Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

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 11 December-17 December 2002
Name	Country	Volcanic Province	Eruption Start Date	Report Status
Etna	Italy	Sicily Volcanic Province	2022 Nov 27	Continuing
Karymsky	Russia	Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	2024 Jun 20	Continuing
Kilauea	United States	Hawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group	—	Continuing
Klyuchevskoy	Russia	Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	—	Continuing
Papandayan	Indonesia	Sunda Volcanic Arc	—	Continuing
Popocatepetl	Mexico	Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt	2005 Jan 9	Continuing
Rabaul	Papua New Guinea	Bismarck Volcanic Arc	—	Continuing
Reventador	Ecuador	Andean Northern Volcanic Arc	2008 Jul 27	Continuing
San Cristobal	Nicaragua	Central America Volcanic Arc	—	Continuing
Sheveluch	Russia	Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	1999 Aug 15	Continuing
Soufriere Hills	United Kingdom	Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc	—	Continuing
Tungurahua	Ecuador	Andean Northern Volcanic Arc	—	Continuing

All times are local unless otherwise stated.

Etna (Italy) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Etna
Sicily Volcanic Province

According to an INGV-CT report, the eruption that began at Etna on 27 October continued through 13 December. On 8 December there was a sudden change in eruptive style. Strong Strombolian explosions from the 2,800-m vent replaced previous fire fountaining, signaling the end of ash emissions for about 24 hours. On 9 December fire fountaining resumed at this vent, but on the10th activity changed to Strombolian explosions. This alternating activity culminated on 10 December with the opening of two vents on the SSE base of the cone and the emission of two lava flows. These flows spread SW towards Monte Nero, and S towards the cinder cone that formed at 2,550-m elevation during the 2001 eruption (also called Laghetto cone).

The S flow expanded on the 11th and 12th, and as of the 13th it had reached 300 m from the road leading to the Rifugio Sapienza tourist area, about 3.3 km from the vent. Civil Protection authorities, for the second time during this eruption, built an earth dam to divert the lava away from Rifugio Sapienza structures. SO2 emission rates significantly decreased on 1 December, dropping from previous estimates of ~20,000 to ~7,000 tons/day.

According to a Reuters news article, a lava flow that reached the Rifugio Sapienza tourist area on the evening of 16 December caused an explosion that destroyed a building and injured 32 people. The article stated that the exact cause of the explosion was unknown.

Sources: Reuters, Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV)

Karymsky (Russia) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Karymsky
Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc

Seismicity remained above background levels at Karymsky during 6-13 December, with about 210-230 shallow events recorded per day. The character of seismicity indicated that ash-and-gas explosions reached heights of ~1 km above the volcano, and vigorous, 5- to 10-minute-long gas emissions possibly occurred. Karymsky remained at Concern Color Code Yellow.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)

Kilauea (United States) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Kilauea
Hawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group

During 10-17 December, lava continued to enter the sea at several points along the coast. On 15 December, shortly after 0700, the Wilipe'a lava delta partially collapsed, losing about 1/3 of its area. The tip of the delta retreated shoreward about 260 m and most of the collapse was in the central part of the delta. Around the 15th and 16th a substantial collapse occurred at the West Highcastle delta. Generally, seismicity was at normal levels. The swarm of long-period earthquakes and tremor beneath Kilauea's caldera, occasionally seismically active since June, continued at a relatively low level. The Pu`u `O`o tiltmeter showed deflation for about one week until the 17th. No other significant deformation was recorded.

Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)

Klyuchevskoy (Russia) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Klyuchevskoy
Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc

Seismicity was above background levels at Kliuchevskoi during 6-13 December. Seismographs recorded 12-24 earthquakes per day during the report period at depths of ~ 30 km. In addition, intermittent spasmodic volcanic tremor was recorded. Gas-and-steam plumes rose 1.5 km above the crater and extended N and NE. Kliuchevskoi remained at Concern Color Code Yellow.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)

Papandayan (Indonesia) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Papandayan
Sunda Volcanic Arc

During 2-8 December, ash plumes continually emitted from Papandayan's Baru crater rose 150-400 m above the rim and drifted NE. Explosions occurred on 4 December at 0700 and on 8 December at 1758. The number of shallow volcanic earthquakes decreased during the report week, while deep volcanic and tectonic earthquakes increased in comparison to the previous week. Papandayan remained at Alert Level 3 (on a scale of 1-4).

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

Popocatepetl (Mexico) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Popocatepetl
Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt

During December there were several emissions of steam, gas, and minor amounts of ash at Popocatépetl. According to CENAPRED, new episodes of low-frequency tremor, beginning on 19 November, signaled the growth of a new lava dome within Popocatépetl's crater. Aerial photographs obtained by the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation on 2 December confirmed the presence of a fresh lava dome measuring about 180 m in diameter at its base, and about 52 m high. The lava dome grew in episodes of variable duration, at a mean extrusion rate of 8-9 m3 per second.

These dome-growth episodes were distinctly recorded by the monitoring network as harmonic tremor. Small associated inflation was also recorded. CENAPRED stated that dome growth may continue and could conclude with dome-destruction episodes, which have occurred in the past. The Alert Level at Popocatépetl remained at Yellow.

Source: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED)

Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Rabaul
Bismarck Volcanic Arc

During 12-16 December, the eruption of Rabaul volcano's Tavurvur cone was characterized by slow, convoluted ash plumes that rose several hundred meters above the summit. Moderate amounts of ashfall affected areas close to the cone. Seismicity was low to moderate and no significant ground deformation was recorded. Although the NE vent was still dominant, some plumes also rose from the W side of the N crater.

Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO) via the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center

Reventador (Ecuador) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Reventador
Andean Northern Volcanic Arc

During 12-15 December, volcanic and seismic activity was low at Reventador; however, weather clouds thwarted visual observations.

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

San Cristobal (Nicaragua) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

San Cristobal
Central America Volcanic Arc

Based on ground observations from Chinandega, the Washington VAAC reported that relatively strong volcanic activity occurred at San Cristóbal on 16 December at 0745. INETER's volcano camera and satellite imagery showed a plume emanating from the summit that appeared to be mainly composed of steam with some possible ash.

Source: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

Sheveluch (Russia) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Sheveluch
Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc

During 6-13 December, seismicity remained above background levels at Shiveluch, but it decreased after 8 December. Seismic data indicated that eight ash-and-gas explosions reached heights of 1-2 km above the lava dome, and hot avalanches possibly occurred. A number of smaller earthquakes at depths of 0-6 km and weak intermittent spasmodic tremor was recorded. Gas-and-steam plumes rose to a maximum height of 1.5 km above the lava dome. Thermal anomalies were visible on satellite imagery, but ash was not. Shiveluch remained at Concern Color Code Yellow.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)

Soufriere Hills (United Kingdom) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Soufriere Hills
Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc

Reports of activity at Soufrière Hills covered the interval 6-13 December. Activity increased during the first 3 days of this interval, peaking in a dome-collapse event on the night of 8 December. Following this event, activity returned to moderate levels for the remainder of the week.

On 6 and 7 December most activity occurred on the N and NE flanks of the active extruded lobe, producing numerous pyroclastic flows in Tuitt's and White's ghauts, and the Tar River Valley. On 8 December, activity was focused NNE, producing numerous small-to-moderate pyroclastic flows in White's Ghaut. A sustained dome collapse began on 8 December at 2045, producing energetic pyroclastic flows down White's Ghaut to the sea at Spanish Point. Ash clouds rose to ~3 km a.s.l. and drifted WNW. In Plymouth and Richmond Hill 4 mm of ash was deposited. Seismic activity returned to background levels on 9 December by 0045 and several days of weak tremor occurred.

The collapse scar formed on the dome's NNE flank was estimated to have had a volume of 4-5 million cubic meters. This was being filled rapidly with freshly extruded lava. Observations on 13 December revealed a large amount of fragmental lava extruded in a northerly direction on the summit. A large spine was also extruded on the NW side of the summit.

SO2 emission rates were generally low during the first 3 days of the report period (280 metric tons per day on average), but following the dome-collapse event, on 9 December, they reached an average of 2,350 tons per day. On 10 December emission rates decreased to an average of 620 tons per day.

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

Tungurahua (Ecuador) | 11 December-17 December 2002 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Tungurahua
Andean Northern Volcanic Arc

During 11 December, emissions of steam, gas, and ash continued at Tungurahua. Plumes rose to ~1 km above the volcano.

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

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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.

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