange on a scale of Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, where Red is the highest alert. Or alert level 3 on a scale of 1-4 or 1-5.
It is important to note that volcanic activity meeting one or more of these criteria may occur during the week, but may not be included in the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report because we did not receive a report.
Disclaimers
1. The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is intended to provide timely information about global volcanism on a weekly basis. Consequently, the report is generated rapidly by summarizing volcanic reports from various sources, with little time for fact checking. The accuracy of the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is dependent upon the quality of the volcanic activity reports we receive. Reports published in the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network are monthly, and more carefully reviewed, although all of the volcanoes discussed in the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report are not necessarily reported in the Bulletin. Because of our emphasis on rapid reporting on the web we have avoided diacritical marks. Reports are updated on the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report web page as they are received, therefore information may be included regarding events that occurred before the current report period.
2. Rapidly developing events lead to coverage that is often fragmentary. Volcanoes, their eruptions, and their plumes and associated atmospheric effects are complex phenomena that may require months to years of data analysis in order to create a comprehensive summary and interpretation of events.
3. Preliminary accounts sometimes contain exaggerations and "false alarms," and accordingly, this report may include some events ultimately found to be erroneous or misleading.
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Google Earth Placemarks
A Google Earth network link for the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report was first made available on 1 April 2009. This file can be loaded into the free Google Earth software, and in turn will load placemarks for volcanoes in the current weekly report. Placemark balloons include the volcano name, report date, report text, sources, and links back to the GVP volcano page for that volcano and to the complete Weekly Report for that week.
