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Archived Volcano News - John Seach
October 2004
News reports posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT + 10 hr)
Reports written by John Seach
Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Tuesday 12th October 2004
A new steam eruption occurred at Mt St Helens volcano on Sunday 10th October. The steam emission followed an increase in earthquake activity over the previous two days, with earthquakes of magnitude 2.4 occurring every two minutes. Since Sunday earthquakes became more frequent but weakened to magnitude 1 or less. The earthquakes are very uniform in size, which may indicate that magma is rising constantly towards the surface. Magma remains at a shallow level under the dome, and explosions could occur without warning. The volcano remains at Alert Level 2.
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Colima Volcano (Mexico)
19.514 N,103.62 W, summit elevation 3850 m, Stratovolcano
Tuesday 12th October 2004
Colima volcano is putting on a spectacular eruption. The volcano emitted hot ash and lava early Sunday morning. The eruption followed several days of increasing seismic activity and smaller eruptions. During last the 24 hours approximately 150 landslides have been recorded at the volcano, with runout distances of 2km. Pyroclastic flows have reached 5km down the western flank, and 1.5 km on the north. The lava flow on the North flank is 900 m of long and 150 m wide. During the last 24 hours, 63 explosions have been recorded, and strong degassing. Lahars may be produced after heavy rain. A 6.5 km exclusion zone remains in place around the volcano.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Monday 11th October 2004
Earthquakes continue at Mt St Helens volcano at a rate of 1 per minute, as of 10th October. There is an intensely deforming and uplifting area on the south side of the lava dome. The deforming area has increased in area by about 10 percent since 7 October. Intermittent ash emissions are occurring from the volcano. Magma remains at a shallow level under the dome, and explosions could occur without warning. The volcano remains at Alert Level 2.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Friday 8th October 2004
Part of the lava dome in Mt. St. Helens' crater has risen 50 to 100 feet since Tuesday while earthquake activity remained lower than previous days. This indicates magma is moving upward without much resistance. The south side of the lava dome has been rising for the past week and has uplifted 250 ft. A new steam vent opened overnight of 6th -7th October, and joined the two that have been present for several days. Steaming from the vents generated a cloud rising above the south side of the lava dome. The volcano remains at alert level 2.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Thursday 7th October 2004
Seismic activity has risen slightly at Mt St Helens volcano, with one earthquake occurring every minute. The lava dome continues to uplift. Small lahars spilled out of the crater and onto the Pumice Plain during a rain storm on evening of 5th October. Volcanic unrest over the past 10 days indicates that magma is at a shallow level. There may continue to be fluctuations in the activity of the volcano. Escalation in the degree of unrest and possible eruption could occur without warning. There may be little time to raise the alert level before a hazardous event occurs. The volcano remains at alert level 2.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Thursday 7th October 2004
The alert level has been reduced to 2, after a decrease in earthquake activity at Mt St Helens volcano. Following October 5 steam-and-ash eruption, seismicity dropped to a low level and has remained low. Low-level tremor observed following the eruption is also gradually declining. Lack of earthquake and rockfall signals suggest that deformation of the uplift area on the south side of the 1980-86 lava dome has slowed. The vigorous unrest of the past few days has lessened and that the probability of an imminent eruption that would endanger life and property is significantly less than at any time since Saturday, October 2. Episodic changes in level of unrest over periods of days to weeks, or even months, are possible. This does not mean the current episode of unrest is over, and fluctuations in the level of unrest may continue during coming days and months. There may be little time to raise the Alert Level before a hazardous event occurs.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Wednesday 6th October 2004
A strong steam and ash emission occurred at 9:00 a.m. PDT on October 5. The emissions continued for 1 hour. Steam and ash clouds reached about 12,000 feet and drifted north-northeastward. Reports indicate that small amounts of ash fell in Morton, Randle, and Packwood, Washington, towns about 30 miles from the volcano. Nearby traffic on U.S. highway 12 stirred up the ash, slightly reducing visibility. Magma is at a very shallow level and could soon be extruded from a vent in the deforming area of the crater. Additional steam and ash emissions are likely and could occur at any time without warning. There is an increased probability of larger-magnitude and more ash-rich eruptions in coming days. A section of the crater floor about the size of a hundred football fields has lifted up by an estimated 150 feet. With three explosions of steam and ash in less than a week, Mount St. Helens appears to have entered a restless new stage that could last weeks, months or possibly years. Federal Aviation Administration expanded a no-fly zone that had been limited to the area directly above the volcano. It now includes the area within a five-mile radius of the mountain.
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Mt Bromo Volcano (Indonesia)
7.94 S, 112.95 E, summit elevation 2329 m, stratovolcanoes
Wednesday 6th October 2004
Two climbers were found dead on Monday night at Mount Bromo volcano in Indonesia. A group of three people were climbing the volcano on Saturday when they fell into a 100-meter-deep ravine. One climber's life was saved when his clothes caught on a tree. They had approached it via Pananjakan Slope and were intending on celebrating Kasada, an annual ritual for native Tengger people, on the mountain. The three were among thousands of people who were climbing to the crater of Mount Bromo to observe the Kasada ceremony. A few months ago, when Mount Bromo erupted killing two people a warning had been issued urging people not to climb Mount Bromo.
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Rinjani Volcano (Indonesia)
8.42 S, 116.47 E, summit elevation 3726 m, stratovolcano
Wednesday 6th October 2004
Hikers have been banned from climbing Mount Rinjani after the volcano after renewed volcanic activity. The volcano, a popular destination for mountain climbers from all over the world, began rumbling last week. Despite the warning for the hikers, it was not necessary to evacuate villagers living near the volcano.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Tuesday 5th October 2004
A 40-minute long steam and ash emission starting at 9:43 PDT occurred at Mt St Helens volcano on Monday 4th October. Steam clouds carrying minor ash billowed out of the crater to an altitude of 10,000 to 12,000 feet. The event did not generate earthquakes or an explosion signal. The emission was caused by hot rock which was pushed up into the glacier, melted ice, and generated the steam. Part of the vent is now covered by a boiling lake. Visual observations of the crater show that there is uplift of the glacier and a nearby segment of the south flank of the lava dome. The southern portion of a 925-foot lava dome in the crater is now radically deformed by the upward pressure of the rising magma. The deformed area is roughly a quarter-mile long and has been lifted in recent days. In some areas, the uplift ranges from 50 to more than 100 feet. Additional steam and ash emissions are likely to occur at any time without warning. Conditions suggest that there is also an increased probability of larger-magnitude and more ash-rich eruptions in coming days. Officials in counties immediately around the volcano are stepping up preparations for the possibility of ashfall. The volcano remains at level 3 alert.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Tuesday 5th October 2004
There was a small steam and ash emission from Mt St Helens volcano around 9:40 AM PDT Oct. 4. The 10 minute emission was not accompanied by significant earthquake activity. Pressure is still building in the volcano, and the maximum alert level 3 remains.The activity at Mt St Helens volcano could go on for weeks. Cracks keep opening up on the lava dome indicating that magma is pushing up from below. A gas sampling flight over the volcano yesterday detected carbon dioxide and low levels of hydrogen sulfide. There is concern that additional steam-and-ash eruptions could occur at any time. The principal hazard from these types of events is for ash reaching altitudes that could affect aviation. If the current unrest continues there is also an increased probability of larger magnitude and more ash-rich eruptions.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Monday 4th October 2004
During an overflight of the crater, scientists smelt hydrogen sulphide gas at Mt St Helens volcano. At 3am PDT there was a burst of volcanic tremor lasting 25 minutes. Earthquakes are occurring at a rate of 1-2 per minute. The growing consensus among scientists is that new magma is probably entering the volcano's upper levels, bringing with it volatile gases that could lead to more eruptions. Alert level 3 remains, which indicates the next eruption could threaten life or property, and may occur within 24 hours. On Saturday 4500 people from the Johnston Ridge Observatory area were evacuated to a safer area. Several people, including rangers, were walking the trails leading out of the observatory when the evacuation order came at 1 p.m. A helicopter plucked several far-flung rangers and hikers from the trails leading out from Johnston Ridge. An hour later, even employees evacuated the observatory. For the rest of the afternoon people watched the volcano from the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center, two miles farther away. Officials estimated 5,000 people crowded into the nine-year-old visitor center at Coldwater Ridge. Members of the news media, visible by a fleet of television satellite trucks, were allowed to remain closer, at the Castle Lake viewpoint, for a clear view of the crater. Normally only about 700 people a day visit the centre, but the re-awakening of Mt St Helens volcano has seen a large increase in tourists to the area. Scientists are measuring the likelihood of an eruption through thermal imaging, precise measurements of rock movement and gas analysis. The US Federal Aviation Administration warned aircraft to avoid the area around the volcano.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Sunday 3rd October 2004
At 2pm (PDT) on Saturday 2nd October the alert level at Mt St Helens volcano was raised to 3. This indicates that the next eruption could threaten life or property, and may occur within 24 hours. The cause and outcome of the accelerating unrest is uncertain. Explosions from the vent could occur suddenly and without further warning. During such explosions the dome and crater floor are at greatest risk from ballistic projectiles, but the rim of the crater and flanks of the volcano could also be at risk. Explosions would also be expected to produce ash clouds that rise several to tens of thousands of feet above the crater rim and drift downwind. If ash emissions are large, drifting ash could affect downwind communities. Minor melting of the glacier could trigger debris flows from the crater that are large enough to reach the Pumice Plain. The level of concern was raised after there was a second small eruption of the volcano, followed by 50 minutes of harmonic tremor, which indicated possible ascent of magma towards the surface. The second eruption occurred at 12:03pm PDT Saturday. The activity continued for about 24 minutes, creating a steam and dust plume that reached about 10,000 feet elevation and drifted SSW toward Portland. Steam vented from a location at the southern edge of the dome where the dome edge is covered by glacial ice and debris from the southern crater wall. There was a dust-raising landslide in the crater. This was a steam explosion only, without magma being directly involved. There is a large hole in the glacial ice at the edge of the dome, with a layer of gray ash and ejected blocks extending from it over the ice only toward the SW. There have been no reported mudflows, but a possibility of slightly increased flow of water out of the crater. Earthquakes are occurring at a rate of 1-2 per minute with maximum earthquake magnitues of about M3. All earthquake locations remain shallow. The seismic activity has weakened the 1,000ft lava dome that began forming in the volcano’s crater after the 1980 eruption. The growing consensus among scientists is that new magma is probably entering the volcano’s upper levels, possibly bringing with it volatile gases that could lead to eruptions. Hundreds of visitors at the building closest to the volcano – Johnston Ridge Observatory five miles away – were asked to leave yesterday. Evacuation of the observatory was primarily a precaution in case of heavy ash discharge, which could make it difficult to drive. The closest community to Mt St Helens is Toutle, 30 miles west.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Sunday 3rd October 2004
Seismic activity has renewed at Mt St Helens volcano one day after small explosions occurred at the summit crater. Several earthquakes per minute are being measured at the volcano. This indicates the volcano is repressurizing and has sealed itself off after Friday's eruption. More steam explosions are likely until enough debris is cleared, and then there is a significant chance that lava could be extruded at the surface. Tracking ground movement on the volcano is now more difficult because the dome's seismic and deformation stations were destroyed in Friday's explosions. Friday's plume of steam and ash reached 16,000 feet and pilots were warned to avoid it.
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Colima Volcano (Mexico)
19.514 N,103.62 W, summit elevation 3850 m, Stratovolcano
Sunday 3rd October 2004
Colima volcano erupted on Friday. A wide stream of lava had been clearly visible at night flowing down the volcano. A column of ash was ejected several miles into the air. Explosions have continued since activity started with small blasts on Wednesday. The activity has been caused by pressure building under a dome that covers Colima's crater. Smoke and gas are now emitting from a crack in the dome. It is hoped the lava flows continue, relieving pressure inside the volcano.
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Mt Spurr Volcano (Alaska)
61.30 N, 152.25 W, summit elevation 3374 m, stratovolcano
Sunday 3rd October 2004
Elevated levels of seismicity continue to be recorded at Mt. Spurr volcano in Alaska. This week, about 90 earthquakes were located within 30 km of the summit, with an average of approximately 13 events per day.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Saturday 2nd October 2004
The eruption of Mt St Helens volcano occurred around 12 midday on Friday 1st October. The 25 minute eruption occurred from a vent south of the lava dome, in a glacier which had become increasingly cracked and uplifted over the past few days. A steam and ash plume was ejected to an altitude of 10,000 ft, and drifted southwest. Minor ashfall occurred near the volcano. Earthquake activity dropped immediately after the eruption, but is now increasing, with 1-3 events occurring per minute. This indicates that the volcano is repressurizing, and another explosion could occur at any time. The explosion destroyed both the seismometer and GPS instrument on the lava dome.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Saturday 2nd October 2004
Mount St. Helens volcano began blowing a large cloud of smoke and steam on Friday. The event was described as a small explosion. It could be the first of larger events, or it could be the end of a recent pattern of activity. Seismicity immediately dropped after the explosion. The steam cloud poured from the southern edge of a 300 metre tall lava dome in the volcano's crater that has risen in recent days. A seismograph station in the crater was broken or destroyed in the eruption. Following the initial eruption, the volcano appeared to die down and the ash and steam cloud drifted off. The explosion was exactly the type of event that volcanologists had predicted, following a week of small earthquakes under the volcano. There was some fracturing to the glacier; however, no cracking was detected on the outside of the crater.
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Rinjani Volcano (Indonesia)
8.42 S, 116.47 E, summit elevation 3726 m, stratovolcano
Friday 1st October 2004
Rinjani volcano erupted today at 05:30 am. Grey-white eruption column reached between 400-600m above the crater. Rinjani is Indonesia's second highest volcano, and last erupted in 1994.
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Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Friday 1st October 2004
Elevated levels of seismic activity remain at Mt St Helens volcano, with 3-4 small earthquakes occurring per minute. The earthquakes are shallow, under the lava dome, with the largest measuring magnitude 3.3. The current hazard outlook is unchanged from yesterday at Alert Level 2.
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