Activity at Soufrière Hills was at moderate levels at the beginning of the report period (24-31 January), but increased late in the evening of 25 January and remained high for the remainder of the week. Growth of the active extrusion lobe continued on the N side of the lava dome. The direction of growth was generally towards the NNE, although the focus of rockfall and pyroclastic-flow activity varied from day to day.
During 24-31 January, seismicity remained above background levels at Shiveluch and many shallow earthquakes were recorded. According to seismic data, on 25 January a short-lived explosion produced an ash-and-gas plume that rose to 3.5 km above the lava dome. Thermal anomalies were visible on satellite imagery.
Eruptions of Rabaul caldera's Tavurvur cone continued during 27 January to 2 February, with steam-and-ash emissions occurring at irregular intervals and rising about a few hundred meters above the summit. Ash plumes were blown to the SE and seismicity fluctuated at low levels. Ground-deformation measurements showed a slight inflationary trend over the last couple of days in the report period.
Volcanic activity continued at low-to-moderate levels at Popocatépetl during 28 January to 3 February. Activity consisted of small-to-moderate emissions of steam, gas, and small amounts of ash, and sporadic episodes of low-amplitude harmonic tremor. A moderate-sized emission occurred on 2 February at 0826 that produced an ash column to a height of ~2 km above the volcano.
During 29 January to 3 February at Kilauea, lava continued to enter the sea at the West Highcastle entry. Around 28 January a large lava breakout occurred from the West Highcastle lava tube about 170 m inland from the old sea cliff. As of 2 February the area of the new breakout was about 6.15 hectares.
According to the Italy's Volcanoes website, the eruption that began at Etna on 26-27 October 2002 ended during 28-29 January 2003. During the previous week, volcanic activity decreased at the pyroclastic cone on Etna's upper S flank and by the evening of the 28th seismic and volcanic activity had ceased.
The elevated seismicity that began in mid-December 2002 at Veniaminof continued during 17-24 January. As during the previous week, periods of nearly constant seismicity were recorded during the report week. Discrete seismic events occurred at rates up to 1-2 events per minute, along with moderate levels of volcanic tremor.
On 20 January a felt earthquake occurred at Tandikat, which was followed by a significant number of volcanic earthquakes. This led VSI to raise the Alert Level to 2 (on a scale of 1-4) on 25 January.
Wed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
On 13 January VSI decreased the Alert Level at Papandayan from 3 to 2 (on a scale of 1-4). Seismicity decreased during 13-19 January in comparison to the previous week, with ash emissions rising 25-100 m above the craters. Seismicity slightly increased during 20-26 January.
Read allWed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
Seismic and volcanic activity remained at relatively low levels at Tungurahua during 22-27 January, with emissions of steam, gas, and ash producing low-level plumes. Incandescence was visible in the crater during some evenings.
Read allWed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
Volcanic and seismic activity were at moderate levels at Soufrière Hills during 17-24 January. Lava extrusion occurred NE of the lava-dome complex that was associated with rockfalls and small pyroclastic flows down Tar River Valley, White's Ghaut, Tuitt's Ghaut, and on the northern talus slopes. On 18, 20, and 24 January small pyroclastic flows traveled ~ 1 km down Tyer's Ghaut.
Read allWed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
During 17-24 January, seismicity remained above background levels at Shiveluch. Seismic data indicated that 11 ash-and-gas explosions reached heights of 2 km above the lava dome, and hot avalanches possibly occurred. Continuous, spasmodic volcanic tremor was recorded on 16-18 January and intermittent volcanic tremor was recorded on 19-23 January.
Read allWed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
During 13-26 January volcanic activity remained at relatively high levels at Semeru, with ash plumes rising 400-600 m above the summit. On 19 and 23-24 January incandescent lava avalanches traveled ~500 m down Besuk Kembar River. Semeru was at Alert Level 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Read allWed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
Volcanic activity continued at low-to-moderate levels at Popocatépetl during 21-27 January. Activity consisted of small-to-moderate emissions of steam, gas, and small amounts of ash, and sporadic episodes of low-amplitude harmonic tremor. On 22 January at 0735 a significant increase in volcanic microsesimicity was recorded.
Read allWed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
HVO reported on 27 January that during the previous couple of months the rate of lengthening across Mauna Loa's summit caldera (Moku`aweoweo) slowed significantly. The lengthening started in late April or May, as did uplift measured by GPS and ground tilt measured by several dry-tilt stations. As of the 27th, seismicity remained at low levels.
Read allWed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
During 20-27 January, lava continued to enter the ocean at the West Highcastle entry. Kilauea's summit began to deflate on 20 January at 1710, and Pu`u `O`o began to deflate a few tens of minutes later. Both areas deflated well into the next day.
Read allWed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
Moderate volcanic activity continued at Karangetang during 13-26 January. Low-level ash plumes rose above North and South craters, incandescent glow rose to 50 m above the crater, and booming noises were sometimes heard at the observation post. On 14 January two ash explosions occurred at South crater, ejecting incandescent material that fell up to 50 m around the crater.
Read allWed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
According to the Etna Volcan Sicilien website, during 22-27 January low-to-moderate activity continued at the 2,750-m-elevation pyroclastic cone on Etna's upper S flank. Occasional strong explosions, and gas-and-ash emissions occurred. Lava flows were observed traveling to the S and W.
Read allWed, 22 Jan 2003, 06:00
A team of French scientists who visited the summit of Erta Ale on 4, and 13-14 January noted significant changes in morphology and activity at the volcano in comparison to several months previous. As has been the case for decades, a lava lake was present in the W part of the S pit crater. It was 120 x 80 m in size and its surface was ~100 m below the crater rim.
Read allWed, 15 Jan 2003, 06:00
The elevated seismicity that began in mid-December 2002 at Veniaminof continued during 10-17 January. As during the previous week, periods of nearly constant seismicity were recorded during the report week. Discrete seismic events occurred at rates up to 1-2 events per minute, along with moderate levels of volcanic tremor.
Read allWed, 15 Jan 2003, 06:00
INSIVUMEH reported that as of 19 January moderate eruptions continued at Fuego that produced ash clouds to 2 km above the summit. Ash drifted to the S and SW, depositing fine ash in the areas of Rocela, Panimache, and Palo Verde. In addition, incandescent avalanches traveled down canyons on the volcano's flanks.
Read allWed, 15 Jan 2003, 06:00
Volcanic activity remained at relatively low levels at Tungurahua during 15-21 January, with emissions of steam, gas, and ash producing low-level plumes.
Read allWed, 15 Jan 2003, 06:00
The level of activity at Soufrière Hills fluctuated during 10-17 January, but generally declined from high to moderate levels. The active extrusive lobe on the lava dome's N side continued to grow, producing pyroclastic flows and rockfalls during the first days of the report period down White's Ghaut and the Tar River Valley, and to a lesser extent to Tuitt's Ghaut and the top of Tyre's Ghaut and Farrell's Plain. During 15-17 January almost all pyroclastic flows occurred in the Tar River Valley, with only minor rockfalls traveling down the dome's NE and N sides.
Read allWed, 15 Jan 2003, 06:00
During 10-17 January, seismicity remained above background levels at Shiveluch. Seismic data indicated that 12 ash-and-gas explosions reached heights of 2 km above the lava dome, and hot avalanches possibly occurred. Gas-and-steam plumes rose to 800 m above the lava dome and drifted E and NW during 10-12 January.
Read allWed, 15 Jan 2003, 06:00
Eruptions of Rabaul caldera's Tavurvur cone continued during 17-19 January, with activity from three different vents. Discrete convoluted ash plumes rose several hundred to a thousand meters above the volcano's summit. Plumes drifted N and NW, depositing small amounts of ash in Rabaul Town, and the villages of Malaguna, Matupit, Nonga, Tavai, Korere, and Rabura.
Read allWed, 15 Jan 2003, 06:00
Volcanic activity continued at low-to-moderate levels at Popocatépetl during 15-20 January. Activity consisted of small-to-moderate emissions of steam, gas, and small amounts of ash, and sporadic episodes of low-amplitude harmonic tremor. On 9 January photographs of the lava dome revealed that the dome's inner crater had subsided.
Read allWed, 15 Jan 2003, 06:00
Seismicity was slightly above background levels during 10-17 January at Kliuchevskoi, with 12-28 earthquakes occurring each day during 10-12 January and 33-35 earthquakes during 13-15 January. Intermittent spasmodic volcanic tremor was registered during the report week, and gas-and-steam plumes rose to 300 m above the crater. The Concern Color Code remained at Yellow.
Read allWed, 15 Jan 2003, 06:00
During 15-20 January at Kilauea, lava continued to flow into the sea at the West Highcastle entry. Most of the surface lava flows on the coastal flat crusted over, so that less incandescence was visible than the previous week. At Kilauea seismicity generally remained at background levels.
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