All times are local unless otherwise stated.

Soputan | 16 July-22 July 2003 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Soputan Sulawesi	High levels of volcanic and seismic activity occurred at Soputan during mid-July. On 17 July at 1900 the Alert Level was raised to 2 (on a scale of 1-4) after incandescence was seen at the lava dome for about a day. Around 1150 the amplitude of volcanic tremor increased and at 1900 an increased level of incandescence was seen. On 18 July at 0630 incandescent lava avalanches suddenly occurred that were not proceeded by explosions or loud sounds. The avalanches were accompanied by a pyroclastic surge towards the WNW and an ash cloud that rose ~2 km above the summit. The cloud drifted N, depositing ash around the area of Tombasian, Tareran, Tompaso, Kawangkoan, Sonder, Tomohon, and Manado. The same day the Alert Level was raised to 3. On 19 July there were pyroclastic flows, ash explosions, Strombolian activity, and lava emission at the lava dome. Ash explosions continued through at least 21 July. According to news reports, some residents in villages near the volcano fled, including those in the villages of Kota Menara, Amurang, and Maliku around 10 km S of the volcano. Sources: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM), Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Terra Daily News, The Jakarta Post
Soufriere Hills | 16 July-22 July 2003 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Soufriere Hills Montserrat	After a lava-dome collapse at Soufrière Hills on 12 July volcanic activity was at relatively high levels until 13 July when it slowly subsided. On the 13th activity had declined to very low levels, then the following morning a sudden vulcanian explosion occurred at the lava dome. Two more explosions occurred during the next 2 days. Pumice from these explosions reached 15 cm in size at Richmond Hill, declining to 4 cm in Olveston. Heavy ashfall from the collapse occurred over all the inhabited parts of Montserrat. The greatest ash thickness was recorded at the Vue Pointe Hotel, where it exceeded 15 cm in depth. After an explosion on 15 July, volcanic and seismic activity were relatively low, with only a few hybrid earthquakes and rockfalls each day. Scientists saw an open explosion crater in the collapse scar, with no new lava extruded. The bulk of the lava-dome structure was removed during the collapse. Pyroclastic flows impacted the area between Tar River Valley and Spanish Point. Sources: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

Colima | 16 July-22 July 2003 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Colima Mexico	On 17 July an explosion at Colima sent incandescent volcanic material to ~500 m above the volcano and produced a SW-drifting ash cloud to a height of ~ 3 km above the volcano. At least five pyroclastic flows traveled down the volcano's flanks to a maximum distance of ~2 km. Source: Centro Universitario de Estudios e Investigaciones de Vulcanologia - Universidad de Colima
Dukono | 16 July-22 July 2003 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Dukono Halmahera	Satellite imagery on 21 July at 0724 showed an ash plume from Dukono that rose to a height of ~3 km a.s.l. and extended ~45 km NNE of the summit. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Karangetang | 16 July-22 July 2003 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Karangetang Sangihe Islands	Based on an aircraft report, the Darwin VAAC stated that a thick ash plume was visible above Karangetang at a height of ~7.5 km a.s.l. Ash was not visible on satellite imagery. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Kilauea | 16 July-22 July 2003 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Kilauea Hawaiian Islands (USA)	During 16-22 July at Kilauea, surface lava flows were visible on the coastal flat and upslope on the Pulama pali and Paliuli. No lava flowed into the sea. Generally, seismicity at Kilauea's summit continued at moderate levels, with 1-2 small low-frequency earthquakes per minute occurring at shallow depths beneath the summit caldera. There were some larger events at depths of a few kilometers. Small inflation and deflation occurred during the report week. Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Klyuchevskoy | 16 July-22 July 2003 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Klyuchevskoy Central Kamchatka (Russia)	Seismicity was above background levels at Kliuchevskoi during 11-18 July. Several earthquakes occurred each day with magnitudes of 1.3-2.2 at depths around 30 km and at shallower levels. Explosions sent ash clouds to a height of ~1 km above the volcano and during 12-16 July ash clouds reached ~2 km above the volcano. Kliuchevskoi remained at Concern Color Code Orange. Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Popocatepetl | 16 July-22 July 2003 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Popocatepetl Mexico	During 16-22 July, moderate emissions of mainly gas and steam occurred at Popocatépetl. On 19 July at 0920 a moderate explosion produced an ash plume that rose ~3 km above the crater. After the event the volcano returned to its previous level of activity characterized by frequent and small steam-and-ash emissions. According to news reports, a small amount of ash fell in Mexico City. The international airport remained open, with minor disruptions to air traffic. Sources: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED)
Reventador | 16 July-22 July 2003 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Reventador Ecuador	Rainfall at Reventador during 7-13 July remobilized ash on the volcano's flanks, causing lahars down Montana River. Travel on the Baeza highway was interrupted. Permanent tremor associated with degassing was recorded. Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN)
Semeru | 16 July-22 July 2003 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Semeru Eastern Java	An ash cloud from Semeru was visible on satellite imagery on 21 July at 2316 extending ~75 km to the WSW. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Tungurahua | 16 July-22 July 2003 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Tungurahua Ecuador	Seismic and volcanic activity were at relatively low levels at Tungurahua during 16-22 July, with emissions of steam and gas forming low-level plumes. Sources: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

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.

Use the dropdowns to choose the year and week for archived Weekly Reports.

 News Feeds and Google Placemarks

 Criteria & Disclaimers

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.

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)