Eruptions

News about eruptions and volcanoes can be found in this category. It is updated frequently. Volcano expert and journalist Marc Szeglat reports live from his expeditions to volcanoes.

Klyuchevskoy: Spectacular photo

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Klyuchevskoy on Kamchatka is still active, but the strength of the eruption decreased significantly. Currently, no more lava flow is erupted. However, there are strombolian eruptions covering the summit area with incandescent tephra. MIROVA is receiving a moderate thermal signal with a power of 112 MW.

A photo was shared in our FB group, taken by Russian adventurer Anastasia Tsareva. Before the lava flow dried up, she, together with her friend, climbed the flank of the volcano and moved about 2000 m away from the base camp, which I assume means elevation meters. The two of them did not dare to climb any further, because numerous rockfalls were coming towards them. At least they reached the edge of the lava flow and could deliver fantastic photographs.

Etna: Unexpected paroxysm

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Mount Etna in Sicily erupted unexpectedly last night, producing a paroxysm. The eruption began at 9:20 p.m. and increased to a full-blown paroxysm within half an hour. A lava fountain several hundred meters high was produced, feeding a lava flow that has not now completely stopped. VAAC recorded volcanic ash at 4900 meters above sea level. MIROVA recorded a very strong thermal radiation with a power of 6088 MW. According to an INGV report, the lava did not originate from the lava fountain alone, but 2 fissures also opened on the south side of the New Southeast Crater cone. In the course of the crack opening, 3 pyroclastic flows went off and a 2nd lava flow was created. Lava flowed in the gap between the Barbagallo and Monte Supino cinder cones. This was also the path taken by the flows during some of the last eruptions. How far the front descended has not yet been communicated. Volcanologists observed a fast inflation and the slope increased by 0.1 microrad. At 10:50 p.m., the explosions subsided again and the tremor decreased. Until now, however, it is still moderately elevated.

Karymsky: Update 10.12.2020

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In Kamchatka, Russia, the remote Karymsky volcano erupted today. VAAC issued 4 VONA warnings about Karymsky since yesterday. The satellites detected volcanic ash at an altitude of 7600 m. Ash clouds drifted in a northerly direction. KVERT warns that eruptions may occur at any time, and their eruption clouds may pose a hazard to air traffic.

Fuego: Update 09.12.2020

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Guatemalan volcano Fuego increased its activity in recent days in terms of frequency of explosive eruptions. The latest update from INSIVUMEH states that volcanologists registered between 8 and 15 explosions per hour. In previous weeks, a maximum of 12 eruptions were observed. In addition, some explosions are stronger than in previous days. In some cases, so much tephra is ejected that debris avalanches are formed. Incandescent tephra reaches the edge of vegetation and can start fires. VAAC reported volcanic ash at an altitude of 4600 m.

Popocatepetl: New ash eruptions

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In Mexico the Popocatepetl is still active and has produced 4 ash clouds since yesterday. They reached an altitude of up to 6700 m and drifted towards the northeast. On nightly photos it can be seen that red glowing tephra was erupted, which fell down on the volcano flanks. CENAPRED also reported 93 ash-steam exhalations, 448 minutes of tremors and 2 volcano-tectonic earthquakes. So it seems that more magma is rising again and further activity must be expected. The explosions could increase.

Piton Fournaise: eruption on 07 December

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Tonight began the long-awaited eruption of the Piton de la Fournaise on La Réunion. At 04:40 (local time) volcanic quakes occurred, which marked the beginning of the eruption. Prior to this, there was a seismic crisis lasting more than 2 hours, which was accompanied by rapid ground deformation. It was caused by the magma rise. The volcanologists of the OVPF flew with the helicopter to the eruption site and were able to locate the eruption fissures exactly. Over a total distance of about 700 m three fissures opened. They are located on the west-southwestern flank of the volcano, at an altitude between 2300 and 2190 m. At the time of the overflight, between 7:00 and 7:30 local time, the three fissures were active and ejected lava fountains about 15 meters high. They fed a lava flow. The flow front spread only slowly and was at about 2120 m altitude.

 

Merapi: Magma body rises

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The situation at the Indonesian volcano Merapi (Java) is getting more and more dangerous. The BPPTKG confirmed that several geophysical parameters indicate that a magma body has detached from the magma reservoir at a depth of 5 km and has risen to a depth of 1.3 km below the crater. Electronic distance measurements confirmed the magma ascent. GPS data showed a daily inflation of 12 cm already in November. When the magma reaches the crater, the dome will grow dramatically. Satellites already observe a swelling of the ground on an area of 100,000 square meters. So far there are no signs that the ascent will be stopped. Compared to the end of November, the seismic activity has decreased somewhat, but is still at a high level. Around 400 vibrations of different origin are recorded daily. Hybrid earthquakes are strongly represented, but also flat volcanic tectonic vibrations. They occur when the magma ascent breaks up surrounding rock because the magma creates new space. The people at Merapi are facing turbulent times.

Piton de la Fournaise: Seismic crisis

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It started at 05:10 local time and ended at 05:54. The episode was accompanied by surface deformations that remained extremely weak and were located at the top of the Piton de la Fournaise. Since then, no deformation has been observed and the seismicity has decreased significantly. Until 7:00 a.m. there were still 4 earthquakes. Magma had tried to rise to the surface, but got stuck in the rock again. But it is only a matter of time until enough pressure is built up in the magma body to break through on one of the next attempts.

Klyuchevskoy: Update 04.12.2020

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On the Russian peninsula Kamchatka the Klyuchevskoy erupted yesterday ash clouds, which rose to a height of 8300 m above sea level. Strong winds carried them in a northerly direction. The VAAC issued corresponding warnings for air traffic. Also today the volcano is active and lets volcanic ash rise up to 7000 m above sea level. On the LiveCam you can see red illuminated steam emanating from the lava flow. It has a length of about 2000 m. Yesterday MIROVA registered a very high thermal radiation with peak values of 1792 MW power. The picture is from the archive.

Etna: another vent became active

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Dr. Boris Behncke photographed Etna last night and reveals in his pictures that in the east of the New South East Crater the vent called “Puttusiddu” has become active. It produces small strombolian eruptions. In addition the larger saddle vent is active.

On the previous day a weak earthquake of magnitude 2.5 occurred, with a depth of 9 km. The epicenter was located 6 km north of Paternò. The Salinelle di Paternò has been in the focus of news coverage in the last few days because of the increased hydrothermal activity.

Already during the weekend the persistent clouds cleared briefly and revealed a snow-covered Etna together with strombolian eruptions from the New South East Crater. The tremor moved temporarily in the red range. We can assume that the activity will continue.