Tue, 31 Jan 2012, 11:34
The swarm of earthquakes in the Cretan Sea 50 km SW of Santorini seems to be decreasing. Talking with Dr. Athanassios Ganas, head of the Athens Geodynamic Institute, and others, there is a consensus that the quakes are tectonic in origin and not related to volcanic activity (after all, their location is far from the Santorini volcanic system).
Tue, 31 Jan 2012, 00:07If anyone is interested in a 5-7 days excursion to Santorini in February, please get in touch.
Tue, 31 Jan 2012, 00:01
A small glacial flood occurred at Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland on 29 January 2012. The cause of the flood was probably not volcanic, but strong rainfalls and unusually high temperatures that caused melting of large amounts of snow. The flood damaged parts of the Ring Road between Núpsvötn and Gígjukvísl in the Skeiðarársandur flood plain and and east of Gígjukvísl.
Mon, 30 Jan 2012, 16:32The seismic swarm 50 km SW of Santorini continues with a smaller number of quakes than in the first 2 days. 10 Quakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, including a 3.9 magnitude last night at 31 km depth at 22h46:33 GMT. Interestingly, no quakes seem to occur inside the caldera or in the immediate vicinity of Santorini since the swarm to the SW has started. This clearly shows that there is some relationship. What nature this has, is speculation.
Mon, 30 Jan 2012, 00:01A new weak thermal anomaly located inside Nabro's summit caldera was detected on 29 Jan on satellite infrared images by MODVOLC. It suggests that some sort of activity still goes on there.
Mon, 30 Jan 2012, 00:01
Mon, 30 Jan 2012, 00:01
Sun, 29 Jan 2012, 17:37
New photos from Nyiragongo volcano 22-25 Jan 2012 expedition
New photos from VolcanoDiscovery's recent expedition to still erupting Nyamuragira volcano from 22-25 January are now available at:
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Sun, 29 Jan 2012, 16:01
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The location of the earthquakes SW of Santorini
The highly unusual swarm of earthquakes SW of Santorini on the main fault zone that also defines the volcanic vents of the region continues with about 10 quakes larger than magnitude 2 during the past 24 hours. 2 of the quakes were magnitude 4 and 4.7, respectively.
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Sat, 28 Jan 2012, 15:41
The unusual seismic swarm in progress at a location ca. 50 km SW of Santorini is continuing. Up to now, 22 quakes between 2 and 4.9 magnitude have been recorded by the Hellenic Seismic networks for 28 January 2012.
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Sat, 28 Jan 2012, 00:01
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Webcam image of Popo showing the glow at the summit crater (CENAPRED)
Popocatépetl volcano's activity is increasing. On 25 Jan at 10:10 local time, an ash explosion produced a plume of 3 km height drifting NE. During the past days, strong degassing and steaming has been observed as well as periods of low-frequency tremor. At night (see webcam image), a constant glow can be seen from the summit crater, suggesting that the lava dome might have started a new phase of growth.
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Sat, 28 Jan 2012, 00:01
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Strombolian erution late on 27 January as seen on the webcam
Sporadic strombolian eruptions have started at the New SE crater on 27 Jan, following ash emissions observed the previous day.
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Fri, 27 Jan 2012, 15:55
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The second NE vent of the eruption of Nyamuragira seen on 22 Jan 2012. The strong glow is from the active lava lake inside its central vent.
During our recent expedition, we visited Nyamuragira's ongoing eruption during 22-25 January, and found that the eruption is still going on strongly, but somewhat less intense than during the first 1-2 weeks in January.
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Fri, 27 Jan 2012, 11:29
A 5.3 magnitude earthquake hit about 50 km SW of Santorini on 26 Jan at 04:24:58 GMT. The quake was 28.7 km and most likely of tectonic origin. The location is 48 km SW of Santorini at the end of a tectonic fault defining a graben SE of Santorini and the eastern boundary of the volcanically active SW-NE zone comprising the volcanic vents of the Christiania Islands, Santorini itself, the submarine Kolumbos volcano and several minor submarine vents NE of Kolumbo.
Thu, 26 Jan 2012, 12:09Since Monday 23 January 2012, there has been an intensification of Sangay volcano's activity, as indicated by reports from pilots who reported the presence of ash from the volcano drifting S-SE. In addition, satellite images from 24 Jan show the presence of thermal anomalies at the volcano.
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Wed, 25 Jan 2012, 06:00
MVO reported that during 20-27 January activity at the Soufrière Hills lava dome was at a low level. Small areas of incandescence emanated from the lava dome at night, similar to observations noted in recent months. On 27 January a small lahar descended from the W side of the lava dome.
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Wed, 25 Jan 2012, 06:00KVERT reported that mostly low levels of seismic activity were detected at Shiveluch during 20-27 January, though seismicity was higher during 22-23 January. Satellite imagery showed a daily thermal anomaly over the lava dome. Ground-based observers noted that a viscous lava flow continued to effuse in the crater that was formed during a 2010 eruption.
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Wed, 25 Jan 2012, 06:00
INSIVUMEH reported that active lava flows on the S and SE flanks of Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex generated block avalanches on 27 and 30 January. Moderate explosions generated ash plumes that rose 700 m above the complex and drifted SW and S. Strong winds caused re-suspended ash to rise 1 km high and drift several kilometers W and S.
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Wed, 25 Jan 2012, 06:00Based on seismicity detected during 25-31 January OVDAS-SERNAGEOMIN reported that the eruption from the Cordón Caulle rift zone, part of the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic complex, continued at a low level. During 25-28 January plumes observed with a web camera rose 2-4 km above the crater and satellite images showed ash plumes drifting 90-320 km S and SE. During 29-31 January clouds prevented views.
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Wed, 25 Jan 2012, 06:00
CENAPRED reported that during 25-31 January steam-and-gas emissions rose from Popocatépetl; some of the emissions contained moderate amounts of ash on 25 and 29 January. On 25 January an ash plume rose 3 km above the crater and drifted NE. Crater incandescence was observed at night on 29 and 31 January.
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Wed, 25 Jan 2012, 06:00Low-level gas-and-steam plumes from Pagan were observed in satellite imagery during 20-27 January. Based on information from the Honolulu MWO, satellite imagery, and a pilot observation, the Washington VAAC reported gas emissions and a possible light-brown ash plume drifting E on 30 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Advisory.
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Wed, 25 Jan 2012, 06:00
KVERT reported moderate seismic activity at Kizimen during 20-27 January and a large thermal anomaly that was detected daily in satellite images. Video and satellite observations indicated both continued effusion of a large lava flow on the E flank and accompanying hot avalanches. Video data showed strong gas-and-steam activity all week.
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Wed, 25 Jan 2012, 06:00During 25-31 January, HVO reported that the lava lake circulated and periodically rose and fell in the deep pit within Kilauea's Halema'uma'u Crater. Almost daily measurements indicated that the gas plume from the vent continued to deposit variable amounts of ash and fresh spatter nearby. During 25-27 January lava ejections on the SE edge built a small spatter rampart and produced small lava flows on the inner ledge.
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Wed, 25 Jan 2012, 06:00
KVERT reported that seismic activity continued at a moderate level at Karymsky during 19-27 January and indicated that ash plumes possibly rose to an altitude of 3 km (9,840 ft) a.s.l. during 19-21 and on 25 January. Satellite imagery showed a thermal anomaly at the volcano during 21-24 January and gas-and-steam plumes containing ash that were drifting as far as 70 km NW on 23 January.
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Wed, 25 Jan 2012, 06:00Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN) reported that during 25-31 January the submarine eruption continued S of El Hierro Island. Mean tremor amplitude maintained very low values during this report period. Frequent and persistent emissions of large steaming lava fragments were observed on the sea surface, some of them about 3 m wide.
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