Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 31 October-6 November 2018

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From: "Kuhn, Sally" <KUHNS@xxxxxx>

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Sally Kuhn Sennert - Weekly Report Editor (kuhns@xxxxxx)

URL: https://volcano.si.edu/reports_weekly.cfm





New Activity/Unrest: Kuchinoerabujima, Ryukyu Islands (Japan)  | Sarychev
Peak, Matua Island (Russia)



Ongoing Activity: Aira, Kyushu (Japan)  | Dukono, Halmahera (Indonesia)  |
Ebeko, Paramushir Island (Russia)  | Etna, Sicily (Italy)  | Fuego,
Guatemala  | Krakatau, Indonesia  | Merapi, Central Java (Indonesia)  |
Nevados de Chillan, Chile  | Piton de la Fournaise, Reunion Island
(France)  | Popocatepetl, Mexico  | Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica  |
Sabancaya, Peru  | Santa Maria, Guatemala  | Semisopochnoi, United States
| Sheveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)  | Turrialba, Costa Rica  |
Veniaminof, United States





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





Kuchinoerabujima  | Ryukyu Islands (Japan)  | 30.443°N, 130.217°E  | Summit
elev. 657 m



JMA reported that during 31 October-5 November there were very small events
recorded at Kuchinoerabujimaâ??s Shindake Crater. Plumes rose 500-1,200 m
above the crater rim. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5).



Geologic Summary. A group of young stratovolcanoes forms the eastern end of
the irregularly shaped island of Kuchinoerabujima in the northern Ryukyu
Islands, 15 km west of Yakushima. The Furudake, Shindake, and Noikeyama
cones were erupted from south to north, respectively, forming a composite
cone with multiple craters. The youngest cone, centrally-located Shintake,
formed after the NW side of Furutake was breached by an explosion. All
historical eruptions have occurred from Shintake, although a lava flow from
the S flank of Furutake that reached the coast has a very fresh morphology.
Frequent explosive eruptions have taken place from Shintake since 1840; the
largest of these was in December 1933. Several villages on the 4 x 12 km
island are located within a few kilometers of the active crater and have
suffered damage from eruptions.



Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/





Sarychev Peak  | Matua Island (Russia)  | 48.092°N, 153.2°E  | Summit elev.
1496 m



KVERT reported that an ash explosion at Sarychev Peak was last noted on 10
October and a thermal anomaly was last identified on 15 October. The
volcano was quiet or obscured by clouds during 16-31 October. KVERT lowered
the Aviation Color Code to Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-color
scale).



Geologic Summary. Sarychev Peak, one of the most active volcanoes of the
Kuril Islands, occupies the NW end of Matua Island in the central Kuriles.
The andesitic central cone was constructed within a 3-3.5-km-wide caldera,
whose rim is exposed only on the SW side. A dramatic 250-m-wide, very
steep-walled crater with a jagged rim caps the volcano. The substantially
higher SE rim forms the 1496 m high point of the island. Fresh-looking lava
flows, prior to activity in 2009, had descended in all directions, often
forming capes along the coast. Much of the lower-angle outer flanks of the
volcano are overlain by pyroclastic-flow deposits. Eruptions have been
recorded since the 1760s and include both quiet lava effusion and violent
explosions. Large eruptions in 1946 and 2009 produced pyroclastic flows
that reached the sea.



Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php





Ongoing Activity





Aira  | Kyushu (Japan)  | 31.593°N, 130.657°E  | Summit elev. 1117 m



JMA reported that at 1022 on 30 October an event at Minamidake crater (at
Aira Calderaâ??s Sakurajima volcano) generated a plume that rose 1 km above
the crater rim. Two explosions occurred during 2-5 November; the larger of
the two sent a plume to 2.6 km and ejected material as far as 700 m from
the crater. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).



Geologic Summary. The Aira caldera in the northern half of Kagoshima Bay
contains the post-caldera Sakurajima volcano, one of Japan's most active.
Eruption of the voluminous Ito pyroclastic flow accompanied formation of
the 17 x 23 km caldera about 22,000 years ago. The smaller Wakamiko caldera
was formed during the early Holocene in the NE corner of the Aira caldera,
along with several post-caldera cones. The construction of Sakurajima began
about 13,000 years ago on the southern rim of Aira caldera and built an
island that was finally joined to the Osumi Peninsula during the major
explosive and effusive eruption of 1914. Activity at the Kitadake summit
cone ended about 4850 years ago, after which eruptions took place at
Minamidake. Frequent historical eruptions, recorded since the 8th century,
have deposited ash on Kagoshima, one of Kyushu's largest cities, located
across Kagoshima Bay only 8 km from the summit. The largest historical
eruption took place during 1471-76.



Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/





Dukono  | Halmahera (Indonesia)  | 1.693°N, 127.894°E  | Summit elev. 1229 m



Based on satellite data, wind model data, and notices from PVMBG, the
Darwin VAAC reported that during 30-31 October ash plumes from Dukono rose
to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W and N.



Geologic Summary. Reports from this remote volcano in northernmost
Halmahera are rare, but Dukono has been one of Indonesia's most active
volcanoes. More-or-less continuous explosive eruptions, sometimes
accompanied by lava flows, occurred from 1933 until at least the mid-1990s,
when routine observations were curtailed. During a major eruption in 1550,
a lava flow filled in the strait between Halmahera and the north-flank cone
of Gunung Mamuya. This complex volcano presents a broad, low profile with
multiple summit peaks and overlapping craters. Malupang Wariang, 1 km SW of
the summit crater complex, contains a 700 x 570 m crater that has also been
active during historical time.



Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
http://www.bom.gov.au/aviation/volcanic-ash/darwin-va-advisory.shtml





Ebeko  | Paramushir Island (Russia)  | 50.686°N, 156.014°E  | Summit elev.
1103 m



Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of
Ebeko, observed explosions during 26 October-2 November that sent ash
plumes to 3.7 km (12,400 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted in multiple
directions and caused ashfall in Severo-Kurilsk during 29-31 October. A
thermal anomaly was visible in satellite images on 24 and 29 October. The
Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a
four-color scale).



Geologic Summary. The flat-topped summit of the central cone of Ebeko
volcano, one of the most active in the Kuril Islands, occupies the northern
end of Paramushir Island. Three summit craters located along a SSW-NNE line
form Ebeko volcano proper, at the northern end of a complex of five
volcanic cones. Blocky lava flows extend west from Ebeko and SE from the
neighboring Nezametnyi cone. The eastern part of the southern crater
contains strong solfataras and a large boiling spring. The central crater
is filled by a lake about 20 m deep whose shores are lined with steaming
solfataras; the northern crater lies across a narrow, low barrier from the
central crater and contains a small, cold crescentic lake. Historical
activity, recorded since the late-18th century, has been restricted to
small-to-moderate explosive eruptions from the summit craters. Intense
fumarolic activity occurs in the summit craters, on the outer flanks of the
cone, and in lateral explosion craters.



Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php





Etna  | Sicily (Italy)  | 37.748°N, 14.999°E  | Summit elev. 3295 m



INGV reported that during 29 October-4 November activity at Etna was
characterized by gas emissions at the summit craters, with periodic
Strombolian activity from vents in Bocca Nuova, Northeast Crater (NEC), SE
Crater (SEC), and New Southeast Crater (NSEC). Strombolian explosions at
NSEC were interspersed with long pauses from a few minutes to a few hours.
The explosions sometimes produced ash emissions that quickly dispersed;
ashfall was deposited around the crater and in the Valle del Bove.
Strombolian activity and gas emissions were characteristic of the N vent in
the W part of Bocca Nuovaâ??s (BN-1) crater floor. Spattering from the
southernmost vent was also visible, as well as gas emissions. Gas emissions
at Voragine Crater from a vent on the E rim of the crater were less intense
compared to previous months. NEC activity was characterized by Strombolian
explosions sometimes accompanied by minor ash emissions.



Geologic Summary. Mount Etna, towering above Catania, Sicily's second
largest city, has one of the world's longest documented records of
historical volcanism, dating back to 1500 BCE. Historical lava flows of
basaltic composition cover much of the surface of this massive volcano,
whose edifice is the highest and most voluminous in Italy. The Mongibello
stratovolcano, truncated by several small calderas, was constructed during
the late Pleistocene and Holocene over an older shield volcano. The most
prominent morphological feature of Etna is the Valle del Bove, a 5 x 10 km
horseshoe-shaped caldera open to the east. Two styles of eruptive activity
typically occur, sometimes simultaneously. Persistent explosive eruptions,
sometimes with minor lava emissions, take place from one or more summit
craters. Flank vents, typically with higher effusion rates, are less
frequently active and originate from fissures that open progressively
downward from near the summit (usually accompanied by Strombolian eruptions
at the upper end). Cinder cones are commonly constructed over the vents of
lower-flank lava flows. Lava flows extend to the foot of the volcano on all
sides and have reached the sea over a broad area on the SE flank.



Source: Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV)
http://www.ct.ingv.it/





Fuego  | Guatemala  | 14.473°N, 90.88°W  | Summit elev. 3763 m



INSIVUMEH and CONRED reported an increase in seismicity and in the number
of explosions at Fuego on 31 October. Ash plumes during 31 October-5
November rose 1 km above the summit and drifted 15 km W and SW. Ashfall was
reported in areas downwind including Morelia (9 km SW), Santa Sofia (12 km
SW), Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW), Panimaché (8 km SW), and San Pedro
Yepocapa (8 km NW). By 2 November a lava flow had traveled 300 m down the
Ceniza (SSW) drainage, and by 4 November lava flows 600 m long descended
the Ceniza and Taniluyá (SW) drainages. Explosions on 4 November produced
shock waves that rattled nearby structures, and on 5 November ejected
incandescent material 200 m high. INSIVUMEH reported another increase of
activity on 6 November characterized by a period of constant explosions,
and ash plumes rising over 1 km and drifting 20 km W and SW. Ashfall was
reported in multiple areas including Panimaché, El Porvenir, Morelia, Santa
Sofia, Sangre de Cristo, Finca Palo Verde, and San Pedro Yepocapa.
Incandescent material was ejected 200-300 m high and caused avalanches that
reached vegetated areas in the Seca and Taniluyá drainages. A 1-km-long
lava flow was active in the Ceniza drainage. Shock waves from explosions
vibrated local houses.



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 3763-m-high Fuego and its twin volcano to the north, Acatenango.
Construction of Meseta dates back to about 230,000 years and continued
until the late Pleistocene or early Holocene. Collapse of Meseta may have
produced the massive Escuintla debris-avalanche deposit, which extends
about 50 km onto the Pacific coastal plain. Growth of the modern Fuego
volcano followed, continuing the southward migration of volcanism that
began at Acatenango. In contrast to the mostly andesitic Acatenango,
eruptions at Fuego have become more mafic with time, and most historical
activity has produced basaltic rocks. Frequent vigorous historical
eruptions have been recorded since the onset of the Spanish era in 1524,
and have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional pyroclastic flows
and lava flows.



Sources: Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (CONRED)
http://conred.gob.gt/;

Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia
(INSIVUMEH) http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/





Krakatau  | Indonesia  | 6.102°S, 105.423°E  | Summit elev. 813 m



PVMBG reported that a 37-second-long event at Anak Krakatau at 0223 on 6
November generated an ash plume that, based on a ground observation, rose
500 m and drifted N. At 1000 a dense ash plume rose 600 m above the summit
and drifted N. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4); residents
and visitors were warned not to approach the volcano within 2 km of the
crater.



Geologic Summary. The renowned volcano Krakatau (frequently misstated as
Krakatoa) lies in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Collapse of
the ancestral Krakatau edifice, perhaps in 416 CE, formed a 7-km-wide
caldera. Remnants of this ancestral volcano are preserved in Verlaten and
Lang Islands; subsequently Rakata, Danan and Perbuwatan volcanoes were
formed, coalescing to create the pre-1883 Krakatau Island. Caldera collapse
during the catastrophic 1883 eruption destroyed Danan and Perbuwatan
volcanoes, and left only a remnant of Rakata volcano. This eruption, the
2nd largest in Indonesia during historical time, caused more than 36,000
fatalities, most as a result of devastating tsunamis that swept the
adjacent coastlines of Sumatra and Java. Pyroclastic surges traveled 40 km
across the Sunda Strait and reached the Sumatra coast. After a quiescence
of less than a half century, the post-collapse cone of Anak Krakatau (Child
of Krakatau) was constructed within the 1883 caldera at a point between the
former cones of Danan and Perbuwatan. Anak Krakatau has been the site of
frequent eruptions since 1927.



Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known
as CVGHM) http://vsi.esdm.go.id/





Merapi  | Central Java (Indonesia)  | 7.54°S, 110.446°E  | Summit elev.
2910 m



PVMBG reported that during 26 October-1 November the lava dome in Merapiâ??s
summit crater grew slowly at a rate of 2,900 cubic meters per day, slower
than the previous week. By 31 October the volume of the dome, based on
photos from the SE sector, was an estimated 248,000 cubic meters. White
emissions of variable density rose a maximum of 50 m above the summit. The
Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and residents were warned to
remain outside of the 3-km exclusion zone.



Geologic Summary. Merapi, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, lies in
one of the world's most densely populated areas and dominates the landscape
immediately north of the major city of Yogyakarta. It is the youngest and
southernmost of a volcanic chain extending NNW to Ungaran volcano. Growth
of Old Merapi during the Pleistocene ended with major edifice collapse
perhaps about 2000 years ago, leaving a large arcuate scarp cutting the
eroded older Batulawang volcano. Subsequently growth of the steep-sided
Young Merapi edifice, its upper part unvegetated due to frequent eruptive
activity, began SW of the earlier collapse scarp. Pyroclastic flows and
lahars accompanying growth and collapse of the steep-sided active summit
lava dome have devastated cultivated lands on the western-to-southern
flanks and caused many fatalities during historical time.



Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known
as CVGHM) http://vsi.esdm.go.id/





Nevados de Chillan  | Chile  | 36.868°S, 71.378°W  | Summit elev. 3180 m



Servicio Nacional de Geología and Minería (SERNAGEOMIN) Observatorio
Volcanológico de Los Andes del Sur (OVDAS) and ONEMI reported the
continuing, slow growth of the lava dome in Nevados de Chillánâ??s Nicanor
Crater during 30 October-6 November. Seismicity was characterized by
moderate levels of long-period and tremor events, often associated with
explosion signals. Gas emissions persisted, and sometimes contained ash.
Periodic explosions sometimes ejected material that was deposited around
the crater. At night incandescence emanated from the lava dome as well as
from ejected ballistics. The Alert Level remained at Orange, the second
highest level on a four-color scale, and residents were reminded not to
approach the crater within 3 km. ONEMI maintained an Alert Level Yellow
(the middle level on a three-color scale) for the communities of Pinto,
Coihueco, and San Fabián.



Geologic Summary. The compound volcano of Nevados de Chillán is one of the
most active of the Central Andes. Three late-Pleistocene to Holocene
stratovolcanoes were constructed along a NNW-SSE line within three nested
Pleistocene calderas, which produced ignimbrite sheets extending more than
100 km into the Central Depression of Chile. The largest stratovolcano,
dominantly andesitic, Cerro Blanco (Volcán Nevado), is located at the NW
end of the group. Volcán Viejo (Volcán Chillán), which was the main active
vent during the 17th-19th centuries, occupies the SE end. The new Volcán
Nuevo lava-dome complex formed between 1906 and 1945 between the two
volcanoes and grew to exceed Volcán Viejo in elevation. The Volcán Arrau
dome complex was constructed SE of Volcán Nuevo between 1973 and 1986 and
eventually exceeded its height.



Sources: Oficina Nacional de Emergencia-Ministerio del Interior (ONEMI)
http://www.onemi.cl/;

Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN)
http://www.sernageomin.cl/





Piton de la Fournaise  | Reunion Island (France)  | 21.244°S, 55.708°E  |
Summit elev. 2632 m



OVPF reported that seismicity associated with the eruption at Piton de la
Fournaise that began on 15 September had ceased by 1 November and no
further signs of activity were recorded.



Geologic Summary. The massive Piton de la Fournaise basaltic shield volcano
on the French island of Réunion in the western Indian Ocean is one of the
world's most active volcanoes. Much of its more than 530,000-year history
overlapped with eruptions of the deeply dissected Piton des Neiges shield
volcano to the NW. Three calderas formed at about 250,000, 65,000, and less
than 5000 years ago by progressive eastward slumping of the volcano.
Numerous pyroclastic cones dot the floor of the calderas and their outer
flanks. Most historical eruptions have originated from the summit and
flanks of Dolomieu, a 400-m-high lava shield that has grown within the
youngest caldera, which is 8 km wide and breached to below sea level on the
eastern side. More than 150 eruptions, most of which have produced fluid
basaltic lava flows, have occurred since the 17th century. Only six
eruptions, in 1708, 1774, 1776, 1800, 1977, and 1986, have originated from
fissures on the outer flanks of the caldera. The Piton de la Fournaise
Volcano Observatory, one of several operated by the Institut de Physique du
Globe de Paris, monitors this very active volcano.



Source: Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise (OVPF)
http://www.ipgp.fr/





Popocatepetl  | Mexico  | 19.023°N, 98.622°W  | Summit elev. 5393 m



CENAPRED reported that each day during 31 October-6 November there were
89-192 steam-and-gas emissions from Popocatépetl, some of which contained
minor amounts of ash. Periods of volcanic tremor were detected almost
daily. Explosions at 1638 and 1727 on 3 November ejected material NE and
generated plumes that rose 1.5 and 1.6 km above the crater rim,
respectively. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, Phase Two (middle level
on a three-color scale).



Geologic Summary. Volcán Popocatépetl, whose name is the Aztec word for
smoking mountain, rises 70 km SE of Mexico City to form North America's
2nd-highest volcano. The glacier-clad stratovolcano contains a
steep-walled, 400 x 600 m wide crater. The generally symmetrical volcano is
modified by the sharp-peaked Ventorrillo on the NW, a remnant of an earlier
volcano. At least three previous major cones were destroyed by
gravitational failure during the Pleistocene, producing massive
debris-avalanche deposits covering broad areas to the south. The modern
volcano was constructed south of the late-Pleistocene to Holocene El Fraile
cone. Three major Plinian eruptions, the most recent of which took place
about 800 CE, have occurred since the mid-Holocene, accompanied by
pyroclastic flows and voluminous lahars that swept basins below the
volcano. Frequent historical eruptions, first recorded in Aztec codices,
have occurred since Pre-Columbian time.



Source: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED)
http://www.cenapred.unam.mx/es/





Rincon de la Vieja  | Costa Rica  | 10.83°N, 85.324°W  | Summit elev. 1916 m



OVSICORI-UNA reported that an eruptive sequence at Rincón de la Vieja began
at 1945 on 4 November and consisted of at least three two-minute-long
episodes. Weather conditions prevented webcam views and estimates of plume
heights. The next day at 1511 a plume of water vapor and diffuse gas,
recorded by a webcam and visible to residents to the N, rose about 100 m
above the crater rim and drifted W.



Geologic Summary. Rincón de la Vieja, the largest volcano in NW Costa Rica,
is a remote volcanic complex in the Guanacaste Range. The volcano consists
of an elongated, arcuate NW-SE-trending ridge that was constructed within
the 15-km-wide early Pleistocene Guachipelín caldera, whose rim is exposed
on the south side. Sometimes known as the "Colossus of Guanacaste," it has
an estimated volume of 130 km3 and contains at least nine major eruptive
centers. Activity has migrated to the SE, where the youngest-looking
craters are located. The twin cone of 1916-m-high Santa María volcano, the
highest peak of the complex, is located at the eastern end of a smaller,
5-km-wide caldera and has a 500-m-wide crater. A plinian eruption producing
the 0.25 km3 Río Blanca tephra about 3500 years ago was the last major
magmatic eruption. All subsequent eruptions, including numerous historical
eruptions possibly dating back to the 16th century, have been from the
prominent active crater containing a 500-m-wide acid lake located ENE of
Von Seebach crater.



Source: Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica-Universidad
Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA) http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/





Sabancaya  | Peru  | 15.787°S, 71.857°W  | Summit elev. 5960 m



Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio
Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that an average of 30 explosions
per day occurred at Sabancaya during 29 October-4 November. Hybrid
earthquakes were infrequent and of low magnitude. Gas-and-ash plumes rose
as high as 3.4 km above the crater rim and drifted 40 km W, SW, and S.
MIROVA detected seven thermal anomalies, and on 2 November the
sulfur-dioxide gas flux was high at 2,300 tons per day. The report noted
that the public should not approach the crater within a 12-km radius.



Geologic Summary. Sabancaya, located in the saddle NE of Ampato and SE of
Hualca Hualca volcanoes, is the youngest of these volcanic centers and the
only one to have erupted in historical time. The oldest of the three,
Nevado Hualca Hualca, is of probable late-Pliocene to early Pleistocene
age. The name Sabancaya (meaning "tongue of fire" in the Quechua language)
first appeared in records in 1595 CE, suggesting activity prior to that
date. Holocene activity has consisted of Plinian eruptions followed by
emission of voluminous andesitic and dacitic lava flows, which form an
extensive apron around the volcano on all sides but the south. Records of
historical eruptions date back to 1750.



Sources: Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico (INGEMMET)
http://www.ingemmet.gob.pe/;

Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP) http://www.igp.gob.pe/





Santa Maria  | Guatemala  | 14.757°N, 91.552°W  | Summit elev. 3745 m



CONRED and INSIVUMEH reported that the number of avalanches at Santa
María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex increased on 2 November. The
avalanches traveled long distances from the crater, down the S and SE
flanks, to the volcanoâ??s base. Some avalanches generated ash plumes.
Explosions during 2-6 November produced ash plumes that rose 500-800 m
above the crater rim and drifted SW, causing local ashfall. Avalanches
descended the SE and NE flanks during 4-5 November.



Geologic Summary. Symmetrical, forest-covered Santa María volcano is one of
the most prominent of a chain of large stratovolcanoes that rises
dramatically above the Pacific coastal plain of Guatemala. The 3772-m-high
stratovolcano has a sharp-topped, conical profile that is cut on the SW
flank by a large, 1.5-km-wide crater. The oval-shaped crater extends from
just below the summit to the lower flank and was formed during a
catastrophic eruption in 1902. The renowned plinian eruption of 1902 that
devastated much of SW Guatemala followed a long repose period after
construction of the large basaltic-andesite stratovolcano. The massive
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, the most recent of which is
Caliente. Dome growth has been accompanied by almost continuous minor
explosions, with periodic lava extrusion, larger explosions, pyroclastic
flows, and lahars.



Sources: Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (CONRED)
http://conred.gob.gt/;

Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia
(INSIVUMEH) http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/





Semisopochnoi  | United States  | 51.93°N, 179.58°E  | Summit elev. 1221 m



AVO reported that two small explosions at Semisopochnoi were detected in
seismic and infrasound data on 31 October. Intermittent seismic tremor was
recorded on 1 November but later that day the satellite link that transmits
seismic data failed. Weather clouds obscured views of the volcano during 31
October-4 November. Nothing was observed in satellite data during 5-6
November. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest
level on a four-color scale) and Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch (the
second highest level on a four-level scale).



Geologic Summary. Semisopochnoi, the largest subaerial volcano of the
western Aleutians, is 20 km wide at sea level and contains an 8-km-wide
caldera. It formed as a result of collapse of a low-angle, dominantly
basaltic volcano following the eruption of a large volume of dacitic
pumice. The high point of the island is 1221-m-high Anvil Peak, a
double-peaked late-Pleistocene cone that forms much of the island's
northern part. The three-peaked 774-m-high Mount Cerberus volcano was
constructed during the Holocene within the caldera. Each of the peaks
contains a summit crater; lava flows on the northern flank of Cerberus
appear younger than those on the southern side. Other post-caldera
volcanoes include the symmetrical 855-m-high Sugarloaf Peak SSE of the
caldera and Lakeshore Cone, a small cinder cone at the edge of Fenner Lake
in the NE part of the caldera. Most documented historical eruptions have
originated from Cerberus, although Coats (1950) considered that both
Sugarloaf and Lakeshore Cone within the caldera could have been active
during historical time.



Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)
https://avo.alaska.edu/





Sheveluch  | Central Kamchatka (Russia)  | 56.653°N, 161.36°E  | Summit
elev. 3283 m



KVERT reported that a weak thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in
satellite data during 31 October-2 November. The Aviation Color Code
remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale).



Geologic Summary. The high, isolated massif of Sheveluch volcano (also
spelled Shiveluch) rises above the lowlands NNE of the Kliuchevskaya
volcano group. The 1300 km3 volcano is one of Kamchatka's largest and most
active volcanic structures. The summit of roughly 65,000-year-old Stary
Shiveluch is truncated by a broad 9-km-wide late-Pleistocene caldera
breached to the south. Many lava domes dot its outer flanks. The Molodoy
Shiveluch lava dome complex was constructed during the Holocene within the
large horseshoe-shaped caldera; Holocene lava dome extrusion also took
place on the flanks of Stary Shiveluch. At least 60 large eruptions have
occurred during the Holocene, making it the most vigorous andesitic volcano
of the Kuril-Kamchatka arc. Widespread tephra layers from these eruptions
have provided valuable time markers for dating volcanic events in
Kamchatka. Frequent collapses of dome complexes, most recently in 1964,
have produced debris avalanches whose deposits cover much of the floor of
the breached caldera.



Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php





Turrialba  | Costa Rica  | 10.025°N, 83.767°W  | Summit elev. 3340 m



On 1 November OVSICORI-UNA reported that since 24 October emissions at
Turrialba were continuous with plumes rising 500 m above the crater rim. In
addition, seismicity was characterized by banded volcanic tremor,
long-period earthquakes, and low-amplitude volcano-tectonic earthquakes.
Passive ash emissions were visible during 1-6 November. A 70-minute-long
event began at 0530 and generated plumes that rose 500 m and drifted SW.
Several short-duration (2-3 minutes) events were recorded at 1523 and 1703
on 2 November and at 0109 on 3 November; they generated ash plumes that
rose 500 m. Ashfall was reported in Coronado. Seismic activity remained
high, with moderate-to-high amplitude banded tremor. At 0620 on 5 November
a plume rose 600 m and drifted NW.



Geologic Summary. Turrialba, the easternmost of Costa Rica's Holocene
volcanoes, is a large vegetated basaltic-to-dacitic stratovolcano located
across a broad saddle NE of Irazú volcano overlooking the city of Cartago.
The massive edifice covers an area of 500 km2. Three well-defined craters
occur at the upper SW end of a broad 800 x 2200 m summit depression that is
breached to the NE. Most activity originated from the summit vent complex,
but two pyroclastic cones are located on the SW flank. Five major explosive
eruptions have occurred during the past 3500 years. A series of explosive
eruptions during the 19th century were sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic
flows. Fumarolic activity continues at the central and SW summit craters.



Source: Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica-Universidad
Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA) http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/





Veniaminof  | United States  | 56.17°N, 159.38°W  | Summit elev. 2507 m



AVO reported that the eruption from the cone in Veniaminofâ??s ice-filled
summit caldera, continued during 31 October-6 November. Satellite data
showed elevated surface temperatures from minor lava spattering and flows.
Low-amplitude continuous tremor was recorded. The webcam in Perryville, 35
km SE, periodically recorded diffuse ash emissions and incandescence from
the cone. Based on a pilot observation and satellite data, a diffuse ash
plume rose to 4.3 km (14,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E on 5 November. The
Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a
four-color scale) and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch (the second
highest level on a four-level scale).



Geologic Summary. Massive Veniaminof volcano, one of the highest and
largest volcanoes on the Alaska Peninsula, is truncated by a steep-walled,
8 x 11 km, glacier-filled caldera that formed around 3700 years ago. The
caldera rim is up to 520 m high on the north, is deeply notched on the west
by Cone Glacier, and is covered by an ice sheet on the south. Post-caldera
vents are located along a NW-SE zone bisecting the caldera that extends 55
km from near the Bering Sea coast, across the caldera, and down the Pacific
flank. Historical eruptions probably all originated from the westernmost
and most prominent of two intra-caldera cones, which rises about 300 m
above the surrounding icefield. The other cone is larger, and has a summit
crater or caldera that may reach 2.5 km in diameter, but is more subdued
and barely rises above the glacier surface.



Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)
https://avo.alaska.edu/

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End of Volcano Digest - 5 Nov 2018 to 8 Nov 2018 (#2018-114)
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