Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 5-11 August 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

5-11 August 2020



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

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





New Activity/Unrest: Manam, Papua New Guinea  | Nishinoshima, Japan  |
Raung, Eastern Java (Indonesia)  | Sinabung, Indonesia  | Villarrica, Chile



Ongoing Activity: Aira, Kyushu (Japan)  | Dukono, Halmahera (Indonesia)  |
Ebeko, Paramushir Island (Russia)  | Etna, Sicily (Italy)  | Ibu, Halmahera
(Indonesia)  | Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)  | Kerinci, Indonesia
| Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica  | Sabancaya, Peru  | Sangay, Ecuador  |
Semeru, Eastern Java (Indonesia)  | Sheveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
| Suwanosejima, Ryukyu Islands (Japan)  | Turrialba, Costa Rica





The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is a cooperative project between the
Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program and the US Geological Survey's
Volcano Hazards Program. Updated by 2300 UTC every Wednesday, 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





Manam  | Papua New Guinea  | 4.08°S, 145.037°E  | Summit elev. 1807 m



The Darwin VAAC reported that on 6 August an ash plume from Manam rose to 3
km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW. The next day ash plumes rose to 2.1
km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W.



Geologic Summary. The 10-km-wide island of Manam, lying 13 km off the
northern coast of mainland Papua New Guinea, is one of the country's most
active volcanoes. Four large radial valleys extend from the unvegetated
summit of the conical 1807-m-high basaltic-andesitic stratovolcano to its
lower flanks. These "avalanche valleys" channel lava flows and pyroclastic
avalanches that have sometimes reached the coast. Five small satellitic
centers are located near the island's shoreline on the northern, southern,
and western sides. Two summit craters are present; both are active,
although most historical eruptions have originated from the southern
crater, concentrating eruptive products during much of the past century
into the SE valley. Frequent historical eruptions, typically of
mild-to-moderate scale, have been recorded since 1616. Occasional larger
eruptions have produced pyroclastic flows and lava flows that reached
flat-lying coastal areas and entered the sea, sometimes impacting populated
areas.



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





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



Based on satellite data, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 5-11 August
ash plumes from Nishinoshima rose to 4-4.9 km (13,000-16,000 ft) a.s.l. and
drifted in multiple directions.



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.



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





Raung  | Eastern Java (Indonesia)  | 8.119°S, 114.056°E  | Summit elev.
3260 m



PVMBG reported that an eruptive event at Raung was detected on 1 August,
though weather conditions prevented visual confirmation. Weather conditions
continued to obscure of views of the volcano during 5-11 August; white
plumes were visible rising 100-200 m above the summit during some of the
breaks in cloud cover. 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. Raung, one of Java's most active volcanoes, is a massive
stratovolcano in easternmost Java that was constructed SW of the rim of
Ijen caldera. The unvegetated summit is truncated by a dramatic
steep-walled, 2-km-wide caldera that has been the site of frequent
historical eruptions. A prehistoric collapse of Gunung Gadung on the W
flank produced a large debris avalanche that traveled 79 km, reaching
nearly to the Indian Ocean. Raung contains several centers constructed
along a NE-SW line, with Gunung Suket and Gunung Gadung stratovolcanoes
being located to the NE and W, respectively.



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





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



PVMBG reported that at 0158 on 8 August a phreatic eruption at Sinabung
produced a brown-gray ash plume that rose 2 km above the summit and drifted
E and SE. A news article stated that ashfall impacted at least four
districts, including Naman Teran, Merdeka, Berastagi, and Dolat Rayat. BNPB
noted that clean water was distributed, and emergency vehicles were
deployed to clean up the ashfall. Later that day at 1718 an ash plume rose
at least 1 km above the summit and drifted ESE. There is a general
exclusion zone set at 3 km from the summit, with extensions to 5 km on the
SE and 4 km on the NE. A news article noted that authorities began
enforcing a 7-km exclusion zone.



An eruptive event at 1016 on 10 August produced a dense gray ash plume that
rose at least 5 km above the summit (24,500 ft a.s.l.) and drifted NE and
SE. Parts of the plume drifted down the flank; ashfall was reported in
several areas downwind. The Darwin VAAC advisory stated that satellite
observations showed ash plumes drifting WNW at 9.8 km (32,000 ft) a.s.l. at
1430 and ENE at 4.3 km (14,000 ft) a.s.l. at 1630. The Alert Level remained
at 3 (on a scale of 1-4). Residents and tourists in Berastagi (13 km E)
turned on headlights to navigate through the ash according to a news
article.



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.



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

Badan Nacional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) http://www.bnpb.go.id/;

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

The Jakarta Post
https://www.thejakartapost.com/amp/news/2020/08/08/mount-sinabung-erupts-again-after-year-of-inactivity.html
;

NBC News
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/indonesia-s-mount-sinabung-volcano-erupts-twice-three-days-n1236259
;

Gatra
https://www.gatra.com/detail/news/486880/kebencanaan/gunung-api-sinabung-kembali-meletus





Villarrica  | Chile  | 39.42°S, 71.93°W  | Summit elev. 2847 m



POVI reported that small Strombolian explosions at Villarrica were visible
in webcam images on 23 July. At 1522 on 7 August a long-period earthquake
occurred along with a moderate explosion in the summit crater according to
SERNAGEOMIN; a gray ash plume rose to 3.4 km (11,000 ft) a.s.l. (370 m
above the vent) and drifted SE. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, the
second lowest level on a four-color scale. ONEMI maintained an Alert Level
Yellow (the middle level on a three-color scale) for the municipalities of
Villarrica, Pucón (16 km N), Curarrehue, and the commune of Panguipulli,
and the exclusion zone for the public of 500 m around the crater.



Geologic Summary. Glacier-clad Villarrica, one of Chile's most active
volcanoes, rises above the lake and town of the same name. It is the
westernmost of three large stratovolcanoes that trend perpendicular to the
Andean chain. A 6-km-wide caldera formed during the late Pleistocene. A
2-km-wide caldera that formed about 3500 years ago is located at the base
of the presently active, dominantly basaltic to basaltic-andesitic cone at
the NW margin of the Pleistocene caldera. More than 30 scoria cones and
fissure vents dot the flanks. Plinian eruptions and pyroclastic flows that
have extended up to 20 km from the volcano were produced during the
Holocene. Lava flows up to 18 km long have issued from summit and flank
vents. Historical eruptions, documented since 1558, have consisted largely
of mild-to-moderate explosive activity with occasional lava effusion.
Glaciers cover 40 km2 of the volcano, and lahars have damaged towns on its
flanks.



Sources: Proyecto Observación Villarrica Internet (POVI) http://www.povi.cl/
;

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

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

Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
http://www.smn.gov.ar/vaac/buenosaires/productos.php





Ongoing Activity





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



JMA reported that the daily sulfur dioxide emission rate at Minamidake
Crater (at Aira Calderaâ??s Sakurajima volcano) was 700 tons/day on 3 August.
An explosion at 0538 on 9 August produced an ash plume that rose as high as
5 km above the crater rim; ejected blocks were not visually confirmed due
to weather conditions. Ashfall was reported in areas N of the crater
including Kagoshima City (about 10 km W), Kirishima City (20 km NE), Yusui
Town (40 km N), and parts of the Miyazaki Prefecture and the Kumamoto
Prefecture. After the explosion at 0538, smaller eruptions were
intermittently detected through 10 August. 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 5, 7, and 9-11 August ash plumes from
Dukono rose to 1.8-2.1 km (6,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple
directions. 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
volcano, observed explosions on 30 July and during 1-2 and 6 August that
sent ash plumes up to 3.5 km (11,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E. A thermal
anomaly over the volcano was identified in satellite images on 6 August;
weather clouds obscured views on the other days during 1-7 August. The
Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a
four-color scale).



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



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





Etna  | Sicily (Italy)  | 37.748°N, 14.999°E  | Summit elev. 3320 m



INGV reported that during 27 July-9 August activity at Etna was
characterized by intra-crater Strombolian activity at Northeast Crater
(NEC), sporadic Strombolian activity at Voragine Crater (VOR) with minor
ash emissions that quickly dispersed, and both Strombolian activity and
diffuse ash emissions at the New Southeast Crater (NSEC) cone. Explosive
activity increased on 31 July; an ash cloud rose to 4.5 km (14,800 ft)
a.s.l. On 2 August very minor ashfall was reported in Trecastagni and
Acicastello, possibly from a slight increase in explosive activity that was
not visually confirmed.



During 3-9 August Strombolian activity ejected material above the NSEC
coneâ??s crater rim; the activity was almost continuous during the evening of
6 August and the next morning, and booming was heard several kilometers
away. Ash emissions dispersed near the summit. A series of ash emissions
were visible in the morning of 9 August.



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



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





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



PVMBG reported that on 5 August an ash plume rose 500 m above Ibuâ??s summit
and drifted N. A few hours later the Darwin VAAC reported that an ash plume
rose to 4.3 km (14,000 ft) a.s.l., or 2.9 km above the summit. 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: 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





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



KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was identified in
satellite images during 5-6 August; weather clouds prevented views of the
volcano on the other days during 1-7 August. 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





Kerinci  | Indonesia  | 1.697°S, 101.264°E  | Summit elev. 3800 m



PVMBG reported that at 1024 on 7 August a brown ash emission from Kerinci
rose 600 m above the summit and drifted NE, E, and SE. At 1140 on 9 August
a brown ash plume rose 600 m above the summit and drifted ENE. The Alert
Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to
remain outside of the 3-km exclusion zone.



Geologic Summary. Gunung Kerinci in central Sumatra forms Indonesia's
highest volcano and is one of the most active in Sumatra. It is capped by
an unvegetated young summit cone that was constructed NE of an older crater
remnant. There is a deep 600-m-wide summit crater often partially filled by
a small crater lake that lies on the NE crater floor, opposite the SW-rim
summit. The massive 13 x 25 km wide volcano towers 2400-3300 m above
surrounding plains and is elongated in a N-S direction. Frequently active,
Kerinci has been the source of numerous moderate explosive eruptions since
its first recorded eruption in 1838.



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





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



OVSICORI-UNA reported that phreatic activity at Rincón de la Vieja had
significantly decreased compared to activity during January-May. Events
were recorded at 0546 on 5 August and at 1000 on 8 August, but not visually
confirmed due to weather conditions. A phreatic explosion at 0035 on 6
August generated a plume that rose 500 m above the crater rim. Small steam
plumes were visible on 10 August; one at 0845 was likely produced from a
small phreatic event. Another s small phreatic event was detected later
that day at 2346.



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 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 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 3,500 years ago was the last major magmatic
eruption. All subsequent eruptions, including numerous historical eruptions
possibly dating back to the 16th century, have been from the prominent
active crater containing a 500-m-wide acid lake located ENE of Von Seebach
crater.



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





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



Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP) reported a daily average of 19
explosions at Sabancaya during 3-9 August. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as high
as 2.5 km above the summit and drifted SE, S, SW, and NW. There were five
thermal anomalies over the crater identified in satellite data. The Alert
Level remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale)
and the public were warned to stay outside of a 12-km radius.



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



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





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



IG reported a high level of activity at Sangay during 5-11 August. Weather
clouds often prevented visual observations of the volcano; according to
Washington VAAC notices and IG webcams ash plumes rose 870-2,000 m above
the summit and drifted NW, W, and S almost daily. Heavy rain generated
secondary lahars in the Volcán and Upano drainages during 5-7 August.



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/





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



PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 5-11 August,
though sometimes foggy conditions prevented visual confirmation. Ash plumes
rose 400-500 m above the summit and drifted N on 8 August. 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 1-7 August. A moderate explosion produced a small
ash plume that rose to 4.5 km (14,800 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE and E on 2
August according to the Kamchatka Branch of Geophysical Services (KBGS;
Russian Academy of Sciences). 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.



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

Institute of Volcanology and Geodynamics, Russian Academy of Natural
Science http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/index.php





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



JMA reported occasional eruptive events, three explosions, and occasional
nighttime incandescence at Suwanosejimaâ??s Ontake Crater during 31 July-7
August. An explosion at 1553 on 1 August generated an ash plume that rose
1.8 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 is truncated by a large
breached crater extending to the sea on the east flank that was formed by
edifice collapse. Suwanosejima, one of Japan's most frequently active
volcanoes, was in a state of intermittent strombolian activity from Otake,
the NE summit crater, that began in 1949 and lasted until 1996, after which
periods of inactivity lengthened. The largest historical eruption took
place in 1813-14, when thick scoria deposits blanketed residential areas,
and the SW crater produced two lava flows that reached the western coast.
At the end of the eruption the summit of Otake collapsed forming a large
debris avalanche and creating the horseshoe-shaped Sakuchi caldera, which
extends to the eastern coast. The island remained uninhabited for about 70
years after the 1813-1814 eruption. Lava flows reached the eastern coast of
the island in 1884. Only about 50 people live on the island.



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





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



OVSICORI-UNA reported that there were 19 minor ash emissions recorded at
Turrialba during 4-5 August, with event durations lasting no longer than
three minutes and plumes rising no higher than 200 m above the summit. Four
more events were recorded on 5 August, with event durations lasting less
than 10 minutes. Plumes again rose no higher than 200 m.



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



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


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End of Volcano Digest - 11 Aug 2020 to 12 Aug 2020 (#2020-80)
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