All times are local unless otherwise stated.

Etna | 12 January-18 January 2011 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Etna Sicily (Italy)	On the evening of 12 January Strombolian activity from a pit crater located on the lower E flank of Etna's Southeast Crater cone intensified and volcanic tremor amplitude increased. Just after 2100 lava breached the crater's E rim and formed a lava flow that traveled towards the W wall of the Valle del Bove. During the night of 12-13 January, the pit crater produced lava fountains, voluminous lava flows that descended to about 1,630 m elevation (about 4.2 km from the vent), and an ash plume that rose several kilometers. The ash plume drifted S and caused ashfall on Etna's S flank and in population centers such as Nicolosi. Scoria several centimeters in diameter fell in Rifugio Sapienza, at 1,910 m elevation. The lava fountains were sustained initially and rose 300-500 m high, then pulsated and became less vigorous, and eventually formed one single jet that rose less than 100 m. Fountaining ceased at 0055 on 13 January. Emissions of ash during 13 January were generated in part by collapses within the crater and also by sporadic explosions within the conduit. On 14 January small landslides within the pit crater produced grayish-brown plumes. Source: Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV)
Fuego | 12 January-18 January 2011 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Fuego South-Central Guatemala	On 10 January, INSIVUMEH reported an increase in the number and magnitude of explosions from Fuego since mid-December. During the previous three days explosions had produced ash plumes that rose 1 km above the crater and drifted 25 km mainly S and SW, and remained in the atmosphere for several hours. INSIVUMEH recommended that civil aviation authorities restrict flying within 25 km S and SW of Fuego. During 13-14 and 16-18 January explosions produced ash plumes that rose 200-500 m above the crater and drifted SW, E, and NE. Rumbling was heard and shock waves were detected. At night during 13-14 January, explosions ejected incandescent material as high as 75 m above the crater. Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
Kizimen | 12 January-18 January 2011 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Kizimen Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)	KVERT reported that during 7-13 January a thermal anomaly over Kizimen was observed in satellite imagery. Pyroclastic flow deposits on the E flank were noted. Seismicity, recorded during 6-7 and 12 January, was high but variable, and many shallow volcanic earthquakes as well as volcanic tremor continued to be detected. Ash plumes that rose to altitudes of 6-8 km (20,000-26,000 ft) a.s.l. during 5-13 January were visually observed drifting multiple directions, and seen in satellite imagery more than 275 km W and NW. On 12 January ashfall was reported in the villages of Anavgai and Esso, 140 km NW. Seismic data during 14-15 January suggested that ash plumes rose to altitudes of 4-5 km (13,100-16,400 ft) a.s.l. Satellite images showed a bright thermal anomaly over the volcano and ash plumes drifting more than 180 km W on 15 January. The Aviation Color Code level was lowered to Orange. Sources: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Turrialba | 12 January-18 January 2011 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Turrialba Costa Rica	According to news articles, people near Turrialba reported minor ashfall 2 km SE, rumbling noises, and a strong sulfur odor on 14 January. A few people were evacuated. OVSICORI-UNA noted that a blue and white gas plume rose from Turrialba the next day. Sources: La Nacion, Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica-Universidad Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA)

Aira | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Aira Kyushu (Japan)	Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 13 and 16-18 January explosions from Sakura-jima produced plumes that rose to altitudes of 1.5-2.4 km (5,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE. On 17 January, a pilot reported that an ash plume rose to altitudes of 1.2-2.1 km (4,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE. Source: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Bulusan | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Bulusan Luzon (Philippines)	During 11-17 January, PHIVOLCS reported that up to 2 daily volcanic earthquakes at Bulusan were detected by the seismic network. Cloud cover prevented observations of the summit area. An explosion on 18 January was accompanied by a rumbling sound audible in Monbon, a barangay (neighborhood) in the municipality of Irosin, to the S. Cloud cover prevented observations of the crater. Trace amounts of ashfall were observed in Monbon. The Alert Level remained at 1 (on a scale of 0-5). Source: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)
Colima | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Colima Mexico	According to news articles from 11 and 12 January, although incandescent landslides from Colima's lava dome had increased during the last days of 2010 into early 2011, the activity was still considered to be within normal parameters. Landslides occurred on the W, S, and N flanks, producing "dust plumes" observed from multiple municipalities. The lava dome that began growing in February 2007 was about 60 m high and had a volume of 2.6 million cubic meters. Sources: Noticieros Televisa, El Universal
Karymsky | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Karymsky Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)	KVERT reported that moderate seismic activity was detected at Karymsky during 7-13 January. A thermal anomaly was observed in satellite imagery on 9 January; cloud cover obscured views on the other days. Seismic data showed that possible ash plumes rose to an altitude of 4.2 km (13,800 ft) a.s.l. during 10-12 January. The Aviation Color Code level remained at Orange. Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Kilauea | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Kilauea Hawaiian Islands (USA)	During 12-18 January, HVO reported that activity at Kilauea continued from the summit caldera and the east rift zone. At the summit caldera, the level of the lava-pool surface in the deep pit within Halema'uma'u crater circulated and remained mostly stable at approximately 120 m below the crater floor, periodically rising several meters higher. Nighttime incandescence was visible from the Jaggar Museum on the NW caldera rim. A plume from the vent that drifted S, NE, and N deposited ash and fresh spatter nearby. At the east rift zone, lava that broke out of the Quarry tube at a saddle between two rootless shields around 610 m elevation, continued to advance in two branches, E and W. At the lowest elevation of the E branch lava advanced along Highway 130 near Kalapana, set a kipuka on fire, and destroyed a structure. One part of the W branch entered the ocean at Ki, about 2 km SW of the end of Highway 130. A spatter cone on the N portion of the Pu'u 'O'o crater floor fed lava flows and incandescence emanated from the fuming vent in the E wall of the crater. Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Krakatau | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Krakatau Sunda Strait	Based on information from CVGHM, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 12 January an eruption plume from Anak Krakatau rose to an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE. Meteorological clouds prevented observations of the area from satellite. On 15 January, a pilot observed a plume that rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 18-28 km E. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
San Cristobal | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
San Cristobal Sierra de los Marrabios	Based on a METAR weather notice, the Washington VAAC reported a possible ash plume on 13 January. Satellite imagery showed a narrow and diffuse plume drifting SW. Source: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Sangay | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Sangay Ecuador	Based on a pilot observation, the Washington VAAC reported that on 12 January an ash plume from Sangay rose to an altitude of 6.7 km (22,000 ft) a.s.l. and possibly drifted more than 45 km SW. A thermal anomaly was detected in satellite imagery. Source: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Sheveluch | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Sheveluch Central Kamchatka (Russia)	KVERT reported that moderate seismic activity from Shiveluch was detected during 7-13 January. A bright thermal anomaly over the lava dome was observed in satellite imagery during 7-11 January. Visual observations during 7-9 and 13 January, when the weather did not obscure the volcano, showed steam-and-gas activity. The Aviation Color Code level remained at Orange. Based on information from KEMSD, the Tokyo VAAC reported that on 18 January an eruption produced a plume that rose to an altitude of 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W. Sources: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Soufriere Hills | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Soufriere Hills Montserrat	MVO reported that during 7-14 January activity from the Soufrière Hills lava dome was at a low level. Helicopter observations revealed fresh pyroclastic-flow deposits less than 1 km long on the E side of the lava dome. A small pyroclastic flow occurred at the head of the Tar River valley to the E on 6 January. The Hazard Level remained at 3. Source: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO)
Suwanosejima | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Suwanosejima Ryukyu Islands (Japan)	Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported explosions from Suwanose-jima during 12-13 and 15 January. A plume rose to an altitude of 1.2 km (4,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE on 13 January. Source: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Taal | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Taal Luzon (Philippines)	PHIVOLCS reported that a deformation survey of Taal conducted in December 2010 showed slight inflation as compared to a survey conducted in September 2010. Field observations on 10 January revealed no significant changes. Weak steaming from a thermal area inside the main crater was noted and the lake temperature and color were normal. During 15-16 January 10 volcanic earthquakes were detected; two earthquakes were felt by residents in barangay (neighborhood) Pira-piraso, on the N side of the island. On 17 January three volcanic earthquakes were detected and on 18 January only one was reported. The Alert Level remained at 1 (on a scale of 0-5). Source: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)
Tungurahua | 12 January-18 January 2011 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Tungurahua Ecuador	The IG reported that during 5-17 January activity at Tungurahua continued to decrease and ash was absent from plumes. At night during 11-12 January incandescence from the crater was observed. Although cloudy weather often prevented observations during 11-18 January, weak steam plumes were occasionally observed rising from the crater. Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN)

Weekly Reports Archive

Since the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report began in November 2000, there have been 19,996 individual reports over 1,215 weeks (average of 16 per week) on 332 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.

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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)