AUGUST 4:

Alaska: New lava dome at Mt.Cleveland, alert level raised

http://poleshift.ning.com/profiles/blogs/alaska-new-lava-dome-at-mt...

AUGUST 4:

Seismic activity : Kikai Caldera    ,Japan    Osumi Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture

Thank you for your comment and correction Planet12. Fixed that link.

AUGUST 4:

Hekla volcano earthquake from early this morning :

Here is the earthquake that took place in Hekla volcano this morning. This earthquake was small, just ML2.02 with the depth of 4.8 km. Because of how close this earthquake was to my geophone at Heklubyggð it did appear clearly on it.

Here is the earthquake that took place in Hekla volcano this morning. This earthquake was small, just ML2.02 with the depth of 4.8 km. Because of how close this earthquake was to my geophone at Heklubyggð it did appear clearly on it.

http://www.jonfr.com/volcano/?p=1279

AUGUST 5:

Seismic Activity , Laacher See    ,Germany    Rhineland-Palatinate :

Laacher See or Laach Lake (in English) is a caldera lake in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, situated close to the cities of Koblenz, Mayen (11 km), and Andernach (14 km). Just like the nearby 'Wehrer Kessel' volcano and Rieden volcano, the Laacher See volcano forms a volcanic caldera in the Eifel mountain range.

AUGUST 6:

Luminous lava lights up Sicilian town as Etna keeps on erupting :

AUGUST 7:

18 Indonesian Volcanoes on Alert Status (Posted by Planet12)
http://poleshift.ning.com/profiles/blogs/18-indonesian-volcanoes-on...

AUGUST 7:

Fresh quake jolts Muko-Muko volcanoes on hightened alert :

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Muko-Muko regency in Bengkulu on Saturday, but no casualties or damage were reported. The local Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said the epicenter of the earthquake, which occurred at 9:45 a.m., was located at a depth of 10 kilometers, 44 kilometers southwest of Muko-Muko and 74 kilometers northeast of South Pagai Island in Mentawai. Ricky, a resident of Penarik district in Muko-Muko, said the tremors were strong and lasted a long time. “It was not as strong as the magnitude 6 earthquake that hit on Thursday, but the tremors were longer, so we all fled our houses,” he said. The quake was felt as far away as Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, but not in South Pagai Island. Muko-Muko was also hit by three earthquakes earlier — a magnitude 4.9 quake at 9: 35 p.m. on Wednesday, a magnitude 6 quake at 7:16 a.m. Thursday and a magnitude 4.9 quake later the same day at 11:34 p.m., the BMKG said. Meanwhile, Warsono from the Bukittinggi Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency said Saturday that volcanic activity at the 2,900-meter-high Mount Marapi in West Sumatra remained high. “Volcanic activity at Mt. Marapi remains high even though seismic activity has decreased,” he said. The volcano erupted at 8:09 a.m., spewing thick ash clouds 300 meters into the air. Agam Regent Indra Chatri filmed the eruption from Candung, not far from Bukittinggi, and posted it on the Internet. The head of the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center, Surono said in Jakarta on Saturday that officials had increased the alert for Mt. Marapi and 15 other volcanoes across Indonesia. Other volcanoes include Mt. Papandayan in West Java, Mt. Merapi in Central Java, Mt. Sinabung in North Sumatra, Mt. Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, Mt. Bromo in East Java and Mt. Gamkonora, Mt. Gamalama and Mt. Tukono in Maluku, he said. Jambi volcanologist Heri Prasetyo said Mt. Kerinci was still on heightened alert. “However, residents living on the slopes of the mountain have not been instructed to evacuate,” he said.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/08/07/fresh-quake-jolts-muk...

AUGUST 7:

Volcano Eruption - Indonesian archipelago - Indonesia / West Sumatra :

The Bukittinggi Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency reported on Saturday that volcanic activity at the 2,900-meter-high Mount Marapi in West Sumatra remained high. “Volcanic activity at Mt. Marapi remains high even though seismic activity has decreased,” he said. The volcano erupted at 8:09 a.m., spewing thick ash clouds 300 meters into the air. Agam Regent Indra Chatri filmed the eruption from Candung, not far from Bukittinggi, and posted it on the Internet. The head of the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center, Surono said in Jakarta on Saturday that officials had increased the alert for Mt. Marapi and 15 other volcanoes across Indonesia. Other volcanoes include Mt. Papandayan in West Java, Mt. Merapi in Central Java, Mt. Sinabung in North Sumatra, Mt. Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, Mt. Bromo in East Java and Mt. Gamkonora, Mt. Gamalama and Mt. Tukono in Maluku, he said. Jambi volcanologist Heri Prasetyo said Mt. Kerinci was still on heightened alert. “However, residents living on the slopes of the mountain have not been instructed to evacuate,” he said.

AUGUST 8:

Indonesian volcano unleashes fresh burst:

A VOLCANO that has been spewing lava and clouds of searing gas high into the air has let out a new, powerful burst, sending panicked villagers streaming down the sides of the mountain.

A man who fell as he was fleeing was injured, said Ludianto, head of the search and rescue team.

The victim suffered only cuts and bruises.

Mount Karangetang on Siau - part of the Sulawesi island chain - started spitting clouds of gas and lava up to 600 metres on Friday, said volcanologist Surono.

Earlier today, hot ash tumbled down its slopes triggering fresh panic.

Nearly 600 people living along Karangetang's slopes have been evacuated, said Tonny Supit, the district chief.

Indonesia lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

The 1784-metre mountain is one of about 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia. It's last big eruption was in August, killing four people.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/indonesian-volcano-u...

AUGUST 9:

Seismic activity, Campi Flegrei    ,Italy    Naples :

Campi Flegrei, also known as the Phlegraean Fields, is a large 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) wide caldera situated to the west of Naples, Italy. It was declared a regional park in 2003. Lying mostly underwater, the area comprises 24 craters and volcanic edifices.

AUGUST 9:

Earthquake swarm north of Langjökull glacier and volcano, new hole found in Selfoss town :

Yesterday there was a minor earthquake swarm north of Langjökull glacier and volcano. This area did last time was last year when a good sized earthquake swarm did happen in this area, but last year it did start around this time of year and lasted until November. It remains to be seen if that happens now. So far all the data suggests that this earthquake swarm is just tectonic in nature. It also appears that earthquake swarms in this area start slowly with long breaks between them. So I am expecting more earthquakes there. Unless this has just been a single event with no repeats.

on Selfoss town they have just found a new strange hole in the road. The opening of the hole is about 1.5 meter in size. But the depth is about 6 meters (guess?) and area that is hollow under the hole is few hundred meters (guess?) according to the news. It is believed that this did happen because of the SISZ Mb6.3 earthquake that did happen in this area in the year 2008.

http://www.jonfr.com/volcano/?p=1293

AUGUST 10:

New Eruption Starts At Alaska’s Cleveland Volcano :

One of Alaska’s most active volcanoes has started erupting, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO).

The 1,730 m (5,676 ft) high Cleveland Volcano, also known as Mount Cleveland, began erupting early on Tuesday. However, the stratovolcano’s remoteness is limiting opportunities for its study, reported the AVO which is relying heavily on satellites for monitoring.

According to the AVO: “Without a real-time seismic network on the volcano, AVO is unable to track local earthquake activity related to volcanic unrest, provide forecasts of eruptive activity, or confirmation of explosive, ash-producing events. AVO is monitoring the volcano using satellite data as it becomes available. Such data suggests that effusive eruption of the lava dome in the summit crater is possibly continuing.”

One of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Arc, Cleveland has erupted at least 21 times in the last 230 years. A VEI 3 eruption in 1944 produced the arc’s only direct volcanic fatality. Most recently Mount Cleveland has erupted three times in 2009, and twice in 2010.

The volcano is primarily hazardous to aircraft; many of the flights over the north Pacific approach the vicinity of the volcano, and volcanic ash released from eruptions can damage sensitive electronic equipment and sensors.

http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/earth-science/geology/volcan...

AUGUST 11:

Mt. Ibu Emits Thick Smoke :

Mt. Ibu in West Halmahera regency has been emitting thick smoke, causing its alarm status to be raised on Sunday.


Ridwan, a volcanic observer at Mt. Ibu said the mountain’s activities had intensified over the past two weeks. Hundreds of small eruptions have been recorded by the seismograph. “There were numerous tremors. Therefore we increased its status to alert level II,” he said yesterday.


Ridwan said the mountain had been closed to hikers and people were prohibited from getting within 3 kilometers of Mt Ibu’s crater. “We announced this two weeks ago and have intensified our observations. We hope people will be aware,” he said.

http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2011/08/11/brk,20110811...

AUGUST 12 :

Earthquake activity in Katla volcano increases again :

It seems that Katla volcano earthquakes are increasing again. This increase appears to be similar to the increase in earthquakes before the glacier flood from the 9th to 17th of June and onwards until the glacier flood on 8th and 9th of July. The only difference now is that I am seeing this pattern earlier since I now know what to look for this time around when this is in its early stages.

How this is going to develop now is a wait and see process. But this might take as long time to get interesting as it did in June to July, to the event that ended with the glacier flood from Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

Current earthquake activity in Katla volcano. Copyright of this picture belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

http://www.jonfr.com/volcano/?p=1304

AUGUST 12 :

Eruptive activity of Etna volcano has restarted :

From today, August 12, morning the eruptive activity of Etna volcano has restarted. Based on visual and instrumental observations of the volcanic phenomena, the Civil Defense's Department (DPC) Central Functional Centre for Volcanic Risk issued a warning of "High criticality" for the summit area of ​​the volcano and of "Ordinary criticality" for the areas in the middle slopes, at the foot of the mountain and in the urban areas. Starting from 6:00 am local time the monitoring networks of Catania's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology recorded a sudden increase of volcanic tremor and at 8:07 am the surveillance video cameras recorded a Strombolian activity at the Pit Crater, at the base of the south-eastern crater of the volcano. This activity increased and brought at 10:03 am to a fountain of lava and the leak of an overflow lava flow, that extended from the Pit Crater to Valle del Bove. Contemporaneously, it was moreover reported the release of significant amounts of volcanic ashes in the atmosphere that transported by the wind are spreading to the South-East. Until August 22, 2011, it's banned the access to the volcano over the altitude of 2,920 m - next to Torre del Filosofo- both on the northern and southern sides, as established by an ordinance of Catania's Prefect. The Central Functional Centre continues monitoring the phenomenon through its competence centers responsible for the monitoring and surveillance of the Italian volcanoes (Sections of INGV and University of Florence), through the operational structures (Mountain Rescue and Guardia di Finanza and Corps of Forest Rangers of Sicily region) and local offices.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_update_read&edi...

AUGUST 14:

Alaska - Cleveland Volcano update/warning:  Volcano could be gathering steam for a much more severe explosion.

 

A volcano in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands has been erupting since the end of July, but could be gathering steam for a much more severe explosion. According to scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), the Cleveland Volcano, a 5,676-foot peak located about 940 miles southwest of Anchorage has been seeping magma for several days. But this activity could only be a precursor to an explosive event powerful enough to send ash into the atmosphere. “The dome, if it continues to grow, could plug up the crater, creating pressure that could result in “a fairly sizable explosion that could throw ash up to flight levels,” said John Power, scientist in charge at the observatory, a joint federal-state operation. Observers on a August 8 NOAA flight photographed a small, dark-colored dome centered at the bottom of the summit crater. In the last clear satellite view of the summit on August 9 the lava dome was about 60 meters (197 feet) in diameter. The volcano is situated on Chuginadak Island which is currently uninhabited, so no humans are in immediate danger even if the volcano does produce a bigger eruption. The closest community to the volcano is Nikolski, an Aleut village of about 20 people located 45 miles to the east. However, the island does lie directly in the North America-to-Asia flight corridor used by major airlines. Powers also said that the secretion of lava and the building of a bigger dome is uncharacteristic for the Cleveland Volcano, but big explosions of other Alaskan volcanoes have occurred following a dome-building event. The observatory says the last significant eruption of the 5,676-foot volcano began in February 2001 and eventually produced a lava flow that reached the ocean. (Rsoe)

AUGUST 14:

Indonesia Mt.Papandayan update:  Indonesia has banned 1 mile region from the volcano craters to the tourists.

 

After alert level raised yesterday, Indonesia has banned 1 mile region from the volcano craters to the tourists. Mount Papandayan craters are popular tourist attractions but at present the situation is quite dangerous due to emission of hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide gases from the volcano. The alert level to the Mount Papandayan has been raised to the second highest. Since there have been incidents in the past where tourists have ignored the warnings and went to the danger zone anyway, Indonesia is taking strong measures to prevent that. From past few years Indonesia has taken strong steps to stop tourists from entering the danger zone. Indonesia officials currently are making sure that there are no tourists in the region. The warning has been spread to the nearby villages and the area around the crater is being checked for the tourists. (Rsoe)

AUGUST 14:

Indonesia : Mount Soputan volcano erupts again

Mount Soputan in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, emitted a cloud of ash on Sunday morning, reaching 1 kilometer in height. The volcanic eruption drew the attention of residents of Tompaso district in Minahasa, from which the volcano can be clearly seen. “I was surprised and panicked seeing the eruption at about 10 a.m. It was a big eruption; the clouds and ash looked very tall; almost the same as those produced in the big eruption several months ago,” said Tompaso resident Riko Tamunu, 24. He said he was attending church when the eruption occurred, adding that there had been smaller eruptions earlier at about 6 a.m. on Sunday.

Some Tomoso residents also left their houses, churches or other buildings upon hearing the sound of the eruption. Several residents captured the event using their cell phone camera.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/08/14/n-sulawesi%E2%80%99s-...

AUGUST 14:

Video of  todays Mt.Soputan eruption posted below.

AUGUST 14 :

E.Russia :  Shiveluch volcano churns out more ash

Scientists said ash continued to billow from a volcano in Russia's Far East, which could have an effect on international air traffic in the region.

The Shiveluch volcano on the Kamchatka peninsula was pushing ash as high as 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) and creating "light-intensity" tremors on the ground lasting as long as 40 minutes, the Far Eastern Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a written statement.

No towns in the area were considered threatened by the ash fall.

AUGUST 15 :

Update- Mt.Papandayan , Indonesia : Local government designates evacuation routes

The volcanic activity is still building up. PVBMG has recorded an increasing volcanic and tectonic seismicity. The volcanic earthquakes are weak and local and have not been felt by the people living in the surrounding villages.  These people report however that the temperature in the villages has climbed considerably. The No-Go radius remains as earlier reported at 2 km.

The local government of Garut regency, West Java has started the planning of evacuation routes. The government does not want to improvise if the alert status would go up further to level IV (the alert level remains at III since yesterday).

http://earthquake-report.com/2011/08/14/papandayan-volcano-java-indonesia-alert-status-raised-from-level-2-to-level-3/

Image credits: Panoramio image courtesy -MatthijsWiggers

AUGUST 17 :

Indonesia's Mount Lokon volcano erupts again :

(BNO NEWS) -- Indonesia's Mount Lokon, which is located on the northern tip of the island of Sulawesi, erupted again on Wednesday, local authorities said. Farid Ruskanda Bina, the Mount Lokon and Mahawu Kakaskaben monitoring post chief, said Mount Lokon began to spew volcanic ash at around 1.25 p.m. local time. Ash fell as far away as the Kinilow I village and the Tinoor areas in North Tomohon sub district, which is a short distance from Lokon's crater. Mount Lokon's activity had been quickly increasing since Tuesday as more tremors were being detected, the Antara news agency reported. The monitoring post recorded 25 tremors from 1 to 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Since June, Mount Lokon has shown constant volcanic activity, prompting authorities to raise its status to alert on June 27 and watch on July 10. A series of eruptions in mid July forced at least 5,269 locals from the villages of Kinilow, Kelurahan Kinilow I and Kakaskasen 1 to evacuate the area. While most residents returned to their homes later that month, some 222 people remain at temporary refugee camps because their homes are in Mound Lokon's red zone - 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) from its crater. After July's activity, Mount Lokon's alert level was lowered from watchful to alert, and has remained at this level since. Dozens of active volcanoes in Indonesia are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Next to Mount Lokon is its volcanic twin, Mount Empung, just 2.2 kilometers (1.3 miles) away.

http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/08/indonesias-mount-lokon-erupts...

Thank you Planet 12 for update.

AUGUST 20 :

Experts Keep An Eye On The Turrialba Volcano :

For over 100 years the Turrialba was dormant, but now is visited weekly by experts who are tracking its changes.

Recently, experts have been investigating new holes in the craters, where the temperature of gas emissions has been rising and forming a single plume of gas that is visible at the top.

The Turrialba volcano records an average of 100 micro quakes daily. In addition, the degassing is affecting production at nearby crop and dairy farms.

To follow the pulse of the temperatures the University of Costa Rica (UCR) has installed infrared cameras, this along with the seismic stations, it will allow experts to learn any drastic change at the volcano in minutes.

Cameras have also been installed at the Poás volcano.

Last July 22 the Ministry of Environment and Telecommunications (MINAET) decided to reopen the Turrialba Volcano National Park, that had been closed since January 2010 activity.

http://insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2011/august/19/costarica110819...

AUGUST 20 :

Seismic Activity, Caldera of Prestahnukur :

http://en.vedur.is/

AUGUST 20 :

Papandayan Volcano : Residents feel higher temperatures near the crater :

A number of residents living and working around Mount Papandayan, told the volcanologists and the press that they have the noted that the temperature in the vicinity of the crater is hotter than the last couple of days.

Mount Papandayan remained also Friday on alert level 3. The seismic activity was still strong and conditions are still volatile. The 2 km  No-Go area remains in place. The area around the crater had 15 volcanic tremors on Friday. Although the seismic activity at the crater increased, people living around the slopes of Mount Papdayan are continuing their normal (mostly farming) activity. The tourists numbers visiting the area have dropped sharply. A lot of tourists (locals as well as foreign) have canceled their intended visit.

http://earthquake-report.com/2011/08/20/papandayan-volcano-java-indonesia-alert-status-raised-from-level-2-to-level-3/

AUGUST 21 :

Kilauea Volcano : Lava reappeared in Pu`u `O`o crater and rapidly filled the lowest part of the crater floor :

DI inflation continued at the summit and at Pu`u `O`o (until early this morning). At the summit, the lava lake continued with drain-and-fill cycles. In the middle east rift zone, lava reappeared in Pu`u `O`o crater and rapidly filled the lowest part of the crater floor this morning but there was no sign of activity from the west flank vents. Seismicity, other than the episodic tremor bursts associated with the fill-and-drain cycles, was low. Gas emissions remained elevated from summit and rift zone vents. All lava activity remained within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and posed no direct hazard to any developed areas

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/archiveupdate.php?noticeid=6563

AUGUST 21 :

Kizimen Volcano generates more than 900 seismic tremors in last 24 hours :

Kizimen volcano located on the Kamchatka Peninsula Russia has got a burst of activity during the last 24 hours (August 20/21 2011). KVERT Russian scientists have measured more than 900 seismic tremors over the last 24 hours. Earthquake-Report.com was auto-alerted by a shallow 4.3 earthquake probably caused by activity below the volcano. The tremor itself could not generate any damage as they are too weak. The SO2 satellite date from August 21 shows activity on the same place, but the image is not strong enough to show on this page. The volcano is in an active state since December 2010. Kizimen volcano is located at approx. 365 km from the regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamtchatski. The current aviation code for Kizimen Volcano is Orange. Kizimen volcano is located in a very remote area in Kamchatka with almost no other people than scientists living from time to time near the volcano. Weather in the area is mostly cloudy so that visual inspection of the eruption is only possible on the rare clear days. Russian scientists are only communicating from time to time in the open Internet space (a couple of times per week)

This is what KVERT, Russian Kamchatka volcano scientific service, wrote on August 19 (this is the latest report we found from them):

Eruption of the volcano continues. Strong ash explosions up to 32,800 ft (10 km) ASL could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft. Seismic activity was above background levels all week. Weak volcanic tremor continues to registering all week. According to video data, moderate fumarole activity was observing on August 14; sometimes a gas-steam plume rose up to 9,840 ft (3.0 km) ASL. The lava flows continues to moving on the eastern flank of the volcano. A big bright thermal anomaly was registering over the volcano all week at satellite images. Gas-steam plume extending about 35.4 mi (57 km) to the north-north-east from the volcano was noted on August 15, on satellite images.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VE...

AUGUST 21 :

Cleveland Volcano status update :

Mostly cloudy conditions have obscured the summit of Cleveland volcano for the past 24 hours; however, a weak, 1-pixel thermal anomaly was observed in a recent satellite view during a cloud break.

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/archiveupdate.php?noticeid=6566

AUGUST 22 :

Minor earthquake swarm in Öræfajökull volcano :

Since early this morning there has been a minor earthquake swarm in Öræfajökull volcano. This earthquake swarm is so far just minor one, with the largest earthquake being ML2.0 at 4.3 km depth.

This earthquake swarm is most likely due to magma injection into Öræfajökull volcano. But this volcano is normally quiet and almost never has any earthquakes. But that has been changing during the past few years, but earthquake swarms have been getting more common in Öræfajökull volcano. Something that is in fact a big change from few years ago when no earthquakes where recorded from Öræfajökull volcano.

http://www.jonfr.com/volcano/?p=1347

AUGUST 22 :

Katla volcano showing signs of increased seismic activity :

AUGUST 24 :

Volcano agency warns:  Mount Papandayan volcano is in imminent danger of erupting

Indonesia’s highly active Mount Papandayan volcano is in imminent danger of erupting, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency warned on Wednesday.

The agency, known as the PVMGB, said it was likely the volcano in Garut, West Java, would erupt either before or just after Idul Fitri, which marks the end of Ramadan.

The prediction was based on the increasing activity of the volcano, the agency said on its Web site.

“The volcano has more energy compared to its last eruption in 2002,” agency head Surono said in Bandung, the provincial capital, on Tuesday.

Papandayan has shown an alarming increase in activities since the volcano’s status was raised to standby. Between Aug. 19 and 20, there were 45 earthquakes.

“If the quakes increase to 60, an eruption will happen,” he said. “If Papandayan erupts, the annual exodus [mudik] routes will be blocked and 16 subdistricts in Garut will be isolated.”

The agency asked officials at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to stay alert.

The head of West Java’s BNPB, Ujuwalprana Sigit, said it had prepared multiple quick-response strategies for the possible eruption. 

The BNPB has prepared evacuation routes and emergency shelters for people living within 5 kilometers of the crater.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/volcano-agency-warns-of-likely-...

AUGUST 24 :

Seismic activity: Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano’s (14.0000°N, 120.9833°E) seismic network detected three (3) volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. Field measurements on 23 August 2011 at the eastern sector of the Main Crater Lake yielded slightly increased water temperature of 33.4°C from 33.2°C and water level increase of 1.65 meters from 1.63 meters as compared to previous readings. Ground deformation survey (precise leveling) on the Volcano Island last 21 – 28 July 2011 indicated that the volcano edifice is slightly deflated compared with 01-10 June 2011. However, baselines calculated from continuous GPS (Global Positioning System) data for the period February to July 2011 reveal a very slight but steady inflation of the northeast flank of Volcano Island. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission recorded on 27 June 2011 at the Main Crater Lake was 1,821 tonnes/day, which is above background levels.

http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&vi...

AUGUST 24 :

Usgs finished monitoring system for Newberry volcano, Oregon

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey are putting the finishing touches on eight new monitoring stations on Central Oregon’s Newberry Volcano.  David Nogueras took a trip to find out how the system works.
Newberry Volcano is a giant hiding in plain sight.  That’s because unlike the model volcano you may have built back in grammar school, Newberry has as many as 400 vents.
That makes it less concentrated and more spread out.Benjamin Pauk is a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey.  He says the system is a major upgrade from the lone seismometer it’s replacing.
“The problem with that seismometer is that it’s very difficult to locate earthquakes and then determine the magnitude with just that one instrument,” Pauk said.

The new stations will transmit GPS and seismic data to the USGS in real time.  Pauk says the data will not only help scientists recognize major events but will provide researchers with a clearer picture of what normal looks like.

http://news.opb.org/article/usgs-monitoring-newberry-volcano-seismi...

AUGUST 24 :

New signs of magma rising underneath El Hierro Volcano, Canary islands :

Well, we've been wondering when we might see more signs of magma rising underneath El Hierro in the Canary Island and now we seem to have got some.

Over the last month, the island/volcano has experienced thousands of earthquakes that have waxed and waned in number, but seem to be increasing over time. A GPS survey of the area effected by the earthquakes has now found deformation - namely inflation - over part of the volcano. This inflation is on the order of ~1 cm over the last 20-25 days according to the Instituto Volcanologico de Canarias. There are also slightly increased carbon dioxide and temperature (above background) at the volcano as well. All of these signs add to up new magma rising in the volcano - so the big question becomes  "does this mean an eruption is around the corner?" Well, my answer to that is a resounding "maybe". Sure, these are all signs of magma emplacement, but there is likely as much chance of it all "stalling" in the crust as an eruption occurring. It will be how these factors - earthquakes, deformation, gas emissions, temperature - change over the next weeks to months that will give us a better idea of whether we will see the first documented eruption at El Hierro since 550 B.C. (or 1793 A.D., depends on if you trust the historical reports from the late 18th century).

http://bigthink.com/ideas/39899

AUGUST 26 :

Nigerian authorities and France's Areva group have sent experts to investigate eruptions, smoke and fumes spouting from a mountain in the West Africa :

Nigerian authorities and France's Areva group have sent experts to investigate eruptions, smoke and fumes spouting from a mountain in the West African nation's northern uranium mining district of Arlit, state media said. Earlier this week, residents reported two days of activity. Experts dispatched to take samples found cracks in the mountainside and rocks 400 metres away. There were no reports of injuries or damage to mines. "According to the witnesses who alerted the authorities, when they heard explosions, they initially thought it was an earthquake or a volcanic eruption," state radio said in a report. "The mountain rumbled, giving the impression that it was collapsing. Black smoke rose and there was a smell of gas, as it was coming from fuel," the report added. State radio said local government authorities and geologists and chemists from Areva, which has several uranium mining interests in the region, visited the mountain on Tuesday to take samples. The northeast of Arlit is home to the Air mountains, but volcanic activity in the area is long thought to have ended. There were no further details immediately available.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=UG...

AUGUST 26 :

Long Valley Volcanic Center Weekly Update issued Aug 26, 2011 19:09 :

Forty-seven earthquakes occurred in the Mammoth Lakes-Long Valley caldera region in the past week. The most notable, a magnitude 4.2, occurred on August 24 at 4:59 AM. The quake, which produced weak-to-light shaking in Yosemite Village, Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, and Big Pine, was located in the Sierra Nevada about 9 miles SE of of the town of Mammoth Lakes. The event was followed by many aftershocks, but only one of these was above 2.0. Earthquakes were also detected elsewhere in the Sierra south of the caldera (all below magnitude 2.0) and at Mammoth Mountain (3 events all less than magnitude 1.0), in the caldera (a single magnitude 1.0 earthquake ), and in the Volcanic Tableland E-SE of Toms Place (a magnitude 2.5 earthquake).

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/archive/current.php?noticeid=6577

AUGUST 27 :

TAAL VOLCANO BULLETIN, 27 August 2011, 8:00 A.M. :

Taal Volcano’s (14.0000°N, 120.9833°E) seismic network detected one (1) volcanic earthquake during the past 24 hours ......

http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&vi...

AUGUST 27 :

Chile's Caulle volcano in Puyehue mountain erupted early this morning :

The Caulle Volcano in the Puyehue mountain range in the Ranco Province of the Los Ríos Region erupted early this morning. Media outlets weren’t immediately alarmed and there have been no reports of evacuations or flight delays due to the ash plumes. The alert level remains at red for minor eruptions, according to the Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería de Chile (SERNAGEOMIN). Four low intensity eruptions have been recorded, with three-kilometer high plumes of ash. According to SERNAGEOMIN, “the seismic activity reveals that the eruptive activity of the Caulle range continues with low intensity, with little particle emissions and apparent obstructions that are generating incrementally and with purpose to the tower of ash. The possibilities of an explosive event still remain, however it is unlikely that it will reach the magnitude of the first eruptive phase.” Puyehue, a volcano near Caulle, erupted earlier this year in June, causing evacuations of surrounding areas and many domestic and international flight delays in Chile and Argentina. Clouds of ash reaching Australia and New Zealand also caused flight delays. The volcano hadn’t been active before June since 1960, when an earthquake sparked six-mile high clouds of ash.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VE...

AUGUST 28 :

Eartquake swarm in Katla Volcano :

28.08.2011 11:54:44 63.630 -19.308 3.5 km 1.9 58.55 3.1 km WSW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:53:10 63.629 -19.278 3.9 km 0.4 69.86 1.8 km SW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:49:08 63.632 -19.282 4.7 km 1.6 90.04 1.8 km WSW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:49:07 63.603 -19.151 7.6 km 1.4 74.17 3.6 km NW of Hábunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:41:24 63.629 -19.290 4.5 km 2.2 90.05 2.3 km WSW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:40:59 63.632 -19.295 3.9 km 0.9 61.3 2.4 km WSW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:34:22 63.634 -19.292 4.3 km 1.2 90.01 2.2 km WSW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:26:18 63.634 -19.287 3.3 km 0.9 90.02 1.9 km WSW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:24:58 63.631 -19.284 5.2 km 1.6 90.03 2.0 km WSW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:24:40 63.634 -19.278 4.4 km 1.0 51.43 1.5 km WSW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:19:05 63.634 -19.289 4.7 km 0.0 59.94 2.0 km WSW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 11:15:07 63.628 -19.296 4.8 km 0.6 32.47 2.6 km WSW of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 09:47:52 63.634 -19.196 2.2 km 0.6 99.0 2.7 km ESE of Goðabunga
Sunday
28.08.2011 09:35:04 63.652 -19.080 0.1 km 1.0 99.0 8.0 km N of Hábunga

http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/earthquakes/myrdalsjok...

http://www.jonfr.com/volcano/?p=1371

AUGUST 28 :

California ancient volcano site rattled by swarm of tremors :

(Reuters) - A cluster of mild earthquakes rumbled early on Saturday near Pinnacles National Monument, site of an ancient volcano in central California, and were widely felt in and around the Monterrey Bay area.

The largest of the tremors, measured at a magnitude of 4.6, struck shortly after midnight Friday local time just northwest of Pinnacles, which lies in the San Andreas seismic fault zone about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco Bay, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Quakes of that size cause noticeable shaking of furniture and some rattling noises, but there were no reports of damage or injuries from Saturday's temblors, which were typical for the seismically active region.

"It's not uncommon to see clusters, or what we call swarms, of earthquakes in many places around California," USGS spokeswoman Leslie Gordon said.

The quake cluster near Pinnacles began at about 11 p.m. and numbered in the dozens. But only seven registered a magnitude 3.0 or higher as of noon on Saturday, USGS data showed.

A National Park Service ranger reached by telephone at Pinnacles, known for its monolithic rock formations, spires and sheer-walled canyons, said the quakes were noticed but shrugged off by residents accustomed to such tremors.

"Most of the residents here felt it, but we're so used to having small earthquakes all the time that it was no big deal," she said.

A USGS mapping system that records citizen reports of where quakes are felt showed the largest of Sunday's tremors was noticed as weak to light shaking throughout the Monterrey Bay region along a 200-mile-long corridor of central California.

The California quake swarm occurred days after a rare 5.8 earthquake shook much of the U.S. East Coast on Tuesday, centered in Mineral, Virginia. That shock damaged the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument and sent thousands of jittery residents and office workers out onto the streets.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/27/us-quakes-california-idUS...

AUGUST 29 :

Pakistan, Leepa Valley : Traces of a ‘smoking’ volcano, appearing in the famous picturesque Leepa Valley and adjacent Kayserkot rural belt confirmed by a team of geological experts

ISLAMABAD: Traces of a ‘smoking’ volcano, appearing in the famous picturesque Leepa Valley and adjacent Kayserkot rural belt confirmed by a team of geological experts of AJK university that had alarmed the local population, have yet to evoke any safety response either from the AJK or the Federal governments.

A team of experts from AJK university – Prof Dr Muhammad Saber, Prof Dr Muhammad Rustum Khan, Saleem Mughal and Fahad Hussain - after examining pieces of rocks and visiting the area had confirmed the ‘seepage of lava’ in the mountains besides discovering a fault line in the area.

The team’s on-the-spot soil and rocks examination led it to its conclusion of an ‘any-time’ eruption of an earthquake in the Valley. But the team did not disclose the level of quake intensity or disaster extensity.

Leepa Valley is a beautiful geographic platter close to the Line of Control in the Karnah zone (Muzaffarabad) where in 1971 rival armies of Pakistan and India had fought region’s toughest war over commanding ridges. A miraculous brave fight-back by the Pakistan army had finally wrenched back Valley’s highly strategic ridge from the Indians, restoring Leepa’s road link with Reshian-Hattian-Muzaffaabad highway. The memories of that brave fight by the Pakistan army live on. Even today the locals pay their richest homage and respect to the bravest martyrdom of the Leepa Valley war hero Col Kiyani from Jhelum/Pakistan.

A month back Srinagar university geology experts had also predicted a devastating earthquake in 2055 (2055) in Kashmir. Experts say that the present geographic contours of high peaks and mountains overlooking plains and valleys in AJK and IHK had emerged as a result of a major earthquake in ancient times. During 2005 AJK earthquake an expert view from the American geologists aired by a Pakistani TV channel had predicted that Muzaffarabad mountains would submerge in the sea waters, making them part of Indonesian islands, but in the distant future. It was their view that Muzaffarabad was once a part of the sea.

http://kashmirwatch.com/news.php/2011/08/29/leepa-vale-volcanic-see...

AUGUST 29 :

Ash thrown up by Russian Shiveluch volcano forces air traffic reroute :

Ash thrown kilometres into the sky by an increasingly active volcano in a remote Russian Pacific coast territory has forced a reroute of international air traffic, government officials said Monday, dpa reported.

A column of smoke and ash from the volcano Shiveluch, located in the centre of Russia's rugged Kamchatka peninsula, has reached an altitude of 8.6 kilometres and poses a threat to aircraft, officials at Russia's National Geophysical Service (RNES) told Interfax.

The ash discharges were increasing in intensity and volume over the weekend. The RNES is now rating Shiveluch at level orange, one step below its most dangerous rating, red.

The Monday ash column was the most significant in a month and was accompanied by rock slides and an increase in the size of a rock dome known to contain lava, the report said.

The flight advisory aside, the volcano currently does not threaten human life or property, in part because the closest village to Shiveluch is some 45 kilometres' distant, officials said.

Shiveluch is one of the Pacific region's most active volcanoes. Its last catastrophic eruption was in 1956. Its last major eruption was in 1964.

After several decades of relative dormancy the volcano started showing signs of growing activity in 2006.

Shiveluch's increasing ash emissions are a sign of rising pressure. However, it is impossible to predict when the volcano might erupt, RNES spokesmen have said.

http://en.trend.az/regions/world/russia/1924314.html

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VE...

SEP 02 :

Indonesia - Mt.Tambora volcano in Indonesia has been raised to level 2 alert :

Tambora volcano in Indonesia has been raised to level 2 alert (out of maximum 4) after an increase in volcanic earthquakes. In April 2011 there were 37 shallow volcanic earthquakes recorded, 167 in May, 277 in June, 363 in July, and 141 from 1-29 August. Continuous tremor was recorded on 29 and 30 August. Tourists and locals are advised to avoid the summit area of Tambora volcano. In 1815 Tambora had one of the largest eruptions on earth in the past 1000 years and ejected 100-150 cubic km of lava.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VA...

SEP 03 :

Japan - This year's 600th explosive eruption was observed Saturday at Mt. Sakurajima :

SEP 03 :

Indonesia, Ranakah volcano (Flores, Indonesia) - because of increased seismicity alert status raised :

The Indonesian Volcanological Survey (PVMBG) has raised the alert status for Anak Ranakah volcano in the district of Manggarai on the island of Flores in southeastern Indonesia to 2 out of 4 (meaning eruption warning) on 26 August.
Seismic activity and volcanic have increased recently and the lava dome of Anak Ranakah is emitting a small plume of white steam.

http://baliholidayinfo.com/content/higher-alert-status-anak-ranakah...

SEP 03 :

Inflation starts in Katla volcano :

There seems to be inflation going on in Katla volcano, at least according to the automatic GPS data that IMO has on it’s web site. But this might be error in the data. But for the moment I do not think it is. But please do look at this data with the view that it might be wrong.

The inflation appears clearly on Lágu Hvolar GPS station. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

The inflation can be seen on Lágu Hvolar and Sólheimaheiði GPS stations. But it appears to be more clear at HVOL GPS station. But that is most likey because that GPS station is closer to the magma pocket in question that creates this movement.
The inflation also appears on Sólheimaheiði GPS station. But not as clearly as on Lágu Hvolar GPS station. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

What might be the critical inflation before a eruption starts is hard to know until it happens. For Eyjafjallajökull volcano that was 60mm, for Grímsfjall volcano the inflation was actually 350mm. But that volcano had eruptions that did not change it’s inflation numbers. I do not know why Grímsfjall volcano is so different in this respect from other volcanoes in Iceland (that I know of so far).

Source

SEP 03 :

Another earthquake swarm in Katla volcano, 3rd swarm in 6 days :

Today (3. September 2011) at 16:45 UTC a earthquake swarm did start in Katla volcano. So far this earthquake swarm has been small, with the largest earthquake just with the size ML2.7 at the depth of 1.1 km (automatic data). But the quality of this earthquake was good, so location is accurate from what I can tell.

I am not sure at this moment if there is a harmonic tremor spike following this earthquake swarm or not. As the earthquakes are long period due the fact that they are created by magma movement in Katla volcano. This might be dike intrusion. But for the moment it is hard to know that for sure.

The area of earthquake activity today in Katla volcano. Copyright of this picture belongs to Iceland Met Office.

I cannot tell at the moment what is going on in Katla volcano. But the earthquakes tell me that the reason why they are happening is because of magma is moving inside Katla volcano. But latest data (not shown here) do however show that no harmonic tremor is currently ongoing, if it ever started during this earthquake swarm. I am expecting the earthquake swarm to continue and last for the next few hours. But I must point out that that is what might happen, as sometimes earthquake swarms just stop when you think that they might be about to start for real. (Source)

SEP 04 :

New harmonic tremors spikes in Katla volcano

This has become almost a daily occurrence. But today there was one harmonic tremor spike (at least) in Katla volcano. It is unclear why this harmonic tremor spikes happen in Katla volcano. But they often do happen just before a earthquake swarm starts, but often several hours before (sometimes). I am not sure why that is. But one idea is that this activity is connected to hydrothermal areas that are under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

Earthquake activity has been quiet in Katla volcano today. But it is hard to know for sure if that is going to last. As earthquake activity appears to be on the rise in Katla volcano during the whole of the year 2011 according to news in Iceland (see earlier blog post for details).
Harmonic tremor spike as seen on Lágu Hvolar SIL station. The spike is between 04/09 and 05/09. The spike is a small top in the tremor chart (hard to spot). Copyright of this picture belongs to Iceland Met Office. Harmonic tremor spike as seen on Snæbýli SIL station. The spike is between 04/09 and 05/09. The spike is the broad band that suddenly appears in the tremor data. It is easier to see then on Lágu Hvolar. Please note that it seems that Snæbýli SIL station has gone offline again, as it has stopped updating. Copyright of this picture belongs to Iceland Met Office. It is clear that Katla volcano is going for a eruption. But the question remains is just when that is going to be, but it is impossible to predict when a eruption is going to take place in Katla volcano. But the signs have come clear in my opinion in this matter. For the moment it is just waiting and watching. But this might be a long wait until something happens in Katla volcano.

Source