This (almost) daily post intends to follow up the activity changes of volcanoes all over the world.
This post is written by geologist Rodger 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. -
May 3, 2013 volcano activity
KVERT reported no changes in eruptive/seismic activity overnight at the five active Kamchatkan volcanoes: Tolbachik, Sheveluch, Bezymianny, Kizimen, and Karymsky. A moderate level of seismicity continues to affect Gorely volcano in-conjunction with strong hydrothermal unrest there.
Recent MODIS satellite thermal imagery shows "hotspots" at both Sheveluch and Tolbachik volcanoes, and OMI satellite imagery depicted an SO2 plume from the ongoing Tolbachik basaltic fissure eruption entrained by a weather front east of the peninsula.
Small, shallow (depth < 10 km) local earthquakes are visible on seismograms from Tanaga (Aleutian arc) (station TASE) and Iliamna (Alaska Range) (station INE) volcanoes today. The Tanaga seismiogram also includes numerous deep regional events.
Two short-lived earthquake swarms (maximum magnitude M1.5) struck an area southwest of the resurgent domes in Yellowstone National Park (WY) (station YPP) yesterday.
Still no seismic data available for Colima volcano (Mexico), but this morning's Colima volcanocam photo shows the cloud remnants of an earlier explosion or pyroclastic flow (or both!) drifting from the volcano. Continuous low-level degassing affects Popocatepetl volcano this morning. The Popo seismogram reflects the low level activity. A short-lived swarm of volcano-tectonic events that occurred at the volcano late yesterday is also visible on the record (along with a regional earthquake that occurred early this morning).
Activity has been mostly internal and/or obscured by clouds at the three Guatemalan volcanoes: Pacaya (station PCG), Fuego (station FG3), and Santa Maria (station STG3) through early this morning. Occasional roars and/or loud chugging or huffing noises (degassing) were heard from both Fuego and Santa Maria overnight.
Higher amplitude volcanic earthquakes continue at San Miguel volcano (El Salvador) (station VSM). A more recent seismogram from San Miguel was not included today as it was marred by a lot of telemetry "noise".
Pulses of low-level volcanic tremor are visible on seismograms from Turrialba volcano (Costa Rica) (station VTUC) this morning. Tiny volcano-tectoninc events remain frequent on records from nearby Poas volcano (station POA2).
Volcano-tectonic seismicity is reduced, but continues at Nevado Del Ruiz volcano (Colombia) (station OLLZ). Small volcano-tectonic earthquakes and a recent gas (and ash?) emission event can be identified on seismograms from Galeras volcano (station CUVZ).
Co-eruptive seismicity at Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador) (station RETU) remians at a low to moderate level today. A recent Tungurahua volcanocam photo shows a more ash-enriched plume emanating from the cone this morning. Frequent, small (possibly glacier-generated) events continue to dot seismogras from Cotopaxi volcano (station CO1V). Solar panel/battery "issues" prevent data collection overnight at Reventador volcano, but a volcanocam photo of the volcano taken yesterday shows little surface activity occurring there.
Inclement weather also hampers volcano watching at Planchon-Peteroa volcano (Chile) where fumarolic activity has recently increased.
Recent OMI satellite images depict "respectable" SO2 plumes drifting from Tolbachik, Popocatepetl, and Sakurajima (Japan) (certainly enhanced by cultural activity (fires) across Southeast Asia), and lesser plumes at Tungurahua, Dukono (Sangihe arc), and Bagana and Rabaul (New Guinea) volcanoes. As mentioned above, MODIS satellite sensors detected "hotspots" at both Tolbachik and Sheveluch volcanoes today.