Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 27 May-2 June 2020

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2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2


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


Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

27 May-2 June 2020



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

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





New Activity/Unrest: Cleveland, Chuginadak Island (USA)  | Ijen, Eastern
Java (Indonesia)  | Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)



Ongoing Activity: Aira, Kyushu (Japan)  | Asosan, Kyushu (Japan)  | Dukono,
Halmahera (Indonesia)  | Ebeko, Paramushir Island (Russia)  | Klyuchevskoy,
Central Kamchatka (Russia)  | Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia  | Reventador,
Ecuador  | Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica  | Semeru, Eastern Java
(Indonesia)  | Sheveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)  | Suwanosejima,
Ryukyu Islands (Japan)  | Whakaari/White Island, North Island (New
Zealand)  | Yasur, Vanuatu





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





Cleveland  | Chuginadak Island (USA)  | 52.825°N, 169.944°W  | Summit elev.
1730 m



A small explosion at Cleveland was recorded at 1032 on 1 June and produced
an ash plume that rose to 6.7 km (22,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S. The
local geophysical stations and web camera were unavailable due to an
ongoing network outage. AVO raised the Volcano Alert Level to Watch and the
Aviation Color Code to Orange.



Geologic Summary. The beautifully symmetrical Mount Cleveland stratovolcano
is situated at the western end of the uninhabited Chuginadak Island. It
lies SE across Carlisle Pass strait from Carlisle volcano and NE across
Chuginadak Pass strait from Herbert volcano. Joined to the rest of
Chuginadak Island by a low isthmus, Cleveland is the highest of the Islands
of the Four Mountains group and is one of the most active of the Aleutian
Islands. The native name, Chuginadak, refers to the Aleut goddess of fire,
who was thought to reside on the volcano. Numerous large lava flows descend
the steep-sided flanks. It is possible that some 18th-to-19th century
eruptions attributed to Carlisle should be ascribed to Cleveland (Miller et
al., 1998). In 1944 Cleveland produced the only known fatality from an
Aleutian eruption. Recent eruptions have been characterized by short-lived
explosive ash emissions, at times accompanied by lava fountaining and lava
flows down the flanks.



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





Ijen  | Eastern Java (Indonesia)  | 8.058°S, 114.242°E  | Summit elev. 2769
m



PVMBG reported that on 29 May a gas explosion at Ijen generated a plume
that rose 250-500 m above the surface of the lake. According to news
articles two sulfur miners heard the explosion from under the water at
1230, which created 3-m-high waves in the lake; the miners ran but one
tripped and fell into the lake. Search efforts were unsuccessful after
three hours and, due to weather conditions and an increased amount of gas
in the crater area, had to be suspended.



PVMBG noted that patterns of various types of earthquakes did not indicate
increased activity during 17 Janury-29 May. The temperature of the lake
water fluctuated between 24.5 and 40.3 degrees Celsius. A lot of rain in
the past few months increased the volume of the lake, possibly contributing
to a disruption in the system, though these seasonal changes were within
normal ranges at the volcano. The Alert Level remained at 1 (on a scale of
1-4), and residents and visitors were advised to not approach the crater
rim or descend to the crater floor.



Geologic Summary. The Ijen volcano complex at the eastern end of Java
consists of a group of small stratovolcanoes constructed within the large
20-km-wide Ijen (Kendeng) caldera. The north caldera wall forms a prominent
arcuate ridge, but elsewhere the caldera rim is buried by post-caldera
volcanoes, including Gunung Merapi, which forms the high point of the
complex. Immediately west of the Gunung Merapi stratovolcano is the
historically active Kawah Ijen crater, which contains a nearly 1-km-wide,
turquoise-colored, acid lake. Picturesque Kawah Ijen is the world's largest
highly acidic lake and is the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining
operation in which sulfur-laden baskets are hand-carried from the crater
floor. Many other post-caldera cones and craters are located within the
caldera or along its rim. The largest concentration of cones forms an E-W
zone across the southern side of the caldera. Coffee plantations cover much
of the caldera floor, and tourists are drawn to its waterfalls, hot
springs, and volcanic scenery.



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

Inibaru
https://www.inibaru.id/hits/mirip-tsunami-gelombang-3-meter-seret-seorang-penambang-di-kawah-ijen





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



KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was visible in
satellite images during 23 and 25-28 May. Ash plumes were also identified
and drifted 185 km SE and SW on 24, 26, and 28 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





Ongoing Activity





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



JMA reported that during 25 May-1 June incandescence from Minamidake Crater
(at Aira Calderaâ??s Sakurajima volcano) was visible almost nightly. The
daily sulfur dioxide emission rate was high. There were three explosive
events and 18 eruptive events during 25-29 May with plumes rising as high
as 3 km above the crater rim. Material was ejected 800-1,100 m away from
the crater. An eruption at 1337 on 1 June generated an ash plume that rose
to 3 km. 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 eruptive activity at Asosan was recorded during 29 May-2
June. Volcanic plumes rose 1,000-1,600 m above the crater rim. The sulfur
dioxide emission rate was high; the rate was 1,000 tons per day on 27 May.
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.



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 and wind model data, and information from PVMBG, the
Darwin VAAC reported that during 27 May-2 June ash plumes from Dukono rose
to 2.1 km (7,000 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: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known
as CVGHM) http://vsi.esdm.go.id/;

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 22-29 May that sent ash plumes up to 4.6
km (15,100 ft) a.s.l. The plumes drifted E and 60 km SE, causing ashfall in
Severo-Kurilsk on 22 and 24 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





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



KVERT reported that Strombolian activity at Klyuchevskoy was visible during
22-29 May along with a bright thermal anomaly identified in satellite
images. A lava flow continued to advance down the Apakhonchich drainage on
the SE flank. Gas-and-steam plumes with some ash drifted over 200 km E
during 22 and 25-28 May. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.



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





Nevado del Ruiz  | Colombia  | 4.892°N, 75.324°W  | Summit elev. 5279 m



Servicio Geológico Colombianoâ??s (SGC) Observatorio Vulcanológico y
Sismológico de Manizales reported that during 27 May-2 June seismicity at
Nevado del Ruiz was at similar levels to the week before, with signals
dominated by periods of continuous volcanic tremor, tremor pulses,
long-period, and very-long-period earthquakes. Some of the earthquakes were
associated with minor gas-and-ash emissions that drifted N and were
recorded by the webcam. The highest gas-and-steam plume rose about 1.3 km
above the summit, recorded on 29 May. The Alert Level remained at 3
(Yellow; the second lowest level on a four-color scale).



Geologic Summary. Nevado del Ruiz is a broad, glacier-covered volcano in
central Colombia that covers more than 200 km2. Three major edifices,
composed of andesitic and dacitic lavas and andesitic pyroclastics, have
been constructed since the beginning of the Pleistocene. The modern cone
consists of a broad cluster of lava domes built within the caldera of an
older edifice. The 1-km-wide, 240-m-deep Arenas crater occupies the summit.
The prominent La Olleta pyroclastic cone located on the SW flank may also
have been active in historical time. Steep headwalls of massive landslides
cut the flanks. Melting of its summit icecap during historical eruptions,
which date back to the 16th century, has resulted in devastating lahars,
including one in 1985 that was South America's deadliest eruption.



Source: Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)
https://www2.sgc.gov.co/volcanes/index.html





Reventador  | Ecuador  | 0.077°S, 77.656°W  | Summit elev. 3562 m



IG reported that during 27 May-2 June seismic data from Reventadorâ??s
network indicated a high level of seismic activity, including explosions,
long-period earthquakes, and signals indicating emissions. Gas, steam, and
ash emissions observed daily with the webcam or reported by the Washington
VAAC rose as high as 1.4 km above the summit crater and drifted N, NW, W,
and SW. Cloudy weather sometimes prevented views of the volcano.
Incandescent blocks rolled as far as 500 m down the S and E flanks during
27-28 May. Nighttime crater incandescence was visible during 27-28 and 30
May, as well as during 1-2 June.



Geologic Summary. Reventador is the most frequently active of a chain of
Ecuadorian volcanoes in the Cordillera Real, well east of the principal
volcanic axis. The forested, dominantly andesitic Volcán El Reventador
stratovolcano rises to 3562 m above the jungles of the western Amazon
basin. A 4-km-wide caldera widely breached to the east was formed by
edifice collapse and is partially filled by a young, unvegetated
stratovolcano that rises about 1300 m above the caldera floor to a height
comparable to the caldera rim. It has been the source of numerous lava
flows as well as explosive eruptions that were visible from Quito in
historical time. Frequent lahars in this region of heavy rainfall have
constructed a debris plain on the eastern floor of the caldera. The largest
historical eruption took place in 2002, producing a 17-km-high eruption
column, pyroclastic flows that traveled up to 8 km, and lava flows from
summit and flank vents.



Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG)
http://www.igepn.edu.ec/





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



OVSICORI-UNA reported that periodic phreatic explosions at Rincón de la
Vieja continued to be recorded by the seismic network and webcams during
26-29 May and 1-2 June. Some of the events were not visually confirmed by
webcams because of weather conditions or darkness. On 26 May a minor amount
of ash fell in areas to the NW including in Los Angeles of Quebrada Grande,
and Liberia. A phreatic eruption at 1521 on 27 May generated a plume that
rose 1.5 km above the crater rim. At 1524 on 28 May an event generated a
plume that rose 3 km above the rim and drifted W. Phreatic eruptions at
1745 on 1 June, and at 1446 and 1701 on 2 June produced plumes that rose
1-2 km.



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/





Semeru  | Eastern Java (Indonesia)  | 8.108°S, 112.922°E  | Summit elev.
3657 m



PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 27 May-2 June,
though sometimes weather conditions prevented visual confirmation. Ash
plumes rose 300-500 m above the crater and drifted N, W, and SW on most
days. White plumes rose 300 m and drifted N during 26-27 May. The Alert
Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded to
stay outside of the general 1-km radius from the summit and 4 km on the SSE
flank.



Geologic Summary. Semeru, the highest volcano on Java, and one of its most
active, lies at the southern end of a volcanic massif extending north to
the Tengger caldera. The steep-sided volcano, also referred to as Mahameru
(Great Mountain), rises above coastal plains to the south. Gunung Semeru
was constructed south of the overlapping Ajek-ajek and Jambangan calderas.
A line of lake-filled maars was constructed along a N-S trend cutting
through the summit, and cinder cones and lava domes occupy the eastern and
NE flanks. Summit topography is complicated by the shifting of craters from
NW to SE. Frequent 19th and 20th century eruptions were dominated by
small-to-moderate explosions from the summit crater, with occasional lava
flows and larger explosive eruptions accompanied by pyroclastic flows that
have reached the lower flanks of the volcano.



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





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



KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in
satellite images during 22-29 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 nighttime incandescence at Suwanosejimaâ??s Ontake Crater
was visible during 22-29 May. Five explosions were recorded, producing
plumes that rose as high as 700 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/





Whakaari/White Island  | North Island (New Zealand)  | 37.52°S, 177.18°E  |
Summit elev. 294 m



On 29 May GeoNet reported that activity at Whakaari/White Island continued
in an elevated state of unrest. Gas and observations flights have resumed;
sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide gas flux increased from 20 to 27 May,
possibly indicating a new body of magma at a shallow depth. Areas of lava
remained hot on 20 May with temperatures around 500 degrees Celsius.
Incandescence from gas emissions around the lobes was visible in nighttime
webcam images. Tremor levels remained low overall, punctuated with
occasional episodes of slightly elevated tremor. Some shallow-source
volcanic earthquakes were recorded. Satellite-based measurements showed
several centimeters of subsidence since the December 2019 eruption. The
Volcanic Alert Level remained at 2 and the Aviation Color Code remained at
Yellow.



Geologic Summary. The uninhabited Whakaari/White Island is the 2 x 2.4 km
emergent summit of a 16 x 18 km submarine volcano in the Bay of Plenty
about 50 km offshore of North Island. The island consists of two
overlapping andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcanoes. The SE side of the crater
is open at sea level, with the recent activity centered about 1 km from the
shore close to the rear crater wall. Volckner Rocks, sea stacks that are
remnants of a lava dome, lie 5 km NW. Descriptions of volcanism since 1826
have included intermittent moderate phreatic, phreatomagmatic, and
Strombolian eruptions; activity there also forms a prominent part of Maori
legends. The formation of many new vents during the 19th and 20th centuries
caused rapid changes in crater floor topography. Collapse of the crater
wall in 1914 produced a debris avalanche that buried buildings and workers
at a sulfur-mining project. Explosive activity in December 2019 took place
while tourists were present, resulting in many fatalities. The official
government name Whakaari/White Island is a combination of the full Maori
name of Te Puia o Whakaari ("The Dramatic Volcano") and White Island
(referencing the constant steam plume) given by Captain James Cook in 1769.



Source: GeoNet http://www.geonet.org.nz/





Yasur  | Vanuatu  | 19.532°S, 169.447°E  | Summit elev. 361 m



On 28 May the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD)
reported that recent visual observations at Yasur confirmed ongoing
explosions and gas-and-ash emissions. The report noted that some of the
explosions could be intense and eject bombs outside of the summit crater.
The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 0-4). VMGD reminded residents
and tourists that hazardous areas were near and around the volcanic crater,
within a 600-m-radius exclusion zone, and that volcanic ash and gas could
reach areas impacted by trade winds.



Geologic Summary. Yasur, the best-known and most frequently visited of the
Vanuatu volcanoes, has been in more-or-less continuous Strombolian and
Vulcanian activity since Captain Cook observed ash eruptions in 1774. This
style of activity may have continued for the past 800 years. Located at the
SE tip of Tanna Island, this mostly unvegetated pyroclastic cone has a
nearly circular, 400-m-wide summit crater. The active cone is largely
contained within the small Yenkahe caldera, and is the youngest of a group
of Holocene volcanic centers constructed over the down-dropped NE flank of
the Pleistocene Tukosmeru volcano. The Yenkahe horst is located within the
Siwi ring fracture, a 4-km-wide, horseshoe-shaped caldera associated with
eruption of the andesitic Siwi pyroclastic sequence. Active tectonism along
the Yenkahe horst accompanying eruptions has raised Port Resolution harbor
more than 20 m during the past century.



Source: Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD)
http://www.geohazards.gov.vu/




2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2


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Interior (IAVCEI).



ASU - http://www.asu.edu/

PSU - http://pdx.edu/

GVP - http://www.volcano.si.edu/

IAVCEI - https://www.iavceivolcano.org/



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End of Volcano Digest - 2 Jun 2020 to 3 Jun 2020 (#2020-57)
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