Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 6-12 February 2019

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7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7

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

7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7


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

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





New Activity/Unrest: Karangetang, Siau Island (Indonesia)  | Poas, Costa
Rica



Ongoing Activity: Agung, Bali (Indonesia)  | Aira, Kyushu (Japan)  |
Copahue, Central Chile-Argentina border  | Dukono, Halmahera (Indonesia)  |
Ebeko, Paramushir Island (Russia)  | Etna, Sicily (Italy)  | Ibu, Halmahera
(Indonesia)  | Kadovar, Papua New Guinea  | Merapi, Central Java
(Indonesia)  | Nevados de Chillan, Chile  | Pacaya, Guatemala  | Rincon de
la Vieja, Costa Rica  | Sabancaya, Peru  | Santa Maria, Guatemala  |
Sheveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)  | Suwanosejima, Ryukyu Islands
(Japan)  | Turrialba, Costa Rica





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





Karangetang  | Siau Island (Indonesia)  | 2.781°N, 125.407°E  | Summit
elev. 1797 m



On 8 February PVMBG reported that lava from Karangetangâ??s Kawah Dua (North
Crater) continued to advance over 3.5 km down the Malebuhe River drainage
on the NW flank into the ocean. Levees had formed at the margins channeling
the lava down the middle of the flow. Avalanches from the edges of the flow
generated brown and gray plumes. A lava delta was building out into the
ocean and generating a dense steam plume. Drone footage acquired on 9
February showed that the flow was about 160 m wide where it crossed a road
(about 210 m from the coast) and about 140 m wide at the coast. Seismicity
remained high. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and
residents were warned to remain outside of the 2.5-km exclusion zone around
the N and S craters, and not enter within 3 km WNW and 4 km NW.



Geologic Summary. Karangetang (Api Siau) volcano lies at the northern end
of the island of Siau, north of Sulawesi. The stratovolcano contains five
summit craters along a N-S line. It is one of Indonesia's most active
volcanoes, with more than 40 eruptions recorded since 1675 and many
additional small eruptions that were not documented in the historical
record (Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World: Neumann van Padang,
1951). Twentieth-century eruptions have included frequent explosive
activity sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic flows and lahars. Lava dome
growth has occurred in the summit craters; collapse of lava flow fronts has
also produced pyroclastic flows.



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





Poas  | Costa Rica  | 10.2°N, 84.233°W  | Summit elev. 2708 m



OVSICORI-UNA reported that seismic and infrasound data indicated multiple
events at Poás during 7-8 February. On 8 February events were centered at
vent A (Boca Roja) and produced plumes that rose no higher than 200 m and
drifted SW. A sulfur dioxide odor was reported in areas downwind including
San Jose de Naranjo, Grecia (16 km SW), Poás, Sarchá, Naranjo, and Atenas
(32 km SW). Incandescence in the crater began to be visible at 0151 on 11
February. Passive ash emissions rose 200 m and drifted SW.



Geologic Summary. The broad, well-vegetated edifice of Poás, one of the
most active volcanoes of Costa Rica, contains three craters along a N-S
line. The frequently visited multi-hued summit crater lakes of the
basaltic-to-dacitic volcano, which is one of Costa Rica's most prominent
natural landmarks, are easily accessible by vehicle from the nearby capital
city of San José. A N-S-trending fissure cutting the 2708-m-high complex
stratovolcano extends to the lower northern flank, where it has produced
the Congo stratovolcano and several lake-filled maars. The southernmost of
the two summit crater lakes, Botos, is cold and clear and last erupted
about 7500 years ago. The more prominent geothermally heated northern lake,
Laguna Caliente, is one of the world's most acidic natural lakes, with a pH
of near zero. It has been the site of frequent phreatic and phreatomagmatic
eruptions since the first historical eruption was reported in 1828.
Eruptions often include geyser-like ejections of crater-lake water.



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





Ongoing Activity





Agung  | Bali (Indonesia)  | 8.343°S, 115.508°E  | Summit elev. 2997 m



PVMBG reported that a 97-second-long explosive event at Agung began at 0012
on 8 February. A plume was not visible, though webcams recorded crater
incandescence. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4) with the
exclusion zone set at a 4-km radius.



Geologic Summary. Symmetrical Agung stratovolcano, Bali's highest and most
sacred mountain, towers over the eastern end of the island. The volcano,
whose name means "Paramount," rises above the SE caldera rim of neighboring
Batur volcano, and the northern and southern flanks extend to the coast.
The summit area extends 1.5 km E-W, with the high point on the W and a
steep-walled 800-m-wide crater on the E. The Pawon cone is located low on
the SE flank. Only a few eruptions dating back to the early 19th century
have been recorded in historical time. The 1963-64 eruption, one of the
largest in the 20th century, produced voluminous ashfall along with
devastating pyroclastic flows and lahars that caused extensive damage and
many fatalities.



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





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



JMA reported that incandescence from Minamidake crater (at Aira Calderaâ??s
Sakurajima volcano) was visible during 4-12 February. At 1919 on 7 February
an event generated a plume that rose 1.3 km above the crater rim and
ejected material 1.3-1.7 km from the crater. During 8-12 February there
were four events, three of which were explosive. Plumes rose as high as 1.9
km, and boulders were ejected as far as 900 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/





Copahue  | Central Chile-Argentina border  | 37.856°S, 71.183°W  | Summit
elev. 2953 m



On 6 February OVDAS-SERNAGEOMIN lowered the Alert Level for Copahue to
Green, the lowest level on a four-color scale, noting the return of the
crater lake and infrequent surficial activity. In addition, data from the
geodetic monitoring network showed only slight deformation during the
previous three months. ONEMI lowered the Alert Level to Green (the lowest
level on a three-color scale) for the municipality of Alto Biobío.



Geologic Summary. Volcán Copahue is an elongated composite cone constructed
along the Chile-Argentina border within the 6.5 x 8.5 km wide Trapa-Trapa
caldera that formed between 0.6 and 0.4 million years ago near the NW
margin of the 20 x 15 km Pliocene Caviahue (Del Agrio) caldera. The eastern
summit crater, part of a 2-km-long, ENE-WSW line of nine craters, contains
a briny, acidic 300-m-wide crater lake (also referred to as El Agrio or Del
Agrio) and displays intense fumarolic activity. Acidic hot springs occur
below the eastern outlet of the crater lake, contributing to the acidity of
the Río Agrio, and another geothermal zone is located within Caviahue
caldera about 7 km NE of the summit. Infrequent mild-to-moderate explosive
eruptions have been recorded since the 18th century. Twentieth-century
eruptions from the crater lake have ejected pyroclastic rocks and chilled
liquid sulfur fragments.



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

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





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 9-10 and 12 February ash plumes from
Dukono rose to an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW. The
Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and visitors were warned to
remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.



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.



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

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





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 2-8 February that sent ash plumes to 2.3
km (7,500 ft) a.s.l. Ash fell in Severo-Kurilsk on 4 February. 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 6-10 February webcams at Etna recorded gas
emissions from New Southeast Crater (NSEC) and Voragine Crater, and
occasional ash clouds from Northeast Crater (NEC); inclement weather
prevented observations during 4-5 February. From the beginning of the
afternoon on 6 February discrete ash emissions rose from NEC. The ash
emissions were continuous from about 2215 on 7 February to 1015 on 8
February, producing relatively diffuse ash plumes that drifted S and then
SE. Ash fell in Nicolosi (14 km S) and Pedara (15 km SSE). A diffuse ash
plume drifted SW on 9 February.



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/





Ibu  | Halmahera (Indonesia)  | 1.488°N, 127.63°E  | Summit elev. 1325 m



PVMBG reported that during 5-12 February dense white-to-gray plumes from
Ibu rose 200-800 m above the summit and drifted E, S, and W. Foggy
conditions occasionally prevented visual observations. The Alert Level
remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to stay at
least 2 km away from the active crater, and 3.5 km away on the N side.



Geologic Summary. The truncated summit of Gunung Ibu stratovolcano along
the NW coast of Halmahera Island has large nested summit craters. The inner
crater, 1 km wide and 400 m deep, contained several small crater lakes
through much of historical time. The outer crater, 1.2 km wide, is breached
on the north side, creating a steep-walled valley. A large parasitic cone
is located ENE of the summit. A smaller one to the WSW has fed a lava flow
down the W flank. A group of maars is located below the N and W flanks.
Only a few eruptions have been recorded in historical time, the first a
small explosive eruption from the summit crater in 1911. An eruption
producing a lava dome that eventually covered much of the floor of the
inner summit crater began in December 1998.



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





Kadovar  | Papua New Guinea  | 3.608°S, 144.588°E  | Summit elev. 365 m



According to Brad Scott of GeoNet, the Royal New Zealand Air Force released
photos of a plume rising from Kadovar at 1640 on 10 February.



Geologic Summary. The 2-km-wide island of Kadovar is the emergent summit of
a Bismarck Sea stratovolcano of Holocene age. Kadovar is part of the
Schouten Islands, and lies off the coast of New Guinea, about 25 km N of
the mouth of the Sepik River. The village of Gewai is perched on the crater
rim. A 365-m-high lava dome forming the high point of the andesitic volcano
fills an arcuate landslide scarp that is open to the south, and submarine
debris-avalanche deposits occur in that direction. Thick lava flows with
columnar jointing forms low cliffs along the coast. The youthful island
lacks fringing or offshore reefs. No certain historical eruptions are
known; the latest activity was a period of heightened thermal phenomena in
1976.



Source: Royal New Zealand Air Force via Brad Scott, GeoNet
https://twitter.com/Eruptn/status/1094802086179401729





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



PVMBG reported that during 1-11 February the volume of the lava dome in
Merapiâ??s summit crater was about the same as the previous weekâ??s estimate
of 461,000 cubic meters, and there were no apparent morphological changes.
Most of the extruded lava fell into the upper parts of the Gendol River
drainage and the SE flank. On 7 February a pyroclastic flow traveled 2 km
down the Gendol drainage. 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



ONEMI and SERNAGEOMIN reported that during 5-12 February growth of the lava
dome in Nevados de Chillánâ??s Nicanor Crater was very slow (0.003-0.004
cubic meters per second). White water vapor emissions, occasionally grayish
from included tephra, rose as high as 1 km and drifted in multiple
directions. Crater incandescence was recorded by a webcam each day. 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/





Pacaya  | Guatemala  | 14.382°N, 90.601°W  | Summit elev. 2569 m



INSIVUMEH reported that during 7-12 February Strombolian explosions at
Pacayaâ??s Mackenney Crater ejected material as high as 25 m above the crater
rim. Multiple lava flows traveled 10-250 m down the NW flank, advancing
towards Cerro Chino, and on the E flank. Minor avalanches of material from
lava-flow fronts descended the flanks.



Geologic Summary. Eruptions from Pacaya, one of Guatemala's most active
volcanoes, are frequently visible from Guatemala City, the nation's
capital. This complex basaltic volcano was constructed just outside the
southern topographic rim of the 14 x 16 km Pleistocene Amatitlán caldera. A
cluster of dacitic lava domes occupies the southern caldera floor. The
post-caldera Pacaya massif includes the ancestral Pacaya Viejo and Cerro
Grande stratovolcanoes and the currently active Mackenney stratovolcano.
Collapse of Pacaya Viejo between 600 and 1500 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. A subsidiary crater, Cerro Chino, was constructed on
the NW somma rim and was last active in the 19th century. During the past
several decades, activity has consisted of frequent strombolian eruptions
with intermittent lava flow extrusion that has partially filled in the
caldera moat and armored the flanks of Mackenney cone, punctuated by
occasional larger explosive eruptions that partially destroy the summit of
the growing young stratovolcano.



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





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



OVSICORI-UNA reported possible events at Rincón de la Vieja at 1906 and
1950 on 5 February and at 0120 on 6 February. An event at 0000 on 6
February was also recorded; the report noted that poor weather conditions
prevented visual observations of the crater.



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 26 explosions
per day occurred at Sabancaya during 4-10 February. Long-period seismic
events were recorded, and hybrid earthquakes were infrequent and of low
magnitude. Although weather conditions sometimes prevented visual
observations, gas-and-ash plumes were seen rising as high as 3 km above the
crater rim and drifted 30 km S and SW. MIROVA detected one thermal anomaly.
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



INSIVUMEH reported that during 7-12 February explosions at Santa María's
Santiaguito lava-dome complex generated ash plumes that rose 500-700 m and
drifted E and SW, causing ashfall on the flanks. Avalanches of material
descended the NE, E, and SE flanks of the lava dome.



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
stratovolcano has a sharp-topped, conical profile that is cut on the SW
flank by a 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.



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





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



KVERT reported that during 2-8 February Sheveluchâ??s lava dome continued
grow, extruding blocks on the N side, and producing hot avalanches and
fumarolic plumes. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images
daily. Video and satellite data recorded gas-and-steam plumes with some ash
content rising to 4-5 km (13,100-16,400 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 105 km E and
W. 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





Suwanosejima  | Ryukyu Islands (Japan)  | 29.638°N, 129.714°E  | Summit
elev. 796 m



JMA reported that crater incandescence at Suwanosejimaâ??s Ontake Crater was
visible during 1-8 February. Were small events were occasionally recorded,
generating plumes that rose as high as 900 m above the crater rim. The
Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale).



Geologic Summary. The 8-km-long, spindle-shaped island of Suwanosejima in
the northern Ryukyu Islands consists of an andesitic stratovolcano with two
historically active summit craters. The summit of the volcano is truncated
by a large breached crater extending to the sea on the east flank that was
formed by edifice collapse. Suwanosejima, one of Japan's most frequently
active volcanoes, was in a state of intermittent strombolian activity from
Otake, the NE summit crater, that began in 1949 and lasted until 1996,
after which periods of inactivity lengthened. The largest historical
eruption took place in 1813-14, when thick scoria deposits blanketed
residential areas, and the SW crater produced two lava flows that reached
the western coast. At the end of the eruption the summit of Otake collapsed
forming a large debris avalanche and creating the horseshoe-shaped Sakuchi
caldera, which extends to the eastern coast. The island remained
uninhabited for about 70 years after the 1813-1814 eruption. Lava flows
reached the eastern coast of the island in 1884. Only about 50 people live
on the island.



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





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



OVSICORI-UNA reported that a period of sporadic ash emissions from
Turrialba began at 0540 on 8 February and lasted more than one hour. The
activity produced ash plumes that rose no more than 200 m above the vent
rim. A very small ash emission was visible on 11 February.



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/

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End of Volcano Digest - 13 Feb 2019 to 14 Feb 2019 (#2019-16)
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