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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 5 November-11 November 2003
Name Location Eruption Start Date Report Status
Rotorua North Island (New Zealand) New
Dukono Halmahera 1933 Aug 13 Continuing
Etna Sicily (Italy) Continuing
Fuego South-Central Guatemala 2002 Jan 4 Continuing
Kilauea Hawaiian Islands (USA) 2021 Sep 29 Continuing
Klyuchevskoy Central Kamchatka (Russia) Continuing
Popocatepetl Mexico 2005 Jan 9 Continuing
Reventador Ecuador 2008 Jul 27 Continuing
Stromboli Aeolian Islands (Italy) 1934 Feb 2 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 18,972 individual reports over 1,168 weeks (average of 16 per week) on 329 different volcanoes.

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Agung Cotopaxi Iliamna Lewotolok Pinatubo St. Helens
Ahyi Cuicocha Iliwerung Little Sitkin Planchon-Peteroa Stromboli
Aira Cumbal Inielika Llaima Poas Sulu Range
Akan Dabbahu Ioto Lokon-Empung Popocatepetl Sumbing
Alaid Davidof Irazu Lonquimay Purace Sundoro
Alu-Dalafilla Dempo Iya Lopevi Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Suretamatai
Ambae Descabezado Grande Izu-Torishima Machin Rabaul Suwanosejima
Ambang Dieng Volcanic Complex Jackson Segment Makushin Raikoke Taal
Ambrym Dukono Kaba Maly Semyachik Ranakah Tair, Jebel at
Anatahan Ebeko Kadovar Manam Raoul Island Takawangha
Aniakchak Ebulobo Kaitoku Seamount Manda Hararo Rasshua Talang
Antillanca Volcanic Complex Edgecumbe Kama'ehuakanaloa Marapi Raung Tambora
Antuco Egon Kambalny Maroa Redoubt Tanaga
Apoyeque Ekarma Kanaga Martin Reventador Tandikat-Singgalang
Arenal Epi Kanlaon Masaya Reykjanes Tangkoko-Duasudara
Asamayama Erebus Karangetang Maule, Laguna del Rincon de la Vieja Tangkuban Parahu
Askja Erta Ale Karkar Mauna Loa Rinjani Tara, Batu
Asosan Etna Karthala Mayon Ritter Island Ta'u
Atka Volcanic Complex Etorofu-Yakeyama [Grozny Group] Karymsky McDonald Islands Rotorua Taupo
Augustine Eyjafjallajokull Kasatochi Melimoyu Ruang Telica
Avachinsky Fagradalsfjall Katla Merapi Ruapehu Tenerife
Awu Fernandina Katmai Midagahara Ruiz, Nevado del Tengger Caldera
Axial Seamount Fogo Kavachi Misti, El Sabancaya Three Sisters
Azul, Cerro Fonualei Kelimutu Miyakejima Sakar Tinakula
Azumayama Fournaise, Piton de la Kelud Momotombo Salak Tofua
Bagana Fourpeaked Kerinci Monowai San Cristobal Tokachidake
Balbi Fuego Ketoi Montagu Island San Miguel Tolbachik
Bamus Fujisan Kharimkotan Moyorodake [Medvezhia] San Vicente Toliman
Banda Api Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba Kick 'em Jenny Mutnovsky Sangay Tongariro
Bardarbunga Galeras Kie Besi Myojinsho Sangeang Api Trident
Barren Island Galunggung Kikai Nabro Santa Ana Tungurahua
Batur Gamalama Kilauea Negra, Sierra Santa Maria Turrialba
Bezymianny Gamkonora Kirishimayama Negro, Cerro Sao Jorge Ubinas
Bogoslof Gareloi Kita-Ioto Nightingale Island Sarigan Ugashik-Peulik
Brava Gaua Kizimen Nishinoshima Sarychev Peak Ukinrek Maars
Bristol Island Gorely Klyuchevskoy Nisyros Saunders Ulawun
Bulusan Great Sitkin Kolokol Group Novarupta Savo Unnamed
Calbuco Grimsvotn Koryaksky NW Rota-1 Semeru Unnamed
Callaqui Guagua Pichincha Krakatau Nyamulagira Semisopochnoi Veniaminof
Cameroon Guallatiri Krummel-Garbuna-Welcker Nyiragongo Seulawah Agam Villarrica
Campi Flegrei del Mar di Sicilia Guntur Krysuvik-Trolladyngja Ofu-Olosega Sheveluch Vulcano
Cayambe Hachijojima Kuchinoerabujima Okataina Shishaldin West Mata
Chachadake [Tiatia] Hakoneyama Kurikomayama Okmok Simbo Westdahl
Chaiten Heard Kusatsu-Shiranesan Ontakesan Sinabung Whakaari/White Island
Chiginagak Hekla Kverkfjoll Oraefajokull Sinarka Witori
Chikurachki Helgrindur La Palma Osorno Siple Wolf
Chiles-Cerro Negro Hierro Lamington Pacaya Sirung Yakedake
Chillan, Nevados de Hokkaido-Komagatake Lamongan Pagan Slamet Yasur
Chirinkotan Home Reef Langila Palena Volcanic Group Snaefellsjokull Yufu-Tsurumi
Chirpoi Hood Lanin Paluweh Soputan Zaozan [Zaosan]
Ciremai Huaynaputina Lascar Panarea Sorikmarapi Zavodovski
Cleveland Hudson, Cerro Late Papandayan Sotara Zhupanovsky
Colima Huila, Nevado del Lateiki Parker Soufriere Hills Zubair Group
Colo Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Lengai, Ol Doinyo Pavlof Soufriere St. Vincent
Concepcion Ibu Leroboleng Pelee South Sarigan Seamount
Copahue Ijen Lewotobi Peuet Sague Spurr
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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 Rotorua
Two eruptions occurred at Kuirau Park in Rotorua caldera around 1100 on 6 November. They blasted mud, rock, and ash 14 m into the air. Gray mud and small rocks littered a zone ~20 m wide. The eruption destroyed trees around the crater. The eruptions occurred just meters from the site of a large blowout in 2001. The area is known for this kind of phreatic activity.
Source: GeoNet
Report for Dukono
During this week repeated aviation messages mentioned Dukono ash plumes of variable density. Some of these messages are summarized as follows.

A 5 November aviation message (Volcanic Ash Advisory) noted a faint ash plume to ~2.4 km a.s.l. and extending 220 km NE of the summit based on satellite imagery (GOES 9, 5 November, 0413 UTC). Another 5 November satellite image (visual data from NOAA-15) analyzed by the U.S. Air Force reported a "very pronounced ash plume" at 2137 UTC.

A 7 November Air Force message described a faint plume stemming from ash and steam eruptions to ~3 km a.s.l. The plume remained visible for ~60 km toward the E where it blew into thicker cirrus clouds thwarting detection.

An 11 November Air Force message described ash and steam to ~3 km a.s.l. moving ESE at 18-28 km/hour. At 0521 UTC the plume extended 120 km ESE of the summit. This observation was based on GOES-9 imagery. Similar reports noted shorter plumes later that day.
Source: US Air Force Weather Agency
Report for Etna
On 9 November aviation sources and web camera observations detected a small ash and steam plume at Etna. The plume rose to ~4 km a.s.l.
Sources: Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV), US Air Force Weather Agency
Report for Fuego
On the night of 4 November observers saw crater glow and incandescent avalanches. Some incandescent avalanches descended into local valleys. Earlier that day moderate exposions prevailed, throwing material 150 m above the crater's rim. The explosions generated shock waves audible at distance.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
Report for Kilauea
Tiltmeters located on the NW side of Kileauea's caldera rim (Uwekahuna) and on the NW flank of the active vent along the East rift zone (Pu`u `O`o cone) showed several microradians of radial tilt, but the week's patterns were complex and plagued by instrument problems.

Moderate seismicity at the summit of Kilauea continued. Many small, low frequency earthquakes have taken place at shallow depths beneath the summit caldera. The tiny earthquakes happened at the rate of about 1-2 per minute. As has been typical of the ongoing swarm for the past several weeks, some larger earthquakes also occurred, these coming from depths of a few kilometers. Little or no volcanic tremor accompanied the swarm at the summit. In contrast, as is the norm, volcanic tremor at Pu`u `O`o remained moderate to high.

On 5 November, two small breakouts occurred. The freshly escaping lava was seen on the Kohola arm of the Mother's Day flow just below the top of the steep cliffs called Pulama pali. Observers watching a 30-40 m diameter crater located on the SW side of Pu`u `O`o crater noted a new lava pond, a new lava flow, and a fuming cone-pit. Visits to active flow fields on 7 November resulted in observations of hornitos, a 200-m-wide rootless shield, and the leading edge of 45-m-wide flow.
Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Report for Klyuchevskoy
A 7 November report noted continued unrest, with recent (late October) activity including unusual numbers and kinds of earthquakes. During the week ending 7 November tremor took place and earthquakes remained elevated. A 9 November satellite observation revealed an ash and steam plume to ~7 km a.s.l. and extending ~100 km from the summit.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Report for Popocatepetl
This tall volcano is commonly obscured by clouds and scientists are then forced to rely on seismicity detected by the monitoring network to define the number of "daily exhalations." Daily exhalations during the week of 5-11 November 2003 typically stood at ~5. By comparison, during March 1996 the daily exhalations reached ~180. Other monitored parameters during 5-11 November also indicated relative stability. Scientists also consider the energy released by the exhalation-related seismicity, and not surprisingly, this also stood much higher during mid-1996. A 17 October 2003 flight over the volcano allowed scientists to see into the crater; the crater floor looked comparatively flat, without signs of a rising dome. Good visibility on 6 November brought little sign of fumarolic steam rising from the volcano. No aviation ash advisories were issued for Popocatépetl during this week.
Sources: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Report for Reventador
Many unconsolidated deposits remain on Reventador's flanks following its sudden eruption on 3 November 2002, and strong rain fell there during 7 and 9 November 2003. During those days seismometers recorded signals interpreted as lahars. In addition, after these signals diminished, the seismometers detected the more subtle signals of tremor. Multiple volcanic earthquakes per day also occurred.
Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG)
Report for Stromboli
According to aviation reports from the U.S. Air Force, the web camera at Stromboli captured light ash emissions on 7 and 11 November. In both cases plumes rose to ~2.5 km a.s.l.
Source: Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV)
Report for Tungurahua
Tungurahua maintained a generally low level of activity, with occasional plumes (often ash-poor) rising to less than 1 km above the summit. In contrast, a few ash-bearing emissions occurred. For example, on 5, 6, and 7 November there were ash falls of low intensity in the volcano's eastern sector. On the 6th two larger than average explosions were recorded seismically, one associated with an ash column rising to 2 km a.s.l. On the latter day there was also a modest. During this week, tremor represented a key seismic signal, with relatively few earthquakes.
Sources: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)