Volcanoes Erupting All Over

[XPan]

Ruang, Indonesia
3 May 2024

Ruang: Weitere Evakuierungen veranlasst - Vulkane Net Newsblog

Am Vulkan Ruang drohen weitere paroxysmale Vulkanausbrüche und die Evakuierungsmaßnahmen wurden deutlich ausgedehnt.

www.vulkane.net

Further volcanic eruptions threaten at Ruang volcano - evacuation measures extended

The island volcano Ruang erupted twice in the second half of April, producing towering ash clouds and pyroclastic flows. The two settlements on Ruang were severely affected. The damage was particularly extensive in the village of Laingpatehi, which was hit by the hot gases of a pyroclastic flow, causing fires. In addition, ash deposits and the bombardment with pyroclastics caused roofs to collapse.

The settlements were evacuated shortly before the eruptions and apparently no one has been injured so far. As a result of the second eruption on 30 April, the exclusion zone around the crater was increased to 7 kilometres, which is why residents of the south-west coast of the neighbouring island of Tagulandang now also live in the danger zone and have to be evacuated. They are particularly threatened by pyroclastic flows, which can also travel long distances across the sea. There are also fears of tsunamis that could occur as a result of landslides.

9,083 people live in the Tagulandang exclusion zone.
By Thursday, 3,364 residents had already been evacuated. The authorities are working to gradually evacuate the remaining 5,719 residents. "At least 9,000 residents within a seven-kilometre radius must be evacuated as soon as possible," said Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), in a written statement yesterday. The evacuation is being carried out with the help of several ships.

The government has prepared emergency shelters for affected residents at various locations, such as the Tumou Tou Manado Centre. In fact, people will also be evacuated to the island of Siau, where the Karangetang volcano is located.

Hendra Gunawan, head of PVMBG, explained that in the past, Ruang was prone to emitting pyroclastic flows. According to records, there have been 18 eruption phases of the Ruang volcano since the 19th century, with a clustering of activity in certain periods. Hendra explained that the eruption in 1871 also triggered a tsunami wave and claimed up to 400 lives.

Therefore, the government plans to take permanent measures to relocate residential areas to safer locations, especially Ruang Island. Suharyanto also said that the BNPB would help with the relocation process. This matter is expected to be discussed at ministerial level soon. The forced relocations primarily affect 301 families from two villages at the foot of Mount Ruang.

The two eruptions can be regarded as paroxysms
and we know from other volcanoes that these eruptions often occur in phases, so that further eruptions can be expected in the coming weeks and months. The interval between the two eruptions was 13 days.

Ash is currently being emitted from the crater. Volcanic ash is rising to a height of 1500 metres. Yesterday, 11 volcanotectonic tremors were recorded. Typical for the previous eruptions was the onset of a seismic crisis a few hours before the eruptions.

The alert status is set to "red".

END OF ARTICLE

 

[XPan]

Campi Flegrei, Napoli, Italy
1 May 2024

Pretty worrisome given how many earthquakes have been for a long time / is going on in that region...

Campi Flegrei: Erdbebenaktivität bleibt am 1 Mai hoch - Vulkane Net Newsblog

Hohe Erdbebenaktivität und Bodenhebung halten in der Campi Flegrei an. Vulkan steht unter besondere Beobachtung.

www.vulkane.net

High earthquake activity continues - volcano under special observation

Earthquake activity under the southern Italian caldera has remained high in recent days. However, most of the earthquakes had low magnitudes and mainly occurred within the hydrothermal system, although there were also some earthquakes at depths of around 3 kilometres.

The new weekly bulletin of the INGV was published yesterday. In the observation period 22-28 April, 193 tremors were detected. The strongest had a magnitude of 3.9, making it one of the most energetic earthquakes of the multi-year uplift phase. Which brings us to the topic: The average uplift rate is still given as 10 mm per month, but there have been two short-term ground uplift episodes in the last three weeks, in which the ground lifted by 10 mm once and by 5 mm another time within two days. Within 21 days, the total uplift was 25 mm, which is a peak value for the current uplift phase. The thrusts were accompanied by the strongest swarm earthquakes during this period.

Although most volcanologists do not yet see an imminent eruption in Campi Flegrei, they are now somewhat concerned: the former director of the Vesuvius Observatory, Francesca Bianco, said in a Fanpage interview that the events in Campi Flegrei are now receiving even more attention than they already do. Although she considers the earthquakes to be unpleasant, they are not yet strong earthquakes, although she believes it is unlikely that strong earthquakes with magnitudes of 6 or more will occur. Francesca was also asked about the phenomenon of why the inhabitants of the caldera perceive an increased odour of sulphur on some days. The volcanologist said that this was due to different meteorological conditions. There would be no major fluctuations in the gas composition.

Another citizens' meeting is planned for 6 May, this time in the Neapolitan district of Bacoli. In addition to Francesca Bianco, the head of the Civil Protection Department, Fabrizio Curcio, the director of the Vesuvius Observatory, Mauro Di Vito, the prefect, scientists and other institutional representatives will answer questions from citizens. Perhaps there will also be new insights into the events at Campi Flegrei.

END OF ARTICLE

 

[XPan]

Sangay, Equador
5 May 2024

Quite the worker bee, this Sangay volcano...

Sangay erzeugt alle 90 Sekunden eine Explosion - Vulkane Net Newsblog

Sangay steigerte seine Aktivität und erzeugt alle 90 Sekunden eine explosive Eruption Gestern war ein besonders geschäftiger Tag für den Sangay in Ecuador: Wie das Geophysikalische Institut des Landes mitteilte, erzeugte der Andenvulkan 918 explosive Eruptionen innerhalb von 24 Stunden. Das...

www.vulkane.net

Sangay increased its activity and produces an explosive eruption every 90 seconds

Yesterday was a particularly busy day for Sangay in Ecuador: according to the country's Geophysical Institute, the Andean volcano produced 918 explosive eruptions within 24 hours. This corresponds to an explosion frequency of 90 seconds. Volcanic ash rose up to 3000 metres above crater height and drifted in a westerly direction. The VAAC detected volcanic ash at an altitude of 8000 metres above sea level. The ash rained down over localities and light ash fallout occurred.

On the southwest flank of Sangay, a lava flow is flowing and red-hot material is moving at an altitude level 1900 metres below the crater. A debris avalanche flows from the lava front and pyroclastic flows can occur at any time, which is why it is forbidden to climb the volcano.

Lahars, which can form in the area of the volcano as a result of heavy rainfall, pose a danger. The mudflows have already changed several river courses, with the deposits clogging the riverbeds.

The data on the volcano's sulphur dioxide emissions are somewhat contradictory: while a bulletin from the institute mentions 100 tonnes per day, a media report states that 10 times this amount of volcanic gas has been detected. I also consider this figure to be more realistic.

Sangay is a 5270 metre high stratovolcano
on the eastern edge of the Andes. It drains towards the Amazon. The glacier-covered summit has two craters. A lava dome could grow again in the southern crater, which feeds the lava flow and is the source of the explosions.

Although the volcano is considered one of the most active fire mountains in the country, it is not the only active volcano in the country: On the Ecuadorian mainland, there is also the Reventador, which is explosively active and produces frequent ash eruptions. Volcanic ash rises up to 1400 metres above crater height.

On the Galapagos island of Fernandina
which belongs to Ecuador, La Cumbre is still active and produces a lava flow that flows into the sea.

END OF ARTICLE

 

[XPan]

La Cumbre, Galapagos islands, Ecuador
6 May 2024

The eruption there is still ongoing (for 2 months now).

La Cumbre: Ocean Entry auf Fernandina - Vulkane Net Newsblog

Auf Fernandina entsteht durch den Vulkanausbruch von La Cumbre neues Land. Die Eruption hält seit mehr als 2 Monaten an.

www.vulkane.net

The eruption of La Cumbre on the Galapagos island of Fernandina continues - new land is being created

New land is being created on Fernandina
due to the volcanic eruption of La Cumbre. The eruption has been going on for more than 2 months and lava has been reaching the ocean for almost 4 weeks. The ocean entry is causing a lava delta to grow, which has now expanded to 8 hectares. The first usable photos of what is happening have now been published. They are reminiscent of images that we are otherwise only familiar with from Kilauea in Hawaii or Piton de la Fournaise on La Réunion. At numerous points in the lava delta, thin lava flows and pours steaming into the sea. When the Ocean Entry was formed, it was still crumbly aa lava that reached the coast. In the meantime, the lava tubes seem to reach directly to the coast, so that the melt is well insulated and is still very hot and therefore thin when it reaches the sea.

The eruption on Fernandina began on 3 March
with a large fissure eruption that produced lava fountains. The fissures had formed over a length of several kilometres close to the edge of the caldera. Since then, the nature of the eruption has changed considerably and only one vent is still active. So little heat seems to emanate from it that even current sentinel photos in the infrared range no longer show any thermal anomalies. A small hotspot could be hidden under the steam still rising from the vent. Only on the last third of the volcanic slope does some lava emerge in some places, leaving behind a thermal signature. This has an output of 358 MW. This value is still classified as high, but is very far from the maximum 54,000 MW recorded during the initial stage of the eruption.

Animals affected...
Although landowners can be happy about the creation of new land, it is probably a different story for the animals living there: The eruption created a lava field covering 1600 hectares of land that will be barren for decades and is likely to be unsuitable as a habitat for most animals. Biologists on the Galapagos Islands do not want to take stock of how much the eruption has damaged the ecosystem until after the eruption is over. The land iguanas on Fernandina in particular could have been affected.

The Galapagos Islands were formed
by the successive eruption of volcanoes that emerged from the seabed around 12 million years ago, some of which lie under water. Scientific studies have shown that the oldest islands on the surface are San Cristóbal and Española, which were formed 2.8 and 5.6 million years ago. The youngest islands, Isabela and Fernandina, are thought to be between 60,000 and 300,000 years old. The genesis of these islands is not yet complete.

END OF ARTICLE

 

[mabar]

Campi Flegrei, Napoli, Italy
1 May 2024

Pretty worrisome given how many earthquakes have been for a long time / is going on in that region...


View attachment 95267

High earthquake activity continues - volcano under special observation

Earthquake activity under the southern Italian caldera has remained high in recent days.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1790054141810692567

Ossevatorio Venusiano

YELLOW ALERT LEVEL

The Vesuvius Observatory's surveillance system highlights some changes in the state of activity in the Campi Flegrei.

However, from the May 7 weekly bolletin:
Weekly Bolletin Campi Flegrei

2. EXPECTED SCENARIOS.
Based on the current picture of volcanic activity outlined above, there is no evidence such as to suggest significant evolutions in the short term.
N.B. Any changes in the monitored parameters, which may lead to a different
evolution of the phenomena described above, will be the subject of in-depth
promptly communicated.

Since last year, they have already drawn up a plan to evacuate, I assume they are waiting for more data.
Evacuation plan being drafted for Campi Flegrei

Fears of eruption in volcanic area near Naples after quake

Minister Nello Musumeci said Friday that an evacuation plan was being drafted for the Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields), a volcanic area near Naples, after 4.2-magnitude earthquake this week sparked fears of an eruption.
It was the biggest quake to hit the area in 40 years.
"We have to get down to work at once," said Musumeci, stressing that around half a million people live in the area.
The Phlegraean Fields is a collapsed caldera, a volcanic area formed by several volcanic edifices.

 

[XPan]

Stromboli, Aeolian Islands - Italy
14 May 2024

I already read earlier that the generell activity on the island of Stromboli has increased. In the mean while it seem to have reached a strong peak. German Vulkane.net writes following about the latest status of the volcano:

Stromboli mit zahlreichen Eruptionen am 14. Mai - Vulkane Net Newsblog

Der Vulkan Stromboli ist weiter munter und eruptierte bis zu 800 Mal am Tag. Aktivitätsindex steht auf hoch.

www.vulkane.net

Stromboli with 800 explosions a day - activity index remains high



Stromboli is located north of Sicily and is the most active volcano in Europe
at least in terms of the number of eruptions: It has been considered permanently active for thousands of years and was known in ancient times as the "beacon of the Mediterranean", as its frequent eruptions were visible for miles at night and provided sailors with a good landmark. The island volcano has been particularly active for a few days now, producing up to 800 explosions a day. This means that the explosions occur at intervals of less than 2 minutes. Of course, many of these eruptions will be comparatively small, but there are also larger eruptions mixed in, which throw their glowing cargo up to 80 meters high.

The LGS reported yesterday that the acoustic blast pressure was relatively weak, mostly around 0.5 bar. On the previous day, however, there were explosions that generated an acoustic pressure of up to 1 bar. Such eruptions reach ejection heights of up to 100 meters. However, the number of explosions is not the only feature that indicates increased activity of the volcano, as an above-average number of VLP earthquakes were also recorded and the tremor amplitude was also increased.




The activity began to increase
when several weak earthquakes manifested themselves in the coastal area of Stromboli over the past few days. These quakes are most likely caused by changes in underground stresses when new magma enters a deep magma reservoir. However, there was no unusual ground uplift. Hence my assumption that the melt is at a greater depth. However, there is then an increase in pressure in the conveyor system and there are increased explosions of melt that has already risen.

A few years ago, I was able to look into a Stromboli vent located in the northern sector of the crater. The vent was not recognizable as such because it was filled with cooled tephra up to the bottom of the crater. Seconds before the explosion, the crater floor and the tephra in the vent began to rise and a bubble of lava chunks formed, which then burst, catapulting the lava chunks out of the vent. Below the surface was red-hot tephra, which rose up with it. However, there are also pipe-like vents on Stromboli, from which the tephra then shoots out as if from a cannon barrel.

Stromboli is part of the Aeolian archipelago, which consists of a total of 7 island volcanoes. The day before yesterday, the INGV reported an earthquake Mb 2.5, which occurred at a depth of 8 kilometers, approx. 6 kilometers south of Alicudi. Although this island volcano is considered inactive, the ground is anything but calm.

END OF ARTICLE

 

[XPan]

Bozdag-Guzdek mud volcano, Azerbaijan
14 May 2024

Schlammvulkan Bozdag-Guzdek in Aserbaidschan eruptiert - Vulkane Net Newsblog

In Aserbaidschan ist der Schlammvulkan Bozdag-Guzdek zum ersten Mal seit 15 Jahren ausgebrochen. Die Schlammeruption dauerte neun Minuten.

www.vulkane.net

The Bozdag-Guzdek mud volcano in Azerbaijan has erupted - after a 15-year break

The Bozdag-Guzdek mud volcano in Azerbaijan has erupted for the first time in 15 years. The mud eruption lasted nine minutes and caused seismic signals that were detected by the country's Republican Seismic Survey Center. The eruption occurred on May 13 at 02:13 local time.

The mud volcano has a 3.5 kilometer deep vent
and is located near the Sangachal oil field. It is one of the largest oil and gas production areas in Azerbaijan and is located near the city of Baku on the Absheron Peninsula. Consequently, the mud volcano has nothing to do with real volcanism or magmatism: its eruptions are linked to methane gas, of which there is more than enough in the area. This is also reflected in the high number of mud volcanoes that produce organic compounds. A good 700 mud volcanoes are known in the world, a good half of which are located in Azerbaijan.

Another well-known mud volcano in Azerbaijan is Toragay in the south of Qobustan. It is the largest of its kind in the world. Its crater cone is 400 meters high and has a diameter of 150 meters. The volcano erupted six times between 1841 and 1950.

Azerbaijan is often referred to as the land of fire
and the mud volcanoes are undoubtedly one of the country's most visited natural attractions. They attract people from all over the world, so much so that a veritable mud volcano tourism industry has developed. The mud from the Bozdag-Guzdek mud volcano contains many organic compounds such as iodine, bromine and hydrogen sulphide. Hydrogen sulphide is said to have healing properties, which makes it particularly attractive to tourists. According to a report in the online magazine Azernews, chemical analyses of the mud showed that it could have originated from the reaction of the rock with magmatic fluids. So there is a link to real volcanism after all.

END OF ARTICLE

 

[XPan]

Campi Flegrei, Pozzuoli, Italy
12 May 2024

Campi Flegrei: Neuer Umweltalarm diskutiert - Vulkane Net Newsblog

Behörden diskutieren Einführung eines neuen Umweltalarms für die Campi Flegrei: es soll vor Gasverschmutzung gewarnt werden.

www.vulkane.net

Authorities discuss the introduction of a new environmental alert for Campi Flegrei

While the geologically induced unrest in the area of the Campi Flegrei caldera in southern Italy continues, the responsible authorities are discussing the introduction of a new environmental alarm. According to press reports, the risk of health hazards due to air pollution caused by the emission of magmatic gases in the caldera has not been given sufficient attention to date. Children, the elderly and sick people in particular are at risk from even low concentrations of magmatic gases in the air they breathe.

At times, local residents report the strong smell of hydrogen sulphide, which we all know well from the smell of "rotten eggs". Hydrogen sulphide is one of the compounds emitted by volcanoes, but can also be produced by decomposition processes. Hydrogen sulphide is just one of many gases produced by the fumaroles in the Solfatara area.

Largely odorless are gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, which can escape from the volcano in large quantities and are toxic or pose a health hazard because some carbon gases are heavier than oxygen and displace it near the ground. As a result, there is a risk of asphyxiation, especially if carbon dioxide accumulates in lowlands or cellars. The introduction of an environmental alarm to warn and inform the population of gas emissions has therefore been discussed. The form in which the warnings are to be communicated has not yet been announced.

The gases emitted are of magmatic origin and escape from a magma body. The depth of the magma body has recently been the subject of heated debate. It is considered certain that a large magma accumulation is present at depths beyond 8 kilometers. Geoscientists disagree about the existence of a smaller magma accumulation at a depth of 4 kilometers. Should a large amount of melt accumulate here, there is a risk of a volcanic eruption.

Residents of Solfatara report on social media that the INGV now visits the crater almost daily to carry out inspections. This is an indication of how serious the situation is currently considered to be.

In the meantime, earthquake activity in the Campi Flegrei area continues, albeit not at swarm earthquake level. Almost 30 quakes have been detected by the INGV since yesterday. The strongest had a magnitude of 1.7 and manifested itself this morning. The activity is not expected to subside.

END OF ARTICLE

 

[XPan]

Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland
15 May 2024

It might be soon time for another eruption... German Vulkane.net reports following:

Island: Bodenhebung und Erdbeben am 15. Mai - Vulkane Net Newsblog

Bodenhebung und Erdbeben gehen weiter – Ausbruch jeder Zeit möglich Im Svartsengigebiet auf der isländischen Reykjaneshalbinsel gehen Bodenhebung und Erdbeben weiter. Gestern meldete IMO etwa 60 Erdbeben, die sich im Magmakorridor nördlich von Grindavik ereigneten. Dies ähnelt der seismischen...

www.vulkane.net

Ground uplift and earthquakes continue - eruption possible at any time

Ground uplift and earthquakes continue in the Svartsengi area on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula. Yesterday, IMO reported about 60 earthquakes occurring in the magma corridor north of Grindavik. This is similar to the seismic activity that has been recorded in recent days. Since the end of the volcanic eruption, around 50 to 80 earthquakes have been recorded every day, most of them in the areas between Stóra-Skógfell and Hagafell on the one hand and south of Þorbjörn on the other. Today, the seismicity is comparable to that of the last few days. It is noticeable that there are again more earthquakes in the neighbouring fissure systems. Several tremors were detected in the Krysuvik system in particular.




The ground uplift
is continuing at the same rate that we have been observing for several weeks now. According to IMO's GPS measurements, the ground has risen by a good 23 centimetres since 16 March.

"Although it is quiet at the moment, preparations are being made for the next eruption, whenever that may be," volcanology professor Ármann Höskuldsson told the newspaper MBL. However, he also said that something had changed in the magmatic system since the last eruption. He cited the long duration of the eruption and the general slowdown in magma ascent compared to the period before the eruption.

Although more melt has accumulated since the last eruption than was the case before the other eruptions and vein formations, Ármann is of the opinion that it could still be weeks or months before the next eruption. The reason he gave was that the subsurface at Svartsengi would become increasingly elastic, allowing the magma body to grow larger before the pressure becomes too great and an eruption or intrusion occurs.

Ármann argues that the next eruption could be the last in the Sundhnukur area. He predicts a shift in activity to the west and hopes that eruptions will then occur in the Eldvörp crater series. This is located at a somewhat greater distance from the infrastructure of Svartsengi and Grindavik.

END OF ARTICLE