Activity at Soufrière Hills during 21-28 March remained at moderate levels. A lava dome continued to grow centrally from its summit region. Activity was dominated by rockfalls and pyroclastic flows that spilled off the active summit in a broad arc extending from the S and around the E flanks to the NW.
During 21-28 March, seismicity remained above background levels at Shiveluch. Seismic data indicated that one ash-and-gas explosion reached ~1 km above the lava dome, and hot avalanches possibly occurred. Spasmodic volcanic tremor was recorded and gas-and-steam plumes rose to 900 m above the lava dome.
Seismic and volcanic activity continued at relatively high levels at Semeru during 17-23 March, with "gray ash plumes" rising 300-400 m above the summit, and several pyroclastic flows traveling toward Bang River to runout distances of around 500 m. Seismicity was dominated by 563 explosion events. Semeru remained at Alert Level 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Several emissions of steam, gas, and ash occurred during 26 March to 1 April associated with the continued destruction of Popocatépetl's lava dome.
During a visit to Nyiragongo during 18-19 March, GVO scientists observed a thick plume engulfing the crater. Two possible emission points were noted; one was related to powerful lava and ash emissions, and the other was related to a much weaker white-pink plume. An inner active cone was visible in the crater and was at least 200 m in diameter.
During 17-23 March, seismicity at Krakatau was dominated by volcanic earthquakes and there was a significant increase in the number of shallow events. No visual observations could be made due to inclement weather. Krakatau remained at Alert Level 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Seismicity was above background levels at Kliuchevskoi during 21-28 March. During 20-24 March, 6-9 earthquakes occurred at depths of ~30 km. Later seismicity increased, with 26 and 41 earthqakes recorded on 25 and 26 March, respectively.
During 26-30 March at Kilauea, moderate amounts of lava continued to enter the sea at the West Highcastle entry. Surface lava flows were visible along the Kohala lava flow and on Pulama pali. Generally, seismicity was at normal to below-normal levels.
Wed, 26 Mar 2003, 06:00
During 17-23 March, Karangetang's South Crater generated low-level "white-gray ash emissions" and incandescence visible to 25 m above the crater. In addition, incandescent lava avalanches traveled down the volcano's flanks. During the report period, there was a significant increase in the number of volcanic and multiphase earthquakes.
Read allWed, 26 Mar 2003, 06:00
A news article stated that a small puff of gray "smoke" was emitted from Asama on 30 March. The government said there was no immediate danger of a major eruption.
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
During 19-25 March, sporadic explosions occurred at Tungurahua. On the 19th an explosion that was accompanied by Strombolian activity sent incandescent material ~1 km down the volcano's flanks. IG stated that after 13 March intense tremor was not recorded and the intensity of explosions decreased.
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
An increase in seismicity and volcanism at Karymsky during 14-21 March led KVERT to raise the Concern Color Code from Green to Yellow. Seismicity was slightly above background levels on 19 March, with weak volcanic earthquakes occurring and other seismic data that day suggesting the presence of hot avalanches. During 17-20 March, ash deposits were visible on satellite images extending more than 30 km SW of the volcano.
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
Volcanic and seismic activity at Soufrière Hills remained at moderate levels, as they have for several weeks. Lava-dome growth continued near the center of the dome complex, where a series of spines and ridges formed. The dome's summit reached a height of 1,098 m, the highest measured thus far.
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
During 14-21 March, seismicity remained above background levels at Shiveluch. Seismic data indicated that eight ash-and-gas explosions reached heights of 1 km above the lava dome, and hot avalanches possibly occurred. Spasmodic volcanic tremor was recorded and gas-and-steam plumes rose to 1.2 km above the lava dome.
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
During 10-16 March at Semeru, "white-gray ash plumes" rose to low levels and several pyroclastic flows traveled 1.5-4 km down Bang River. Seismicity was dominated by 550 explosion earthquakes. Semeru remained at Alert Level 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
Activity at Rabaul caldera's Tavurvur cone during 13-19 March was low in comparison with previous months. The eruption continued to be characterized by discrete, convoluted ash plumes occurring at long irregular intervals and rising slowly to several hundred meters above the summit. Ash emissions mainly drifted E and SE.
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
Several emissions of steam, gas, and ash occurred during 19-25 March associated with the continued destruction of Popocatépetl's lava dome.
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
During 10-16 March, volcanism remained at relatively high levels at Lokon-Empung with "white-thick ash emissions" rising to low levels above Tompaluan crater. No explosions occurred during 14-16 March. Seismicity was dominated by emission and tremor earthquakes.
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
Seismicity was above background levels at Kliuchevskoi during 14-21 March, with 7-9 earthquakes occurring at depths of ~30 km. Continuous spasmodic volcanic tremor was recorded. Gas-and-steam plumes rose 700-1,500 m above Kliuchevskoi's crater on 18-19 March.
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
During 20-25 March at Kilauea, lava continued to enter the sea at the West Highcastle entry at moderate levels. Surface lava flows were visible along the Kohala lava flow and on Pulama pali. 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 moderate levels.
Read allWed, 19 Mar 2003, 06:00
During 10-16 March, Karangetang's South crater generated low-level "white-gray ash emissions" and incandescence visible to 50 m above the crater. Incandescent lava avalanches traveled toward Kahetang, Batuawang, Batang, and Beha rivers. During the report period, there was a decrease in the number of earthquakes, and seismicity was dominated by 125 avalanche earthquakes.
Read allWed, 12 Mar 2003, 06:00
The elevated seismicity that began in mid-December 2002 at Veniaminof continued during 7-14 March. On 11 March a 4-hour period of continuous seismic tremor was recorded, followed by 17 hours of discrete seismic events and 3- to 4-minute-long tremor bursts. This culminated with another 4-hour period of continuous tremor on 12 March.
Read allWed, 12 Mar 2003, 06:00
PHIVOLCS raised the Alert Level at Mayon from 0 to 1 (on a scale of 0-5) after an explosion occurred on 17 March at 1819. The brief burst of ash and steam rose to ~1 km above the summit and drifted WNW. Prior to the explosion no significant seismicity was recorded.
Read allWed, 12 Mar 2003, 06:00
A team of scientists from India and Italy who visited Barren Island during 3-6 February found fumaroles on parts of the volcano's SW cone that reached temperatures up to 101°C. Neither magma nor gas emissions were observed in any of the various cones. The ground temperature was relatively high (40°C) from the middle to the upper part of the western cone and steaming ground was clearly visible at many sites.
Read allWed, 12 Mar 2003, 06:00
During 11-18 March, several explosions occurred at Tungurahua. On the 11th three small-to-moderate explosions deposited ash in the town of Pillate. According to the Washington VAAC, a pilot reported ash to a height of ~8.2 km a.s.l. that day.
Read allWed, 12 Mar 2003, 06:00
INGV-CT reported that the eruption at Stromboli, which started on 28 December 2002, continued through 12 March. In early March two major lava flows spread NE and NW from the base of the NE crater. Hot aa lava blocks detached from lava-flow fronts causing several minor rockfalls and landslides along the Sciara del Fuoco.
Read allWed, 12 Mar 2003, 06:00
During 7-14 March, volcanic and seismic activity at Soufrière Hills were at moderate levels that were similar to those of the previous 2 weeks. The lava dome continued to grow, but was not focused in any particular direction. Lava extruded into the center of the summit-dome complex, increasing the dome height to just over 1,100 m.
Read allWed, 12 Mar 2003, 06:00
During 7-14 March, seismicity remained above background levels at Shiveluch. Seismic data indicated that 13 ash-and-gas explosions reached heights of 2.3 km above the lava dome, and hot avalanches possibly occurred. Spasmodic volcanic tremor was recorded and gas-and-steam plumes rose to 800 m above the lava dome.
Read all
