All times are local unless otherwise stated.

Galeras (Colombia) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Galeras Andean Northern Volcanic Arc	On 22 November INGEOMINAS reported that the Alert Level for Galeras was increased from 3 (changes in the behavior of volcanic activity have been noted) to 2 (probable eruption in days to weeks) on a scale of 4-1, due to seismic patterns previously indicative of eruptive episodes. Emissions of gas and steam were seen coming from the periphery of the main crater during aerial observations on 4, 5, 10, and 11 December. Source: Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)
Mayon (Philippines) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Mayon Eastern Philippine Volcanic Arc	According to news articles, the National Disaster Coordinating Council in Manila estimated that 100,000 people still remained in shelters from typhoon Durian that struck on 30 November and triggered lahars down Mayon's flanks. An estimated 1,200 people are dead or missing. Media sources on 9 December reported that approximately 15,000 people from 12 villages were evacuated from areas around Mayon (in Albay province) in anticipation of more lahars following another typhoon. On 11 December, reports indicated that the second typhoon, Utor, had passed Albay without triggering lahars. Sources: Agence France-Presse (AFP), Associated Press, Associated Press
Pagan (United States) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Pagan Mariana Volcanic Arc	During 4-5 December, residents 3 km SW of Pagan reported ashfall that accumulated in their camp at a rate of about 6.4 mm per day. They also described a plume from the summit that rose to an altitude of 640 m (2,100 ft) a.s.l. and a sulfur smell that occasionally wafted through their camp. Based on satellite imagery, the Washington VAAC reported a gas-and-ash plume that drifted mainly W on 5, 6, and 8 December. Satellite imagery showed no further activity through 11 December. Sources: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), US Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program, Emergency Management Office of the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands and United States Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program
Sheveluch (Russia) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Sheveluch Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	According to observations and video data, KVERT reported fumarolic activity from Shiveluch during 2-4 and 6-7 December. Based on satellite imagery, the Tokyo VAAC reported possible eruption plumes on 8 and 11 December that reached altitudes of 5.2 km (17,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW and NE, respectively. Satellite imagery and a pilot observation reported by the VAAC indicated ash plumes on 12 December to altitudes of 3-5.8 km (10,000-19,000 ft) a.s.l. Sources: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)

Aira (Japan) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Aira Ryukyu Volcanic Arc	Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported an eruption from Sakura-jima on 12 December. The resultant plume reached an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE. Source: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Anatahan (United States) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Anatahan Mariana Volcanic Arc	Seismic activity at Anatahan was very low during the previous two weeks (late November through early December). Diffuse steam-and-gas plumes were occasionally visible on recent satellite images or during observation flights. On 7 December, the Volcanic Alert Level was lowered from Yellow to Green. Source: Emergency Management Office of the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands and United States Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program
Karymsky (Russia) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Karymsky Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	Seismic data from Karymsky was not available during 1-8 December. Pilots from international airlines reported that on 2 December ash plumes rose to 6.9 km (22,600 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E. Plumes also drifted E on 5-6 December. A thermal anomaly in the crater was detected on 3 and 6-7 December. Plumes were visible on satellite imagery on 9 December, extending as far as 15 km W. The Level of Concern Color Code remained at Orange. Sources: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Kilauea (United States) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Kilauea Hawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group	During 6-12 December, lava from Kilauea continued to flow off of a lava delta into the ocean at the East Lae'apuki and East Ka'ili'ili entries. Incandescence on the pali was visible during the reporting period. A large breakout on Pulama pali on 5 December resulted in downed and burned trees. Incandescence was also intermittently visible from the East Pond and January vents, South Wall complex, and Drainhole vent in Pu'u 'O'o's crater. Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Manam (Papua New Guinea) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Manam Bismarck Volcanic Arc	RVO reported that during 8-10 December, incandescence was observed from Manam's Main Crater. Bluish white vapor emissions during 6-9 December changed to a darker gray on 10 December. A resultant plume rose to 2.1-2.2 km (6,900-7,200 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE. Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO)
Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Rabaul Bismarck Volcanic Arc	RVO reported that during 6-8 December Rabaul caldera's Tavurvur cone emitted thick white-to-gray plumes that rose to 1.2-3.2 km (3,900-10,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW and NE. Ashfall was reported from areas downwind (NW) on 6 and 7 December. Roaring noises were heard during 7-10 December. On 11 December, the volcano was quiet and emitted only a diffuse plume that was also visible on satellite imagery. On 12 December, a loud explosion shook houses in Rabaul Town and a gray plume rose to 1.7 km (5,600 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E. When the noise stopped on 10 December, the deformation monitoring equipment recorded an approximate 1-cm rapid uplift that subsided after the explosion on 12 December. Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO)
Santa Maria (Guatemala) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Santa Maria Central America Volcanic Arc	Based on satellite imagery, the Washington VAAC reported that explosions at Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex produced ash plumes on 5, 7, and 10 December that drifted SW, NW, and W, respectively. INSIVUMEH reported constant incandescent avalanches on 8 December from the S and SE edge of Caliente dome and from the toe of the active lava flow on the SW flank. Ash plumes caused slight ashfall to the SW. Sources: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
Soufriere Hills (United Kingdom) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Soufriere Hills Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc	During 1-8 December, the MVO reported that observations of Soufrière Hills were limited due to cloud cover. On 2 December, the lava dome was visible and growth was concentrated on the NE. Based on information from the MVO, satellite imagery, and pilot reports, the Washington VAAC reported a small explosion on 8 December. The resulting ash plume rose to an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W. Sources: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
St. Helens (United States) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
St. Helens High Cascades Volcanic Arc	Data from deformation-monitoring instruments showed that during 6-12 December the lava dome at Mount St. Helens continued to grow. Seismicity continued at low levels, punctuated by M 1.5-2.5 and occasionally larger earthquakes. Source: US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO)
Tungurahua (Ecuador) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Tungurahua Andean Northern Volcanic Arc	IG reported that during 6-12 December, emissions from Tungurahua produced steam plumes with little ash content that reached altitudes of 6-7 km (19,700-23,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions. On 6 December, plumes reached an altitude of 10 km (32,800 ft) a.s.l. Ashfall was reported in areas including Cotaló, about 13 km NW, Pillate, about 7 km to the W, and Puela, about 8 km SW. On 9 December, ashfall up to 1 mm thick was reported about 12 km N in Baños. Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN)
Ulawun (Papua New Guinea) | 6 December-12 December 2006 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Ulawun Bismarck Volcanic Arc	Based on satellite imagery, the Darwin VAAC reported that diffuse plumes from Ulawun reached altitudes of 4 km (13,000 ft) a.s.l. on 9 December. Plumes on 11 December reached unreported altitudes. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

Weekly Reports Archive

Since the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report began in November 2000, there have been 20,322 individual reports over 1,229 weeks (average of 17 per week) on 336 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)