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Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

Weekly Volcanic Activity Map

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 18 October-24 October 2017
Name Country Volcanic Province Eruption Start Date Report Status
Agung Indonesia Sunda Volcanic Arc New
Ambae Vanuatu Vanuatu Volcanic Arc New
Kirishimayama Japan Ryukyu Volcanic Arc New
Tinakula Solomon Islands Vanuatu Volcanic Arc 2018 Dec 8 (in or before) New
Aira Japan Ryukyu Volcanic Arc 2017 Mar 25 Continuing
Cleveland United States Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc Continuing
Dukono Indonesia Halmahera Volcanic Arc 1933 Aug 13 Continuing
Ebeko Russia Kuril Volcanic Arc 2022 Jun 11 Continuing
Karymsky Russia Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc 2024 Jun 20 Continuing
Kilauea United States Hawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group 2024 Sep 15 Continuing
Langila Papua New Guinea Bismarck Volcanic Arc 2015 Oct 22 (?) Continuing
Sabancaya Peru Central Andean Volcanic Arc 2016 Nov 6 Continuing
Sheveluch Russia Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc 1999 Aug 15 Continuing
Sinabung Indonesia Sunda Volcanic Arc Continuing
Turrialba Costa Rica Central America Volcanic Arc Continuing
All times are local unless otherwise stated.
Weekly Reports Archive

Since the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report began in November 2000, there have been 20,627 individual reports over 1,243 weeks (average of 17 per week) on 338 different volcanoes.

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Adams Cotopaxi Iliwerung Llaima Popocatepetl Sumisujima
Agung Cuicocha Inielika Lokon-Empung Purace Sundoro
Ahyi Cumbal Ioto Lonquimay Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Suoh
Aira Dabbahu Irazu Lopevi Rabaul Suretamatai
Akan Davidof Iwatesan Machin Raikoke Suwanosejima
Alaid Dempo Iya Makushin Ranakah Taal
Alu-Dalafilla Descabezado Grande Izu-Torishima Maly Semyachik Raoul Island Tair, Jebel at
Ambae Dieng Volcanic Complex Jackson Segment Manam Rasshua Takawangha
Ambang Dukono Kaba Manda Hararo Raung Talang
Ambrym East Epi Kadovar Marapi Redoubt Tambora
Anatahan Ebeko Kaitoku Seamount Maroa Reventador Tanaga
Aniakchak Ebulobo Kama'ehuakanaloa Martin Reykjanes Tandikat-Singgalang
Antillanca Volcanic Complex Edgecumbe Kambalny Masaya Rincon de la Vieja Tangkoko-Duasudara
Antuco Egon Kanaga Matthew Island Rinjani Tangkuban Parahu
Apoyeque Ekarma Kanlaon Maule, Laguna del Ritter Island Tara, Batu
Arenal Eldey Karangetang Mauna Loa Rotorua Ta'u
Asamayama Erebus Karkar Mayon Ruang Taupo
Askja Erta Ale Karthala McDonald Islands Ruapehu Telica
Asosan Etna Karymsky Melebingoy Ruby Tenerife
Atka Volcanic Complex Etorofu-Yakeyama [Grozny Group] Kasatochi Melimoyu Ruiz, Nevado del Tengger Caldera
Augustine Eyjafjallajokull Katla Merapi Sabancaya Three Sisters
Avachinsky Fagradalsfjall Katmai Midagahara Sakar Tinakula
Awu Fernandina Kavachi Misti, El Salak Tofua
Axial Seamount Fogo Kelimutu Miyakejima San Cristobal Tokachidake
Azul, Cerro Fonualei Kelud Momotombo San Miguel Tolbachik
Azumayama Fournaise, Piton de la Kerinci Monowai San Vicente Toliman
Bagana Fourpeaked Ketoi Montagu Island Sangay Tongariro
Balbi Fuego Kharimkotan Moyorodake [Medvezhia] Sangeang Api Trident
Bamus Fujisan Kick 'em Jenny Mutnovsky Santa Ana Tungurahua
Banda Api Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba Kie Besi Myojinsho Santa Maria Turrialba
Bardarbunga Galeras Kikai Nabro Sao Jorge Ubinas
Barren Island Galunggung Kilauea Negra, Sierra Sarigan Ugashik-Peulik
Batur Gamalama Kirishimayama Negro, Cerro Sarychev Peak Ukinrek Maars
Bezymianny Gamkonora Kita-Ioto Nightingale Island Saunders Ulawun
Bogoslof Gareloi Kizimen Nishinoshima Savo Unnamed
Brava Gaua Klyuchevskoy Nisyros Semeru Unnamed
Bristol Island Gorely Kolokol Group Novarupta Semisopochnoi Veniaminof
Bulusan Great Sitkin Koryaksky NW Rota-1 Seulawah Agam Villarrica
Calbuco Grimsvotn Krakatau Nyamulagira Sheveluch Vulcano
Callaqui Guagua Pichincha Krummel-Garbuna-Welcker Nyiragongo Shishaldin West Mata
Cameroon Guallatiri Krysuvik-Trolladyngja Ofu-Olosega Simbo Westdahl
Campi Flegrei Guntur Kuchinoerabujima Okataina Sinabung Whakaari/White Island
Campi Flegrei del Mar di Sicilia Hachijojima Kurikomayama Okmok Sinarka Witori
Cayambe Hakoneyama Kusatsu-Shiranesan Ontakesan Siple Wolf
Chachadake [Tiatia] Heard Kverkfjoll Oraefajokull Sirung Wrangell
Chaiten Hekla La Palma Osorno Slamet Yakedake
Chiginagak Helgrindur Lamington Pacaya Snaefellsjokull Yasur
Chikurachki Hierro Lamongan Pagan Soputan Yellowstone
Chiles-Cerro Negro Hokkaido-Komagatake Langila Palena Volcanic Group Sorikmarapi Yufu-Tsurumi
Chillan, Nevados de Home Reef Lanin Paluweh Sotara Zaozan [Zaosan]
Chirinkotan Hood Lascar Panarea Soufriere Hills Zavodovski
Chirpoi Huaynaputina Late Papandayan Soufriere St. Vincent Zhupanovsky
Ciremai Hudson, Cerro Lateiki Pavlof South Sarigan Seamount Zubair Group
Cleveland Huila, Nevado del Lengai, Ol Doinyo Pelee Spurr
Colima Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Leroboleng Peuet Sague St. Helens
Colo Ibu Lewotobi Pinatubo Stromboli
Concepcion Ijen Lewotolok Planchon-Peteroa Sulu Range
Copahue Iliamna Little Sitkin Poas Sumbing
 News Feeds and Google Placemarks


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The RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed is identical to the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report minus some features including the header information (latitude and longitude and summit elevation), the Geologic Summary, and a link to the volcano's page from the Global Volcanism Program. At the end of each report is a list of the sources used. Each volcano report includes a link from the volcano's name back to the more complete information in the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report on the Smithsonian website. This feature was first made available on 5 March 2008.



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A Google Earth network link for the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report can be loaded into the free Google Earth software, and in turn will load placemarks for volcanoes in the current weekly report. Placemark balloons include the volcano name, report date, report text, sources, and links back to the GVP volcano profile page and to the complete Weekly Report for that week. This feature was first made available on 1 April 2009.

 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.

4. Many news agencies do not archive the articles they post on the Internet, and therefore the links to some sources may not be active. To obtain information about the cited articles that are no longer available on the Internet contact the source.

5. USGS Disclaimer Statement for this Website:

Information presented on this website is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credit is requested. We strongly recommend that USGS data be acquired directly from a USGS server and not through other sources that may change the data in some way. While USGS makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information, various data such as names, telephone numbers, etc. may change prior to updating. USGS welcomes suggestions on how to improve our home page and correct errors. USGS provides no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of furnished data.

Some of the documents on this server may contain live references (or pointers) to information created and maintained by other organizations. Please note that USGS does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials.

For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this government computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this website are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act. Information may also be used for authorized law enforcement investigations. (Last modified September 21, 1999.)

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA
URL: https://volcano.si.edu/reports_weekly.cfm

 Acronyms and Abbreviations

a.s.l. - above sea level

AVO - Alaska Volcano Observatory

AVHRR - Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer

CENAPRED - Centro Nacionale de Prevencion de Desastres (México)

CONRED - Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres

COSPEC - Correlation Spectrometer

CVGHM (formerly VSI) - Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation

CVO - Cascades Volcano Observatory (USGS)

GMS - Geostationary Meteorological Satellite

GOES - Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite

GVO - Goma Volcano Observatory

GVP - Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution)

HVO - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS)

ICE - Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (Costa Rica)

IG - Instituto Geofísico (Ecuador)

IGNS - Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (New Zealand) - now GNS Science

INETER - Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales (Nicaragua)

INGEMMET - Instituto Geológical Minero y Metalúrgico (Peru)

INGEOMINAS - Instituto Colombiano de Geología y Minería (Colombia)

INGV-CT - Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - Sezione di Catania (Italy)

INSIVUMEH - Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia e Hidrologia (Guatemala)

IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (France)

JMA - Japanese Meteorological Agency

KEMSD - Kamchatkan Experimental and Methodical Seismilogical Department

KVERT - Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team

M - magnitude

METEOSAT - Meteorological Satellite

MEVO - Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory

MODIS - Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

MVO - Montserrat Volcano Observatory

MWO - Meteorological Watch Office

NEIC - National Earthquake Information Center

NIED - National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (Japan)

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOTAM - Notice to Airmen

OVDAS - Observatorio Volcanologico de los Andes del Sur (Chile)

OFDA - Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance

ONEMI - Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Ministerio del Interior (Chile)

OVPDLF - Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise (France)

OVSICORI-UNA - Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica)

PHIVOLCS - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philippines)

RSAM - Real-time Seismic Amplitude Measurement

RVO - Rabaul Volcano Observatory

SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria (Chile)

SIGMET - Significant Meteorological Information

SNET - Servicio Nacional de Estudios Territoriales (El Salvador)

SVERT - Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (Russia)

USAID - US Agency for International Development

USGS - United States Geological Survey

UTC - Coordinated Universal Time

VAAC - Volcanic Ash Advisory Center

VAFTAD - Volcanic Ash Forecast Transport And Dispersion

VDAP - Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (USGS)

VHP - Volcano Hazards Program (USGS)

VRC - Volcano Research Center (Japan)

Report for Agung
PVMBG reported that although foggy conditions at Agung occasionally prevented visual observations, during 18-24 October dense white plumes were seen rising as high as 500 m above the crater rim. Seismicity fluctuated but remained high, though BNPB reported that overall seismicity had decreased. According to BNPB a team launched a drone on 19 October and were able to capture video of the fumarolic emissions from several vents and cracks in the crater. The Alert Level remained at 4 (the highest level on a scale of 1-4) with the exclusion zone at 9 km, and an additional expansion to 12 km in the SE, S, and SW directions.
Sources: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM), Badan Nacional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB)
Report for Ambae
According to a news article posted on 20 October, residents that had evacuated from Aoba after the eruption from a vent in Lake Voui were returning home. Based on analyses of satellite imagery and model data, the Wellington VAAC reported that during 22-23 October intermittent events generated low-level ash plumes that rose 2.4-3.7 km (8,000-12,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E.
Sources: Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), ABC News - Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Report for Kirishimayama
JMA reported that the eruption at Shinmoe-dake (Shinmoe peak), a stratovolcano of the Kirishimayama volcano group, began on 11 October and lasted almost continuously until the morning of 17 October. The eruption plume usually rose several hundred meters about the crater rim, though on 14 October the plume rose as high as 2.3 km. Sulfur dioxide flux exceeding 10,000 tons/day was also recorded. Cloudy weather conditions prevented webcam views during 19-20 October. Plumes rose 200-600 m on 21, 23, and 24 October. During an overflight on 24 October scientists observed a white plume rising from the active vent on the E side of the crater, and puddles in multiple low areas of the crater. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5).
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Report for Tinakula
Based on satellite data, the Wellington VAAC reported that an eruption at Tinakula began around 0620 on 21 October, producing a sulfur dioxide signature, and an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 4.6 km (15,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N. Another eruption at 1040 generated an ash plume that rose significantly higher that the first, to an altitude of 10.7 (35,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE. Later that day ash plumes rose to 6.1 km (20,000 ft) a.s.l. Ash emissions continued through at least 24 October, rising to altitudes of 3-3.7 (10,000-12,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifting E and W on 22 October, 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifting S and SE on 23 October, and 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. with a SW drift on 24 October. A news article from 24 October stated that water supplies in the Reef Islands had been contaminated with ashfall, and that ashfall was also reported in Fenualoa, and likely in Nupani.
Sources: Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Radio New Zealand
Report for Aira
JMA reported that a very small event at Showa Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) was detected on 17 October. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Report for Cleveland
AVO reported that the lava dome in Cleveland's summit crater continued to grow, and by 15 October it covered an area of about 9,500 square meters with dimensions of 125 x 100 m. No significant change in the size of the dome was identified in satellite data from 15 to 19 October. During 16 and 21-23 October satellite data showed moderately elevated surface temperatures and a small steam plume was visible in web camera images. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.
Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)
Report for Dukono
Based on analyses of satellite imagery, wind model data, and notices from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 19-20 and 22-23 October ash plumes from Dukono rose to altitudes of 1.5-2.1 km (5,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NNE, NE, and E.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Report for Ebeko
Based on observations by volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, explosions during 13-20 October generated ash plumes that rose as high as 2.5 km (8,200 ft) a.s.l. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale).
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Report for Karymsky
On 19 October KVERT reported that gas-and-steam activity at Karymsky continued, and that quiet or cloudy conditions had been observed in satellite data since 3 October. The Aviation Color Code was lowered to Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-color scale).
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Report for Kilauea
During 18-24 October HVO reported that the lava lake continued to rise, fall, and spatter in Kilauea’s Overlook crater. Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu'u 'O'o Crater and from a small lava pond in a pit on the W side of the crater. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna. Surface lava flows were active above the pali and on the coastal plain.
Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Report for Langila
Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 17-18 and 20 October ash plumes from Langila rose 1.5-1.8 km (5,000-6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S, W, and NW.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Report for Sabancaya
Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that explosive activity at Sabancaya slightly increased compared to the previous week; there was an average of 47 explosions recorded per day during 16-22 October. Seismicity was dominated by long-period events, with an increase in signals indicating emissions and a low number of hybrid events. Gas-and-ash plumes rose 3.8 km above the crater rim and drifted 60 km NE, E, and SE. The MIROVA system detected four thermal anomalies. The report warned the public not to approach the crater within a 12-km radius.
Sources: Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico (INGEMMET), Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP)
Report for Sheveluch
KVERT reported that a plume comprised of re-suspended ash drifted about 230 km SE from the vicinity of the Sheveluch on 13 October. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images during 15-19 October. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Report for Sinabung
Based on observations by PVMBG, webcam and satellite images, and model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 17-18 and 21-23 October ash plumes from Sinabung rose 2.4-4.6 km (8,000-15,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions.
Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Report for Turrialba
OVSICORI-UNA reported that an event at Turrialba at 0825 on 20 October generated an ash plume that rose 300 m above the crater rim and drifted NW.
Source: Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica-Universidad Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA)