Volcanic activity world-wide 18-19 August: El Hierro, Popocatépetl, Nevado del Ruiz, Tungurahua, Santiaguito, Fuego, Pacaya, Ambrym, Batu Tara, Sakurajima, Dempo

Sunday Aug 19, 2012 16:15 PM | Age: 11 min

BY: T

The earthquake swarm at El Hierro island in the Canaries seems to be ending or is at least decreasing.

Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador has produced a small lava flow on the upper flank. Following the increase in activity since 16 August, lava has accumulated at the summit crater and overflown its rim. An ash plume is rising from the volcano to an altitude of 27,000 ft (around 7.3 km).

Popocatépetl in Mexico has shown a sharp increase in activity with the frequency of explosions rising from 1 per 1-2 hours to one every 7-8 minutes since Sturday.

In Guatemala, explosive activity at Fuego has been diminishing a bit, but a few weak explosions take place and produce ash plumes rising about 400 m. The lava flow on its east flank is now about 300 m long and sheds frequent incandescent rockfalls from its front. Turbine-noise producing degassing events are heard at intervals of about 2 minutes.

Santiaguito has weak to moderate explosions produce ash clouds rising 400-900 m and causing light ash falls. Weak avalanches occur mostly from the lava flow on the SW flank of the lava dome.

Pacaya volcano stays quiet, but there are weak tremor and some volcano-tectonic quakes related to fluid movements inside the volcano.

No major changes have occurred at Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia. Fluctuating tremor and a few shallow earthquakes are being recorded under Nevado del Ruiz. The volcano emits a strong steam plume which sometimes contains some ash.

A strong SO2 plume from Ambrym (Vanuatu) is visible today.

An ash plume to 7,000 ft (2.1 km) altitude was observed from Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia) today and yesterday.

Sakurajima volcano produced some more powerful explosions yesterday (3 on one day), with maximum ash cloud altitudes reported at 14,000 ft (4.3 km).

A possible eruption reported from Dempo volcano on Sumatra on 18 Aug in a VAAC report mentioning a possible ash plume to 30,000 ft was confirmed to be false. [link to www.volcanodiscovery.com]