Worldwide Volcano News and Updates

Shiveluch volcano continues to be very active, with a growing lava dome and occasional large ash explosions. A strong eruption that produced an ash plume that rose to 6 km altitude occurred on 29 May, Russian scientists from KVERT report. According to a Itar-Tass news entry, the plume eventually reached 7.3 km and the eruption followed an increase of seismic activity. Read all

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Colombia's notorious Nevado del Ruiz volcano has started a new eruptive phase. The volcano produced a series of small explosive eruptions on 29 May, following an earthquake swarm that started at 3 am that day. Read all

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Our group to Krakatau during 13-14 May observed a new little crater in the west, next to the active main crater. Read all

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We're always happy to receive some feedback about our tours. Geology student Isabel from Tübingen writes about the recent tour on Santorini: "This trip,the first holiday since the beginning of my studies,fulfilled everything I had dreamed about:hiking,geology,and culture in a most pleasant mix. The trip was both relaxing and inspiring as well. ..."

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A swarm of 14 small to very small mostly very shallow quakes occurred at Katla volcano yesterday and today. Epicenter depths were reported between 0.1 and 12.2 km. Judging from the depth and magnitude of the quakes, the most likely cause for the seismic swarm are adjustments of the hydrothermal system under the icecap, and probably not magmatic intrusions (which would be possible indicators of a future new eruption). Read all

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During a recent visit to the crater of Merapi 26-27 May, our friend Øystein from Jakarta could clearly observe a new lava dome that is slowly building up inside a depression of the summit crater. The dome is not very active yet, but has a very small glowing part of lava at the western end. This activity is consistent with the latest data from the Merapi volcano observatory reports on seismic levels at the time.

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After a week-long deflation on Kīlauea, lava flows which had reached within 0.5mi/750m of the ocean finally felt the pressure relief and came to a pause. At the time of this writing there is still low pressure on the volcano, and the longer this continues the more likely that the plumbing system will be disrupted and that lava will re-emerge in a new location -- whether on a new point up the lava tube, or even all the way back to Pu`u `O`o crater on the east rift zone. Magma continues to come into the volcano, as evidenced by continued extension, and without an outlet, sooner or later something will have to give! While there is no red lava visible on the coast today, there is still bright glow from the newest summit vent in the National Park. This is a crucial period of change for the volcano, and we all await what will happen next!

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On 25 May, the alert level of Sirung volcano was placed back to 2 (out of 4), based on visual seismic observations that indicate a decreasing trend since the eruption alert was issued on 12 May.

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