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Archived Volcano News - John Seach
November 2001
News reports posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT + 10 hr)
Reports written by John Seach
Mt Ruapehu volcano ( New Zealand)
39.28 S, 175.57 E, summit elevation 2779 m, stratovolcano.
30th November 2001
Ruapehu Crater Lake has changed from a blue-green colour to dark grey, following the moderate volcanic earthquake and tremor recorded last week. The lake temperature remains low at 22° C. Earthquake activity has returned to background levels.
More on Mt Ruapehu Volcano...
Guagua Pichincha Volcano (Ecuador)
0.171 S, 78.598 W, summit elevation 4784 m, Stratovolcano.
Eruption on 26th November 2001.
As of the 29th of November, the Instituto Geofisico of Ecuador, has reported that the Instituto Geofisico's seismic data showed that an approximately 20-minute-long phreatic explosion began at Guagua Pichincha on 26 November around noon. This constitutes a re-eruption of Guagua Pichincha. Cloudy conditions prohibited visual observations, but a cloud composed mainly of gas, with small amounts of ash, may have been produced. The volcanic cloud was not visible in satellite imagery; it is believed to have stayed around summit level. Continuous tremor was recorded through at least the rest of the day. The last explosion at Guagua Pichincha occurred on 25 May 2001.
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Kavachi Volcano (Solomon Islands)
9.02 S, 157.95 E,summit elevation -20 m, submarine volcano.
25th November 2001.
The volcano is currently producing an upwelling of sulfur, mud, and tiny pieces of volcanic rock over a hundred metre wide surface area, with the usual extensive down-current slick. Over a period of six hours there were no explosive eruptions.
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Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano.
November 27, 2001
The Kamoamoa lava entry is still bright amid the downpour, announcing that lava is still making down the tube system to the sea.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Merapi Volcano (Java, Indonesia)
7.54°S, 110.44°E, summit elevation. 2911 m, Stratovolcano.
Nov 19-25 Activity.
Observers noticed 46 lava avalanches, which moved towards Sat River, and partly to Lamat and Senowo Rivers. The maximum distance was about 2.5 km.
This week, seismograph recorded 737 events of avalanche, 3 events of multiphase, and 1 event of tectonic earthquake. Merapi volcano is in level 2 alert.
More on Merapi volcano...
Talang Volcano (Sumatra, Indonesia)
0.97 S, 100.67 E, summit elevation 2896 m, stratovolcano.
Seismograph of Talang volcano recorded increasing of volcanic and tectonic earthquake this week (19-25 Nov). Visual of the volcano could be observed clearly from the post observatory, white thin plume appeared from Gabuo Atas and Kepundan Panjang solfatar/fumarola field. The height of that plume reached 50 m and tend to east. Detail of seismicity are listed as follow: 10 events of deep volcanic (VA), 233 events of small explosion, 16 events of tectonic and 3 events of tremor earthquake. Talang volcano is in level 2.
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Popocatépetl Volcano (México)
19.023 N, 98.622 W, summit elevation 5 426 m, stratovolcanoes.
November 21, 2001.
During the last 24 hours, activivty at Popocatepetl volcano showed an increment in the number of exhalations compared to yesterday. There were 29 small exhalations mainly composed of steam and gas. The other monitored parameters remain with out important changes. At the moment of this report we can observe the volcano due to the clouds (see new image) . It is possible that this activity is associated with the growth of the dome observed on October 25 of this year. The activity is similar that observed on August 15 and September 10, when an increment of exhalations was related to the growth of a dome observed on those days. This condition indicates the possibility of small explosions in the next days to weeks, due to the small size of the dome. A similar situation was observed on April of this year. The present activity does not represent a change in the forseen scenarios, therefore, the traffic light of volcanic alert is maintained yellow-2. It is recommended not to approach the volcano to less than 12 km from the crater, although the road between Santiago Xalitzintla (Puebla) and San Pedro Nexapa (Mexico State), including Paso de Cortés, is open for controlled circulation. The colour of the volcanic alarm light remains on YELLOW.
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Sheveluch Volcano (Kamchatka, Russia)
56.653 N, 161.360 E, summit elevation 3283 m, stratovolcano.
Unrest at the volcano continues.
A lava dome is growing in the active crater and, at any time with little warning, explosions could produce pyroclastic flows and ash plumes that could rise as high as 7-10 km (23,000- 33,000 ft) above sea level (ASL), as well as localized ash fall.
Seismic activity continued to remain above background levels this past week. About 60 earthquakes of MI>=1.7, many weak shallow earthquakes within the volcano's edifice, other local shallow seismic events (possible collapses, avalanches), and short episodes of weak volcanic tremor were registered.
On November 18 a gas and steam plume rose 100 m above the dome and extended >40 km to the southeast. On the morning of November 19 a gas and steam plume rose 1100 m above the dome and extended >5 km to the southeast. According to an airplane pilot's report, at 13:15 KST (01:15 UTC) on November 19 a gas-ash explosion was observed to heights of ~1,000-2,000 m
above the dome (~3,500-4,500 m (~11,500-14,800 ft.) ASL). According to visual data from Klyuchi town, on November 19 at 15:04 KST (03:04 UTC) a short-lived explosive eruption sent an ash plume to heights of ~1,200 m above the dome (~3,200 m (~10,500 ft.) ASL). On November 20, a gas and steam plume rose 400 m above the dome. On other days, clouds obscured the volcano.
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Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano.
November 21, 2001
Kilauea's longest rift eruption since the 15th century continues this morning at 0448. Lava is visible just above Pulama pali and in a couple of places halfway down the pali and onto the coastal flat. This lava is the surface manifestation of the Kamoamoa flow, most of which is confined to a tube system that carries lava from Pu`u `O`o to the coast.
Lava is entering the ocean at the Kamoamoa entry, where it is pouring into the water via several creeks along the middle part of the growing bench. No surface activity is visible on the bench itself.
Yesterday's field observations found the East Kupapa`u entry to be still going but probably diminished from its activity last week. The Kupapa`u entry is shut down. The only surface activity in the broad Kupapa`u area is the continuing flow about 800 m west of the East Kupapa`u entry. It is moderately active along both its east and west sides, but the most seaward point has stagnated.
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Ruapehu volcano (New Zealand)
39.28 S, 175.57 E, summit elevation 2779 m, stratovolcano.
Large volcanic earthquake under Ruapehu.
21st November 2001.
A moderate-large volcanic earthquake at Ruapehu at 2.18 am Wednesday
morning. It is believed that there was not an eruption at this time because no
air wave was recorded. No reports of eruptive or other unusual activity have been
received. The earthquake was followed by about 1 hour of moderate-strong
volcanic tremor, and weak tremor continues.
More on Mt Ruapehu...
Mayon Volcano (Philippines)
13.257 N, 123.685 E, summit elevation 2462 m, stratovolcano.
Wednesday 21st November.
Lahars kill 9 people.
Flood waters carrying debris from Mount Mayon volcano washed away nine homes in the central province of Albay, and authorities warned residents of possible mudslides.
More on Mt Mayon volcano...
Soufriere Hills Volcano (Montserrat)
16.72°N, 62.18°W, summit elevation 915 m, stratovolcano.
Eruption cloud reaches Antigua.
Soufriere Hills volcano on montserrat erupted sending a plume 42 km to the NE.
Ash is expected to reach Antigua. The emissions were moving at less than 10 knots and an altitiude of 3300 m.
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Sheveluch Volcano (Kamchatka, Russia)
56.653 N, 161.360 E, summit elevation 3283 m, stratovolcano.
16th November 2001
Unrest at the volcano continues. A lava dome is growing in the active crater and, at any time with little warning, explosions could produce pyroclastic flows and ash plumes that could rise as high as 7-10 km (23,000- 33,000 ft) above sea level (ASL), as well as localized ash fall. Seismic activity was above background levels this past week. More than 60 earthquakes of MI>=1.7, many weak shallow earthquakes within the volcano's edifice, many series of weak local shallow seismic signals, local shallow seismic events (possible collapses, avalanches), and continuous spasmodic volcanic tremor were registered. The intensity of volcanic tremor noticeably diminished during the past week.
More on Sheveluch Volcano...
Mt Vesuvius Volcano (Italy)
40.82°N, 14.43°E, summit elevation 1281 m, complex volcano.
A large reservoir of magma lies beneath Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano that buried the Roman city of Pompeii, and stretches under some of the most scenic coastline in Italy. Scientists wrote in a report, published in Friday's issue of the journal Science.
The reservoir of molten rock is at least 150 square miles in size and lies 5 miles below the surface, the European team of researchers reported. The magma stretches from the nearby Apennine mountains to the Phlegraean Fields -- the series of volcanic calderas upon which Naples is built. The volcano, which sits across the bay of Naples from the city, belched thick clouds of ash and debris that buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 A.D. Mt. Vesuvius is presently in a quiescent state, characterized by low-temperature fumaroles and moderate seismic activity (about 100 earthquakes per year with magnitudes between 0.5 and 3.6), and it is difficult to predict when it may erupt explosively again.
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Mt Etna Volcano (Sicily, Italy)
37.73 N, 15.00 E, summit elevation 3350 m, Shield volcano.
November 14, 2001
No new activity has been observed on Etna in recent weeks, and it seems that the volcano is still slumbering after its major eruption in July-August this year.
WARNING: Etna is currently showing only weak (if any) eruptive activity at the summit craters, but as always visits to the summit area expose visitors to high risks, especially those risks related to unstable weather conditions. In late August 2001, two tourists were killed by lightning near the summit, and in early September, five other tourists had to be rescued during another thunderstorm.
Tourism has resumed on Etna after the end of the recent eruption. Visits to 2800 m elevation are currently possible from Piano Provenzana on the northern flank, and since a few days tourists can go in jeeps to about 2500 m elevation on the southern flank. The lava flows and the lowermost eruptive fissure near the Rifugio Sapienza and the cable car base station are easily accessible, but the vent areas are still unstable and should be approached only very carefully, preferably with a local mountain guide.
More on Mt Etna volcano...
China Earthquake (Magnitude 7.8)
A major earthquake occurred NEAR THE QINGHAI-XINJIANG BORDER, CHINA about 440 miles (705 km) north of Lhasa, Tibet or about 550 miles (885 km) south-southeast of Urumchi, Xinjiang at 2:26 AM MST today, Nov 14, 2001 (5:26 PM local time in China). A PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE OF 7.9 WAS COMPUTED FOR THIS EARTHQUAKE. The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. This earthquake is located in a sparsely populated, mountainous region.
Volcanoes of China...
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (Reunion)
21.22 S, 55.71 E, summit elevation 2631 m, shield volcano.
Increased seismicity and deformation at Piton de la Fournaise occurred for about 6 weeks prior to 12 November. On 5 November a seismic crisis occurred when 129 earthquakes were recorded that day. The earthquake's hypocenters were located 0.6-2 km under Bory crater. As of 12 November, approximately 30-50 earthquakes occurred per day, and slight swelling had been recorded at the summit.
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Mt St. Helens Volcano (Washington)
46.20°N, 122.18°W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano.
The swarm of tiny earthquakes that began at Mount St. Helens on the evening of 2 November ended by noon of 4 November. During this period ~2,000 earthquakes occurred that may have been related to increasing ground water levels due to autumn rain. Most of the earthquakes had magnitudes less than 0. The largest event, M 1.9, occurred shortly before noon on the 4th. All located events were shallow (< 2 km) and in or below the lava dome or crater floor near the dome. Most of the events were too small to locate accurately. After the main swarm, during 4 November to at least 10 November, about 10 small, shallow earthquakes occurred per day.
More on Mt St Helens Volcano...
Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano.
November 13, 2001
Kilauea's eruption this morning pretty much duplicates its activity of yesterday. Bright glow from above Pulama pali denotes surface lava along the trace of the Kamoamoa flow, but no lava can be seen on the pali itself. A lot is getting to the Kamoamoa entry, however, for at least five areas of inflow to the sea could be seen from farther west, the larger looking several tens of meters long. This represents a kick in activity from that of yesterday morning and afternoon, when visited by two different HVO groups.
More on Kilauea volcano...
Soufriere Hills Volcano (Montserrat)
16.72°N, 62.18°W, summit elevation 915 m, stratovolcano.
9th November 2001.
Activity at Soufrière Hills Volcano increased slightly during the reporting period, and intensified on 8 and 9 November. The seismograph network recorded 314 rockfall signals, 5 long period events, 8 long period rockfalls, 174 hybrid events and 4 volcanotectonic earthquakes. The lava dome continued growing, with the main direction of growth being towards the east. Clear views were seen on several days, and at night parts of the dome were incandescent. Small pyroclastic flows and numerous rockfalls were generated by material avalanching off the flanks of the dome. The main area of rockfalls appears to have been on the eastern flank, although some activity also occurred in the northeast. Observations made by helicopter on 8 November indicated a shallow, circular depression located over the summit area of the dome, from which vigorous venting of ash was taking place. On several days a low-level plume, weakly laden in ash, extended to the west or north of the volcano, depending on the direction of the prevailing wind. Seismicity continued to be cyclical in nature, although the cycles were weak and erratic, occurring with periodicities of between 5 and 15 hours. The periods of more intense seismicity were characterised by increased rockfall activity and hybrid earthquakes, and were associated with ash venting.
Mudflows occurred in the Belham Valley on the morning of 9 November during a period of heavy and prolonged rainfall.
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Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano.
0530 November 9, 2001
Lava continues to pour into the sea at three places, East Kupapa`u, Kupapa`u, and Kamoamoa. This morning at 0446, the Kamoamoa entry is particularly bright, with several small lava cascades falling from the front of the growing bench into the water. Similar conditions prevailed for visitors yesterday evening.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Sheveluch Volcano (Kamchatka, Russia)
56.653 N, 161.360 E, summit elevation 3283 m, stratovolcano.
November 9, 2001.
Unrest at the volcano continues. A lava dome is growing in the active
crater and, at any time with little warning, explosions could produce
pyroclastic flows and ash plumes that could rise as high as 7-10 km (23,000
- 33,000 ft) above sea level (ASL), as well as localized ash fall. Seismic
activity was above background levels this past week. Twenty six earthquakes
of MI>=1.7, many weak shallow earthquakes within the volcano's edifice,
many series of weak local shallow seismic signals, local shallow seismic
events (possible collapses, avalanches), and continuous spasmodic volcanic
tremor were registered. The intensity of volcanic tremor continued to grow
slowly during the past week.
According to visual data from Klyuchi town, on November 2-4 a gas and steam
plume rose 200-300 m above the crater. The plume extended 40 km to the
southeast on November 2. According to visual reports from Klyuchi town, on
November 4, at 12:00 KST (00:00 UTC), a short-lived explosive eruption sent
an ash plume to heights of ~1,600 m above the dome (~4,000 m ASL). On
November 6, a powerful gas and steam rose 2000 m above the dome. At 09:36,
10:25, 14:44 and 15:59 KST on November 7 (21:36, 22:25 UTC on Nov. 6 and
02:44, 03:59 UTC on Nov. 7), seismic data indicated that possible gas-ash
explosions occurred. The height of the clouds was estimated on the basis of
the seismicity at ~6,500-7,500 m ASL. Bad weather prevented visual
observations. From 16:30 till 17:20 KST on November 7, snow with ash fell
in Klyuchi town (~46 km from the volcano).
More on Sheveluch volcano...
Hibok-Hibok Volcano (Philippines)
9.20 N, 124.67 E, summit elevation 1332 m, stratovolcano.
November 7, 2001.
Tropical storm Lingling battered the Philippines for a second day on Thursday, sinking a cargo ship and virtually shutting down several provinces as it crawled across the country.
The death toll rose to at least 135, most who were living in Mahinog town on the resort island of Camiguin, which suffered its worst disaster in a half-century.
Fast-moving flood waters bearing boulders cascaded from hills around Hibok-Hibok, one of seven volcanoes on the island, into mountain villages in Mahinog and riverside communities in Catarman as most people were still sleeping on Wednesday.
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Lokon-Empung Volcano (Sulawesi, Indonesia)
1.35 N, 124.79 E, summit elevation 1580 m, stratovolcano.
November 4, 2001
There has been a major increase in activity at Lokon volcano which shown after felt tectonic earthquake on 19 Oct, 2001. That activity also followed by records of high frequency tremor. Plume emission from Tompaluan crater was in grey color and rose 50-250 m above crater rim. That condition is continuing untill the end of the week. Intensive monitoring to the volcano is needed to anticipated probable higher activity. Detail data are listed below: 66 events of deep volcanic (VA), 47 events of shallow volcanic (VB), 25 events of tectonic and discontinuous tremor earthquake.
Lokon volcano is in level 2.
More on Lokon-Empung Volcano...
Merapi Volcano (Java, Indonesia)
7.54°S, 110.44°E, summit elevation. 2911 m, Stratovolcano.
November 4, 2001
Glowing lava avalanche is ongoing, was observed 124 times, dominantly towards to the upstream of Sat river, and partly to the upstream of Lamat and Senowo rivers, with the maximum distance of about 2.8 km. Seismic activity was dominated with avalanche earthquake, with the quality and quantity was similar relatively with the previous week. During the previous week heavy rain fell around Merapi with (44 mm/hr) but no lahars were recorded.
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Mount St. Helens Volcano (Washington)
46.20°N, 122.18°W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano.
November 3, 2001
Ongoing Earthquake Swarm at Mount St. Helens.
During the past 24 hours and continuing at present (6 P.M. PST), about 200 very small (less than magnitude 0) earthquakes have been recorded at Mount St. Helens. The earthquakes are occurring at shallow depths (less than 1 kilometer, or 1/2 mile) mostly in or under the north flank of the lava dome, which formed between 1980 and 1986. Such earthquakes are common at St. Helens, but we have not recorded a swarm with this many earthquakes for several years. The cause of the earthquakes is uncertain, but may reflect increased ground-water levels with the onset of autumn rain. Such an increase may cause slippage on fractures in and below the lava dome and crater floor. The probability of small landslides and debris flows in the crater is enhanced during these periods. Such events could affect areas several kilometers (miles) north of the crater on the Pumice Plain. The probability of small steam explosions that hurl rocks a few hundred meters (yards) may also be increased during periods with increased shallow earthquakes. Larger-scale eruptions are unlikely without significant additional precursory activity.
The last period of increased earthquake activity at Mount St. Helens occurred in the spring and summer of 1998 when hundreds of earthquakes per month, many larger than M=2, were detected at depths as great as 9 kilometers (6 miles). An intrusion of magma, or molten rock, deep under the volcano and resulting increased gas pressure in the conduit that leads to the lava dome likely caused this increase in earthquakes. The current swarm is different in that the events are typically much smaller and shallower. We see no evidence that an intrusion similar to that of 1998 is underway.
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Tungurahua Volcano (Ecuador)
1.467 S, 78.442 W, summit elevation 5023 m, stratovolcano.
November 3, 2001
As of the 3rd of November, the Instituto Geofisico, et al, has reported that in the last 24 hours there were registered 111 earthquakes of long period and 12 signs of emission). At 0530 and 0957 of today, there were registered two considered explosions of moderate size. The emissions of ash happened during the morning was accompanied by sounds similar on "bellows". This emissions reached a height up to 1 km on the summit of the volcano and then they went towards the NE of the same one. In Runtún's sector fall of ash was reported. In general, during the last 4 weeks, the volcano keeps a level of activity characterized for under number of events related to movement of fluids (earthquakes of long period, steams emissions and ash).
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