Merapi volcano (Java, Indonesia): continuing glowing rockfalls and lava dome growth
Wed, 13 Jan 2021, 21:30
21:30 PM | BY: T
Glowing avalanches from Merapi's lava dome last night (image: Andi Rosadi / VolcanoDiscovery Indonesia)
Merapi seen from the SW at night (image: Andi Rosadi / VolcanoDiscovery Indonesia)
According to the volcano observatory, the new lava dome was first visible emerging behind the crater breach on 4 January. During 4-7 January, 19 incandescent avalanches were observed; they traveled as far as 800 m downhill, but the risk of larger avalanches increases as the dome grows.
Deformation of the volcanic edifice continued as well: distance shortening was measured between separate points in the northwestern part of the volcano, reaching rates of 15 cm per day. The reason for this contraction could be the removal of magma from internal conduits into the dome. More than 1,300 residents have been temporarily relocated from their homes in threatened areas to evacuation centers.
The volcano's official alert level remains at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public is being warned to stay at least 5 km away from the summit.
Source: Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 6-12 January 2021
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Previous news
Wed, 13 Jan 2021, 06:00
BPPTKG reported that the “2021 lava dome” continued to emerge just below Merapi's SW rim during 8-14 January, producing a total of 128 incandescent lava avalanches that traveled as far as 900 m down the Krasak River drainage on the SW flank. A comparison of photos taken on 7 and 14 January showed that the morphological changes in the summit area were attributed to the emergence of new lava domes. The 2021 dome volume was an estimated 46,766 cubic meters on 14 January, with a growth rate of about 8,500 cubic meters per day. ... Read all
Sat, 9 Jan 2021, 03:15
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