Seismic and volcanic activity were at low levels at Tungurahua during 26 February to 4 March, with emissions of steam, gas, and ash forming low-level plumes.
Activity at Soufrière Hills increased slightly during 21-28 February in comparison to the previous week. During an observation flight on 27 February, scientists saw that lava-dome growth was concentrated towards the NE. Pyroclastic flows and rockfalls traveled down the lava dome's E and NE flanks via the Tar River Valley and Tuitt's Ghaut.
During 21-28 February, seismicity remained above background levels at Shiveluch and many shallow earthquakes were recorded. Seismic data indicated that 14 ash-and-gas explosions reached heights of 3 km above the lava dome, and hot avalanches possibly occurred. Video footage showed several ash-and-gas clouds, with the highest cloud rising to 4.5 km a.s.l on 25 February.
Heavy rain fall at Reventador caused lahars to flow down Márker gorge on 23 February, affecting travel in the area. On the 24th, lahars traveled mainly down Márker and Reventador gorges. On the 28th, rain caused small lahars in Márker, Reventador, and Montana gorges.
Several emissions of steam, gas, and ash occurred during 26 February to 4 March associated with the continued destruction of Popocatépetl's lava dome, although there were fewer larger emissions than the previous week. The largest reported emission occurred on 28 February at 0314, with incandescent volcanic fragments ejected ~1 km around the crater and an ash emission that initially drifted E.
The level of volcanic activity at Nyiragongo as of 27 February was lower than during previous weeks when fine ash and Pele's hair fell in the city of Goma. Winds were no longer blowing ash and Pele's hair to the S, therefore Goma and other cities S of the volcano were no longer affected by tephra fall. Pele's hair and/or ash fell SW of Nyiragongo in the village of Rusayo, affecting the water supply.
Seismicity at Kliuchevskoi was slightly above background levels during 21-28 February, with 10-14 earthquakes occurring per day at depths of ~30 km. Continuous, spasmodic volcanic tremor was recorded all week. Gas-and-steam plumes rose to low levels and possible ash deposits on the volcano's SE summit were visible on satellite imagery.
During 26 February to 3 March at Kilauea, lava continued to enter the sea at the West Highcastle entry and the lava-flow rate was reduced to a small trickle at the Kohala entry. Small surface lava flows occurred along the W edge of the Kohala lava flow and surface lava flows were visible above the Pulama pali fault scarp. Generally, seismicity remained at normal levels, with the long-lasting swarm of long-period earthquakes and tremor at Kilauea's summit, which began last June, continuing at low-to-moderate levels.
Wed, 26 Feb 2003, 06:00
Seismicity at Karymsky was at background levels during 20-23 February, so KVERT reduced the Concern Color Code on 28 February from Yellow to Green. Only an occasional very weak thermal anomaly was recorded on satellite imagery from late January to February. According to KVERT, the 7-year-period of eruptive activity at Karymsky may have come to an end.
Read allWed, 19 Feb 2003, 06:00
Seismic and volcanic activity remained at low-to-moderate levels at Tungurahua during 19-20 February, with emissions of steam, gas, and ash producing low-level plumes. A moderate explosion on 19 February at 0249 deposited a small amount of ash in the sector of Ulba. Seismicity increased slightly during the eruption, but returned to low levels afterwards.
Read allWed, 19 Feb 2003, 06:00
An eruption at Lokon-Empung on 23 February around 1100 produced an ash cloud that rose 2.5 km above the crater. According to news reports, ash fell in the villages of Kinilouw and Kakaskasen and the Tondano Lake. On the 24th authorities put residents near the volcano on alert and banned recreational activities on Lokon-Empung's flanks.
Read allWed, 19 Feb 2003, 06:00
INGV-CT reported that the effusive eruption that began at Stromboli on 28 December 2002, continued through 25 February 2003. Between 30 December 2002 and 15 February 2003 lava flowed from a main vent located at ~500 m elevation in the middle of the Sciara del Fuoco (a horseshoe-shaped scarp), within the scar left by the 30 December 2002 landslide. Another vent, located at ~600 m elevation at the NE base of Crater 1 (NE crater), had been active several times during the eruption, forming slow, short flows that lasted a few hours to a few days.
Read allWed, 19 Feb 2003, 06:00
Activity at Soufrière Hills remained at moderate levels during 14-21 February. Remote camera footage indicated continued lava-dome growth on the NE lobe. Pyroclastic flows and rockfalls were concentrated more on the E flank of the lava dome and in the Tar River Valley than in recent weeks, although there were several periods of activity on the N flank, with pyroclastic flows in Tuitt's Ghaut and at the top of Farrell's Plain.
Read allWed, 19 Feb 2003, 06:00
During 14-21 February, seismicity remained above background levels at Shiveluch and many shallow earthquakes were recorded. Seismic data indicated that 17 ash-and-gas explosions reached heights of 1.5 km above the lava dome, and hot avalanches possibly occurred. Video footage showed several ash-and-gas clouds, with the highest cloud rising to 6.5 km a.s.l on 15 February accompanied by pyroclastic flows.
Read allWed, 19 Feb 2003, 06:00
During 20-21 February, heavy rain mixed with fine volcanic material on Reventador's flanks, generating mudflows that traveled down the Montana River. The mud flows obstructed travel on a highway. During 15-21 February, seismic activity remained at low levels and there was no indication of increased volcanism.
Read allWed, 19 Feb 2003, 06:00
Several emissions of steam, gas, and ash occurred during 19-25 February associated with the continued destruction of Popocatépetl's lava dome. One of the larger emissions occurred on 21 February at 1820 and produced a NE-drifting ash cloud to a height of 4 km above the volcano. It was followed by an emission the next day at 0239, which produced a NE-drifting ash cloud to 2 km above the volcano.
Read allWed, 19 Feb 2003, 06:00
Seismicity was above background levels during 13-15 February at Kliuchevskoi, and slightly above background levels during 16-19 February. From 14 to 81 earthquakes occurred each day at depths of ~30 km. Continuous spasmodic volcanic tremor was registered during the report week, and gas-and-steam plumes rose to 1 km above the crater.
Read allWed, 19 Feb 2003, 06:00
During 20-24 February at Kilauea, a small amount of lava entered the sea at the West Highcastle entry, and W of there lava flowed into the sea at the Kohala entry (an event that began on 15 February). Fresh lava oozed out of the cooling Kohala lava flow, both within the body of the flow and along its E margin. During the report period, lava continued to cross the Chain of Craters Road.
Read allWed, 12 Feb 2003, 06:00
The elevated seismicity that began at Veniaminof in mid-December 2002 continued through 7-14 February. Discrete seismic events occurred at rates up to 1 event per minute. AVO stated that at this level of seismic unrest, low-level steaming, and minor ash emissions may occur at any time.
Read allWed, 12 Feb 2003, 06:00
Beginning around 10 February volcanic activity increased at Nyiragongo. Fine ash covered cars in the city of Goma and at 1142 a long-period earthquake occurred for more than 2 minutes that was followed by several small events and an increase in tremor amplitude. Residents near the volcano noticed an increase in plume height, a change in plume color from white to black, and a sustained rain of ash and Pele's hair.
Read allWed, 12 Feb 2003, 06:00
On 10 February at 2219 an ash explosion occurred at Lokon-Empung, but the height of the resultant ash cloud could not be determined due to heavy rain. On 12 February, mainly during 0100-1000, there was a significant increase in volcanic earthquakes. At 1048 an explosion occurred, followed by seismic data indicating a larger explosion at 1102.
Read allWed, 12 Feb 2003, 06:00
Seismic and volcanic activity remained at low-to-moderate levels at Tungurahua during 7-14 February, with emissions of steam, gas, and ash producing low-level plumes. Based on information from IG, the Washington VAAC reported that an emission occurred on 12 February at 1657 that rose to low levels and drifted W. No ash was visible on satellite imagery.
Read allWed, 12 Feb 2003, 06:00
Activity at Soufrière Hills was at moderate levels during 7-14 February. Lava-dome growth was focused towards the NNE and produced pyroclastic flows and rockfalls in Tuitt's Ghaut, White's Ghaut, and along the N side of the Tar River Valley. Rockfalls and small pyroclastic flows also occurred off the N flank of the dome onto the area of Riley's Estate.
Read allWed, 12 Feb 2003, 06:00
During 7-14 February, seismicity remained above background levels at Shiveluch and many shallow earthquakes were recorded. Seismic data indicated that 10 ash-and-gas explosions reached heights of 1 km above the lava dome, and hot avalanches possibly occurred. Volcanic spasmodic tremor occurred and gas-and-steam plumes rose to 1 km above the crater.
Read allWed, 12 Feb 2003, 06:00
Based on information from INSIVUMEH, the Washington VAAC reported that explosions occurred at Santa María during the evening of 16 February and the following morning. The explosions from Santiaguito lava dome produced ash plumes that rose to 600 m above the summit. An ash plume was visible on satellite imagery.
Read allWed, 12 Feb 2003, 06:00
A moderate explosion at Popocatépetl on 14 February at 0534 ejected incandescent fragments as far away as 3 km around the crater. Also, a dense ash column rose 5 km above the volcano and drifted NE. The ejected fragments caused some fires in pasture land.
Read allWed, 12 Feb 2003, 06:00
Seismicity was slightly above background levels during 7-14 February at Kliuchevskoi, with 17-30 earthquakes occurring each day at depths of ~30 km. Continuous spasmodic volcanic tremor was registered during the report week, and gas-and-steam plumes rose to 1.5 km above the crater. The Concern Color Code remained at Yellow.
Read allWed, 12 Feb 2003, 06:00
During 12-19 February at Kilauea, lava continued to flow into the sea at the West Highcastle entry. Lava flowed through lava tubes down Pulama pali and Paliuli as it traveled to the sea. Surface lava flows continued to travel through vegetation, igniting fires and causing methane explosions.
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