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Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

Weekly Volcanic Activity Map

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 and averaging 16 reported volcanoes, this is not a comprehensive list of all eruptions this week, but rather a summary of activity that meet criteria discussed in the "Criteria and Disclaimers" section below.

Volcanic activity reported here is preliminary and subject to change. Carefully reviewed, detailed narratives over longer time periods are published as reports of the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network available through volcano profile pages.

Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for the week of 15 May-21 May 2002
Name Location Eruption Start Date Report Status
Colima Mexico New
Manam Northeast of New Guinea 2014 Jun 29 New
Nyiragongo DR Congo 2002 May 17 (?) New
Karymsky Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) Continuing
Kilauea Hawaiian Islands (USA) Continuing
Popocatepetl Mexico 2005 Jan 9 Continuing
Sheveluch Central Kamchatka (Russia) 1999 Aug 15 Continuing
Shishaldin Fox Islands (USA) 2023 Jul 12 Continuing
Soufriere Hills Montserrat Continuing
Tungurahua Ecuador Continuing
All times are local unless otherwise stated.
Weekly Reports Archive

Since the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report began in November 2000, there have been 19,363 individual reports over 1,185 weeks (average of 16 per week) on 331 different volcanoes.

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Agung Cotopaxi Ijen Lewotobi Peuet Sague South Sarigan Seamount
Ahyi Cuicocha Iliamna Lewotolok Pinatubo Spurr
Aira Cumbal Iliwerung Little Sitkin Planchon-Peteroa St. Helens
Akan Dabbahu Inielika Llaima Poas Stromboli
Alaid Davidof Ioto Lokon-Empung Popocatepetl Sulu Range
Alu-Dalafilla Dempo Irazu Lonquimay Purace Sumbing
Ambae Descabezado Grande Iya Lopevi Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Sundoro
Ambang Dieng Volcanic Complex Izu-Torishima Machin Rabaul Suretamatai
Ambrym Dukono Jackson Segment Makushin Raikoke Suwanosejima
Anatahan Ebeko Kaba Maly Semyachik Ranakah Taal
Aniakchak Ebulobo Kadovar Manam Raoul Island Tair, Jebel at
Antillanca Volcanic Complex Edgecumbe Kaitoku Seamount Manda Hararo Rasshua Takawangha
Antuco Egon Kama'ehuakanaloa Marapi Raung Talang
Apoyeque Ekarma Kambalny Maroa Redoubt Tambora
Arenal Eldey Kanaga Martin Reventador Tanaga
Asamayama Epi Kanlaon Masaya Reykjanes Tandikat-Singgalang
Askja Erebus Karangetang Maule, Laguna del Rincon de la Vieja Tangkoko-Duasudara
Asosan Erta Ale Karkar Mauna Loa Rinjani Tangkuban Parahu
Atka Volcanic Complex Etna Karthala Mayon Ritter Island Tara, Batu
Augustine Etorofu-Yakeyama [Grozny Group] Karymsky McDonald Islands Rotorua Ta'u
Avachinsky Eyjafjallajokull Kasatochi Melimoyu Ruang Taupo
Awu Fagradalsfjall Katla Merapi Ruapehu Telica
Axial Seamount Fernandina Katmai Midagahara Ruby Tenerife
Azul, Cerro Fogo Kavachi Misti, El Ruiz, Nevado del Tengger Caldera
Azumayama Fonualei Kelimutu Miyakejima Sabancaya Three Sisters
Bagana Fournaise, Piton de la Kelud Momotombo Sakar Tinakula
Balbi Fourpeaked Kerinci Monowai Salak Tofua
Bamus Fuego Ketoi Montagu Island San Cristobal Tokachidake
Banda Api Fujisan Kharimkotan Moyorodake [Medvezhia] San Miguel Tolbachik
Bardarbunga Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba Kick 'em Jenny Mutnovsky San Vicente Toliman
Barren Island Galeras Kie Besi Myojinsho Sangay Tongariro
Batur Galunggung Kikai Nabro Sangeang Api Trident
Bezymianny Gamalama Kilauea Negra, Sierra Santa Ana Tungurahua
Bogoslof Gamkonora Kirishimayama Negro, Cerro Santa Maria Turrialba
Brava Gareloi Kita-Ioto Nightingale Island Sao Jorge Ubinas
Bristol Island Gaua Kizimen Nishinoshima Sarigan Ugashik-Peulik
Bulusan Gorely Klyuchevskoy Nisyros Sarychev Peak Ukinrek Maars
Calbuco Great Sitkin Kolokol Group Novarupta Saunders Ulawun
Callaqui Grimsvotn Koryaksky NW Rota-1 Savo Unnamed
Cameroon Guagua Pichincha Krakatau Nyamulagira Semeru Unnamed
Campi Flegrei del Mar di Sicilia Guallatiri Krummel-Garbuna-Welcker Nyiragongo Semisopochnoi Veniaminof
Cayambe Guntur Krysuvik-Trolladyngja Ofu-Olosega Seulawah Agam Villarrica
Chachadake [Tiatia] Hachijojima Kuchinoerabujima Okataina Sheveluch Vulcano
Chaiten Hakoneyama Kurikomayama Okmok Shishaldin West Mata
Chiginagak Heard Kusatsu-Shiranesan Ontakesan Simbo Westdahl
Chikurachki Hekla Kverkfjoll Oraefajokull Sinabung Whakaari/White Island
Chiles-Cerro Negro Helgrindur La Palma Osorno Sinarka Witori
Chillan, Nevados de Hierro Lamington Pacaya Siple Wolf
Chirinkotan Hokkaido-Komagatake Lamongan Pagan Sirung Yakedake
Chirpoi Home Reef Langila Palena Volcanic Group Slamet Yasur
Ciremai Hood Lanin Paluweh Snaefellsjokull Yufu-Tsurumi
Cleveland Huaynaputina Lascar Panarea Soputan Zaozan [Zaosan]
Colima Hudson, Cerro Late Papandayan Sorikmarapi Zavodovski
Colo Huila, Nevado del Lateiki Parker Sotara Zhupanovsky
Concepcion Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Lengai, Ol Doinyo Pavlof Soufriere Hills Zubair Group
Copahue Ibu Leroboleng Pelee Soufriere St. Vincent
 News Feeds and Google Placemarks


Download Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report Network RSS Feed

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. At the end of each report is a list of the sources used. 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. This feature was first made available on 5 March 2008.



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Download Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report Network Link Download Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report Network Link

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 profile page and to the complete Weekly Report for that week. This feature was first made available on 1 April 2009.

 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 cover longer time periods and are 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.

4. Many news agencies do not archive the articles they post on the Internet, and therefore the links to some sources may not be active. To obtain information about the cited articles that are no longer available on the Internet contact the source.

5. USGS Disclaimer Statement for this Website:

Information presented on this website is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credit is requested. We strongly recommend that USGS data be acquired directly from a USGS server and not through other sources that may change the data in some way. While USGS makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information, various data such as names, telephone numbers, etc. may change prior to updating. USGS welcomes suggestions on how to improve our home page and correct errors. USGS provides no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of furnished data.

Some of the documents on this server may contain live references (or pointers) to information created and maintained by other organizations. Please note that USGS does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials.

For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this government computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this website are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act. Information may also be used for authorized law enforcement investigations. (Last modified September 21, 1999.)

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA
URL: https://volcano.si.edu/reports_weekly.cfm

 Acronyms and Abbreviations

a.s.l. - above sea level

AVO - Alaska Volcano Observatory

AVHRR - Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer

CENAPRED - Centro Nacionale de Prevencion de Desastres (México)

CONRED - Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres

COSPEC - Correlation Spectrometer

CVGHM (formerly VSI) - Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation

CVO - Cascades Volcano Observatory (USGS)

GMS - Geostationary Meteorological Satellite

GOES - Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite

GVO - Goma Volcano Observatory

GVP - Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution)

HVO - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS)

ICE - Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (Costa Rica)

IG - Instituto Geofísico (Ecuador)

IGNS - Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (New Zealand) - now GNS Science

INETER - Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales (Nicaragua)

INGEMMET - Instituto Geológical Minero y Metalúrgico (Peru)

INGEOMINAS - Instituto Colombiano de Geología y Minería (Colombia)

INGV-CT - Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - Sezione di Catania (Italy)

INSIVUMEH - Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia e Hidrologia (Guatemala)

IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (France)

JMA - Japanese Meteorological Agency

KEMSD - Kamchatkan Experimental and Methodical Seismilogical Department

KVERT - Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team

M - magnitude

METEOSAT - Meteorological Satellite

MEVO - Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory

MODIS - Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

MVO - Montserrat Volcano Observatory

MWO - Meteorological Watch Office

NEIC - National Earthquake Information Center

NIED - National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (Japan)

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOTAM - Notice to Airmen

OVDAS - Observatorio Volcanologico de los Andes del Sur (Chile)

OFDA - Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance

ONEMI - Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Ministerio del Interior (Chile)

OVPDLF - Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise (France)

OVSICORI-UNA - Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica)

PHIVOLCS - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philippines)

RSAM - Real-time Seismic Amplitude Measurement

RVO - Rabaul Volcano Observatory

SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria (Chile)

SIGMET - Significant Meteorological Information

SNET - Servicio Nacional de Estudios Territoriales (El Salvador)

SVERT - Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (Russia)

USAID - US Agency for International Development

USGS - United States Geological Survey

UTC - Coordinated Universal Time

VAAC - Volcanic Ash Advisory Center

VAFTAD - Volcanic Ash Forecast Transport And Dispersion

VDAP - Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (USGS)

VHP - Volcano Hazards Program (USGS)

VRC - Volcano Research Center (Japan)

Report for Colima
A strong increase in volcanic tremor at Colima caused the Scientific Committee on 18 May to evacuate hundreds of residents from several towns on the SW and SE flanks. Scientists also recorded changes in deformation, the chemistry of spring water near the volcano, and the composition of ejected rocks. In addition, heightened temperatures were recorded on infrared imagery. On 21 May there was an increase in the number of explosive-type earthquakes and a slight decrease in tremor earthquakes in comparison to the previous day. The 6.5-km-radius exclusion zone around Colima remained in effect, with other restrictions to access out to 11.5 km from the volcano's summit.
Sources: Centro Universitario de Estudios e Investigaciones de Vulcanologia - Universidad de Colima, Associated Press
Report for Manam
A moderate-sized Strombolian eruption occurred at Manam on 20 May. A pilot reported observing an ash plume at a maximum height of ~9 km on the 20th at 0500. At 0945 on the same day an eruption cloud was visible on satellite imagery extending to the SW. The Rabaul Volcano Observatory reported that a continuous eruption was occurring until at least 0947 on 20 May.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Report for Nyiragongo
On 17 January 2002, during the eruption of Nyiragongo, all lava drained from the volcano's summit, leaving a 700-m-deep empty crater. In late April harmonic tremor began to be registered at two seismic stations on Nyiragongo's S flank, and increased irregularly in amplitude until mid-May. Anomalous clouds had been noticed above the crater twice since 1 May, but no incandescence had been visible at night. No eruptive activity was visible 14 May during an overflight, but increasing tremor amplitude suggested that magma was moving within the summit area. On 17-18 May a small lava fountain was seen on the floor of the crater along the same fissure that apparently drained the crater in January. The lava fountain was 12 m high, no lava lake was forming in the crater, and small incandescent vents on the crater floor ejected hot gases. The Goma Volcano Observatory stated,"this is a normal development in Nyiragongo's historical eruptive pattern, and is no cause for immediate concern."
Source: Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma (OVG)
Report for Karymsky
During 10-17 May seismicity was above background levels at Karymsky and the rate of earthquakes slightly increased in the middle of the report week. The character of seismicity suggested that weak ash-and-gas explosions, gas blow-outs, and debris avalanches occurred. Observations from a helicopter on 10 May revealed that a new ~100-m-high cone had grown inside the crater and a lava flow was seen on the volcano's SSE slope. Thermal anomalies and an ash-and-steam plume were visible on satellite imagery. Karymsky remained at Concern Color Code Yellow ("volcano is restless").
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Report for Kilauea
Surface lava flows were visible at Kilauea during 15-17 May. The front of one flow was about 2.5 km from the ocean. Following the 12 May inflation event, the level of volcanic tremor and long-period earthquakes at Kilauea's summit was moderate, as was the level of tremor at Pu`u `O`o. No significant deformation was recorded.
Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Report for Popocatepetl
During 15-21 May, Popocatépetl emitted small clouds of steam, gas, and generally minor amounts of ash. In addition, episodes of harmonic tremor were recorded.
Sources: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Report for Sheveluch
During 10-17 May, there were several small emissions of gas, steam, and ash at Shiveluch. Seismicity included earthquakes with magnitudes less than or equal to 2.1 at depths of 0-6 km, many local shallow seismic signals (from possible avalanches or weak gas-and-ash explosions), and episodes of weak intermittent volcanic tremor. Thermal anomalies were visible on AVHRR satellite imagery, but ash was not. Shiveluch remained at Concern Color Code Yellow ("volcano is restless").
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Report for Shishaldin
During 10-17 May, the Alaska Volcano Observatory detected an increase in background seismicity at Shishaldin. There was an increase in the number of locatable shallow low-frequency earthquakes and several 2 to- 3-minute-long tremor-like signals that were inferred to be from a deep source. No thermal anomalies were visible on satellite imagery and there were no eyewitness reports of anomalous volcanic activity. Shishaldin remained at Concern Color Code Green ("volcano is in quiet, "dormant" state").
Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)
Report for Soufriere Hills
During 10-17 May, volcanic activity was generally higher than it had been the previous week. Lava-dome growth continued to be concentrated on the E flank. Rockfall, pyroclastic-flow, and long-period earthquake activity was relatively high during the first half of the report period, but declined slightly during 15-17 May.
Sources: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Report for Tungurahua
During 14-21 May, emissions of gas, steam, and ash continued at Tungurahua. On 14 May an eruption produced a steam-and-ash plume that rose 1.5 km above the volcano.
Sources: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)