Activity for the week of 21 May-27 May 2014
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
Ahyi
| Mariana Islands (USA)
| 20.42°N, 145.03°E
| Elevation -75 m
On 23 May the USGS reported that during the previous week one explosion signal from the source at or near Ahyi seamount was detected. Seismic activity had been low since 8 May continuing to indicate that the eruption had possibly paused or ended.
Source: Emergency Management Office of the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands and United States Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program
San Miguel
| El Salvador
| 13.434°N, 88.269°W
| Elevation 2130 m
According to SNET, the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MARN) reported that during 22-23 May heavy rains at San Miguel caused lahars that originated from the upper part of the volcano and were heard by residents. Seismicity and gas output both remained high. Gas plumes rose 300 m and drifted W; the plumes were different colors and suggested that fine material was being carried out of the crater.
Source: Servicio Nacional de Estudios Territoriales (SNET)
Santa Maria
| Guatemala
| 14.757°N, 91.552°W
| Elevation 3745 m
INSIVUMEH reported that on 22 May a lahar, the second since the 9 May eruption at Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex, carried blocks up to 1 m in diameter as well as tree trunks. The lahar was 15 m wide and 2 m deep and had a strong sulfur odor. An explosion at 0608 on 23 May generated an ash plume that rose 700 m, drifted SW, and caused ashfall in parts of Monte Claro (S). On 24 May a lahar that was 25 m wide, 2 m deep, and had a sulfur odor descended the Nima I drainage, carrying tree trunks and branches. During 26-27 May gas-and-ash plumes rose 300-500 m and drifted SW.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
Ongoing Activity
Aira
| Kyushu (Japan)
| 31.593°N, 130.657°E
| Elevation 1117 m
JMA reported that during 19-23 May two explosions from Showa Crater at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano ejected tephra as far as 1,300 m. Incandescence from the crater was detected at night during 19-20 May. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5). The Tokyo VAAC reported that during 23-25 May plumes rose to altitudes of 2.4-4 km (8,000-13,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S, SE, and N.
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Bagana
| Bougainville (Papua New Guinea)
| 6.137°S, 155.196°E
| Elevation 1855 m
Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 27 May an ash plume from Bagana rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 65 km W.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Batu Tara
| Komba Island (Indonesia)
| 7.791°S, 123.585°E
| Elevation 633 m
Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 26-27 May ash plumes from Batu Tara rose to altitudes of 1.2-2.1 km (4,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 25-95 km NW and W.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Dukono
| Halmahera (Indonesia)
| 1.693°N, 127.894°E
| Elevation 1229 m
Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 24 May ash plumes from Dukono rose to an altitude of 3.4 km (11,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 65 km W.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Karymsky
| Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
| 54.049°N, 159.443°E
| Elevation 1513 m
KVERT reported that Strombolian and weak Vulcanian activity continued at Karymsky during 16-23 May. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Kilauea
| Hawaiian Islands (USA)
| 19.421°N, 155.287°W
| Elevation 1222 m
During 21-27 May HVO reported that the circulating lava lake occasionally rose and fell in the deep pit within Kilauea's Halema'uma'u Crater. Gas emissions remained elevated. The plume from the vent continued to deposit variable amounts of ash, spatter, and Pele's hair onto nearby areas; smaller particles may have been dropped several kilometers away.
At Pu'u 'O'o Crater, glow emanated from spatter cones on the N, NE, SE, and S portions of the crater floor. The Kahauale’a 2 lava flow continued to advance, with breakouts from the main stalled lobe, and burn adjoining forest. On 22 May geologists mapped the farthest point of activity, 8.4 km NE of Pu’u 'O'o.
Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Merapi
| Central Java (Indonesia)
| 7.54°S, 110.446°E
| Elevation 2910 m
PVMBG reported that seismicity at Merapi decreased during 16-22 May, as compared to the previous week. No deformation was detected. The Alert Level was lowered to 1 (on a scale of 1-4) on 23 May.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
Reventador
| Ecuador
| 0.077°S, 77.656°W
| Elevation 3562 m
IG reported that although cloud cover often prevented observations of Reventador during 21-27 May ash plumes were occasionally observed. An ash plume was observed from an aircraft on 22 May, and the next day an ash-and-vapor plume rose 1 km and drifted NW.
Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG)
Sheveluch
| Central Kamchatka (Russia)
| 56.653°N, 161.36°E
| Elevation 3283 m
KVERT reported that during 16-23 May lava-dome extrusion onto Shiveluch’s SE flank was accompanied by ash explosions, incandescence, hot avalanches, and fumarolic activity. Satellite images detected a thermal anomaly over the dome on 16 and 19 May. Satellite images on 27 May showed ash plumes rising to altitudes of 3-10 km (9,800-32,800 ft) and drifted as far as 850 km S. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Shishaldin
| Fox Islands (USA)
| 54.756°N, 163.97°W
| Elevation 2857 m
AVO reported that on most days during 21-27 May elevated surface temperatures at Shishaldin's summit were detected in satellite images, and minor steam emissions were observed in webcam images on 21 May. Cloud cover often prevented observations. Seismometers near the volcano detected brief explosion signals during 21-26 May. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.
Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)
Ubinas
| Peru
| 16.355°S, 70.903°W
| Elevation 5672 m
Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that during 21-23 and 25-27 May ash emissions at Ubinas continued. On most days gas-and-ash plumes rose 0.7-3.8 km above the crater and drifted W, N, E, and SE. Ashfall was reported in various towns downwind of the plumes including Querapi (4 km S), Ubinas (6.5 km SSE), Escacha, Lloque, Chojata, San Miguel, and Tonohaya.
Source: Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico (INGEMMET)
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 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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