Chaiten Volcano, Chile - John Seach

A lateral explosion occurred at Chaiten volcano on 17th November 2008 at 17:25 hrs. The explosion occurred WSW of the crater, and was possibly related to partial collapse of the dome. This small event was superficial, and was not captured by telemetry stations in the area which transmit data in real time. Gas emissions have been constant at the volcano, with steam and ash rising up to 2 km above the crater.
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Kamchatka Earthquake (Mag 7.0) - John Seach

A large deep earthquake occurred off the west coast of Kamchatka on 24th November 2008 at 08:02 pm, local time. The focus was located in the Sea of Okhotsk at a depth of 487 km. The closest volcano to the earthquake epicentre is Khangar, 200 km NE. About 100 active volcanoes are located within 500 km of the earthquake epicentre in Kamchatka peninsula and northern Kurile Islands.
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Volcanoes of Kamchatka...

Nevado del Huila Volcano, Colombia - John Seach

Rains caused further landslides in the area affected by the eruption of Nevado del Huila. The new landslides resulted in evacuation of 218 people and 40 homes were affected. The number of victims, wounded and missing are increasing as relief agencies move on foot through the mountains, because roads and bridges were destroyed by landslides triggered after the eruption.
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Funding for a New Indonesian Disaster Centre - John Seach

Australia will spend $67 million over the next five years to establish a joint disaster coordination centre in Indonesia. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono made the announcement on the sidelines of the APEC leaders forum in Peru this morning. The aim of the centre is to improve the capacity of the region to plan for disasters and aid recovery. The cooperation is intended to build wider and more effective disaster management through joint training and building better civil-military teamwork. The cooperation will begin from April 2009. Natural disasters affect Indonesia including floods, droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, and forest fires. Indonesia has over 130 active volcanoes, which makes it the most volcanically active country in the world. It has experienced some of history's largest volcano disasters including Tambora (1815), Krakatau (1883), Kelut (1586, 1919), and Galunggung (1822). Indonesia currently has 15 volcanoes on level 2 alert, and one on level 3 alert (on a scale of 1 to maximum 4).
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

San Cristobal Volcano, Nicaragua - John Seach

San Cristobal volcano in Nicaragua has been erupting for two days, accompanied by earthquakes up to magnitude 4. The volcano is located 110 kilometers WSW of the capital, Managua. Five days ago there was a magnitude 5 earthquake 120 km SW of the volcano.
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Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii - John Seach

Seismic activity has increased at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. On Thursday 20th November tremor increased during the day, and reached four times background levels by evening. Seismic activity was focused on the south caldera. No earthquakes were recorded at the summit, where an active vent is located. On the east rift zone, lava continues to flow through tubes to the ocean.
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Dalaffilla and Erta Ale Volcano Eruptions, Ethiopia - John Seach

Eruptions continue at Dalaffilla volcano in Ethiopia. Satellite images show hotspots between Dalaffilla and Alu, extending to the east. Erta Ale volcano continues to show activity 25 km SE of Dalaffilla.
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Nevado del Huila Volcano, Colombia - John Seach

An eruption occurred at Nevado del Huila Volcano in Colombia on Thursday 20th November 2008 at at 21:45 hr. This follows an increase in seismic activity over the past month. Authorities declared a state of red alert and ordered thousands of people to evacuate. This included towns of La Plata, Paicol, Nátaga and Tesalia. Mudflows destroyed 20 homes and five bridges. Seismic activity decreased after the initial eruption.
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Dalaffilla Volcano, Ethiopia - John Seach

Satellite images have given conflicting results on the location of the eruption which began in northern Ethiopia on 4th November. ASTER satellite images show lava emitting from Alu fissure vents. MODIS satellite images indicate Dalaffilla stratovolcano. Wherever the lava originated from, it filled a depression between the two volcanoes and flowed north-east. Alu and Dalaffilla are essentially the same volcanic system being separated by only 3 km. It is rare for eruption sites so close to be named as separate volcanoes. The situation highlights the limitations in the definition and naming of volcanoes. At the other extreme there is Durango volcano in Mexico which covers 2100 sq km and contains 100 eruption sites, yet is called one volcano.
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Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii - John Seach

Large amounts of sulphur dioxide are being emitted by Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. Up to eight times average SO2 emissions were reported this week from Halemaumau vent at the summit. At Pu`u `O`o Crater on the east rift zone, sulphur dioxide emission rate was 2,000 tonnes/day compared to an average of about 1,700 tonnes/day. Lava continues to flow through tubes to the ocean.
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In Harms Way, Chaiten Volcano Expedition - John Seach

John Seach was the first scientist to climb to the summit of Chaiten Volcano in Chile after the great eruption of 2008. The expedition was filmed for the tv series "In Harms Way". For viewers in the USA, the programme will be showing on the CW Channel on Sunday 30th November 2008 at 7:00 pm.
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Dalaffilla Volcano Eruption, Ethiopia - John Seach

Satellite images have shown that the sulphur dioxide plume from the eruption of Dalaffilla volcano in Ethiopia has dissipated over the Pacific, after traveling half way around the world. Some SO2 persists over the northern Indian Ocean, southern India, and Bay of Bengal. Hotspots continue to be recorded on the NW flank of Dalaffilla and up to 6 km NE of the volcano.
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Dalaffilla Volcano Eruption, Ethiopia - John Seach

Satellite images show that the eruption of Dalaffilla volcano in Ethiopia on 3rd November 2008 (UT) began from fissures on the NE side of the summit. There was a smaller amount erupted from fissures on NW side of the volcano. The main volume of lava emitted was at least 3 km from Alu volcano, and right at the summit of Dalaffilla. Alu and Dalaffilla are twin volcanoes, and therefore connected to the same magma chamber. Instinct indicated that it should have been Alu producing a large basaltic lava flow, but evidence shows that Dalaffilla erupted. It is amazing that in the era of instant information, that one of the largest lava flows in the world in the past 300 years could go almost un-noticed by the world's media, and even the exact location of the eruption
still being questioned a week later. The world's media are reluctant to visit the area, even those organisations with an interest and funding to cover such events. How far removed from nature we have become! Such eruptions have the ability to cause global cooling. The large lava flows in Laki, (Iceland 1783) produced a reduction in global temperatures by 1.3 degrees for 2-3 years. There is no indication yet that the eruption at Dalaffilla volcano will reduce global temperatures, but the SO2 plume has traveled half way around the world.
Image shows hotspots at Dalaffilla volcano on 3rd November 2008, the first day of the eruption. This shows Dalaffilla as the source of the eruption, with main flows east and west of the summit.
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Chaiten Volcano, Chile - John Seach

Lahars from Chaiten volcano, have created more damage in Chaiten town. On the night of 4th November, a mixture of material ejected from the volcano, combined with heavy rainfall, and melting snow, cause a lahar which raced down río Blanco and flooded 30 houses in the town. The latest lahar reinforces the decision to keep Chaiten town evacuated. In recent weeks, about a hundred people have returned to Chaitén and are living in their homes despite lacking such basic services such as electricity, potable water, gas or telephone. In the coming weeks a report will be delivered to the president, Michelle Bachelet, which discusses the level of toxicity of volcanic ash and the possibility of rebuilding the town in the same location. The situation at Chaitén has cost the Chilean State, in six months, more than 23,000 million pesos (about $ 40 million US). According to a survey which covered a sample of 800 displaced families, 45 percent do not intend to return to Chaitén, another 43 percent had not made a decision, and only 12 per cent are ready to return. 40 percent of people evacuated from Chaiten reported difficulties in their new living situation. Recent activity of Chaiten volcano has been intermittent, with an eruptive column of about 3000 meters high in recent days, while last week a swarm of small earthquakes was measured. This indicates the eruption is not yet over, and residents will have to remain evacuated for some time yet. Some people in surrounding areas have begun to sell their properties and leave the area, because ash has killed animals, caused deforestation and damaged pastures.
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Klyuchevskoy Volcano, Russia - John Seach

Strombolian eruptions continue at Klyuchevskoy volcano is Kamchatka. During the week ending 6th November, seismic activity at the volcano was above background levels. Volcanic earthquakes and volcanic tremor were registered all week. Gas emissions containing a small amount of ash were emitted to a height of 400 m above the crater. Explosions were heard from the town of Klyuchi, 30 km north of the volcano, on 3-4 November. Satellite images showed hotspots on 2,5,6 November.
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Trip to Ethiopia - Dalaffilla Volcano (January 2009)

Join an exciting expedition to Dalaffilla volcano in Ethiopia. In 2008 Dalaffilla volcano produced one of the largest lava flows in the past 300 years. This will be an expedition of adventure and discovery. There is no guarantee that we can access the eruption site, but we will try and visit one of the most interesting eruptions in years.
Estimated departure date: early January 2009
Contact John Seach for more details
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Dalaffilla Volcano, Ethiopia - John Seach

There is some debate over exactly which volcano erupted in Ethiopia this week. Satellite images show that a large lava flow originated from a region between Dalaffilla and Alu volcanoes in the Erta Ale Range. Alu and Dalaffilla are twin volcanoes separated by only 3 km. Alu volcano is ellipsoidal in shape, and built of old basaltic lavas. In contrast Dalaffilla is a steep cone built by eruptions of silicic lava. Some reports have assumed this week's large lava flow must have come from Alu volcano bacause it has produced basaltic lava flows before. However, satellite images have shown lava hotspots on the side of Dalaffilla volcano. Dalaffilla volcano as the source of the lava flows was confirmed by a researcher at Addis Ababa University. The summary is that an eruption of lava began at at Dalaffilla volcano in the Afar range of Ethiopia on Tuesday 4th November. The lava spread over a large area of at least 300 sq km, and this covered parts of Alu volcano. A sulphur dioxide plume drifted as far as Thailand more than 6000 km away.
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Chaiten Volcano, Chile - John Seach

A new dome is forming in the summit crater at Chaiten volcano, Chile. On overflight on 30th October 2008 showed the presence of a new dome in the north east of the crater, forming on the top of the May 2008 dome. The new dome has a sloping base with a diameter of about 300 m and a height of about 150 m. Currently, much of the seismic activity of the volcano is associated with dome growth and collapse.
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Volcanic Eruption in Ethiopia Confirmed - John Seach

An eruption in Ethiopia has been confirmed. Lava has covered a large area. Satellite images indicate 300 sq km are covered by lava! The location has been narrowed to two possible locations; Alu or Dalaffilla volcanoes, about 25 km from Erta Ale. Neither Alu or Dalaffilla has erupted recently.
Volcanoes of Ethiopia...

Volcanic Eruption in Ethiopia - John Seach

News reports have been received about an eruption in Ethiopia. The volcano has not been identified, but a location near Erta Ale was reported, 600 km from Addis Ababa. A large lava flow has occurred, followed by a measured earthquake. On Monday evening 3rd November 2008, eye witnesses saw lightning at the volcano. More information will be posted when available.
Volcanoes of Ethiopia...

Chaitén Volcano, Chile - John Seach

Renewed activity has occurred at Chaiten Volcano in Chile. Report from police in Chaiten town indicated that at 3pm on 29th October 2008 explosions were heard at the volcano, and were accompanied by an ash column 2 km above the crater. Seismometers continue to measure earthquakes at the volcano. Lava extrusion continues to build the dome in the summit crater. Dome building has increased since 20th September. Continued growth of the lava dome creates an explosion hazard, which can produce ash emissions, rockfalls, or pyroclastic flows.
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