Volcanic activity worldwide 5 Dec 2013: Colima, Galeras, Santa María / Santiaguito, Pacaya, Fuego, ...

Etna (Sicily, Italy): The New SE crater remains restless. As the following time-lapse video of the past 24 hours shows, there is occasional weak lava extrusion from effusive vents on the upper flanks, and rarely glow from the summit vent suggesting that the magma column is relatively still high inside the vent and sometimes produces deep-seated strombolian explosions.


Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): After about a week with fewer (and on some days no) recorded explosions, a new surge of stronger activity began yesterday. A vulcanian explosion this morning produced an ash plume rising to 11,000 ft (3.4 km) altitude.

Rabaul (Tavurvur) (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): RVO reported that Rabaul caldera's Tavurvur cone was generally quiet during 16-30 November. A few explosions during 15-18 November generated ash plumes that rose to low altitudes (no more than 1 km) and drifted E, SE, and NW. Small amounts of fine-grained ash fell around Rabaul town (3-5 km NW). White-to-light-gray emissions rose from the crater the remainder of the month.

(Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Bagana (Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea): The volcano remains the currently most active of Papua New Guinea. Abundant degassing (SO2) and a significant heat signal are visible on satellite imagery and indicate lava effusion at the summit vent, perhaps the growth of a lava dome.

Manam (Papua New Guinea): Recent satellite images show a degassing plume from the volcano drifting east.
In the latest Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report: "RVO reported that activity at both Manam's Southern Crater and Main Crater was low during 16-30 November; white vapor emissions rose from both craters. Incandescence from Southern Crater was visible on 28 and 30 November, and on 30 November diffuse gray ash plumes rose from the crater."

Ulawun (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): Weak sporadic explosions continue to occur at the volcano.
RVO reported that activity at Ulawun was low during 16-30 November. Small volumes of gray to gray-brown ash plumes rose 100 m from the crater on most days and drifted S. On 21 November ashfall was reported in Navo on the SW flank.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Activity has remained similar as during the past week with ongoing frequent mild to moderate ash emissions, but no larger explosions.

Ambrym (Vanuatu): NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins captured a great space image of the active Marum and Benbow vents of Ambrym volcano on 2 Dec. Both vents contain active lava lakes.

Colima (Western Mexico): Activity remains elevated. Strombolian-type explosions and lava flows / glowing lava avalanches on the upper slope continue.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): The rate of emissions has dropped to 2 over 24 hours yesterday. Only small steam and gas plumes were erupted. Weak summit glow can be observed at night.

Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): Explosive and effusive activity have continued with little variation. Explosions sent ash plumes up to 700 m above the crater, and block lava effusion continues mainly at the eastern side of the Caliente dome where weak to moderate constant avalanches occur.

Pacaya (Guatemala): No changes in activity have occurred. Mild strombolian explosions continue from the Mackenney crater. Tremor and explosion signals are visible on the seismic recording.

Fuego (Guatemala): The observatory reports no significant changes. About 30-35 small to moderate explosions occurred during 3-4 Dec, often with strong shock waves that rattled windows and roofs in up to 6 km distance. Ash plumes rose to about 4.2 km altitude (500 m height) and produced light ash falls in W and SW directions (Morelia, Panimache and other villages). At night, incandescent avalanches from the crater are visible.

Galeras (Colombia): Spradic weak ash emissions continue to occur from time to time, such as yesterday morning (4 Dec). Seismic activity has remained low.
Similar emissions were observed on 17 Nov, 23 and 11 Oct, 14 and 3 Sep this year.