The volcanic unrest continues: Eruptions of Agung volcano (Indonesia), Anak Krakatau (Indonesia), Mayon volcano (Philippines), White Island (New Zealand), Updates for Kilauea eruption (Hawaii) and Fuego eruption (Guatemala)

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The volcanic unrest continues around the world with new eruptions occurring around the world. The latest are the explosions of Agung volcano (Indonesia), Anak Krakatau (Indonesia), Mayon volcano (Philippines), the volcanic unrest of White Island (New Zealand). Finally some updates on the Kilauea eruption (Hawaii) and the Fuego eruption (Guatemala).

Eruption of Agung volcano on July 4, 2018

The seismicity of Agung is dominated by low frequency earthquakes, consistent with an effusion and an open system. The surface activity remains dominated by eruptions and ash emissions.

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gung – ash plume from 04.07.2018 / 12:20 local. By Sudiana Wayan

On July 4, 2018 at 12:20, a plume of ash and gas rose 2,500 meters above the summit. The new eruption lasted about 2 minutes and had an amplitude of 24 mm on the seismogram. In this awesome timelapse recorded at 7 am in Amlapura and from 11:15 – 15:36 in Datah, Karangasem, you can watch the ruptions at 1’24 and 1’50:

Satellite images indicate ongoing effusive activity and a dome growing by 4 to 5 million m³ last week. The flux of magmatic sulfur dioxide remains high, with 1,400 – 2,400 tonnes / day on 3 July, and 400 – 1,500 tonnes / day on 4 July.

Source: PVMBG

Strombolian eruptions continue at Anak Krakatau, Indonesia

Anak Krakatau is exploding frequently since June 18, 2018. The last strombolian eruptions are however becoming stronger and more frequent – almost every 20 minutes – with lava bombs being ejected more than 1km away from the crater! That’s really amazing!

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Strombolian activity of Anak Krakatau in Indonesia on July 3, 2018 at 21h05 local. By Aris – Exploredesa
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Seismicity of Anak Krakatau between April and July 2018
anak krakatau eruption july 2018, anak krakatau eruption july 2018 pictures, anak krakatau eruption july 2018 video
Seismogram of July 4-5, 2018. via Magma Indonesia

The lastest eruption occurred on July 3, 2018 at 5:33am, which lasted 40 seconds and had an amplitude of 38mm on the seismograph. Since then, Ash emission is continuous and drifting north.

Source: PVMBG & MAgma Indonesia

Mayon volcanic eruption on July 1, 2018 in the Philippines

After several months of rest, Mayon volcano erupted on July 1, 2018, at 12:30, sending blue and white clouds of ash 500 meters above the crater.

eruption Mayon volcano july 2018
eruption Mayon volcano july 2018

The phreatic eruption occurred around 12:30 local time. In March, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lowered the warning status of the volcano danger from the 3rd to the 2nd. Experts warn it wasn’t a good decision.

Update Fuego volcano eruption

More than three hundred people are still missing 1 month after a massive eruption occurred at Fuego in Guatemala. The eruption has now became the most powerful in recent years, affecting more than 1.5 million people.

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Fuego volcano eruption in Guatemala on June 3, 2018. via Twitter

Since the beginning of 2018, Fuego volcano erupted only twice, but has already killed more than 100 people.

Unrest at White Island in New Zealand

Since April-hand powerful sounds from the crater have been heard by visitors. They will stop when the geothermal system has adjusted to the new lake.

white island new crater lake, white island new crater lake photo
Unrest on White Island as new crater lake is forming.

This lake is filling at a rate of 2,000 m³ per day … same rate as in 2003-2004, 2007-2008 and 2013, when previous lakes have drowned, leading to localized geysers and small geothermal eruptions, with occasional formation of small cones of tuff-debris around the vents. If the current lake filling continues at this rate, dome drowning is expected in 3-4 months.

white island new crater lake, white island new crater lake photo
Lake drowning could occur in the next months if it continues to fill at this rate.

However, observations during a recent overflight confirmed that volcanic activity remains at a stable and low level, with no sign of increasing volcanic disturbances. Therefore, current observations are consistent with minor volcanic unrest. Volcanic Alert Level 1 and aviation color code remains green.

Source: GeoNet – 04.07.2018

Kilauea eruption update

In the East rift zone of Kilauea, the activity of crack 8 continues. The lava flow underwent temporary blockages on July 3 and 4, which caused overflows near the Kapoho cone. These overflows have destroyed some more houses.

lava overflow Kilauea volcanic eruption on Hawaii
lava overflow Kilauea volcanic eruption on Hawaii

The National Weather Service reports a rare storm over the active lava field of the rift zone on July 2, that produced 1,200 lightnings in just 7 hours.

Lightning storm at during Kilauea volcanic eruption, lightning storm kilauea, rare lightning storm kilauea
Lightning storm at during Kilauea volcanic eruption.

The NWS meteorologist says that the volcano played a major role in this stormy episode, being the basis of the emission of Pyro cumulus. The other actor was an air pocket colder than normal at a lower altitude.

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23 Comments

  3. My understanding is that between the Sun’s electro-magnetic field weakening and the Earth’s electro-magnetic field weakening, is the cause for extreme volcanic activity and earthquakes.

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