Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 10-16 June 2020

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


Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

10-16 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)  | Karymsky,
Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)  | Makushin, Fox Islands (USA)  | Sangay, Ecuador



Ongoing Activity: Aira, Kyushu (Japan)  | Dukono, Halmahera (Indonesia)  |
Ebeko, Paramushir Island (Russia)  | Fuego, Guatemala  | Ibu, Halmahera
(Indonesia)  | Klyuchevskoy, Central Kamchatka (Russia)  | Nevados de
Chillan, Chile  | Nishinoshima, Japan  | Popocatepetl, Mexico  | Reykjanes,
Iceland  | Sangeang Api, Indonesia  | Semeru, Eastern Java (Indonesia)  |
Sheveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)  | Suwanosejima, Ryukyu Islands
(Japan)  | Whakaari/White Island, North Island (New Zealand)





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



AVO reported that unrest at Cleveland likely continued during 10-16 June,
though no activity was identified in cloudy satellite images nor detected
by regional geophysical networks. AVO noted that local seismic, infrasound,
and web camera data are unavailable due to an equipment failure, Cleveland
continued to be monitored with regional seismic and infrasound stations on
nearby islands, along with lightning and satellite data capabilities. The
Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch and the Aviation Color Code remained
at 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/





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



KVERT reported that a weak thermal anomaly over Karymsky was identified in
satellite images during 10-11 June. 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





Makushin  | Fox Islands (USA)  | 53.891°N, 166.923°W  | Summit elev. 1800 m



AVO reported that over a period of several hours on 15 June there were two
earthquakes in the vicinity of Makushin that were greater than M 4 and one
greater than M 3. The events were located about 11 km SE of the summit at a
depth of about 8 km, and felt in Unalaska (14 km E). Numerous smaller
earthquakes were recorded, though not felt by Unalaska residents. AVO noted
that the earthquakes represented a departure from background levels and
were possibly indicative of volcanic unrest; the Aviation Color Code and
Volcano Alert Level were respectively raised to Yellow and Advisory. The
report noted that aftershocks were continuing.



Geologic Summary. The ice-covered, 1800-m-high Makushin volcano on northern
Unalaska Island west of the town of Dutch Harbor is capped by a 2.5-km-wide
caldera. The broad, domical structure of Makushin contrasts with the
steep-sided profiles of most other Aleutian stratovolcanoes. Much of the
volcano was formed during the Pleistocene, but the caldera (which formed
about 8000 years ago), Sugarloaf cone on the ENE flank, and a cluster of
about a dozen explosion pits and cinder cones at Point Kadin on the WNW
flank, are of Holocene age. A broad band of NE-SW-trending satellitic vents
cuts across the volcano. The composite Pakushin cone, with multiple summit
craters, lies 8 km to the SW of Makushin. Frequent explosive eruptions have
occurred during the past 4000 years, sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic
flows and surges. Geothermal areas are found in the summit caldera of
Makushin and on the SE and eastern flanks of the volcano. They represent
the largest and most investigated high-temperature geothermal resources in
Alaska. Small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded at
Makushin since 1786.



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





Sangay  | Ecuador  | 2.005°S, 78.341°W  | Summit elev. 5286 m



IG reported that for the past year, activity at Sangay is centered at two
summit vents: the Central Crater which produced ash-and-gas emissions and
the �uñurcu dome (located 190 m SSE of Central Crater) which effused lava.
Lava, pyroclastic flows, and collapsed material were channeled down the
Volcán River drainage on the SE flank. Activity at Sangay intensified
during 8-9 June with lava-flow collapses, pyroclastic flows on the SE flank
that reached the Upano River, and significant ash emissions that drifted W.
No variation in seismic data was noted prior to a period of increased
activity. A comparison of webcam images from 2 September 2019 and 10 June
2020 showed that the drainage had widened, deepened, and lengthened.



In recent weeks ash plumes had risen as high as 2.9 km above the crater rim
and had been carried farther by strong winds. Ashfall was reported in the
provinces of Chimborazo, Bolívar, Guayas, Santa Elena, Los Ríos, and Morona
Santiago. Activity slightly increased during 11-12 June, characterized by
ash-and-gas plumes rising higher (1.5-2.8 km above the crater rim) and
drifting farther (over 600 km W and SW), and an increased number of thermal
anomalies on the SE flank from intensified lava effusion. A pulse of
increased seismic activity was also detected. Ashfall was additionally
reported in the provinces of Tungurahua and Cotopaxi.



Geologic Summary. The isolated Sangay volcano, located east of the Andean
crest, is the southernmost of Ecuador's volcanoes and its most active. The
steep-sided, glacier-covered, dominantly andesitic volcano grew within
horseshoe-shaped calderas of two previous edifices, which were destroyed by
collapse to the east, producing large debris avalanches that reached the
Amazonian lowlands. The modern edifice dates back to at least 14,000 years
ago. It towers above the tropical jungle on the east side; on the other
sides flat plains of ash have been sculpted by heavy rains into
steep-walled canyons up to 600 m deep. The earliest report of a historical
eruption was in 1628. More or less continuous eruptions were reported from
1728 until 1916, and again from 1934 to the present. The almost constant
activity has caused frequent changes to the morphology of the summit crater
complex.



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





Ongoing Activity





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



JMA reported that there were four explosive events and one eruptive event
at Minamidake Crater (at Aira Calderaâ??s Sakurajima volcano) during 8-12
June. An explosion at 1119 on 10 June produced a plume that rose 3.2 km
above the crater rim and ejected large rocks 1.3-1.7 km away from the
crater. Sulfur dioxide emissions remained high. No observable activity was
recorded during 13-15 June, though inclement weather obscured views. The
Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).



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



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





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



Based on satellite and wind model data, and information from PVMBG the
Darwin VAAC reported that during 10-15 June ash plumes from Dukono rose to
1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW, W, and SW. 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 8-11 June that sent ash plumes up to 2.6
km (8,500 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted E and N, and as far as 85 km N and
NW on 11 June. A thermal anomaly over the volcano was identified in
satellite images on 11 June. 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





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



INSIVUMEH reported that there were 4-13 explosions per hour recorded at
Fuego during 10-16 June, generating ash plumes as high as 1.1 km above the
crater rim that generally drifted 10-15 km NW, W, SW, and S. Ashfall was
reported in several areas downwind including Santa Sofía (12 km SW),
Morelia (9 km SW), Panimaché I and II (8 km SW), Finca Palo Verde, San
Pedro Yepocapa (8 km NW), Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW), and El Porvenir (8
km ENE). Shock waves from explosions sometimes rattled houses in the
vicinity of the volcano. Incandescent material was ejected 100-300 m high
and caused avalanches of blocks in the Ceniza, Seca (W), Trinidad (S),
Taniluyá (SW), Santa Teresa (W), Las Lajas, and Honda drainages.



A new lava flow traveled 250 m down the Seca drainage on the NW flank in
the early hours of 12 June. The lava effusion was accompanied by almost
constant summit crater incandescence and gas emissions. Incandescent
material was ejected 100 m above the summit. Avalanches of material
descended the flanks and reached vegetated areas. Ash plumes rose over 1 km
and shock waves from explosions were felt. The lava flow had lengthened to
300 m by 13 June, but was an estimated 250 m long on 14 June.



Geologic Summary. Volcán Fuego, one of Central America's most active
volcanoes, is also one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking
Guatemala's former capital, Antigua. The scarp of an older edifice, Meseta,
lies between Fuego and Acatenango to the north. Construction of Meseta
dates back to about 230,000 years and continued until the late Pleistocene
or early Holocene. Collapse of Meseta may have produced the massive
Escuintla debris-avalanche deposit, which extends about 50 km onto the
Pacific coastal plain. Growth of the modern Fuego volcano followed,
continuing the southward migration of volcanism that began at the mostly
andesitic Acatenango. Eruptions at Fuego have become more mafic with time,
and most historical activity has produced basaltic rocks. Frequent vigorous
historical eruptions have been recorded since the onset of the Spanish era
in 1524, and have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional
pyroclastic flows and lava flows.



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





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



The Darwin VAAC reported that on 15 June ash plumes from Ibu rose to 1.8 km
(6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW and W based on satellite images and
weather models. 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/





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



KVERT reported that Strombolian activity at Klyuchevskoy was visible during
5-12 June 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 40 km W and E on
during 6-7, 9, and 11 June. 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





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



SERNAGEOMIN reported that a body of lava in Nevados de Chillánâ??s Nicanor
Crater was visible in 11 June satellite images. The structure was oriented
in the NNW direction and was about 100 m long and 60 m wide. Adjacent to
the lava body was a smaller structure, oriented N. The sulfur dioxide
emission rate was 300 tons/day on 14 June, which was an average rate. A
thermal anomaly was visible on 10 and 14 June, and at night incandescent
material was sometimes ejected from the crater. The Alert Level remained at
Yellow, the second lowest level on a four-color scale, and residents were
reminded not to approach the crater within 3 km. ONEMI stated that the
Alert Level Yellow (the middle level on a three-color scale) remained in
place for the communities of Pinto and Coihueco, and that the public should
stay at least 2 km away from the crater.



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.



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





Nishinoshima  | Japan  | 27.247°N, 140.874°E  | Summit elev. 25 m



The Tokyo VAAC reported that ash plumes from Nishinoshima rose to 2.1-2.7
km (7,000-9,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and E. During an overflight on 15
June the Japan Coast Guard noted continuous activity from the central vent,
including a gray-brown to black-brown ash plume rising as high as 2 km.
Ejected material landed near the coneâ??s base. Lava from the NE side of the
central vent flowed E. Steam plumes rose along the E coast where lava
entered the sea, causing discolored brownish water offshore. The marine
exclusion zone was defined as a radius of about 2.6 km from the island.



Geologic Summary. The small island of Nishinoshima was enlarged when
several new islands coalesced during an eruption in 1973-74. Another
eruption that began offshore in 2013 completely covered the previous
exposed surface and enlarged the island again. Water discoloration has been
observed on several occasions since. The island is the summit of a massive
submarine volcano that has prominent satellitic peaks to the S, W, and NE.
The summit of the southern cone rises to within 214 m of the sea surface 9
km SSE.



Sources: Japan Coast Guard http://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/index.html;

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





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



CENAPRED reported that each day during 10-16 June there were 145-302
steam-and-gas emissions from Popocatépetl, some of which contained minor
amounts of ash. The plumes did not rise more than 1 km above the crater
rim. An overflight was conducted on 13 June by the National Guard,
Instituto de Geofísica de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
(UNAM), and CENAPRED scientists. They noted that the inner crater was
350-380 m in diameter and 100-150 m deep; the crater floor was covered in
tephra and the remains of a lava dome which had possibly been seen in May.
At 1612 that same day a minor explosion was recorded, though an ash plume
was not observed due to weather clouds. Incandescent material was ejected a
short distance onto the flanks. Seven minor explosions were recorded on 15
June and again on 16 June. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, Phase Two
(middle level on a three-color scale).



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



Source: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED)
https://www.gob.mx/cenapred





Reykjanes  | Iceland  | 63.85°N, 22.566°W  | Summit elev. 140 m



IMO reported that a third injection of magma since the beginning of the
year was occurring beneath the Reykjanes peninsula. Data suggested that the
current inflationary period began in mid-May, though earthquake activity
did not increase until around 30 May. During 30 May-15 June the seismic
network recorded more than 2,000 events, with the largest, an M 3.4,
recorded on 13 June. The intrusion was located about 1 km W of Thorbjorn at
a depth of 3-4 km, and had an estimated volume of about 1.2 million cubic
meters. This third intrusion was similar to the previous two intrusions,
characterized as a sill that was a few hundred meters wide and about 6 km
long. In total about 12 cm of uplift has been recorded since January. The
Svartsengi geothermal plant noted no chemical changes in the geothermal
system, though measurements showed increased fluid flow in the rocks within
the system, along with the opening of old cracks and the formation of new
ones.



Geologic Summary. The Reykjanes volcanic system at the SW tip of the
Reykjanes Peninsula, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level,
comprises a broad area of postglacial basaltic crater rows and small shield
volcanoes. The submarine Reykjaneshryggur volcanic system is contiguous
with and is considered part of the Reykjanes volcanic system, which is the
westernmost of a series of four closely-spaced en-echelon fissure systems
that extend diagonally across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Most of the
subaerial part of the system (also known as the Reykjanes/Svartsengi
volcanic system) is covered by Holocene lavas. Subaerial eruptions have
occurred in historical time during the 13th century at several locations on
the NE-SW-trending fissure system, and numerous submarine eruptions dating
back to the 12th century have been observed during historical time, some of
which have formed ephemeral islands. Basaltic rocks of probable Holocene
age have been recovered during dredging operations, and tephra deposits
from earlier Holocene eruptions are preserved on the nearby Reykjanes
Peninsula.



Source: Icelandic Met Office (IMO) http://en.vedur.is/





Sangeang Api  | Indonesia  | 8.2°S, 119.07°E  | Summit elev. 1912 m



The Darwin VAAC reported that on 10 June an ash plume from Sangeang Api
rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE. The Alert
Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4).



Geologic Summary. Sangeang Api volcano, one of the most active in the
Lesser Sunda Islands, forms a small 13-km-wide island off the NE coast of
Sumbawa Island. Two large trachybasaltic-to-tranchyandesitic volcanic
cones, Doro Api and Doro Mantoi, were constructed in the center and on the
eastern rim, respectively, of an older, largely obscured caldera. Flank
vents occur on the south side of Doro Mantoi and near the northern coast.
Intermittent historical eruptions have been recorded since 1512, most of
them during in the 20th century.



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





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



PVMBG and the Darwin VAAC reported that on most days during 10-16 June ash
plumes from Semeru rose at most 300 m above the summit and drifted N, SE,
S, and SW. 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.



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





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 5-12 June. 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 occasionally visible during 5-12 June. An eruptive event on 5 June
produced gray-white plume rose as high as 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/





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



On 16 June GeoNet reported that during the previous few months activity
levels at Whakaari/White Island had gradually progressed on a downward
trend based on the volcano monitoring teamâ??s collective interpretation of
all the monitoring data. Temperatures at the gas vents remained high (over
450 degrees Celsius) though a slow decline in heat input from depth has
been recorded. Although magma remained at a shallow depth, an estimated 1
km below the surface, gas discharge and ground deformation were not
increasing. Additionally, seismic activity, specifically the level of
volcanic tremor, had been low since February-March. The Volcanic Alert
Level was lowered to 1 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/




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End of Volcano Digest - 12 Jun 2020 to 17 Jun 2020 (#2020-62)
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