Volcano activity of June 27, 2012 – Canary Islands, Mexico, Guatemala, Alaska, Colombia and Tungurahua

This (almost) daily post intends to follow up the activity changes of volcanoes all over the world.
This post is written by geologist Richard Wilson who specializes in Volcano seismicity and Armand Vervaeck. Please feel free to tell us about new or changed activity if we haven’t written about it.

June 27, 2012 volcano activity

El Hierro has everyone’s attention as they watch for possible renewed eruption.  Earthquakes there remain at depth (~20 km) though they are accompanied by volcanic tremor.  GPS deformation monitors show some disturbance (resulting in part from the continuous ground movement produced by volcanic seismicity), but no obvious trend,…yet.

At Popocatepetl volcano (Mexico) small volcano-tectonic earthquakes, spasmodic and harmonic tremor, in-concert with small gas and ash emissions continue.  The volcano continues to produce an impressive SO2 plume as well.

After some premonitory, locomotive-like chugging (see seismogram FG3), Fuego volcano (Guatemala) experienced another in a series of outbursts that have occurred at the volcano for the past few months.

While volcanic tremor has further diminished at Nevado Del Ruiz (Colombia), tremor and small earthquakes have recurred at nearby Galeras volcano (Colombia).  The activity there doesn’t appear as impressive as at some other volcanoes we watch, but (from past experiences) any seismic activity occurring at Galeras must be taken seriously (station ANGV).

To the south, Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador) appears to have had another episode of eruptive activity, judging from seismograms and satellite data (station RETU).

And,…to the far north, a debris flow issued from glacier-clad Mount Spurr volcano (Alaska) yesterday.  Whether it was entirely volcano-related or not, I’m sure is being discussed.  Warm weather (approaching the 80′s at lower elevations) had affected the area several days before.  Spurr emitted several debris flows in 2004 associated with renewed seismic and thermal activity within and beneath its summit lava dome.  The summit dome has not experienced historic eruptive activity.

Mt Spurr with crater peak during earlier activity

Seismogram Mt Spurr, Alaska

SO2 satellite picture shows activity at Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia) and Tungurahua (Ecuador)

Seismogram Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador

SO2 satellite map from Popocatepetl , Mexico

Seismogram Galeras volcano, Colombia

Seismogram Fuego, Guatemala part 1

Seismogram Fuego, Guatemala part 2

Seismogram of June 27 at El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain

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