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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 23 April-29 April 2003
Name Location Eruption Start Date Report Status
Toliman South-Central Guatemala New
Chikurachki Paramushir Island (Russia) Continuing
Fuego South-Central Guatemala 2002 Jan 4 Continuing
Guagua Pichincha Ecuador Continuing
Karymsky Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) Continuing
Kilauea Hawaiian Islands (USA) Continuing
Klyuchevskoy Central Kamchatka (Russia) 2023 Jun 22 Continuing
Popocatepetl Mexico 2005 Jan 9 Continuing
Sheveluch Central Kamchatka (Russia) 1999 Aug 15 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


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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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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 Toliman
A landslide on the outer flanks of Tolimán volcano passed through and buried portions of a mountain village at 0418 on 23 April. Regional authorities blamed steep slopes, wet soils, and minor tremors. The disaster struck the village of Chichicaste, which lies along the volcanic front ~300 km W of the capital, Guatemala City. Tolimán and the area stricken sit on the S side of Lake Atitlán, the 18 x 12 km lake filling the depression of Guatemala's famous Atitlán caldera.

As of the afternoon of 23 April, the Guatemalan agency CONRED reported 200 people evacuated, 20 missing, and 6 confirmed dead. Known damage to infrastructure included 40 homes at risk, another 12 with severe damage, and 6 destroyed. The village and environs had been specifically mentioned as vulnerable to landslide hazards in a government report issued in September 2002 following a similar disaster then. Mudslides in highland areas are common during the wet season, an interval that often occurs during late March through September.

[Correction: the landslide recorded in April 2003 did not occur on the flanks of Toliman as erroneaously reported; instead the landslide occurred in Chim, an area about 75 NW of the volcano.]
Sources: Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (CONRED), Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
Report for Chikurachki
Chikurachki, a volcano located on Paramushir Island in the North Kuriles, began erupting on 18 April 2003. A KVERT update for 25 April stated that the eruption continued and satellite data confirmed that ash plumes had moved SE and occasionally E during 22-25 April. The plumes attained lengths over 100 km. On 22 April observers at Vasiliev Cape on Paramushir Island saw a white gas-steam plume rise 500 m above the volcano's crater.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Report for Fuego
The Washington VAAC reported that on 28 April Fuego produced intermittent ash eruptions. One cloud was observed at ~ 7 km a.s.l., traveling SW at 19-29 km per hour. Although remote sensing was complicated by poor visibility due to high cirrus clouds and smoke from fires, some eruptive puffs remained recognizable when they blew over the coast.
Sources: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Report for Guagua Pichincha
During the week Guagua Pichincha continued to display seismic unrest, typically with several earthquakes per day but including 16 long-period earthquakes on 26 April. During 23, 24, 26, and 27 April observers on the mountain typically smelled sulfur, but qualitative assessments of fumarolic output varied. In conditions of poor visibility, observers sometimes heard the sound of gases escaping in the crater. In overview, the volcano's activity has not entirely tapered off.
Sources: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Report for Karymsky
KVERT reported that Karymsky's seismicity was above background during the week ending 25 April, an interval when instruments registered ~40-100 volcanic earthquakes per day. The character of the seismicity suggested ash-and-gas explosions up to 1,000 m above the volcano's crater. According to Russian satellite data, ash deposits were detected ~35 km away in various directions from the volcano; these were noted the previous week, on 19-22 April, but not previously reported here. According to other observers on 21 April, an ash-and-gas plume rose 1,500 m above the volcano's crater. The level of concern color code stood at Yellow.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Report for Kilauea
For the week ending 29 April eruptive activity continued unabated from the Pu`u `O`o vent of Kilauea. The flows on Pulama pali were frequently visible at night as streams of incandescence from the top of the pali down to the coastal flats. Late in the previous week and early in this week, the east arm of the Mother's Day flow split in two with the western segment being more active. A new ocean entry near Lae`apuki only lasted a day before the flow stagnated. Scattered surface breakouts were seen throughout the inflating Kohola flow, especially on its W side. The National Park Service has marked trails out to the closest activity. As of 24 April, lava entered the ocean at two point along the West Highcastle delta.
Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Report for Klyuchevskoy
A KVERT report on Kliuchevskoi issued on 25 April stated that above-background seismicity, including abundant tremor, prevailed during the week. This report also revealed that the ash explosions of 17-18 April had sent material 1-2 km above the crater. Modest thermal anomalies registered in satellite data for 18-19 April and plumes around that time extended E for 20-200 km. The respective ash-bearing plumes of 20 and 23 April traveled over 10 km NE and 20 km SW. As of 25 April the Concern Color Code remained at Yellow.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Report for Popocatepetl
On 24 April at 2050 Popocatépetl issued a moderate explosion that threw incandescent fragments 1.5-2.0 km above the crater and generated an ash column that rose to ~2.5 km above the crater. The plume was initially carried E. This activity was related to the destruction of a small dome that formed in the past few days. After the explosion, activity dropped to its previous more tranquil levels.

A small explosion occurred late on 26 April, followed by a clear increase in vigor on 28 April, including another moderate explosion at 0120 that day. Incandescent fragments landed on the E and NE flanks up to ~800 m from the crater. The outburst included a 40-second phase of greatest intensity. Ash falls were not reported. Hours later on 28 April instruments began to register harmonic tremor of moderate amplitude, signals that continued for 13 hours.

During the next day the eruptive vigor dropped to modest levels (only four exhalations of low intensity occurred, a smaller number than typical, and chiefly containing steam and gas rather than ash). Scientists attributed the 28 April eruption and increased eruptive vigor to advanced rates of lava ascent and extrusion. They suggested that these may have been higher than seen either earlier this year or near the end of last year. The hazard status was raised one increment, to Yellow phase 3. In addition, the highway traversing the Cortés pass was closed to traffic for two days, 29-30 April.
Source: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED)
Report for Sheveluch
A 25 April report on Shiveluch from KVERT stated that, based on seismic data a hot pyroclastic avalanche possibly took place on 23 April. Also, a M 2.25 earthquake occurred this day. Intermittent spasmodic volcanic tremor registered all week. According to visual data from Klyuchi, an ash plume rose 1,500 m above the dome on 24 April; gas and steam plumes rose 50-500 m above the dome on 19-21 and 24 April and the plumes blew 10 km to the E and SE, respectively. Clouds typically obscured the volcano on the other days.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)