Activity for the week of 29 June-5 July 2005
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, notices of volcanic activity posted on these pages are preliminary and subject to change as events are studied in more detail. This is not a comprehensive list of all of Earth's volcanoes erupting during the week, but rather a summary of activity at volcanoes that meet criteria discussed in detail in the "Criteria and Disclaimers" section. Carefully reviewed, detailed reports on various volcanoes are published monthly in the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network.
New Activity / Unrest
Cleveland
| Chuginadak Island (USA)
| 52.825°N, 169.944°W
| Elevation 1730 m
Satellite imagery of Cleveland taken during 24 June to 1 July showed increased heat flow from the volcano and a possible debris flow. AVO stated that although observations were inhibited by cloudy weather, they indicated the possibility of increased volcanic activity. AVO did not assign a Concern Color Code to Cleveland due to the lack of seismic monitoring at the volcano and limited satellite observations. The last eruption at Cleveland began in February 2001 when three explosive events produced ash clouds as high as 12 km (39,400 ft) a.s.l.
Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)
Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba
| Volcano Islands (Japan)
| 24.285°N, 141.481°E
| Elevation -29 m
On the evening of 2 July, members of the Japan Coast Guard observed a steam plume rising ~1 km above the sea near the island of Minami-Iwo-jima. On 3 July, JMA confirmed that a small-scale eruption had occurred at the submarine volcano Fukutoku-Okanoba, prompting the Japan Coast Guard to issue a warning against sailing in the area. Observers saw rock and mud rising to the sea's surface near the volcano and a ~1-square-km area of water that had turned orange-brown. As of 4 July, a new island had not formed.
Sources: Daily Yomiuri News, Reuters, Associated Press
Nyamuragira
| DR Congo
| 1.408°S, 29.2°E
| Elevation 3058 m
GVO reported that a significant seismic crisis occurred at Nyamuragira during several days in late June. The crisis consisted of swarms of mainly long-period earthquakes, which increased in number daily and peaked on 26 and 27 June. The swarms were recorded by the entire seismic network at the volcano, as far away as 90 km S of the volcano. Most of the events occurred within a 10 km radius around Nyamuragira's summit caldera and were aligned roughly N-S. The depths of the earthquakes ranged from 0 to 30 km, with two main areas of concentration; one between 15 and 25 km deep, and the other between 0 and 4 km. Based on precursory activity before previous historical eruptions at Nyamuragira, GVO reported that a new eruption might occur in the next 2-4 months. They stressed that an eruption from Nyamuragira would not threaten the city of Goma or other inhabited areas.
Sources: Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma (OVG), Jacques Durieux, UN Program Manager
Soufriere Hills
| Montserrat
| 16.72°N, 62.18°W
| Elevation 915 m
During 24 June to 1 July, seismic and volcanic activity at Soufrière Hills was elevated in comparison to the previous week. Periodic episodes of intense ash venting continued during the report period, culminating in an explosive event beginning on 28 June at 1306. During the event, ballistics were ejected onto the Farrell's plain (to the NW) and a column collapse produced pyroclastic flows. The pyroclastic flows reached the sea at the Tar River delta (to the NE) and a smaller volume of material flowed into the top of Tyre's Ghaut (to the N). Ash analyses from a venting episode on 13 June did not indicate the presence of fresh magma.
Preliminary analysis of recent ground deformation data from the GPS network at the volcano showed that deflation during April to mid June 2005 had later reversed, and the volcano appeared to be inflating. The daily recorded sulfur-dioxide flux varied from 300 metric tons per day (t/d) on 28 June to 700 t/d on 29 June, with an average of 470 t/d for the week.
Source: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO)
Ongoing Activity
Anatahan
| Mariana Islands (USA)
| 16.35°N, 145.67°E
| Elevation 790 m
On 3 July at 1646 an eruption at Anatahan produced a SSE-drifting plume to a height of ~12.2 km (~40,000 ft) a.s.l. according to Guam Meteorological Office radar. Volcanic fog (vog) briefly drifted S over the islands of Saipan and Tinian. During the rest of 29 June to 5 July, steam-and-ash emissions continued to rise to low levels.
Source: Emergency Management Office of the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands and United States Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program
Bagana
| Bougainville (Papua New Guinea)
| 6.137°S, 155.196°E
| Elevation 1855 m
A thin plume emitted from Bagana was visible on satellite imagery on 30 June. The height of the plume was not reported.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Colima
| Mexico
| 19.514°N, 103.62°W
| Elevation 3850 m
Ash emission continued at Colima during 29 June to 5 July. On 30 June, lahars traveled SW down La Lumbre Ravine and SSE down Montegrande Ravine to a maximum length of ~10 km. The lahars did not reach populated areas. Due to heavy rain, and ash on the flanks of the volcano, Universidad de Colima advised avoiding the ravines of La Lumbre, San Antonio, Monte Grande (in Colima state), and La Arena (in Jalisco state). The Washington VAAC reported that the Colima video camera and satellite imagery confirmed that an explosive eruption occurred at Colima on 5 July at 1821. The Mexico City MWO reported that the resultant ash plume reached a height of ~9.1 km (~29,900 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW. According to the Colima Volcano Observatory, pyroclastic flows accompanying the eruption traveled down Colima's E flank.
Sources: Centro Universitario de Estudios e Investigaciones de Vulcanologia - Universidad de Colima, Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Karymsky
| Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
| 54.049°N, 159.443°E
| Elevation 1513 m
Satellite imagery of Karymsky showed a narrow ash-and-gas plume at a height of ~3.5 km (11,500 ft) a.s.l. on 30 June. Based on interpretations of seismic data, ash-and-gas plumes may have reached heights of 3 km above the volcano's crater (14,900 ft a.s.l.). Karymsky was at Concern Color Code Orange.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Kilauea
| Hawaiian Islands (USA)
| 19.421°N, 155.287°W
| Elevation 1222 m
Lava from Kilauea entered the sea during 4-5 July, and few surface lava flows were visible on the Pulama pali fault scarp. Background volcanic tremor remained above normal levels at Kilauea's summit and at moderate levels at Pu`u `O`o. Slight inflation and deflation occurred at the volcano. According to a news report, around 3 July a lava-viewing area was closed at Kilauea due to the increased chance of a 10-hectare size lava bench (land built out from the sea cliff) in the vicinity collapsing without warning.
Sources: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), Associated Press
Manam
| Papua New Guinea
| 4.08°S, 145.037°E
| Elevation 1807 m
Thin plumes from Manam were visible on satellite imagery during 1-2 July. The plume heights were not reported.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Reventador
| Ecuador
| 0.077°S, 77.656°W
| Elevation 3562 m
During 30 June to 5 July, gas-and-ash emissions continued at Reventador. Plumes rose to a maximum height of 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l.
Sources: Instituto GeofÃsico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Sheveluch
| Central Kamchatka (Russia)
| 56.653°N, 161.36°E
| Elevation 3283 m
During 24 June to 1 July, satellite imagery of Shiveluch showed a persistent thermal anomaly and fumarolic activity producing steam to 4-5 km (13,100-16,400 ft) a.s.l. On 30 June, ash-and-gas plumes rose 3-5 km (9,800-16,400 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW. Hot avalanches of volcanic material were also recorded during the report week. Shiveluch remained at Concern Color Code Orange.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
St. Helens
| United States
| 46.2°N, 122.18°W
| Elevation 2549 m
During 29 June to 5 July, growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continued, accompanied by seismic and deformation data trends similar to those of the previous few weeks. On 2 July at 0630 a rockfall from the growing lava dome removed a large piece of the top of the dome, producing an ash plume that rose above the crater rim and generating a substantial seismic signal. Persistent smaller rockfalls from the growing lava dome built talus aprons on the W and NE flanks of the dome.
Source: US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO)
Tungurahua
| Ecuador
| 1.467°S, 78.442°W
| Elevation 5023 m
During 1-5 July, volcanic and seismic activity were at relatively low levels at Tungurahua. Low-energy plumes were emitted that were composed of gas, steam, and occasionally small amounts of ash. The plumes rose to a maximum height of ~5.8 km (19,000 ft) a.s.l. on 4 July.
Source: Instituto GeofÃsico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG)
Ulawun
| New Britain (Papua New Guinea)
| 5.05°S, 151.33°E
| Elevation 2334 m
During 30 June to 1 July, thin ash plumes from Ulawun were visible on satellite imagery. The plume heights were not reported.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
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 monthly, and 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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