Thursday, April 24, 2008

Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii - John Seach

High levels of sulphur dioxide at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii have forced the closure of the summit area for the second time this month. About 2,000 people were forced to leave the park when a lack of wind kept gas from Halemaumau Crater at the summit. The evacuation included Volcano House hotel and the Kilauea Military Camp. No evacuations were ordered for communities outside the park, but residents from Volcano Golf and Country Club Estates experiencing respiratory problems should consider leaving the area.
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Ibu Volcano, Indonesia - John Seach

Ibu volcano in Indonesia has been raised to alert level 2 (out of maximum 4) after an increase in seismicity since 15th April. On 18th April emissions were visible 800 m above the crater. Residents have been warned about the danger of inhaling volcanic ash. There is a 2 km exclusion zone around the volcano.
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Krakatau Volcano, Indonesia - John Seach

The alert status at Krakatau volcano in Indonesia has been raised to level 2 (out of a maximum 4). Since 15th April there has been an increase in volcanic earthquakes. Ash emissions have resumed at Anak Krakatau. Booming noises were heard at Pasauran, 42 km from the volcano. Hazards at the volcano include glowing projectiles, landslides, and gas emissions.
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Thursday, April 17, 2008

Papandayan Volcano, Indonesia - John Seach

Papandayan Volcano in Indonesia has been upgraded to level 2 alert (out of maximun 4) after an increase in seismic activity, and solfatara temperature. On 15th April there were 113 volcanic earthquakes compared to 6 on 11th April. There has been an increase in solfatara temperatures in two craters, Kawah Mas (245-262 deg C), and Kawah Balagadama (91-116 deg C). Mineral concentration has increased and pH decreased at two water filled craters ((Kawah Baru and Kawah Balagadama). Visual observations at the crater on 15th April showed thin white emissions 50 m above the crater. There is a 1 km exclusion zone around the crater.
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Gareloi Volcano, Alaska - John Seach

Two large earthquakes (magnitude 6.6 and 6.4) occurred close to Gareloi Volcano in Alaska on 15th April, local time. The focus of both earthquakes were shallow at 10-13 km depth. The last eruption of Gareloi volcano was in 1996 when there was a minor eruption of ash and steam.
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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Egon Volcano, Indonesia - John Seach

A phreatic eruption occurred at Egon Volcano, Indonesia yesterday. An ash column was ejected to an altitude of 4000 m above the crater. Between 6th and 14th of April there was a significant reduction of volcanic earthquakes. About 600 people living close to the volcano have been evacuated. The alert level at Egon Volcano in Indonesia has been raised to level 3 (out of a maximum 4).
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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Huila Volcano, Colombia - John Seach

Huila Volcano in Colombia erupted today at 1:08 am local time. Up to 15,000 people have been evacuated from near the volcano. This follows an increase in seismic activity yesterday.
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Monday, April 14, 2008

Protector Shoal Volcano, South Sandwich Islands - John Seach

A large earthquake (magnitude 6.0) occurred at Protector Shoal Volcano, South Sandwich Islands, today at 07:45 am local time. The earthquake focus was located 14 km SW of the volcano at a depth of 162 km. Protector Shoal last erupted in 1962 producing pumice which floated to New Zealand.
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Sunday, April 13, 2008

Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii - John Seach

Kilauea volcano in Hawaii continues to erupt from two locations. At the summit, steam and small amounts of ash are emitting from Halema`uma`u vent. Along the east rift zone lava from Pu`u `O`o enters the lava tube system under the TEB vent and and flows southeast to the ocean. At the coast two Waikupanaha and one Ki ocean entries were active on Friday.
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Saturday, April 12, 2008

Macquarie Island Earthquake (Magnitude 7.4), Australia - John Seach

A major earthquake (magnitude 7.4) hit 90 km south of Macquarie Island, Australia, this morning at 10:30 am local time. No tsunami was generated. Macquarie Island is a subantarctic island and a part of the state of Tasmania, Australia. Macquarie Island is on the Macquarie Ridge at the junction of the Pacific and Indo-Australian plates. Large earthquakes (6 or greater on the Richter scale) occur approximately once a year.
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Friday, April 11, 2008

Rabaul Volcano, Papua New Guinea - John Seach

A large explosion occurred at Turvurvur crater, Rabaul Volcano last night at 9:29 pm local time. The explosion rattled windows in Rabaul town and covered the cone with fragments of lava. This morning fine ash was falling on Matupit Island. A night glow was visible at the crater.
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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii - John Seach

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park remained closed on Wednesday due to high levels of sulphur dioxide emission. The cruise ship Diamond Princess is scheduled to arrive in Hilo at 7:30 am Thursday with hundreds of passengers scheduled to visit the National Park. By mid-afternoon Wednesday 5 mph trade winds from the northeast began pushing gas emissions from the volcano away from the park's visitor center and Jaggar Museum. Civil Defense officials lowered the alert status in Volcano Village and surrounding areas from purple to yellow last night, indicating conditions were improving. This is the first time the entire park has been closed since 1982. Only a few people have evacuated from the communities around Volcano Village. Yesterday lava was entering the ocean at four locations at Waikupanaha and Ki ocean entries.
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Vanuatu Earthquakes 9th April 2008 - John Seach

A major earthquake (magnitude 7.6) hit southern Vanuatu Wednesday 9th April 2008 at 11:46 pm local time. The earthquake was located east of the South New Hebrides Trench and 97 km SW of Yasur volcano. The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no tsunami threat. The main earthquake was preceded by a large and two medium sized earthquakes; magnitude 6.5, 5.9, and 4.9. Yasur is the closest active volcano to the earthquake epicentre and is currently erupting.
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Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii - John Seach

High levels of sulphur dioxide emissions from Kilauea volcano in Hawaii have resulted in potential evacuations in Volcano Village area and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. A change in winds later today (April 8, Hawaii time) is expected to bring conditions in neighboring Volcano to the highest warning level. Hawaii County Civil Defense issued a warning last night based on expected conditions today, advising evacuations as a precaution from Mauna Loa Estates, Ohia Estates, Volcano Village, Keauhou Ranch, and the Volcano Golf Course Subdivision. An evacuation centre has been opened in preparation. sulphur dioxide vog (volcanic smog) has already reduced visibility to half a mile in Hilo and parts of the lower Puna District. Sulphur dioxide from Kilauea volcano comes from two sources, Halemaumau Crater at the summit and Puu Oo on the east rift zone.
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Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Ibu Volcano, Indonesia - John Seach

There has been an increase in volcanic earthquakes and emissions at Ibu Volcano in Indonesia. Ash emissions reached 150 m above the crater on 17th March, 300 m on 31st March, and 700 m on 5th April. Ibu volcano has been on level II alert since 1999, and the alert level may be increased if unrest continues. The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation has advised local residents to remain calm and not believe rumours about potential eruptions. Visitors and tourists are not permitted to climb Gunung Ibu. Local resudents should take precautions not to inhale volcanic ash because of the effects on the respiritory system.
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Sunday, April 06, 2008

Active Volcanoes on Venus? - John Seach

European Space Agency's Venus Express spacecraft has detected sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere of Venus. This could be produced by active volcanoes, or created by an unknown mechanism affecting the upper atmosphere. Sulphur dioxide at high altitude should be destroyed rapidly by solar radiation, but it has been varying in concentration. Plans are being made to look for localised increases in sulphur dioxide that would indicate a plume of the gas from a volcano. Another method is to look for hot spots on the surface that can indicate recent volcanic activity.
Volcanoes of Venus...