***************************************************************** GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 13-19 February 2008 Sally Kuhn Sennert - Weekly Report Editor kuhns@xxxxxx URL: http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/ ***************************************************************** New Activity/Unrest: | Llaima, Central Chile | Tungurahua, Ecuador Ongoing Activity: | Anatahan, Mariana Islands (Central Pacific) | Callaqui, Central Chile | Cleveland, Chuginadak Island | Colima, México | Fuego, Guatemala | Kilauea, Hawaii (USA) | Nevado del Huila, Colombia | Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania | Pacaya, Guatemala | Popocatépetl, México | Rabaul, New Britain (SW Pacific) | Santa María, Guatemala | Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia) | Soufrière Hills, Montserrat | St. Helens, Washington (USA) 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. Note: 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. New Activity/Unrest LLAIMA Central Chile 38.692°S, 71.729°W; summit elev. 3125 m SERNAGEOMIN reported that explosions in the main crater of Llaima propelled incandescent material 200-500 m in the air during 8-13 February. Explosions occasionally alternated between N and S cones in the main crater. On 9 February, the Calbuco River was about 1 m higher than the normal level, likely due to melt water from the lava and glacier interaction. On 10 February, Strombolian eruptions from the main crater were observed during an overflight. The lava flows on the W flank were 2.5 km long and made channels in the ice tens of meters deep. Although visual observations were limited due to cloud cover, sulfur dioxide and steam plumes from lava interacting with ice during 10-14 and 17 February rose to altitudes of 4.1-6.1 km (13,500-20,000 ft) a.s.l. Plumes drifted SE on 11 February. Lava flows were 3 km long on 11 February. On 13 February, incandescence at the summit was noted. Geologic Summary. Llaima, one of Chile's largest and most active volcanoes, contains two main historically active craters, one at the summit and the other to the SE. The massive 3,125-m-high, glacier-covered stratovolcano has a volume of 400 cu km. A Holocene edifice built primarily of accumulated lava flows was constructed over an 8-km-wide caldera that formed about 13,200 years ago, following eruption of the 24 cu km Curacautín Ignimbrite. More than 40 scoria cones dot the volcano's flanks. Following the end of an explosive stage about 7,200 years ago, construction of the present edifice began, characterized by Strombolian, hawaiian, and infrequent subplinian eruptions. Frequent moderate explosive eruptions with occasional lava flows have been recorded since the 17th century. Source: Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN) http://www.sernageomin.cl/index.php TUNGURAHUA Ecuador 1.467°S, 78.442°W; summit elev. 5023 m IG reported that although visual observations were limited due to cloud cover, ash and steam-and-ash plumes from Tungurahua were spotted and rose to altitudes of 6-9 km (19,700-29,500 ft) a.s.l. during 12-19 February. Ash plumes drifted mainly NW, W, and NE, and ashfall was reported in areas downwind. Roaring noises were occasionally heard. During 12-13 and 16 February, incandescence at the summit was observed. Noises resembling blocks rolling down the flanks were heard on 14 and 17 February. On 18 February, a lahar descended the Achupashal drainage to the NW. 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 all originated from 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 Politécnica Nacional (IG) http://www.igepn.edu.ec/ Ongoing Activity ANATAHAN Mariana Islands (Central Pacific) 16.35°N, 145.67°E; summit elev. 790 m The USGS reported a diffuse plume from Anatahan, possibly containing some ash, was visible on satellite imagery drifting SW on 14 February. On 17 and 19 February seismicity increased. On 18 February, both a low-level steam plume that possibly contained ash and a sulfur dioxide plume were visible on satellite imagery drifting SW. A sulfur dioxide plume was again noted on 19 February. The Volcanic Alert Level remained at Watch and the Aviation Color Code remained at Orange. Geologic Summary. The elongate, 9-km-long island of Anatahan in the central Mariana Islands consists of large stratovolcano with a 2.3 x 5 km, E-W-trending compound summit caldera. The larger western caldera is 2.3 x 3 km wide, and its western rim forms the island's 790-m high point. Ponded lava flows overlain by pyroclastic deposits fill the floor of the western caldera, whose SW side is cut by a fresh-looking smaller crater. The 2-km-wide eastern caldera contained a steep-walled inner crater whose floor prior to the 2003 eruption was only 68 m above sea level. Sparseness of vegetation on the most recent lava flows on Anatahan had indicated that they were of Holocene age, but the first historical eruption of Anatahan did not occur until May 2003, when a large explosive eruption took place forming a new crater inside the eastern caldera. Source: Emergency Management Office of the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands and the US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/ CALLAQUI Central Chile 37.92°S, 71.45°W; summit elev. 3164 m According to news articles on 14 February, scientists from the Universidad de Concepción will install instruments to monitor Callaqui. Local residents reported feeling earthquakes and hearing constant rumbling noises during the previous few weeks. Geologic Summary. The late-Pleistocene to Holocene Callaqui stratovolcano has a profile of an overturned canoe due to its construction along an 11-km-long, SW-NE fissure above a 1.2-0.3 million year old Pleistocene edifice. The ice-capped, 3164-m-high basaltic-andesite Callaqui volcano contains well-preserved volcanic cones and lava flows, which have traveled up to 14 km. Small craters 100-500 m in diameter are primarily found along a fissure extending down the SW flank. Intense solfataric activity occurs at the southern part of the summit; in 1966 and 1978, red glow was observed in fumarolic areas. Periods of intense fumarolic activity have dominated at Callaqui, and few historical eruptions are known. An explosive eruption was reported in 1751, there were uncertain accounts of eruptions in 1864 and 1937, and a small phreatic ash emission was noted in 1980. Source: El Mostrador http://www.elmostrador.cl/modulos/noticias/constructor/noticia_new.asp?id_noticia=240383 CLEVELAND Chuginadak Island 52.825°N, 169.944°W; summit elev. 1730 m AVO reported that a minor explosion from Cleveland on 15 February produced a small, diffuse ash plume that rose to an altitude of below 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW. The Volcanic Alert Level remained at Advisory and the Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow. Geologic Summary. Symmetrical Mount Cleveland stratovolcano is situated at the western end of the uninhabited dumbbell-shaped Chuginadak Island in the east-central Aleutians. The 1,730-m-high stratovolcano is the highest of the Islands of Four Mountains group and is one of the most active in the Aleutians. Numerous large lava flows descend its flanks. It is possible that some 18th to 19th century eruptions attributed to Carlisle (a volcano located across the Carlisle Pass Strait to the NW) should be ascribed to Cleveland. In 1944 Cleveland produced the only known fatality from an Aleutian eruption. Recent eruptions from Mt. Cleveland have been characterized by short-lived explosive ash emissions, at times accompanied by lava fountaining and lava flows down the flanks. Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) http://www.avo.alaska.edu/ COLIMA México 19.514°N, 103.62°W; summit elev. 3850 m Steam and steam-and-ash plumes from Colima were observed rising to altitudes of 4-4.4 km (13,100-14,400 ft) a.s.l. during 14-19 February. Plumes drifted N, NE, and E. 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: Gobierno del Estado de Colima http://www.colima-estado.gob.mx/2006/seguridad/indvolcan.php FUEGO Guatemala 14.473°N, 90.880°W; summit elev. 3763 m INSIVUMEH reported that during 6-19 February explosions from Fuego produced ash plumes that rose to altitudes of 4-4.7 km (13,100-15,400 ft) a.s.l. Fumarolic plumes rose to altitudes of 3.9-4 km (12,800-13,100 ft) a.s.l. 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 (INSIVUMEH) http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/ KILAUEA Hawaii (USA) 19.421°N, 155.287°W; summit elev. 1222 m Based on observations during overflights, and web camera views when weather permitted, HVO reported that during 13-19 February activity from Kilauea's fissure segment D was concentrated at the Thanksgiving Eve Breakout (TEB) shield and new satellitic shields to the E and SE. On 15 February, a broad pahoehoe flow traveled E from the main complex of shields. During 15-18 February, a lava flow traveled SE from a rootless shield (number 6) towards the N boundary of the Royal Gardens subdivision. Diffuse incandescence was observed in Pu'u 'O'o crater through the fume during 17-19 February. Earthquakes were located beneath Halema'uma'u crater, along the S-flank faults, beneath the summit, and along the E and SW rift zones. 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 of lava flows less than about 1,100 years old; 70% of the volcano's surface is younger than 600 years. A long-term eruption from the East rift zone that began in 1983 has produced lava flows covering more than 100 sq km, destroying nearly 200 houses and adding new coastline to the island. Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/ NEVADO DEL HUILA Colombia 2.93°N, 76.03°W; summit elev. 5365 m INGEOMINAS reported that sulfur dioxide plumes from Nevado del Huila drifted NW on 8 and 12 February. Geologic Summary. Nevado del Huila, the highest active volcano in Colombia, is an elongated N-S-trending volcanic chain mantled by a glacier icecap. The andesitic-dacitic volcano was constructed within a 10-km-wide caldera. Volcanism at Nevado del Huila has produced six volcanic cones whose ages in general migrated from south to north. Two glacier-free lava domes lie at the southern end of the Huila volcanic complex. The first historical eruption from this little known volcano took place in the 16th century. Two persistent steam columns rise from the central peak, and hot springs are also present. Source: Instituto Colombiano de Geología y Minería (INGEOMINAS) http://www.ingeominas.gov.co// OL DOINYO LENGAI Tanzania 2.764°S, 35.914°E; summit elev. 2962 m The Toulouse VAAC reported that an ash plume from Ol Doinyo Lengai was observed by pilots on 15 February and rose to an altitude of 11.6 km (38,000 ft) a.s.l. Geologic Summary. The symmetrical Ol Doinyo Lengai stratovolcano is the only volcano known to have erupted carbonatite tephras and lavas in historical time. The prominent volcano, known as "The Mountain of God," rises abruptly above the broad plain S of Lake Natron. The cone-building stage of the volcano ended about 15,000 years ago and was followed by periodic ejection of natrocarbonatite and nephelinite tephra during the Holocene. Historical eruptions have consisted of smaller tephra eruptions and emission of numerous natrocarbonatitic lava flows on the floor of the summit crater. Petrologists first observed the eruption of carbonatitic lava flows in the 1960s. Subsequent more frequent visits have documented long-term lava effusion in the summit crater that would not have been seen from the foot of the volcano. Source: Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/OTH/FR/messages.html PACAYA Guatemala 14.381°N, 90.601°W; summit elev. 2552 m INSIVUMEH reported that during 6-19 February white and blue fumarolic plumes from Pacaya's MacKenney cone rose to altitudes of 2.6-2.7 km (8,500-8,900 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S, SW, and W. About two to five lava flows per day traveled about 50-200 m to the W and NW, slowly filling in the area between MacKenney cone and Cerro Chino crater to the N. Explosions on 8 February propelled fragments 100 m above the summit. 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 Amatitlan 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 (INSIVUMEH) http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/ POPOCATEPETL México 19.023°N, 98.622°W; summit elev. 5426 m CENAPRED reported that emissions of steam and gas from Popocatépetl were visible during 12-19 February. The plumes occasionally contained slight amounts of ash. An explosion on 12 February resulted in an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. and ejected fragments that fell in the crater. On 14 February, an ash plume rose to an altitude of 8.4 km (27,600 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE. Geologic Summary. Popocatépetl, whose name is the Aztec word for smoking mountain, towers to 5,426 m 70 km SE of Mexico City and is North America's second-highest volcano. Frequent historical eruptions have been recorded since the beginning of the Spanish colonial era. A small eruption on 21 December 1994 ended five decades of quiescence. Since 1996 small lava domes have incrementally been constructed within the summit crater and destroyed by explosive eruptions. Intermittent small-to-moderate gas-and-ash eruptions have continued, occasionally producing ashfall in neighboring towns and villages. Source: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED) http://www.cenapred.unam.mx/es/ RABAUL New Britain (SW Pacific) 4.271°S, 152.203°E; summit elev. 688 m RVO reported that ash plumes from Rabaul caldera's Tavurvur cone rose to an altitude of 2.2 km (7,200 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW, N, E, SE, and S during 12-15 and 17-20 February. Ashfall was reported in Barovon, Lalakua, Raluana, Kokopo, and surrounding villages downwind. During 19-20 February, incandescence at the summit was accompanied by projections of lava fragments. Roaring noises were sometimes heard. 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 SANTA MARIA Guatemala 14.756°N, 91.552°W; summit elev. 3772 m INSIVUMEH reported on 6 February that avalanches from lava flows on the W flank of Santa María's Santiaguito lava dome complex continued. Explosions produced ash-and-steam plumes that rose to an altitude of 3.9 km (12,800 ft) a.s.l. On 8 February, a strong phreatic explosion produced an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 4.7 km (15,400 ft) a.s.l. and caused ashfall in areas 4 km to the SW. Collapsing blocks of lava on the SW flank resulted in steam-and-ash plumes. On 12 and 18 February, lava flows on the S and SW flanks and avalanches of blocks that originated from the edge of the crater were noted. On 15, 18, and 19 February, explosions produced ash plumes that rose to altitudes of 4.6-4.7 km (15,100-15,400 ft) a.s.l. Ashfall was reported from areas 4 km to the SW on 15 February. 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. Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH) http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/ SHIVELUCH Central Kamchatka (Russia) 56.653°N, 161.360°E; summit elev. 3283 m KVERT reported that seismic activity at Shiveluch was slightly above background levels during 8-11 February and at background levels on 12 and 13 February. Based on seismic interpretation, ash plumes possibly rose to an altitude of 3.3 km (10,800 ft) a.s.l. on 9 February. Strong fumarolic activity was noted during 8-9 and 11-12 February. According to observations of satellite imagery, a thermal anomaly was present in the crater every day during the reporting period. The Level of Concern Color Code remained at Orange. Geologic Summary. The high, isolated massif of Shiveluch volcano (also spelled Sheveluch) rises above the lowlands NNE of the Kliuchevskaya volcano group and forms one of Kamchatka's largest and most active volcanoes. The currently active Molodoy Shiveluch lava-dome complex was constructed during the Holocene within a large breached caldera formed by collapse of the massive late-Pleistocene Strary Shiveluch volcano. At least 60 large eruptions of Shiveluch have occurred during the Holocene, making it the most vigorous andesitic volcano of the Kuril-Kamchatka arc. Frequent collapses of lava-dome complexes, most recently in 1964, have produced large debris avalanches whose deposits cover much of the floor of the breached caldera. During the 1990s, intermittent explosive eruptions took place from a new lava dome that began growing in 1980. The largest historical eruptions from Shiveluch occurred in 1854 and 1964. Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php SOUFRIERE HILLS Montserrat 16.72°N, 62.18°W; summit elev. 915 m MVO reported that that during 13-19 February the lava dome at Soufrière Hills changed very little, based on visual observations. Seismic activity was very low and low-level rockfall activity continued. Fumarolic activity on the N and E flanks continued. Active fumaroles were also noted in the Galway's area to the S of the dome. Clouds obscured views to the W in the Gages Wall area. Heavy rainfall triggered lahars in multiple drainages. On 13 February, the lower Belham river valley to the W was impassable for a short time due to lahars. The Alert Level remained elevated at 4 (on a scale of 0-5). Geologic Summary. The complex dominantly andesitic Soufrière Hills volcano occupies the southern half of the island of Montserrat. The summit area consists primarily of a series of lava domes emplaced along an ESE-trending zone. English's Crater, a 1-km-wide crater breached widely to the E, was formed during an eruption about 4,000 years ago in which the summit collapsed, producing a large submarine debris avalanche. Block-and-ash flow and surge deposits associated with dome growth predominate in flank deposits at Soufrière Hills. Non-eruptive seismic swarms occurred at 30-year intervals in the 20th century, but with the exception of a 17th-century eruption that produced the Castle Peak lava dome, no historical eruptions were recorded on Montserrat until 1995. Long-term small-to-moderate ash eruptions beginning in that year were later accompanied by lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows that forced evacuation of the southern half of the island and ultimately destroyed the capital city of Plymouth, causing major social and economic disruption. Source: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) http://www.mvo.ms/ ST. HELENS Washington (USA) 46.20°N, 122.18°W; summit elev. 2549 m Data from deformation-monitoring instruments indicated that during13-19 February lava-dome growth at Mount St. Helens continued. Seismicity persisted at low levels, punctuated by M 1.5-2.5, and occasionally larger, earthquakes. Clouds and snow cover frequently inhibited visual observations. 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: Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sally Kuhn Sennert SI/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report Editor Global Volcanism Program http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/ Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History Department of Mineral Sciences, MRC-119 Washington, D.C., 20560 Phone: 202.633.1805 Fax: 202.357.2476 ============================================================== To unsubscribe from the volcano list, send the message: signoff volcano to: listserv@xxxxxxx, or write to: volcano-request@xxxxxxxx To contribute to the volcano list, send your message to: volcano@xxxxxxxx Please do not send attachments. ==============================================================