Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 26 August-1 September 2020

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


Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

26 August-1 September 2020



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

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





New Activity/Unrest: Langila, New Britain (Papua New Guinea)  | Manam,
Papua New Guinea  | Raung, Eastern Java (Indonesia)  | Sinabung, Indonesia



Ongoing Activity: Aira, Kyushu (Japan)  | Asosan, Kyushu (Japan)  | Dukono,
Halmahera (Indonesia)  | Ebeko, Paramushir Island (Russia)  | Fuego,
Guatemala  | Ibu, Halmahera (Indonesia)  | Irazu, Costa Rica  | Kadovar,
Papua New Guinea  | Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)  | Kerinci,
Indonesia  | Nishinoshima, Japan  | Pacaya, Guatemala  | Popocatepetl,
Mexico  | Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica  | Sabancaya, Peru  | Santa Maria,
Guatemala  | Sheveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)  | Suwanosejima, Ryukyu
Islands (Japan)  | Turrialba, Costa Rica





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





Langila  | New Britain (Papua New Guinea)  | 5.525°S, 148.42°E  | Summit
elev. 1330 m



Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind-model data, the Darwin VAAC
reported that on 22 August an ash plume from Langila rose to an altitude of
1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW.



Geologic Summary. Langila, one of the most active volcanoes of New Britain,
consists of a group of four small overlapping composite basaltic-andesitic
cones on the lower eastern flank of the extinct Talawe volcano. Talawe is
the highest volcano in the Cape Gloucester area of NW New Britain. A
rectangular, 2.5-km-long crater is breached widely to the SE; Langila
volcano was constructed NE of the breached crater of Talawe. An extensive
lava field reaches the coast on the north and NE sides of Langila. Frequent
mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions, sometimes accompanied by lava flows,
have been recorded since the 19th century from three active craters at the
summit of Langila. The youngest and smallest crater (no. 3 crater) was
formed in 1960 and has a diameter of 150 m.



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





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



The Darwin VAAC reported that on 20 August an ash plume from Manam rose 2.1
km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W and WSW, based on satellite data and a
ground-based observer. On 31 August an ash plume rose to 4.6 km (15,000 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





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



PVMBG reported that on 21 August white-and-brown emissions rose 100 m above
Raungâ??s summit and drifted N and S. White plumes rose as high as 100 m
during 22-26 August; weather conditions prevented visual observations
during 27-31 August. 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 white-and-gray plumes rose as high as 2 km above
Sinabungâ??s summit and drifted in multiple directions during 18-20, 23-25,
and 31 August. An eruptive event was recorded at 0517, though weather
conditions prevented visual confirmation. White plumes were seen rising
100-400 m during 22 and 26-30 August. Notably, at 1823 on 19 August an ash
plume rose 4 km above the crater rim and drifted ESE. At 0741 on 23 August
a gray ash plume rose 1.5 km and drifted E; pyroclastic flows traveled
about 1 km down the E and SE flanks. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a
scale of 1-4), with a general exclusion zone of 3 km and extensions to 5 km
on the SE sector and 4 km in the NE sector.



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



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





Ongoing Activity





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



JMA reported that very small eruptive events at Minamidake Crater (at Aira
Calderaâ??s Sakurajima volcano) were recorded during 17-28 August; the
volcano was quiet during 29-31 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/





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



JMA reported that no eruptions at Asosan had been observed since 16 June;
only white plumes rose as high as 1 km above the crater afterwards. Sulfur
dioxide emissions had been low since mid-June, and volcanic-tremor
amplitude decreased to low levels on 18 July. During a field inspection on
17 August, observers noted no water in the crater and a whitish area at the
center of the crater floor. On 18 August the Alert Level was lowered to 1
(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, the Darwin VAAC reported that
during 19 August-1 September ash plumes from Dukono rose 2.1-2.7 km
(7,000-9,000 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, observed explosions during 14-17 and 21-28 August that sent ash
plumes up to 4 km (13,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE, E, S, and NW. Ashfall
was reported in Severo-Kurilsk on 22 August. A thermal anomaly over the
volcano was identified in satellite images during 16 and 24-25 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





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



INSIVUMEH reported that there were 3-16 explosions per hour at Fuego
recorded during 26 August-1 September, generating ash plumes as high as 1.1
km above the crater rim that generally drifted 10-20 km NW, W, and SW.
Shock waves rattled buildings within a 20-km radius. Incandescent material
was ejected 100-300 m high, causing avalanches of blocks in the Ceniza
(SSW), Seca (W), Trinidad (S), Taniluyá (SW), Las Lajas, and Honda
drainages; avalanches sometimes reached vegetated areas. Ashfall was
reported in several areas downwind including Morelia (9 km SW), Panimaché I
and II (8 km SW), Finca Palo Verde, Santa Sofía (12 km SW), San Pedro
Yepocapa (8 km NW), and Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW). During 26-27 August a
lava flow traveled 150 m down the Ceniza drainage and lengthened to 400 m
on 28 August; the front of the lava flow generated block avalanches. By 30
August the continuously active flow was 500 m long. During 31 August-1
September the first 200 m of the lava flow was active and continued to
produce block avalanches.



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



PVMBG reported that during 18-29 August white and gray ash plumes rose
200-800 m above Ibuâ??s summit and drifted in multiple directions; weather
conditions prevented observations on 27 August. The Darwin VAAC noted a
thermal anomaly over the volcano on 23 August. Emissions were brown and
white on 30 August. 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





Irazu  | Costa Rica  | 9.979°N, 83.852°W  | Summit elev. 3432 m



OVSICORI-UNA reported that Irazúâ??s seismic network recorded land movement
1.2 km SW of the SW crater rim in a high area used for radio and television
antennas. Landslides in the area had been observed since 2014, but activity
accelerated in the previous months. The number of events indicating
landslides began to exponentially increase particularly after 20 August.
The rate of movement had increased to 20 m/year horizontally and about 25
m/year vertically by 24 August; movement of more than 20 cm was recorded
during 23-24 August. A large block collapsed to the NW, into the Rio Sucio
drainage, during the morning of 26 August.



Geologic Summary. Irazú, one of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes, rises
immediately E of the capital city of San José. The massive volcano covers
an area of 500 km2 and is vegetated to within a few hundred meters of its
broad flat-topped summit crater complex. At least 10 satellitic cones are
located on its S flank. No lava flows have been identified since the
eruption of the massive Cervantes lava flows from S-flank vents about
14,000 years ago, and all known Holocene eruptions have been explosive. The
focus of eruptions at the summit crater complex has migrated to the W
towards the historically active crater, which contains a small lake of
variable size and color. Although eruptions may have occurred around the
time of the Spanish conquest, the first well-documented historical eruption
occurred in 1723, and frequent explosive eruptions have occurred since.
Ashfall from the last major eruption during 1963-65 caused significant
disruption to San José and surrounding areas.



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





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



Based on satellite data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 26 August an ash
plume from Kadovar rose to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l., drifted
WNW, and quickly dissipated.



Geologic Summary. The 2-km-wide island of Kadovar is the emergent summit of
a Bismarck Sea stratovolcano of Holocene age. It is part of the Schouten
Islands, and lies off the coast of New Guinea, about 25 km N of the mouth
of the Sepik River. Prior to an eruption that began in 2018, a lava dome
formed the high point of the andesitic volcano, filling an arcuate
landslide scarp open to the south; submarine debris-avalanche deposits
occur in that direction. Thick lava flows with columnar jointing forms low
cliffs along the coast. The youthful island lacks fringing or offshore
reefs. A period of heightened thermal phenomena took place in 1976. An
eruption began in January 2018 that included lava effusion from vents at
the summit and at the E coast.



Source: 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 on 18 and 21 August; weather clouds prevented views of the
volcano on the other days during 14-28 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 during 19-22 August brown emissions from Kerinci rose
as high as 600 m above the summit and drifted W. Pilots reported that
during 20-21 August ash plumes rose to 4-4.6 km (13,000-15,000 ft) a.s.l.,
or 150-770 m above the summit, and drifted NE and SW. 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





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



Japan Coast Guard reported that during an overflight of Nishinoshima on 19
August scientists observed a white plume comprised of volcanic gases rising
3 km from the crater. No lava effusion was visible, though the inner crater
was hot. The entire island was covered with ash.



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





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



INSIVUMEH reported that during 26 August-1 September Strombolian explosions
at Pacayaâ??s Mackenney Crater ejected material as high as 150 m above the
crater rim. By 30 August lava flows advanced 300 and 650 m on the NE and N
flanks, respectively. A continually active 300-m-long lava flow originated
from a vent on the NW flank. By 31 August no fumes rose from the NE lava
flow, suggesting it was no longer advancing. Two lava flows, 50 and 350 m
long, advanced N on 1 September.



Geologic Summary. Eruptions from Pacaya, one of Guatemala's most active
volcanoes, are frequently visible from Guatemala City, the nation's
capital. This complex basaltic volcano was constructed just outside the
southern topographic rim of the 14 x 16 km Pleistocene Amatitlán caldera. A
cluster of dacitic lava domes occupies the southern caldera floor. The
post-caldera Pacaya massif includes the ancestral Pacaya Viejo and Cerro
Grande stratovolcanoes and the currently active Mackenney stratovolcano.
Collapse of Pacaya Viejo between 600 and 1500 years ago produced a
debris-avalanche deposit that extends 25 km onto the Pacific coastal plain
and left an arcuate somma rim inside which the modern Pacaya volcano
(Mackenney cone) grew. A subsidiary crater, Cerro Chino, was constructed on
the NW somma rim and was last active in the 19th century. During the past
several decades, activity has consisted of frequent strombolian eruptions
with intermittent lava flow extrusion that has partially filled in the
caldera moat and armored the flanks of Mackenney cone, punctuated by
occasional larger explosive eruptions that partially destroy the summit of
the growing young stratovolcano.



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





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



CENAPRED reported that each day during 25 August-1 September there were
96-331 steam-and-gas emissions from Popocatépetl, some of which contained
minor amounts of ash. 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





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



OVSICORI-UNA reported continuing phreatic activity at Rincón de la Vieja
during 19 August-1 September. Phreatic explosions were recorded almost
daily, sometimes multiple times a day, though weather conditions often
prevented visual confirmation of emissions. Plumes were seen rising 0.5-1
km above the crater rim on 19, 24, 28, and 31 August.



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 29
explosions at Sabancaya during 24-30 August. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as
high as 3.5 km above the summit and drifted E, SE, and S, SW, and NW. Four
thermal anomalies over the crater were identified in satellite data. Minor
inflation was detected in areas N of Hualca Hualca (4 km N) and on the SE
flank. On 29 August Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico (INGEMMET)
reported increased activity during 28-29 August and noted higher seismic
levels and inflation over the previous few weeks. 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.



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

Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico (INGEMMET)
http://www.ingemmet.gob.pe/





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



INSIVUMEH reported that during 26 August-1 September explosions at Santa
María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex generated ash plumes that rose as
high as 1 km above the crater and drifted as far as 1 km W and SW. Block
avalanches descended multiple flanks of Caliente cone; some reached the
base of the cone and were sometimes accompanied by small pyroclastic flows.
The lava dome was incandescent most nights, sometimes for prolonged periods
of time.



Geologic Summary. Symmetrical, forest-covered Santa María volcano is part
of a chain of large stratovolcanoes that rise above the Pacific coastal
plain of Guatemala. The sharp-topped, conical profile is cut on the SW
flank by a 1.5-km-wide crater. The oval-shaped crater extends from just
below the summit to the lower flank, and was formed during a catastrophic
eruption in 1902. The renowned Plinian eruption of 1902 that devastated
much of SW Guatemala followed a long repose period after construction of
the large basaltic-andesite stratovolcano. The massive dacitic Santiaguito
lava-dome complex has been growing at the base of the 1902 crater since
1922. Compound dome growth at Santiaguito has occurred episodically from
four vents, with activity progressing W towards the most recent, Caliente.
Dome growth has been accompanied by almost continuous minor explosions,
with periodic lava extrusion, larger explosions, pyroclastic flows, and
lahars.



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





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



KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified almost
daily in satellite images during 14-28 August; weather cloud cover
prevented views on 15 and 27 August. A plume of resuspended ash drifted 75
km ESE on 24 August. 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 nighttime incandescence at Suwanosejimaâ??s Ontake Crater during
14-24 August. Occasional eruptive events and about 12 explosions were
recorded during 18-24 August. One of the explosions, detected at 0452 on 21
August, ejected blocks as far as 600 m from the crater. An explosion at
1449 that same day generated a grayish white ash plume that rose more than
2 km above the crater rim. Ashfall was noted in Toshima village (4 km SSW)
on 21 August. 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



On 21 August OVSICORI-UNA reported that fracturing of SW wall of
Turrialbaâ??s active crater, along with an area of incandescence within the
fracture zone, had been observed during the previous month. An eruption was
recorded at 1253 on 22 August, though a plume was not visible due to
weather conditions. At 2301 on 24 August a plume rose 1 km above the crater
rim.



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 - 31 Aug 2020 to 2 Sep 2020 (#2020-85)
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