Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

You are currently viewing Archived reports for the week of 26 December-1 January 2002.

Activity for the week of 26 December-1 January 2002

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.

Name	Location	Activity
Bezymianny	Central Kamchatka (Russia)	Ongoing
Colima	Mexico	Ongoing
Karymsky	Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)	Ongoing
Kerinci	Indonesia	Ongoing
Kilauea	Hawaiian Islands (USA)	Ongoing
Merapi	Central Java (Indonesia)	Ongoing
Popocatepetl	Mexico	Ongoing
Sheveluch	Central Kamchatka (Russia)	Ongoing
Soufriere Hills	Montserrat	Ongoing
Tungurahua	Ecuador	Ongoing

Ongoing Activity

Volcano index photo Bezymianny | Central Kamchatka (Russia) | 55.972°N, 160.595°E | Elevation 2882 m

A reduction in volcanic and seismic activity during 21-28 December at Bezymianny led KVERT to reduce the Concern Color Code from Yellow ("volcano is restless") to Green ("volcano is dormant"). Seismicity under the volcano decreased to background levels, with weak, shallow earthquakes continuing within the volcano's edifice. Several small gas-and-steam plumes rose above the lava dome and a one-pixel thermal anomaly became less intense.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)

Volcano index photo Colima | Mexico | 19.514°N, 103.62°W | Elevation 3850 m

On 27 December at 1715 the Mexico City MWO issued a SIGMET for volcanic ash at Colima 4.3-5.2 km a.s.l. They reported that another ash emission on 29 December at 0810 produced an ash cloud to a height of ~5.5 km. No ash was visible in satellite imagery from either eruption.

Source: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

Volcano index photo Karymsky | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) | 54.049°N, 159.443°E | Elevation 1513 m

During 21-28 December seismicity remained above background levels at Karymsky, with 60-80 weak, local earthquakes per day. Several shallow seismic events indicated possible gas-and-ash explosions. The Color Concern Code remained at Yellow ("volcano is restless").

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)

Volcano index photo Kerinci | Indonesia | 1.697°S, 101.264°E | Elevation 3800 m

Three explosions occurred at Kerinci during 19 and 25 December that produced predominately E-drifting plumes 100-800 m above the volcano. The volcano remained at Alert Level 2 (on a scale of 1-4).

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)

Volcano index photo Kilauea | Hawaiian Islands (USA) | 19.421°N, 155.287°W | Elevation 1222 m

Lava continued to flow into the ocean at the Kamoamoa ocean entry. Surface lava flowed along the Kamoamoa lava tube system, extending from above the Pulama pali scarp down to the lava fan. Generally, volcanic tremor was moderate at Pu`u `O`o and there were many small long-period earthquakes at Kilauea's summit, as there have been for 2 weeks. Tiltmeters across the volcano showed no significant deformation.

Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)

Volcano index photo Merapi | Central Java (Indonesia) | 7.54°S, 110.446°E | Elevation 2910 m

Visual observations during 17-20 December revealed that 109 lava avalanches traveled predominately toward the upstream portion of the Sat River, and to a lesser extent to the Lamat and Senowo rivers. The maximum run-out distance was ~2.5 km. A pyroclastic flow on 18 December traveled ~1 km to the upstream portion of the Bebeng River. During the report period, seismicity was dominated by avalanche earthquakes that were similar in frequency and magnitude to those of previous weeks. Merapi remained at Alert Level 2 (on a scale of 1-4).

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)

Volcano index photo Popocatepetl | Mexico | 19.023°N, 98.622°W | Elevation 5393 m

During the week, Popocatépetl emitted small clouds of steam, gas, and generally minor amounts of ash. In addition, episodes of harmonic tremor were recorded. The highest reported ash cloud was produced from an eruption on 29 December at 0432 and rose 5.5-8.8 km a.s.l.

Sources: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

Volcano index photo Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) | 56.653°N, 161.36°E | Elevation 3283 m

During 21-28 December, about 20 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than or equal to 1.7 occurred, and weak, shallow seismic signals (possible collapses and avalanches) were registered. Seismicity decreased slightly, but remained above background levels. Small gas-and-steam plumes rose above the lava dome. Thermal anomalies were visible on satellite imagery. The Color Concern Code remained at Yellow ("volcano is restless").

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)

Volcano index photo Soufriere Hills | Montserrat | 16.72°N, 62.18°W | Elevation 915 m

During 21-28 December volcanic activity increased at Soufrière Hills, with a large number of rockfalls, an increase in SO2 flux, and periods of continuous ash emission. Most lava-dome growth was concentrated on the E side of the dome, where spectacular incandescent rockfalls were seen on the nights of 26 and 27 December. Rockfall seismicity increased throughout the week. There was a large increase in SO2 flux; an average emission rate of 851 metric tons was measured on 27 December in comparison to 181 metric tons on 19 December. The increase in SO2 flux coincided with an increase in rockfalls. According to the Washington VAAC, continuous ash-and-steam venting beginning on 27 December at 0315 produced an ash plume that remained below ~3 km a.s.l. A large area of dense ash below 3 km a.s.l. was observed on satellite imagery from an emission that began on 28 December at 1330. On 1 January a high number of rockfalls generated low-level ash clouds (up to 1.5 km).

Sources: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

Volcano index photo Tungurahua | Ecuador | 1.467°S, 78.442°W | Elevation 5023 m

During the report week, volcanic activity increased at Tungurahua. Eruptions began on 27 December at 1006 and 1427 that produced W-drifting gas-and-ash clouds to heights of 2 and 1 km above the volcano, respectively. A mudflow was reported on 29 December at 2342 travelling to the NW via Juive Grande Gorge. It affected the Pampa and Los Pájaros sectors. On 30 December at 0023 a seismic signal associated with an explosion was recorded, but the explosion was not observed due to cloudy conditions. Until 1500 ashfall was reported in the sectors of Guadalupe and Patate and may have also fallen to the W of the volcano. IG issued a SIGMET stating that at 0027 ash from the explosion rose to ~15 km. No ash was visible on satellite imagery.

Sources: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

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News Feeds and Google Placemarks

The RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed is identical to the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report minus some features including the header information (latitude and longitude and summit elevation), the Geologic Summary, and a link to the volcano's page from the Global Volcanism Program. Each volcano report includes a link from the volcano's name back to the more complete information in the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report on the Smithsonian website.

The CAP (Common Alerting Protocol) feeds are XML files specifically formatted for disaster management. They are similar in content to the RSS feed, but contain no active links.

A Google Earth network link for the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 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.

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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RSS and CAP Feeds

An RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed for the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report first made available on 5 March 2008 can be utilized with the aid of various free downloadable readers. The report content of the news feed is identical to the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report minus some features including the header information (latitude and longitude and summit elevation), the Geologic Summary, and a link to the volcano's page from the Global Volcanism Program. Each volcano report includes a link from the volcano's name back to the more complete information in the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report on the Smithsonian website. On 12 March 2009, GeoRSS tags were added so that the latitude and longitude for each volcano could be included with the feed.

At the end of each individual report is a list of the sources used. We would like to emphasize that the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) website (http://www.wovo.org/) lists the regional volcano observatories that have the most authoritative data for many of these events.

CAP (Common Alerting Protocol) feeds are XML files specifically formatted for disaster management.

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.