Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 29 May-4 June 2019

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

3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3


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

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





New Activity/Unrest: Colima, Mexico  | Etna, Sicily (Italy)  | Great
Sitkin, Andreanof Islands (USA)  | Kurikomayama, Honshu (Japan)  |
Midagahara, Honshu (Japan)  | Sinabung, Indonesia



Ongoing Activity: Agung, Bali (Indonesia)  | Aira, Kyushu (Japan)  |
Asosan, Kyushu (Japan)  | Dukono, Halmahera (Indonesia)  | Ebeko,
Paramushir Island (Russia)  | Ibu, Halmahera (Indonesia)  | Karymsky,
Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)  | Klyuchevskoy, Central Kamchatka (Russia)  |
Krakatau, Indonesia  | Merapi, Central Java (Indonesia)  | Poas, Costa
Rica  | Santa Maria, Guatemala  | Sheveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)  |
Suwanosejima, Ryukyu Islands (Japan)





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, these reports
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 about recent activity are published in
issues of the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network.



Note that 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





Colima  | Mexico  | 19.514°N, 103.62°W  | Summit elev. 3850 m



Centro Universitario de Estudios e Investigaciones de Vulcanologia -
Universidad de Colima reported that during 25-31 May small explosions and
intermittent steam-and-gas emissions mainly from the NE side of the crater
continued to be recorded. During overflights conducted during 23-24 May
scientists observed that the new feature (a crack or cavity) reported the
previous week had become a hole due to the combination of excavation due to
explosions and probable subsidence. The maximum temperature recorded with a
portable thermal camera was 252 degrees Celsius, an increase of 80 degrees
since recorded on 1 May.



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 4320 m high point of
the complex) on the north and the 3850-m-high historically active Volcán de
Colima at the south. A group of cinder cones of late-Pleistocene age is
located on the floor of the Colima graben west and east of the Colima
complex. Volcán de Colima (also known as Volcán Fuego) is a youthful
stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera, breached to the
south, 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: Centro Universitario de Estudios e Investigaciones de Vulcanologia
- Universidad de Colima http://portal.ucol.mx/cueiv/contacto.htm





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



INGV reported that at 0220 on 30 May a fissure opened at the N base of
Etnaâ??s NSEC at about 3,150 m elevation. The fissure produced Strombolian
explosions and a lava flow that advanced towards the W wall of the Valle
del Bove; by 0915 it had reached 2,050 m elevation near Monte Simone. The
flow was 2 km in length. Two fissures opened a few hours later at the SE
base of NSEC at an elevation of about 3,050 m, each producing lava flows
that converged and traveled along the W wall of the Valle del Bove towards
Serra Giannicola Grande, partially covering the 2018 lava flows. The flow
reached 2,260 m elevation by 0915. The fissure activity was accompanied by
ash emissions which were intense starting at 1150 but then decreased and
almost stopped late in the evening. The lava flow reached the bottom of the
valley in the early hours of 31 May and had a length of about 3 km.



INGV volcanologists confirmed that lava continued to effuse from both
fissures during a visual inspection in the morning of 1 June and that
vigorous spatter was occurring at a fissure on the SE base of NSEC. By 1930
the lava flow from the N base was no longer being fed and was cooling.
During a visual inspection of the eruption site on 2 June volcanologists
confirmed explosive activity at a fissure segment at 2,850 m and continuing
lava effusion. The lava traveled along the W wall of the Valle del Bove,
overlapping flows from previous days.



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/





Great Sitkin  | Andreanof Islands (USA)  | 52.076°N, 176.13°W  | Summit
elev. 1740 m



A small steam explosion at Great Sitkin was detected in seismic data at
2140 on 1 June, prompting AVO to raise the Aviation Color Code to Yellow
and the Volcano Alert Level to Advisory. Low-level seismic activity was
elevated just before and after the event.



Geologic Summary. The Great Sitkin volcano forms much of the northern side
of Great Sitkin Island. A younger parasitic volcano capped by a small, 0.8
x 1.2 km ice-filled summit caldera was constructed within a large
late-Pleistocene or early Holocene scarp formed by massive edifice failure
that truncated an ancestral volcano and produced a submarine debris
avalanche. Deposits from this and an older debris avalanche from a source
to the south cover a broad area of the ocean floor north of the volcano.
The summit lies along the eastern rim of the younger collapse scarp.
Deposits from an earlier caldera-forming eruption of unknown age cover the
flanks of the island to a depth up to 6 m. The small younger caldera was
partially filled by lava domes emplaced in 1945 and 1974, and five small
older flank lava domes, two of which lie on the coastline, were constructed
along northwest- and NNW-trending lines. Hot springs, mud pots, and
fumaroles occur near the head of Big Fox Creek, south of the volcano.
Historical eruptions have been recorded since the late-19th century.



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





Kurikomayama  | Honshu (Japan)  | 38.961°N, 140.788°E  | Summit elev. 1627 m



JMA raised the Alert Level for Kurikomayama to 1 (the lowest level on a
5-level scale) on 30 May due to an undescribed potential for increased
activity at the crater.



Geologic Summary. The summit of Kurikomayama volcano is cut by a 4-km-wide
caldera breached to the north that is partially filled by the Tsurugi-dake
central cone, once mined for sulfur. The complex andesitic-to-dacitic
stratovolcano was constructed over a relatively high basement of welded and
unwelded Tertiary dacitic tuffs and sedimentary rocks and thus has a
smaller volume than its height suggests. Early stage eruptions beginning
about 500,000 years ago produced lava flows to the north and south,
followed by growth of the Higashi-Kurikoma (East Kurikoma) stratovolcano.
Magusadake volcano on the western side of the complex was active until
about 100,000 years ago. Construction of the main cone concluded with lava
flows to the E, SE, and W. Daichigamori lava dome and Aguroshi-yama
pyroclastic cone are located on the southern flank. Minor phreatic
eruptions have occurred in historical time from the central cone.



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





Midagahara  | Honshu (Japan)  | 36.571°N, 137.59°E  | Summit elev. 2621 m



JMA raised the Alert Level for Midagahara to 1 (the lowest level on a
5-level scale) on 30 May due to an undescribed potential for increased
activity at the crater.



Geologic Summary. Midagahara volcano is a dissected andesitic-to-dacitic
stratovolcano on a plateau surrounded by high peaks of the North Japan
Alps. The granite-and-gneiss peak of Tateyama lies immediately to the east.
Formation of a 4-km-wide erosional caldera was followed by repeated
eruptions of lava and pyroclastics forming the Midagahara plateau that was
later dissected by the Yukawa river. Holocene eruptions have been
restricted to small phreatic explosions that formed craters. A minor
historical eruption occurred in the 19th century. An earthquake swarm took
place in 1990. Hot springs occur in seven locations on the floor of the
poorly defined erosional caldera.



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





Sinabung  | Indonesia  | 3.17°N, 98.392°E  | Summit elev. 2460 m



PVMBG reported that white plumes from Sinabung rose as high as 500 m above
the summit during 31 May-4 June. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale
of 1-4), with a general exclusion zone of 3 km and extensions to 5 km on
the SE sector and 4 km in the NE sector.



Geologic Summary. Gunung Sinabung is a Pleistocene-to-Holocene
stratovolcano with many lava flows on its flanks. The migration of summit
vents along a N-S line gives the summit crater complex an elongated form.
The youngest crater of this conical andesitic-to-dacitic edifice is at the
southern end of the four overlapping summit craters. The youngest deposit
is a SE-flank pyroclastic flow 14C dated by Hendrasto et al. (2012) at
740-880 CE. An unconfirmed eruption was noted in 1881, and solfataric
activity was seen at the summit and upper flanks in 1912. No confirmed
historical eruptions were recorded prior to explosive eruptions during
August-September 2010 that produced ash plumes to 5 km above the summit.



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





Ongoing Activity





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



PVMBG reported that at 1142 on 31 May an explosion at Agung produced a
dense gray ash plume that rose 2 km and drifted NE and E. Roaring was
audible from the Agung Volcano Observatory in Rendang (about 8 km SW). 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 during 27 May-3 June very small eruptive events at
Minamidake crater (at Aira Calderaâ??s Sakurajima volcano) were recorded as
well as periodic crater incandescence. 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/





Asosan  | Kyushu (Japan)  | 32.884°N, 131.104°E  | Summit elev. 1592 m



JMA reported that very small eruptive events at Asosanâ??s Nakadake Crater on
29 and 31 May generated plumes that rose 400 m above the crater rim and,
according to the Tokyo VAAC, drifted S and N, respectively. Sulfur dioxide
emissions continued to be high at 2,000 tons per day. The Alert Level
remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-5).



Geologic Summary. The 24-km-wide Asosan caldera was formed during four
major explosive eruptions from 300,000 to 90,000 years ago. These produced
voluminous pyroclastic flows that covered much of Kyushu. The last of
these, the Aso-4 eruption, produced more than 600 km3 of airfall tephra and
pyroclastic-flow deposits. A group of 17 central cones was constructed in
the middle of the caldera, one of which, Nakadake, is one of Japan's most
active volcanoes. It was the location of Japan's first documented
historical eruption in 553 CE. The Nakadake complex has remained active
throughout the Holocene. Several other cones have been active during the
Holocene, including the Kometsuka scoria cone as recently as about 210 CE.
Historical eruptions have largely consisted of basaltic to
basaltic-andesite ash emission with periodic strombolian and
phreatomagmatic activity. The summit crater of Nakadake is accessible by
toll road and cable car, and is one of Kyushu's most popular tourist
destinations.



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

Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/svd/vaac/data/vaac_list.html





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



Based on satellite and wind model data, and notices from PVMBG, the Darwin
VAAC reported that during 29 May-4 June ash plumes from Dukono rose to
altitudes of 2.1-2.4 km (7,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW and W. The
Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was 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 25-28 May that sent ash plumes up to 3 km
(10,000 ft) a.s.l. A thermal anomaly over the volcano was identified during
27-28 May. 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





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



The Darwin VAAC reported that on 31 May multiple ash plumes from Ibu rose
to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W based on satellite
data. On 2 June ash plumes rose to an altitude of 3 (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and
drifted W. 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.



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/





Karymsky  | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)  | 54.049°N, 159.443°E  | Summit
elev. 1513 m



KVERT reported that an ash plume from Karymsky was identified in satellite
images drifting 45 km NE on 24 May and a thermal anomaly was visible during
28-29 May. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest
level on a four-color scale).



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 during the early Holocene. The caldera cuts
the south side of the Pleistocene Dvor volcano and is located outside the
north margin of the large mid-Pleistocene Polovinka caldera, which contains
the smaller Akademia Nauk and Odnoboky calderas. Most seismicity preceding
Karymsky eruptions originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, located
immediately south. The caldera enclosing Karymsky formed about 7600-7700
radiocarbon years ago; construction of the stratovolcano began about 2000
years later. The latest eruptive period began about 500 years ago,
following a 2300-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.



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





Klyuchevskoy  | Central Kamchatka (Russia)  | 56.056°N, 160.642°E  | Summit
elev. 4754 m



KVERT reported that ash plumes from Klyuchevskoy were last observed on 22
April and a weak thermal anomaly was last identified on 15 May. KVERT
lowered the Aviation Color Code to Yellow (the second lowest level on a
four-color scale) on 31 May.



Geologic Summary. Klyuchevskoy (also spelled Kliuchevskoi) is Kamchatka's
highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6000 years ago, the
beautifully symmetrical, 4835-m-high basaltic stratovolcano has produced
frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major
periods of inactivity. It rises above a saddle NE of sharp-peaked Kamen
volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank
eruptions have occurred during the past roughly 3000 years, with most
lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the
unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3600 m
elevation. The morphology of the 700-m-wide summit crater has been
frequently modified by historical eruptions, which have been recorded since
the late-17th century. Historical eruptions have originated primarily from
the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and
effusive eruptions from flank craters.



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





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



PVMBG reported that Anak Krakatauâ??s seismic network detected two eruptive
events on 29 May and two events on 2 June. None of the events were followed
by visible ash emissions, though observations were hindered by weather
conditions. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the
public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km radius hazard zone from 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 or 535 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, and left only a remnant of Rakata. 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 24-30 May the lava-dome volume at Merapi did not
change and was an estimated 458,000 cubic meters, based on analyses of
drone footage. Extruded lava fell into the upper parts of the SE flank,
generating one block-and-ash flow that traveled 1.1 km down the Gendol
drainage. White plumes rose as high as 400 m above the summit. A news
article stated that block-and-ash flows descended the Gendol drainage
during 1-2 June, traveling as far as 1.2 km. In addition, incandescent dome
material traveled 750 m on 2 June. 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.



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

D News Radio
https://dnewsradio.com/balai-penyelidikan-dan-pengembangan-teknologi-kebencanaan-geologi-bpptkg-mengungkapkan-gunung-merapi-kembali-meluncurkan-satu-kali-awan-panas-guguran-ke-arah-hulu-kali-gendol/





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



OVSICORI-UNA reported that multiple phreatic eruptions at Poás recorded
during 29 May-1 June produced plumes that rose as high as 500 m above the
vent.



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/





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



INSIVUMEH and CONRED reported that during 29-30 May lahars descended Santa
María's San Isidro drainage (tributary of El Tambor), carrying blocks 1-3 m
in diameter and tree trunks. The lahars were 20 m wide and 1.5 m deep;
CONRED noted that the 29 May lahar was hot and had a sulfur odor.
Explosions recorded during 30 May-4 June generated ash plumes that rose as
high as 800 m above the crater and drifted E and SE. Avalanches of material
descended the E and SE flanks.



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.



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

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





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



KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluchâ??s lava dome was
identified daily in satellite images during 24-31 May. 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
occasionally visible at night during 24-31 May. An eruption at 1629 on 30
May generated a plume that rose 1.1 km 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/

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End of Volcano Digest - 29 May 2019 to 5 Jun 2019 (#2019-46)
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