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The ash plume of an explosion of Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat on February 16, 2006. The ash drifted westward over the Caribbean Sea and over the U.S. Virgin Islands and parts of Puerto Rico. Image: taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard the Aqua satellite. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of MODIS Rapid Response team.
The lava dome of Soufrière Hills continues its relaitvely rapdid growth. The youngest lobe appeared on the northwestern side on 10 February and has continued to grow on all sides. It now appears to have infilled the gap between the dome and the northern and western crater walls, which means that it is likely to produce potentially dangerous pyroclastic flows. It has also grown significantly to the east, over-topping the older lobe by the end of the reporting period. Incandescent rockfalls can be seen at night, and since 22 February these have coursed down the northern, eastern, and southwestern sides of the dome and into the Tar River valley.
Although new eruptions could not be observed due to bad weather, some explosion-type earthquakes were erecorded at Mayon over the past days. It is therefore likely that minor phreatic explosions do continue at Mayon, which is also apparent from confirmed reports that rumblings were heard by local residents in Sta Misericordia. Alert level remains at "2", meaning that the public is strongly advised to remain out of the declared danger zone of 6 km around the volcano.
Klyuchevskoy volcano remains quiet.
No significant changes at Augustine. The eruption is waning, seismicity decreasing and emissions of ash as well as incandescent rock falls from the lava dome are becoming more and more infrequent.
Pacaya continues its slumber. Only a weak steam plume of about 150 m height is visible above its crater.
Ash venting producing plumes of up to 1500 m and small incandescent pyroclastic flows from the east rim of the growing lava dome continue at Santa Maria volcano. The pyroclastic flows produce a lot of fine ash suspended in clouds of about 1 km height that can remain suspended for hours. The ash clouds are drifted mainly to the southeast.
Fuego continues its low-level strombolian activity. 27 small strombolian explosions were recorded today, ejecting incandescent blocks to up to 50 m above the lava dome. Minor rock falls from the sides of the dome produce small blaock and ash flows into the barrancas Santa Teresa, Taniluyá and Trinidad.
Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00
Activity at Tungurahua during 26-27 February consisted of emissions of steam and gas, with low ash content. An explosion on the 26th at 1600 produced a NW-drifting gas-and-ash plume to ~3 km above the volcano (or ~26,300 ft a.s.l.). After noon on the 27th, an emission of steam and gas with low ash content rose to ~1 km above the volcano (or 19,750 ft a.s.l.) and drifted NW.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00A large eruption began at Manam on 27 February around 1733 from the volcano's Southern Crater. According to the Darwin VAAC, satellite imagery showed an umbrella cloud above the volcano and a strong hot spot. The edges of the ash cloud were ice rich and the eruption height appeared to be about 19 km (~62,300 ft) a.s.l. based on a warm temperature anomaly in the middle of the cloud indicating a stratospheric intrusion.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00
AVO reported that the Concern Color Code at Korovin volcano was raised from Green to Yellow on 22 February due to an increase in seismicity at the volcano. Distinct seismic signals indicating unrest were recorded on 4 days between 17 and 22 January, with a sustained 11-minute-long seismic signal on 22 February. After 22 February, seismicity decreased and distinct seismic signals like those recorded earlier were not detected.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 22-24 February several small eruptions occurred at Suwanose-jima. The highest rising plume reached ~3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. after an eruption on 23 February.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00
Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continued during 22-27 February, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash. St Helens remained at Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code Orange.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00Photographs of Soufrière Hills taken during 17-24 February confirmed ongoing lava-dome growth. The newest lobe, which appeared on the dome's NW side on 10 February, continued to grow on all sides. It appeared to have filled in the gap between the lava dome and the N and W crater walls.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00
During 17-24 February, volcanic activity was at moderate levels at Santa Ana. Seismicity was relatively stable, and steam plumes rose to low levels above the volcano. The sulfur-dioxide flux was similar to measurements from previous weeks.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00During 22-28 February, small steam-and-gas emissions occurred at Popocatépetl. Airphotos taken on 10 February showed a 130-m-diameter lava dome at the bottom of the crater.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00
PHIVOLCS reported that about nine earthquakes related to explosive activity took place at Mayon around 23 February. Cloudy conditions prevented observations of the volcano, but seismic events probably accompanied minor ash explosions. This was supported by reports from residents near the volcano who heard rumbling.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00During 27-28 February, no surface lava flows were visible on Kilauea's Pulama pali fault scarp, which had been the case since 8 February. Lava flowed into the ocean at the East Lae`apuki entry. Background volcanic tremor was at normal levels at Kilauea's summit, with shallow earthquakes continuing to occur beneath the summit area and the upper east rift zone.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00
During 17-24 February, Strombolian activity continued at Karymsky. Satellite imagery showed a large thermal anomaly at the volcano's crater and numerous ash plumes extending as far as 117 km. Karymsky remained at Concern Color Code Orange.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00During 20-27 February, seismicity continued at Galeras, with an average of 280 small earthquakes occurring per day. On 26 February seismic stations detected a cluster of earthquakes. A shallow M 4.8 volcano-tectonic earthquake was registered below the volcano at 1009, followed by 35 smaller earthquakes.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00
KVERT reported that no significant changes in activity at Ebeko had been seen on satellite imagery or via ground observations for several months, so the Concern Color Code was reduced from Yellow to Green, the lowest level. A weak scent of hydrogen sulfide and chlorine gas was sometimes noted in the town of Severo-Kurilsk, ~7 km from the volcano. Ebeko is not seismically monitored.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00Several small explosions occurred at Colima during 22-26 February. Based on information from the Mexico City MWO, the Washington VAAC reported that an explosion on 22 February produced an ash cloud to an estimated height of 9.1 km (30,000 ft) a.s.l. that drifted NE.
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Wed, 22 Feb 2006, 06:00
During 21-27 February, seismicity at Augustine was relatively low, but remained above background levels. Seismic data indicated that small rockfalls and avalanches from the lava dome occurred intermittently. A thermal anomaly was visible in the summit area on satellite and camera imagery.
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Tue, 21 Feb 2006, 12:31
After a swarm of hundreds of earthquakes, Mayon volcano became again active today (Feb. 21, 2006).
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Mon, 20 Feb 2006, 12:06
Activity at Augustine Volcano continues at low levels. Rockfalls and avalanches from the lava dome continue to be recorded by AVO seismic stations. Occasional small explosions produce small plumes of steam and ash. Satellite views of the volcano show a persistent thermal anomaly in the summit area, consistent with the location of the lava dome.
Sat, 18 Feb 2006, 15:59
Tungurahua's activity might be increasing. On the 18th of February, aircraft observation confirmed ash at around 6 km (20,000 ft.) moving north. Moderate ash explosions cause light ash falls in areas around the volcano.
Sat, 18 Feb 2006, 15:16
Santa Maria volcano in Guatemala continues to be the most active volcano in Central America at this time. Ash explosions from the lava dome are occurring frequently and produce plumes of typically 300 - 1500 m height as well as pyroclastic flows descending from the crater of the Domo Caliente. These flows produce clouds of very fine ash that causes respiratory problems in the vicinities of the volcano. Ash plumes from the volcano are dominantly transported in SW directions.
Sat, 18 Feb 2006, 15:13
No big changes: the growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mt. St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash.
