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After a week of intense vulcanian activity, Shiveluch's activity has decreased again on 28 December 2006, but new explosions can be expected any time. Summary of activity during 16-26 December: Ash plumes from Shiveluch rose to 10 km (32,800 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E on 16-17 and 20 December. On 24 December, an eruption plume rose to an altitude of 9.1 km (30,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E. On 26 December, an ash plume was observed above 10 km (32,800 ft.) a.s.l., extending 150 km NE in satellite imagery. The level of Concern Color Code was raised from Orange to Red.
Over the past weeks, the lava dome continued to grow at Soufrière Hills, mainly on the SW part of the dome. Rockfalls and pyroclastic flows occurred on the S side of the dome and in the upper parts of both White's and Tuitt's Ghauts. On 23 and 24 December, ash plumes rising to 3 km were observed and MVO reported that the emissions originated from a vent on the W side of the dome. A small pyroclastic flow was visible NW in the upper reaches of Tyre's Ghaut and venting became more energetic. The alert level was raised to 4 (on a scale of 0-5). At night, incandescent rockfalls were visible from the NW and W.
A paroxysmal (sub-Plinian) explosive eruption at Bezymianny began at 09:17 UTC on December 24 and ended in the afternoon the same day. A large eruption column rose up to ~ 10.0 km (32,800 ft) ASL and assumed the typical umbrella shape. An ash plume extended to the north-east from the volcano. According to KVERT, seismicity of the volcano returned to background levels at 20:00 UTC on December 24. From satellite data, a large thermal anomaly at the lava dome is present.
KVERT reports increased seismic activity at Sheveluch volcano, warning that ash explosions up to 10 km (32,800 ft.) ASL could occur at any time. Sheveluch's lava dome continues to grow.
KVERT reports significantly increased seismic activity ata Bezymianny volcano. A series of ash explosions and pyroclastic flows were recorder starting from 23:52 UTC on December 23. Ash plumes rose up to 6.0 km (19,700 ft) ASL and extended to the north-east from the volcano.
As the Goma Volcano Observatory reports, the eruption at Nyiamuragira that had started on 27 November is probably close to its end. Lava emission from the eruptive fissure has been decreasing to a very low level. Due to the difficulty to access the eruption site because of hostile militant groups in the area, exact observations other than by overflights are near impossible.
According to the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia, seismic signals from rockfalls increased at Soputan during 11-13 December. On 14 December, ash clouds rose to an altitude of 2 km (6,600 ft) a.s.l. and ash fell within a 15 km radius of the peak. The emissions were accompanied by thunderous noises that were heard 8 km from the peak. On 15 December the Alert Level was raised from 2 to 3 (on a scale of 1-4) due to this increase in activity.
The eruption at Piton de la Fournaise continues unabated. Lava continues to flow from the vents inside Dolomieu crater and since 3 weeks, it has been overflowing Dolomieu crater's rim and the flow fronts are advancing slowly but surely towards the coast. As of 19 December, the most advanced fronts of the lava are now well on the vegetated Grand Brûlé slope at about 800 m elevation, ca 3 km away from the National Road.
As PHILVOLCS reports an ash explosion occurred at Bulusan Volcano at 1:09 am local time on 20 December 06. The explosion was not observed dur to thick clouds, but clearly recorded as seismic signals, rumbling sounds and lightning flashes that lasted for about 20 minutes.
Ash fall deposits up to 3-4 mm were observed in several nearby communities around the volcano. PHIVOLCS maintains Alert Level 1 status of the volcano, and warns the public not to venture inside the 4-km radius Permanent Danger Zone because sudden hazardous explosions are likely to occur from time to time. Residents near river /stream channels are advised to be on the alert against lahars because ash and other deposits may be remobilized by heavy and prolonged rainfall.
As INGV reports, an unusually strong eruption occurred at Stromboli on 15 December 2006. Bombs landed on both Pizzo and the Sciara del Fuoco, reminding that it is not completely safe to stay on Pizzo.
Explosive eruption continues at Karymski volcano. According to KVERT, on December 17, 2006, an ash plume rising up to 7.0 km (23,000 ft.) ASL and extending to the east from the volcano was observed by pilots.
Strong explosive activity at Sheveluch continues. KVERT reported that on December 17, 2006, an ash plume rose up to 8.0 km ASL and extended to the east from the volcano.
Over the past night, a new effusive vent opened and started to erupt a new, well-alimentated lava flow. This comes after a pause in eruptive activity over the past daysw. The new vent is located in the Valle del Bove headwall, at ca. 2800 m east of SE crater and near the location of the vent that had been activive during the past two months. The onset of activity was accompanied by an augmentation of tremor level as well weak ash emissions from the SE crater itself. As its predecessor, the new lava flow is moving into the Valle del Bove and does not pose any threat for inhabited areas.
Piton de la Fournaise's eruption is well into its third month of activity. A small lava lake is present inside the younger of the two new cones, baptised Piton Moinama and its precessor Piton Wouandzani, both built up during the current eruption inside Dolomieu crater. The vent at Moinama continues to feed lava flows, that had reached the rim of Dolomieu crater in the night between 27 and 28 Nov and started to travel downhill on the vast caldera floor. By today (11 Dec.) these flows, flowing mostly inside tubes, have reached a distance of about 2 km and are clearly visible from the National Road near the coast W of the depression. Intermittendly, strombolian activity occurs at the vents as well.
Based on pilot reports and satellite imagery, the Washington VAAC reported that an eruption from Sangay on 2 December produced an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 8.5 km (28,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW.
Discrete small to moderately sized ash eruptions continue to occur typically every few hours at Colima volcano. Ash plumes reach altitudes of up to 5-7 km.
Preceded by half an hour of strong tremor, Sheveluch volcano erupted with a violent explosion that produced an ash plume rising to about 6 km that drifted north and has already reached more than 100 km distance. Pyroclastic flows descended on the slope along the Baidarnaya River.
The pit crater on the upper eastern flank of the SE crater continues to produce relatively mild strombolian activity originating from two vents. Photographs published by INGV Catania (within their frequent updates) show an important enlargement of that pit crater, first observed on 19 Nov. It is interesting to note the large morphologic changes on the SE-E flank of the SE crater cone in the area where rockfalls and slides debris avalanches cut out a deep trench on 16 Nov, but which is now largely filled again by debris and recent flows. The new fissure at the eastern foot of the SE crater at 3100 m elevation, first observed late on 30 Nov., is still active and produces near continuous spattering and at times sustained lava fountains up to several tens of meters high. The lava flow emitted from here has travelled a few 100 of meters, but as of noon on 3 Dec. not yet reached the area of the 2800 m vent. The latter has little news to report, but continues to feed beautifully braided flows down the wall into Valle del Bove.
A new eruptive episode of Etna's SE crater occurred on 1 December, characterized by weak strombolian activity and ash production from a vent near the summit of SE crater and a new effusive fissure vent at its base: A moderately dense pulsating ash column, reaching about 4000 m a.s.l. was emitted by weak strombolian activity at the collapse pit high on the eastern flank of the cone, located near the upper end of the collapse scar from 16 November and observed since 19 November. A new eruptive eastern trending fissure feeding small fountains and a lava flow had opened at the eastern base of the cone at ca. 3100m elevation late on 30 November. Its flows were well alimentated and rapidly approached the area of the 2800 m vent. The latter continues to emit a number branching flows whose most advanced fronts are spreading, at a rate of approximately 100m per day, in the area of the Monte Centinari at the bottom of the Valle del Bove.
We regret to post a very sad volcano-related news entry. Heavy rainfall from the exceptionally strong typhoon Durian that hit the Philippines a few days ago triggered a series of huge mud flows and landslides on the slopes of Mayon volcano (which itself has been quiet for over a month now, but accumulated lots of fresh deposits in its last eruptive phase in the summer 2006). The lahars (mud flows) buried dozends of villages and hundreds of people lost their lives.
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