The following constitutes the new activity and unrest report from the
Volcano Discovery.
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Hawaii's ever-erupting Kilauea volcano. |
Kīlauea Volcano (Hawaii): Pressure reaches lava flow-front.
As expected, activity is increasing at the lava flow-front as renewed
pressure propagates along the magmatic system, even as further
(apparently smaller) pressure variations occur. Stay tuned for more
pictures and detailed updates as our tour schedule and the eruption
allows! Another longer DI pressure cycle has arrived and is causing a slow-down
of lava flows on the coastal plain, but there are still active breakouts
on the flat and on the pali for the most determined hikers to
experience! If this DI even lingers, that may change quickly.
Etna Volcano (Italy): Paroxysm from the New SE crater.
The strombolian activity from the New SE crater which had started
yesterday continued during the night. From 03:30 local time, the glow
had been continuous and the frequency of explosions rose to 25-30 per
hour. Large incandescent bombs were observed landing on the outer flanks
of the cone.
At the time of writing (8:30 local time), another paroxysm is about
to occur. Strong explosions generating a rising ash plume and a steep
increase of tremor can be observed.
The intervals between paroxysms are becoming shorter, as well as the precursor activity.
Santorini Volcano (Greece): Small seismic swarm near the submarine Kolumbo volcano.
After 6 weeks of calm, another seismic swarm has started yesterday at
Santorini, clustered in the NE sector of the island and near the
submarine Kolumbo volcano. The quakes are very small and will not have
been felt. The largest was a magnitude 2.0 quake on 18 March at 10:37
GMT at 11 km depth beneath Kolumbo.
El Hierro Volcano (Canary Islands): Incandescent lava under water - Eruption continues.
The first results of the latest campaign of scientists from the
University of Gran Canaria have now been published. For the first time,
direct images of the new underwater volcano were obtained from locations
at its southwestern flank and near the crater area (to 172 m). The vent
itself seems to be at 120 m depth according to the results. (This
contradicts the previous measurement of 88 m, or it refers to a
different vent).
- Hot jets are formed from a vent at 120 m depth, forming convecting
water cells reaching depths of about 40-60 m. On 13 March, the robot
entered one of these cells and got caught in uncontrolled rotations
while its thermal sensors showed a strong increase.
- Pyroclastic projections were observed to reaching about 40-50 m in
height (i.e. the ejected pyroclasts reach depths of 80-70 m). Ejected
bombs form (underwater) ballistic parabolic trajectories and fall back
under gravity. Some of these pyroclastic seem to be large.
- During the dive on Wednesday (14 Mar), the southwest flank of the
main cone was filmed. It has a steep slope and is composed mainly by
large pyroclasts (see screenshot), some of which are similar to the
hollow lava balloons that frequently reached the surface in the months
of November and December.
- Finally, near the edge of the crater, at a depth of about 170m and
under a rain of ash, a school of fish (amberjack possibly) was seen as
well as smaller marine animals and closer to the surface, jellyfish. The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has published a brief
article with images of glowing lava seen floating at a depth of 70 m,
taken on 14 March during the recent campaign of the ROV E-Wally on board
of the "Atlantic Explorer" oceanographic research vessel.
See article
HERE (PDF).
Ijen Volcano (Indonesia): Strong degrassing.
VolcanoDiscovery team member Adi Susanto returned from a visit to Ijen
volcano in East Java, where he observed strong degassing on 17 March. At
the moment, the alert level of Ijen is still at 3 (on a scale of 1-4)
and the area is strictly closed to workers and visitors as an eruption
could occur with little warning.
Measurements of the park showed dangerously high levels of SO2 at
the crater. Volcanic tremor and earthquakes are at fluctuating elevated
numbers and intensity.
One of the main hazards of an eruption would be a draining of the
acid crater lake and associated lahars. Although the area is relatively
little populated as much of the surrounding land is occupied by coffee
plantations, there are several small villages that would be in the risk
zone.
Tungurahua Volcano (Ecuador): New eruption and ash fall.
Another series of explosions has occurred early today at Tungurahua
volcano in Ecuador, the Instituto GeofÃsico (IG) reports. The eruption
was reported to be very noisy and caused minor ash fall in nearby
villages, but no damage.
From 23:39 (local time) on March 19, a rapid increase of tremor was
detected and observers reported roaring noises from the volcano in up to
14 km distance. About an hour after the onset of tremor reports of ash
fall came from El Manzano and Choglontús.
At 00h22 today, there was an loud explosion whose cannon-shot like
shock wave was heard in Choglontús, El Manzano and Puntzán. Incandescent
lava bombs could be seen ejected from the summit crater and landing up
to approx. 200 m distance on the upper slope.
From the 01h08 (local time) tremor decreased and also the noises
from the volcano. Cloud cover prevented detailed observations this
morning.
According to a first analysis, only the south-west sector received
ash fall. In the Choglontús area, ash continued to fall until 07:00
(local time) and was measured to have accumulated 383 grams per square
meter, corresponding to less than 1 mm of ash.