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Archived Volcano News - John Seach
March 2011
Saturday 19th March 2011
Karangetang Volcano, Indonesia
Activity has increased at Karangetang volcano since 11th March 2011. On 18th March the volcano was placed on the highest level alert (Awas) as the volcano produced avalanches and pyroclastic flows. Karangetang is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia, with frequent eruptions events every year. The explosive eruptions are typically Vulkanian, Strombolian and produces a lava dome which is often accompanied by pyroclastic flows. Pyroclastic flows often reach a distance of 4 km from the crater which threatens nearby populated areas.
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Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Wednesday 16th March 2011
Mt Fuji Volcano, Japan
A large earthquake (mag 6.2) occurred under Mt Fuji Volcano, Japan on 15th March at 10:31 pm, local time. The epicentre was located 7 km SSW of the summit. The focus was shallow at 10 km. Mt Fuji last erupted in 1708 and is still considered an active volcano. A 2004 Japanese government simulation determined that in the worst-case scenario, a major eruption of Fuji would cause 2.5 trillion (yen) in economic damage.
More on Mt Fuji volcano...
Volcanoes of Japan...
Tuesday 15th March 2011
Kirishima Volcano, Japan
An eruption occurred at Kirishima volcano, Japan on 14th March 2011. The eruption is not necessarily related to the Great Earthquake. The volcano is over 1300 km from the earthquake epicentre. Shinmoe-dake crater erupted ash and volcanic bombs, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate. The volcano last erupted in January this year.
More on Kirishima volcano...
Volcanoes of Japan...
Sunday 13th March 2011
Great Japan Earthquake (Mag 9.0) and Tsunami
Aftershocks continue in northeast Japan after the bigest recorded earthquake in Japan's history (mag 9.0). There are fears a meltdown may be occurring at one of the reactors of an earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant in northeast Japan. Engineers based the conclusion on radioactive cesium and iodine measured in the air near the plant Saturday night. Japan's nuclear safety agency rated the accident at four on the international scale of zero to seven. The 1979 Three Mile Island accident in the United States was rated five, while the 1986 Chernobyl disaster was a seven. So far the earthquake and tsunami has caused 1000 fatalities. In the small port town of Minamisanriku alone, some 10,000 people are unaccounted for - more than half the population of the town.
Volcanoes of Japan...
Saturday 12th March 2011
Great Japan Earthquake 2011 and Volcanic Eruptions
The Great Japan Earthquake of 2011 (mag 9.0) and its aftershocks, are capable disrupting volcanoes large distances from the epicentre. Very large eruptions are possible after Great Earthquakes. It is possible for eruptions to occur anytime after the earthquake, and the high risk period will last for several months. Japan contains ten percent of the world's active volcanoes. The closest active volcano to the earthquake is Narugo, 150 km WNW of the epicentre. Volcanoes near to the earthquake epicentre include:
Kurikoma (153 km), Zao (170 km), Hijiori (195 km), Azuma (200 km), Adatara (200 km), Iwate (205 km), Akita-Komaga-take (210 km), Bandai (220 km), Chokai (220 km), Hachimantai (223 km), Akita-Yake-yama (228 km), and Nasu (250 km).
The aftershocks are migrating south and now are within 70 km of Tokyo and 200 km of Mt Fuji volcano. Mt Fuji last erupted in 1708.
Volcanoes of Japan...
Saturday 12th March 2011
Great Japan Earthquake (Mag 9.0) and Tsunami
Tsunamis from the great Japan earthquake have hit parts of the Pacific Ocean distant from the epicentre. Tsunami heights were 1.5 m in the Marquesas, 2.0 m Crescent City (California), 1.0 m Manus Island (Papua New Guinea), 1.4 m Hilo (Hawaii), 1.7 m Maui (Hawaii), 1.8 m Hokkaido (Japan), Vancouver Island (Canada), 1.3 m Midway Island, 0.65 m Saipan, and 0.7 m Vanuatu.
The Japan earthquake is the 5th largest recorded in the world. The top five earthquakes are: Chile mag 9.5 (1960), Prince William Sound, Alaska mag 9.2 (1964), Sumatra, Indonesia mag 9.1 (2004), and Kamchatka, Russia mag 9.0 (2004).
Volcanoes of Japan...
Friday 11th March 2011
Great Japan Earthquake and (Mag 9.0) Tsunami
A great earthquake (mag 9.0) hit Japan on Friday 11th March 2011, at 2:46 pm local time. The epicentre was located offshore 130 km E of Sendai, in Honshu. The earthquake had a shallow focus at 24 km. A 10 metre high tsunami has hit the eastern coast of Honshu. Major tsunami damage was reported at Sendai. Narita airport in tokyo was closed. A tsunami warning was placed over the Pacific including Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Hawaii, Central America, and South America. Earthquakes of this magnitude can disrupt nearby volcanoes. Large aftershocks with magnitudes up to 7 are occurring. Many fatalities have been reported. This is the largest historical earthquake to hit Japan. The earthquake was preceded by four earthquakes in the two days prior to the Great Earthquake.
The earthquake sequence was as follows:
Magnitude 7.0 Wednesday, March 09, 2011 at 11:45:20 AM.
Magnitude 6.1 Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 03:16:14 AM.
Magnitude 6.0 Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 04:44:35 AM
Magnitude 6.0 Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 06:22:18 AM
Magnitude 9.0 Friday, March 11, 2011 at 02:46:23 PM
Volcanoes of Japan...
Sunday 6th March 2011
Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
A new fissure eruption has begun at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii on 5th March. The floor of Pu'u O'o crater collapsed over a period of 10 minutes. The event was preceded by a rapid deflation of Pu'u O'o and increased tremor along Kīlauea's middle east rift zone near Makaopuhi and Napau craters. There was also deflation at the summit. New fissure opened between Pu'u O'o and Napau crater. The fissure ejected lava spatter 20 m high.
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Volcanoes of Hawaii...
Saturday 5th March 2011
Santa Maria Volcano, Guatemala
On 3rd March an explosion occurred from Caliente crater at Santa Maria volcano in Guatemala. Ash emissions reached 10,800 ft above sea level and produced ashfall in towns to the west and southwest of the volcano. The explosion generated a pyroclastic flow which moved 2.5 km down the southwest flank. Activity continued on 4th March with moderate explosions ejecting ash to a height of 11,000 ft above sea level, and ash fall on surrounding farms.
More on Santa Maria volcano...
Volcanoes of Guatemala...
Saturday 5th March 2011
Fuego Volcano, Guatemala
Eruptions continue at Fuego volcano, Guatemala. During the night incandescent explosions ejected lava 100 m above the crater and sent avalanches down surrounding valleys. Rumbling sounds were heard and audible degassing lasted up to six minutes at a time. Ash emissions reached a height of 800 m above the crater and drifted south and southwest.
More on Fuego volcano...
Volcanoes of Guatemala...
Saturday 5th March 2011
Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
Kilauea volcano in Hawaii continues to erupt. Along the east rift zone lava is erupting from Pu'u O'o crater covering the western crater floor. On the coastal plain near Kalapana, surface lava flows have reached within 1 km of highway 130. At the summit of Kilauea lava in the vent of Halemaumau reached a level of 70 m below the surface. Seismic tremor at the summit is sometimes accompanied by rockfall in the vent.
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Volcanoes of Hawaii...