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GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
15-21 November 2006
http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/
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Ongoing Activity: | Colima, México | Fuego, Guatemala | Karymsky, Russia
| Kilauea, USA | Langila, Papua New Guinea | Pacaya, Guatemala | Rabaul,
Papua New Guinea | Santa María, Guatemala | St. Helens, USA |
Suwanose-jima, Japan | Tungurahua, Ecuador | Ubinas, Perú | Ulawun,
Papua New Guinea
Ongoing Activity
COLIMA Western México 19.514°N, 103.62°W; summit elev. 3,850 m
The Washington VAAC reported that on 19 November a diffuse plume from
Colima was visible on a web camera drifting W. Approximately 5 hours
later, the Mexico City MWO reported an ash plume to an altitude of 5.5
km (18,000 ft) a.s.l. drifting SW.
Geologic Summary. The Colima volcanic complex is the most prominent
volcanic center of the western Mexican Volcanic Belt. It consists of two
southward-younging volcanoes, Nevado de Colima (the 4,320 m high point
of the complex) on the N and the historically active Volcán de Colima on
the S. Volcán de Colima (also known as Volcán Fuego) is a youthful
stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera, breached to the S,
that has been the source of large debris avalanches. Major slope
failures have occurred repeatedly from both the Nevado and Colima cones,
and have produced a thick apron of debris-avalanche deposits on three
sides of the complex. Frequent historical eruptions date back to the
16th century. Occasional major explosive eruptions (most recently in
1913) have destroyed the summit and left a deep, steep-sided crater that
was slowly refilled and then overtopped by lava dome growth.
Source: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/messages.html
Colima Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1401-04=
FUEGO Guatemala 14.47°N, 90.88°W; summit elev. 3,763 m
INSIVUMEH reported that on 15 November lava flows from Fuego traveled
about 150 m SW and avalanches occurred from the lava-flow fronts. On 17
November, three out of seven explosions propelled incandescent material
100 m above the central crater.
Geologic Summary. Volcán Fuego, one of Central America's most active
volcanoes, is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's
former capital, Antigua. The scarp of an older edifice, Meseta, lies
between 3,763-m-high Fuego and its twin volcano to the N, Acatenango.
Construction of Meseta volcano continued until the late Pleistocene or
early Holocene, after which growth of the modern Fuego volcano continued
the southward migration of volcanism that began at Acatenango. Frequent
vigorous historical eruptions have been recorded at Fuego since the
onset of the Spanish era in 1524, and have produced major ashfalls,
along with occasional pyroclastic flows and lava flows. The last major
explosive eruption from Fuego took place in 1974, producing spectacular
pyroclastic flows visible from Antigua.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e
Hidrologia http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/geofisica/boletin%20formato.htm
Fuego Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1402-09=
KARYMSKY Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia 54.05°N, 159.43°E; summit elev. 1,536 m
Seismic data from Karymsky was available during 10-11 November.
Seismicity was elevated above background levels and the number of
shallow earthquakes ranged 130-420 per day. Based on seismic data,
explosions produced ash plumes that possibly reached altitudes of 2.5 km
(8,200 ft) a.s.l. Plumes were visible on satellite imagery on 13
November and drifted W. The Level of Concern Color Code remained at
Orange <http://www.avo.alaska.edu/color_codes.php>.
Geologic Summary. Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's
eastern volcanic zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within
a 5-km-wide caldera that formed about 7,600-7,700 radiocarbon years ago.
Construction of the Karymsky stratovolcano began about 2,000 years
later. The latest eruptive period began about 500 years ago, following a
2,300-year quiescence. Much of the cone is mantled by lava flows less
than 200 years old. Historical eruptions have been Vulcanian or
Vulcanian-Strombolian with moderate explosive activity and occasional
lava flows from the summit crater. Most seismicity preceding Karymsky
eruptions has originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, which is located
immediately S of Karymsky volcano and erupted simultaneously with
Karymsky in 1996.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/updates.shtml
Karymsky Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1000-13=
KILAUEA Hawaii, USA 19.43°N, 155.29°W; summit elev. 1,222 m
During 15-21 November, 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.
During 15-18 November, break-out flows were visible on the Paluma pali.
Incandescence was intermittently visible from the East Pond and January
vents, South Wall complex, and Drainhole vent in Pu'u 'O'o's crater. On
18 November, the Drainhole vent twice ejected spatter as high as 25 m
above its rim. Summit inflation S of Halema'uma'u caldera continued.
Tremor at Pu'u 'O'o remained at a typical moderate level.
Geologic Summary. Kilauea, one of five coalescing volcanoes that
comprise the island of Hawaii, is one of the world’s most active
volcanoes. Eruptions at Kilauea originate primarily from the summit
caldera or along one of the lengthy E and SW rift zones that extend from
the caldera to the sea. About 90% of the surface of Kilauea is formed by
lava flows less than about 1,100 years old; 70% of the volcano's surface
is younger than 600 years. The latest Kilauea eruption began in January
1983 along the E rift zone. This long-term ongoing eruption from Pu`u
`O`o-Kupaianaha has produced lava flows that have traveled 11-12 km from
the vents to the sea, paving broad areas on the S flank of Kilauea and
adding new land beyond the former coastline.
Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/hvostatus.php
Kilauea information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1302-01-
LANGILA New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea 5.53°S, 148.42°E; summit
elev. 1,330 m
During 2-20 November, eruptive activity at Langila's Crater 2 consisted
of continuous emissions of pale gray ash plumes that rose to an altitude
of 2.3 km (7,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N, NW, and W. On 6 November, two
explosions produced ash plumes that rose to an altitude of 3.8 km
(12,500 ft) a.s.l. Explosions of incandescent lava fragments were
visible during 2-6 November and roaring noises were heard on 2-6, 12-16,
and 20 November. Incandescence from the crater was visible
intermittently during the reporting period.
Geologic Summary. Langila, one of the most active volcanoes of New
Britain, consists of a group of four small overlapping composite cones
on the lower eastern flank of the extinct Talawe volcano. Talawe is the
highest volcano in the Cape Gloucester area of NW New Britain. A
rectangular, 2.5-km-long crater is breached widely to the SE; Langila
volcano was constructed NE of the breached crater of Talawe. An
extensive lava field reaches the coast on the N and NE sides of Langila.
Frequent mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions, sometimes accompanied by
lava flows, have been recorded since the 19th century from three active
craters at the summit of Langila. The youngest and smallest crater (no.
3 crater) was formed in 1960 and has a diameter of 150 m.
Source: Herman Patia, Rabaul Volcano Observatory
Langila Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0502-01=
PACAYA southern Guatemala 14.38°N, 90.60°W; summit elev. 2,552 m
INSIVUMEH reported that on 15 and 17 November lava flows from Pacaya
traveled about 100-150 m N and NE. On 17 November, fumarolic emissions
produced a white cloud that surrounded the S flank of MacKenney Cone.
Geologic Summary. Eruptions from Pacaya, one of Guatemala's most active
volcanoes, are frequently visible from Guatemala City, the nation's
capital. Pacaya is a complex volcano constructed on the southern rim of
the 14 x 16 km Pleistocene Amatitlán caldera. A cluster of dacitic lava
domes occupies the caldera floor. The Pacaya massif includes the Cerro
Grande lava dome and a younger volcano to the SW. Collapse of Pacaya
volcano about 1,100 years ago produced a debris-avalanche deposit that
extends 25 km onto the Pacific coastal plain and left an arcuate somma
rim inside which the modern Pacaya volcano (MacKenney cone) grew. During
the past several decades, activity at Pacaya has consisted of frequent
Strombolian eruptions with intermittent lava flow extrusion on the
flanks of MacKenney cone, punctuated by occasional larger explosive
eruptions.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e
Hidrologia
http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/geofisica/boletin%20formato.htm
Pacaya Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1402-11=
RABAUL New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea 4.271°S, 152.203°E; summit
elev. 688 m
RVO reported that during 14-20 November eruptions occurred at Rabaul
caldera's active Tavurvur cone. On 14 November, a large explosion
produced an ash plume that rose to 2.7 km (8,900 ft) a.s.l. and drifted
NW. Lava fragments fell onto the flanks and into the sea. Continuous ash
emissions followed. During 15-18 and 20 November, continuous emissions
of white vapor and gray ash clouds produced plumes that rose to 0.8-3.2
km (2,600-10,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S, E, N, and NW. On 19 November
only thick white vapor clouds were emitted. Fine ashfall was reported
downwind on 20 November.
Geologic Summary. The low-lying Rabaul caldera on the tip of the Gazelle
Peninsula at the NE end of New Britain forms a broad sheltered harbor.
The outer flanks of the 688-m-high asymmetrical pyroclastic shield
volcano are formed by thick pyroclastic-flow deposits. The 8 x 14 km
caldera is widely breached on the E, where its floor is flooded by
Blanche Bay. Two major Holocene caldera-forming eruptions at Rabaul took
place as recently as 3,500 and 1,400 years ago. Three small
stratovolcanoes lie outside the northern and NE caldera rims.
Post-caldera eruptions built basaltic-to-dacitic pyroclastic cones on
the caldera floor near the NE and western caldera walls. Several of
these, including Vulcan cone, which was formed during a large eruption
in 1878, have produced major explosive activity during historical time.
A powerful explosive eruption in 1994 occurred simultaneously from
Vulcan and Tavurvur volcanoes and forced the temporary abandonment of
Rabaul city.
Source: Herman Patia, Rabaul Volcano Observatory
Rabaul Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0502-14=
SANTA MARÍA Guatemala 14.756°N, 91.552°W; summit elev. 3,772 m
Explosions at Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex produced
plumes that reached an altitude of 5.3 km (17,400 km) a.s.l. on 15
November. Ashfall was reported from areas to the N. Lava flowed down the
SW, S, and SE flanks of Caliente dome. On 17 November, explosions
produced white-and-gray plumes that drifted SW, where light ashfall was
reported. Based on satellite imagery, the Washington VAAC reported a
series of brief gas-and-ash emissions on 19 November. Plumes drifted W.
Geologic Summary. Symmetrical, forest-covered Santa María volcano is one
of a chain of large stratovolcanoes that rises dramatically above the
Pacific coastal plain of Guatemala. The stratovolcano has a
sharp-topped, conical profile that is cut on the SW flank by a large,
1-km-wide crater, which formed during a catastrophic eruption in 1902
and extends from just below the summit to the lower flank. The renowned
Plinian eruption of 1902 followed a long repose period and devastated
much of SW Guatemala. The large dacitic Santiaguito lava-dome complex
has been growing at the base of the 1902 crater since 1922. Compound
dome growth at Santiaguito has occurred episodically from four
westward-younging vents, accompanied by almost continuous minor
explosions and periodic lava extrusion, larger explosions, pyroclastic
flows, and lahars.
Sources: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e
Hidrologia http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/geofisica/boletin%20formato.htm,
Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/messages.html
Santa María Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1402-03=
ST. HELENS Washington, USA 46.20°N, 122.18°W; summit elev. 2,549 m
Data from deformation-monitoring instruments showed that during 15-21
November the lava dome at Mount St. Helens continued to grow. Inclement
weather prohibited visual observations during most of the reporting
period. On 21 November, views from an aircraft and a crater camera
showed that an active spine continued to extrude.
Geologic Summary. Prior to 1980, Mount St. Helens formed a conical,
youthful volcano sometimes known as the Fuji-san of America. During the
1980 eruption the upper 400 m of the summit was removed by slope
failure, leaving a 2 x 3.5 km horseshoe-shaped crater now partially
filled by a lava dome. Mount St. Helens was formed during nine eruptive
periods beginning about 40-50,000 years ago, and has been the most
active volcano in the Cascade Range during the Holocene. The modern
edifice was constructed during the last 2,200 years, when the volcano
produced basaltic as well as andesitic and dacitic products from summit
and flank vents. Historical eruptions in the 19th century originated
from the Goat Rocks area on the N flank, and were witnessed by early
settlers.
Source: US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/CurrentActivity/framework.html
St. Helens Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1201-05-
SUWANOSE-JIMA Ryukyu Islands, Japan 29.53°N, 129.72°E; summit elev. 799 m
Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that on 17
November an eruption plume from Suwanose-jima rose straight up to an
altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l.
Geologic Summary. The 8-km-long, spindle-shaped island of Suwanose-jima
in the northern Ryukyu Islands consists of an andesitic stratovolcano
with two historically active summit craters. Only about 50 persons live
on the sparsely populated island. The summit of the volcano is truncated
by a large breached crater extending to the sea on the E flank that was
formed by edifice collapse. Suwanose-jima, one of Japan’s most
frequently active volcanoes, was in a state of intermittent strombolian
activity from On-take, the NE summit crater, that began in 1949 and
lasted nearly a half century. The largest historical eruption took place
in 1813-14, when thick scoria deposits blanketed residential areas,
after which the island was uninhabited for around 70 years. The SW
crater produced lava flows that reached the western coast in 1813, and
lava flows reached the eastern coast of the island in 1884.
Source: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/OTH/JP/messages.html
Suwanose-jima Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0802-03=
TUNGURAHUA Ecuador 1.47°S, 78.44°W; summit elev. 5,023 m
IG reported that lahars from Tungurahua traveled NW down the gorges of
Vazcún and Mandur on 14 and 15 November, respectively. During 16-19
November, emissions produced gas plumes with minor ash content that
reached altitudes of 5.2-5.5 km (17,100-18,000 ft) a.s.l. On 17
November, an ash plume reached an altitude greater than 10 km (32,800
ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW and NE.
Geologic Summary. The steep-sided Tungurahua stratovolcano towers more
than 3 km above its northern base. It sits ~140 km S of Quito, Ecuador’s
capital city, and is one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes. Historical
eruptions have been restricted to the summit crater. They have been
accompanied by strong explosions and sometimes by pyroclastic flows and
lava flows that reached populated areas at the volcano's base. The last
major eruption took place from 1916 to 1918, although minor activity
continued until 1925. The latest eruption began in October 1999 and
prompted temporary evacuation of the town of Baños on the N side of the
volcano.
Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Poltécnica Nacional
http://www.igepn.edu.ec/
Tungurahua Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1502-08=
UBINAS Perú 16.355°S, 70.903°W; summit elev. 5,672 m
Based on pilot reports, the Buenos Aires VAAC reported continuous
emissions from Ubinas during 15-16 November. The plumes rose to 5.5 km
(18,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW and SE.
Geologic Summary. A small, 1.2-km-wide caldera that cuts the top of
Ubinas, Peru's most active volcano, gives it a truncated appearance.
Ubinas is the northernmost of three young volcanoes located along a
regional structural lineament about 50 km behind the main volcanic front
of Peru. The upper slopes of the stratovolcano, composed primarily of
Pleistocene andesitic lava flows, steepen to nearly 45 degrees. The
steep-walled, 150-m-deep summit caldera contains an ash cone with a
500-m-wide funnel-shaped vent that is 200 m deep. Debris-avalanche
deposits from the collapse of the SE flank of Ubinas extend 10 km from
the volcano. Widespread plinian pumice-fall deposits from Ubinas include
some of Holocene age. Holocene lava flows are visible on the volcano's
flanks, but historical activity, documented since the 16th century, has
consisted of intermittent minor explosive eruptions.
Source: Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/Volc_ash_recent.shtml
Ubinas Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1504-02
ULAWUN New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea 5.04°S, 151.34°E; summit
elev. 2,334 m
Based on satellite imagery, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 16-17
November diffuse plumes from Ulawun drifted N and NW. An ash-and-steam
plume was visible on 18 November.
Geologic Summary. The symmetrical basaltic to andesitic Ulawun
stratovolcano is the highest volcano of the Bismarck arc, and one of
Papua New Guinea's most frequently active. Ulawun rises above the N
coast of New Britain opposite Bamus volcano. The upper 1,000 m of the
2,334-m-high volcano is unvegetated. A steep-walled valley cuts the NW
side of the volcano, and a flank lava-flow complex lies to the S of this
valley. Historical eruptions date back to the beginning of the 18th
century. Twentieth-century eruptions were mildly explosive until 1967,
but after 1970 several larger eruptions produced lava flows and basaltic
pyroclastic flows, greatly modifying the summit crater.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/OTH/AU/messages.html
Ulawun Information from the Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0502-12=
**+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
**
**Sally Kuhn Sennert**
**Global Volcanism Program**
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History MRC-119
Department of Mineral Sciences
Washington, D.C., 20560
http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm
Phone: 202.633.1805
Fax: 202.357.2476
<http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/>
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