Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is a cooperative project between the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program and the US Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program. Updated by 2300 UTC every Wednesday and averaging 16 reported volcanoes, this is not a comprehensive list of all eruptions this week, but rather a summary of activity that meet criteria discussed in the "Criteria and Disclaimers" section below.

Volcanic activity reported here is preliminary and subject to change. Carefully reviewed, detailed narratives over longer time periods are published as reports of the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network available through volcano profile pages.

Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for the week of 22 January-28 January 2014
Name	Country	Volcanic Province	Eruption Start Date	Report Status
Asosan	Japan	Nankai Volcanic Arc	—	New
Sinabung	Indonesia	Sunda Volcanic Arc	—	New
Aira	Japan	Ryukyu Volcanic Arc	2017 Mar 25	Continuing
Chirinkotan	Russia	Kuril Volcanic Arc	—	Continuing
Chirpoi	Russia	Kuril Volcanic Arc	—	Continuing
Dukono	Indonesia	Halmahera Volcanic Arc	1933 Aug 13	Continuing
Etna	Italy	Sicily Volcanic Province	2022 Nov 27	Continuing
Gorely	Russia	Kuril Volcanic Arc	—	Continuing
Karymsky	Russia	Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	2024 Jun 20	Continuing
Kilauea	United States	Hawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group	2024 Sep 15	Continuing
Nishinoshima	Japan	Ogasawara Volcanic Arc	—	Continuing
Reventador	Ecuador	Northern Andean Volcanic Arc	2008 Jul 27	Continuing
Santa Maria	Guatemala	Central America Volcanic Arc	1922 Jun 22	Continuing
Sheveluch	Russia	Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	1999 Aug 15	Continuing
Suwanosejima	Japan	Ryukyu Volcanic Arc	2004 Oct 23	Continuing
Whakaari/White Island	New Zealand	Taupo Volcanic Zone	2024 May 24	Continuing

All times are local unless otherwise stated.

Asosan (Japan) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report

Asosan
Nankai Volcanic Arc

JMA reported that seismicity at Asosan increased from 21 to 23 January, and then decreased on 24 January. On 23 January a volcanologist observed ash plumes rising from the central vent on the crater floor. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-5).

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

Sinabung (Indonesia) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report

Sinabung
Sunda Volcanic Arc

Badan Nacional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) reported that between 1200 and 1800 on 23 January pyroclastic flows traveled 1.5 km down Sinabung's S flank. The number of displaced people reached 28,715 (9,045 families) in 42 evacuation centers. Based on webcam views, satellite images, ground reports, and altitude and drift directions derived from wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 22-23 and 25-27 January ash plumes rose to an altitude 5.2 km (17,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 35-185 km N, NE, and E.

Sources: Badan Nacional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB), Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

Aira (Japan) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Aira
Ryukyu Volcanic Arc

JMA reported that during 20-24 January three explosions from Sakurajima's Showa Crater ejected tephra as far as 1,300 m. An explosion on 22 January generated a small pyroclastic flow that traveled 500 m SE, and tephrafall to the S. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5). The Tokyo VAAC reported that on 22 January a plume rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S. That same day pilots observed ash plumes that rose to altitudes of 3.7-4.9 km (12,000-16,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S and ESE. On 24 January a pilot observed an ash plume drifting NE at an altitude of 1.2 km (4,000 ft) a.s.l.

Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

Chirinkotan (Russia) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Chirinkotan
Kuril Volcanic Arc

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 21 January. Cloud cover obscured views during 22-27 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)

Chirpoi (Russia) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Chirpoi
Kuril Volcanic Arc

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Snow, a volcano of Chirpoi, was detected in satellite images during 21-23 January. Cloud cover obscured views during 24-27 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)

Dukono (Indonesia) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Dukono
Halmahera Volcanic Arc

Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 20-23 January ash plumes from Dukono rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 75-157 km NE. On 28 January ash plumes rose to an altitude of 4.3 km (14,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted almost 140 km E.

Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

Etna (Italy) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Etna
Sicily Volcanic Province

INGV reported that during 4-13 January nearly continuous emissions of reddish ash from Etna's Northeast Crater were visible. Strong degassing continued at least through 22 January. Strombolian activity at New Southeast Crater (NSEC) began on the evening of 21 January, following 20 days of quiet. Some explosions generated very small ash emissions that barely rose above the crater rim. Late on 22 January a small lava flow from the vent on the high E flank of the NSEC cone traveled a few hundred meters in a few hours. Strombolian explosions ejected incandescent pyroclastic material onto the cone flanks. The frequency and intensity of the explosions decreased early on 23 January, and the lava flow stopped advancing. At 0105 a small puff of gas and/or ash from the E base of the cone heralded a new lava flow that traveled W towards the Valle del Bove. Weak Strombolian activity and the advancing lava flow continued during 24-28 January, although on 25 January the amount of ash produced by the Strombolian activity increased. On 26 January an ash plume drifted E. By evening the intensity of the Strombolian activity as well as the amount of ash in the emissions decreased. The lava flow was 4 km long.

Source: Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV)

Gorely (Russia) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Gorely
Kuril Volcanic Arc

KVERT reported that activity at Gorely decreased significantly in December 2013; volcanic tremor ceased being detected on 12 December, and the temperature of the thermal anomaly decreased during 12-15 December. No thermal anomaly was detected in January 2014, but weak seismicity continued along with gas-and-steam emissions. On 23 January the Aviation Color Code was lowered to Green (on a four-color scale).

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)

Karymsky (Russia) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Karymsky
Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc

KVERT reported that Vulcanian and Strombolian activity at Karymsky continued during 17-24 January. Satellite images detected a bright thermal anomaly on the volcano daily, and ash plumes that drifted 110 km E. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)

Kilauea (United States) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Kilauea
Hawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group

During 22-28 January 2014 HVO reported that the circulating lava lake occasionally rose and fell in the deep pit within Kilauea's Halema'uma'u Crater. The plume from the vent continued to deposit variable amounts of ash, spatter, and Pele's hair onto nearby areas. At Pu'u 'O'o Crater, glow emanated from spatter cones on the N and S portions of the crater floor. The 7.8-km-long Kahauale’a 2 lava flow (based on mapping from 24 January), fed by the NE spatter cone, was active with scattered break-out flows and burned the forest N of Pu'u 'O'o. On 23 January a small lava flow also oozed out of the SE spatter cone. During 23-26 January lava rose in the westernmost spatter cone and flowed down the N flank.

Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)

Nishinoshima (Japan) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Nishinoshima
Ogasawara Volcanic Arc

A photo and video posted by the Japan Coast Guard showed that on 20 January the Niijima portion of Nishino-shima was larger than the original island; the two islands had merged on 24 December 2013. White and brown plumes rose from Niijima and the water to the SW was discolored.

Source: Japan Coast Guard

Reventador (Ecuador) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Reventador
Northern Andean Volcanic Arc

Based on information from IG, the Washington VAAC reported that on 22 January an ash plume from Reventador rose to an altitude of km (12,000 ft) a.s.l. Ash was not identified in satellite images. IG noted that an explosions lasting several minutes was recorded.

Sources: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

Santa Maria (Guatemala) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Santa Maria
Central America Volcanic Arc

In a special report on 23 January, INSIVUMEH noted that a lava flow on the SE flank of Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex became active; collapses from the lava-flow front generated avalanches and small pyroclastic flows that reached the base of the volcano. The report also noted that in recent months activity at Santa María was high, with explosions sometimes ranging from 40 to 45 explosions per day, generating ash plumes that rose 3-3.4 km. A change in wind direction on 23 January pushed the ash plume E and NE, causing ashfall in areas 10 km away. On 24 January explosions produced ash plumes that rose 500-700 m above the complex. A lava flow on the NE flank generated avalanches. Explosions during 27-28 January produced ash plumes that rose 600-800 m and drifted E, NE, and SW, causing ashfall in Santa María de Jesús (SE) and the El Rosario Palajunoj finca.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)

Sheveluch (Russia) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Sheveluch
Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc

KVERT reported that during 17-24 January a newer lava dome continued to extrude onto the NW part of Shiveluch's older lava dome. Lava-dome extrusion was accompanied by hot avalanches, incandescence, and fumarolic activity. Moderate ash explosions generated ash plumes that rose to altitudes of 4-5 km (13,100-16,400) a.s.l. A thermal anomaly was detected daily in satellite images, and ash plumes rose to altitudes of 7-8 km (23,000-26,200 ft) a.s.l. during 20-21 January and drifted 300 km WNW during 20-22 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)

Suwanosejima (Japan) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Suwanosejima
Ryukyu Volcanic Arc

Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that explosions from Suwanosejima on 24 January generated a plume that rose to an altitude 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l.

Source: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

Whakaari/White Island (New Zealand) | 22 January-28 January 2014 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report

Whakaari/White Island
Taupo Volcanic Zone

On 22 January, the GeoNet Data Centre reported that the Volcanic Alert Level for White Island remained at 1 and the Aviation Colour Code remained Green. Since a moderate eruption on 11 October 2013, seismicity had remained at low levels while gas flux was elevated. Sulfur dioxide flux ranged from 133 to 924 tonnes per day, higher than levels before 2012 when daily averages were less than 300 tonnes. The level of the water in Crater Lake continued to rise, and was about 5 m deeper than in late 2013. Temperature measurements with a recently acquired thermal Infrared camera confirm that hot gases were rising from vents on the lava dome; temperatures at the vents were 200-330 degrees Celsius, and over 400 degrees at one vent.

Source: GeoNet

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Criteria & Disclaimers

Criteria

The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report does not necessarily include all volcanic activity that occurred on Earth during the week. More than a dozen volcanoes globally have displayed more-or-less continuous eruptive activity for decades or longer, and such routine activity is typically not reported here. Moreover, Earth's sea-floor volcanism is seldom reported even though in theory it represents the single most prolific source of erupted material. The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report summarizes volcanic activity that meets one or more of the following criteria:

- A volcano observatory raises or lowers the alert level at the volcano.
- A volcanic ash advisory has been released by a volcanic ash advisory center (VAAC) stating that an ash cloud has been produced from the volcano.
- A verifiable news report of new activity or a change in activity at the volcano has been issued.
- Observers have reported a significant change in volcanic activity. Such activity can include, but is not restricted to, pyroclastic flows, lahars, lava flows, dome collapse, or increased unrest.

Volcanoes are included in the "New Activity/Unrest" section of the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report if the activity occurs after at least 3 months of quiescence. Once a volcano is included in the "New Activity/Unrest" section, updates will remain in that section unless the activity continues for more than 1 month without escalating, after which time updates will be listed in the "Continuing Activity" section. Volcanoes are also included in the "New Activity/Unrest" section if the volcano is undergoing a period of relatively high unrest, or increasing unrest. This is commonly equal to Alert Level Orange on a scale of Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, where Red is the highest alert. Or alert level 3 on a scale of 1-4 or 1-5.

It is important to note that volcanic activity meeting one or more of these criteria may occur during the week, but may not be included in the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report because we did not receive a report.

Disclaimers

1. The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is intended to provide timely information about global volcanism on a weekly basis. Consequently, the report is generated rapidly by summarizing volcanic reports from various sources, with little time for fact checking. The accuracy of the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is dependent upon the quality of the volcanic activity reports we receive. Reports published in the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network are cover longer time periods and are more carefully reviewed, although all of the volcanoes discussed in the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report are not necessarily reported in the Bulletin. Because of our emphasis on rapid reporting on the web we have avoided diacritical marks. Reports are updated on the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report web page as they are received, therefore information may be included regarding events that occurred before the current report period.

2. Rapidly developing events lead to coverage that is often fragmentary. Volcanoes, their eruptions, and their plumes and associated atmospheric effects are complex phenomena that may require months to years of data analysis in order to create a comprehensive summary and interpretation of events.

3. Preliminary accounts sometimes contain exaggerations and "false alarms," and accordingly, this report may include some events ultimately found to be erroneous or misleading.

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