Volcanoes
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Bizarro Earth

Indonesia: Mount Tambora Volcano in Alert, Air Evacuation Prepared

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© Google Earth
The routes are aimed at helping refugees to avoid hot clouds and volcanic materials

Mount Tambora sees higher intensities of volcanic activities, increasing its status to the alert level 3 (Siaga). The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of West Nusa Tenggara prepares two evacuation routes to anticipate unexpected events in Pekat Subdistrict, Dompu Regency, and Tambora Subdistrict.

Chief of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency of West Nusa Tenggara, Husnuddin, said the routes are aimed at helping refugees to avoid hot clouds and volcanic materials.

The routes readied in Pekat Subdistrict use Kempo Village overland road while those opened in Tambora Subdistrict use Piong Village road. The evacuation route connecting Tambora District and Piong village spans 50 kilometers and can be covered in 2 hours.

Bizarro Earth

Five Indonesian Volcanoes to Keep Eye On

Mt Merapi
© Antara / Regina SafriMount Merapi Eruption in 2010.
Indonesia, situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, has about 130 active volcanoes. Now few of them even have seismic activities.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has the data that there are 21 volcanoes whose status is above normal-active. "The five volcanoes of alert status (level III) are Mt Tambora, Mt Anak Ranakah, Mt Papandayan, Mt Karangetang and Mt Lokon," said BNPB Head of Data Center Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, Tuesday.

He explained that the status of Mt Tambora and Mt Anak Ranakah was elevated almost in the same time, on September 8, 2011.

In addition to those of alert status, 16 volcanoes in Indonesia whose status is level II namely Soputan, Ibu, Lewotobi Perempuan, Marapi, Bromo, Dieng, Gamkonora, Merapi, Sinabung, Talang, Kerinci, Krakatau, Semeru, Sangeangapi, Gamalama and Dukuno.

Phoenix

Best of the Web: Electric Universe: Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Lightning erupts from the crater of Mount Shinmoedake on the island of Kyushu in Japan.
© ReutersLightning erupts from the crater of Mount Shinmoedake on the island of Kyushu in Japan.
Lightning discharges in the atmosphere are familiar, but what about the ones underground?

The electrical phenomenon we call lightning is not well understood. The most common interpretation involves the circulation of water vapor up and down through clouds in a process called convection. Water is heated by the Sun until it evaporates, rising into the air where it collects into clouds. The water vapor continues to rise higher and higher, finally cooling enough to condense back into liquid. Earth's gravity then pulls it back to the surface where the cycle repeats.

According to consensus opinions, water droplets tend to collide during convection, knocking electrons off one another, creating a charge separation. Electrons accumulate in the lower portion of the cloud, where it acquires a negative charge. As the droplets that have lost an electron continue to rise, they carry a positive charge into the top of the cloud.

Phoenix

Halmahera, Indonesia: Ash cloud 800 meter high at Dukono volcano

Dukono volcano (North Halmahera regency, Indonesia) activity increased on September 6, 2011 in sending volcanic ash clouds as high as 800 meters in the sky. The capital town of the Halmahera regency lies at the port of Tobelo, approx. 15 km from the volcano (population approx. 15,000). Residents were asked to evacuate at least about two kilometers from the foot of the volcano.

The volcano observation post at Mount Dukono, told the press that dozens of volcanic earthquakes occurred every day.
The eruption can be seen from Ternate, and island and biggest city in the area (has also an airport).

The volcano is currently in PVMBG Alert status III (local sources) although the official PVMBG site is still showing a II alert status (alert status range from 1 to IV). North Halmehara is part of the province of North Maluku (Moluccas)


Bell

US, Alaska: Remote Alaska Volcano Resumes Dome Growth

Cleveland Volcano Alaska
© Unknown
The lava dome at a remote Alaska volcano has resumed growing, prompting officials to raise its alert level.

The dome now fills the floor of the crater at Cleveland Volcano, 940 miles southwest of Anchorage.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory on Tuesday raised the volcano's alert level to watch status. The threat level was dropped on Aug. 30, but raised against after a persistent thermal anomaly started Saturday. Observatory officials say in a news release that's when the lave dome likely started growing again.

The dome was 262 feet in diameter on Aug. 30, but is now about 394 feet in diameter.

Officials say if that continues, lava flows could start on the flanks of the volcano. The growing dome also increases the possibility - but doesn't ensure - an explosive eruption.

Radar

Iceland's Katla Volcano Monitored After Seismic Activity Increases

Katla / Iceland flag
© Getty
A surge of small earthquakes has been reported around Iceland's Katla volcano, but scientists said Tuesday there is no immediate concern that the increased seismic activity will trigger a dangerous eruption.

Although earthquakes around Katla are common, an increase in cluster earthquakes is not.

"It's one of the most feared volcanos, so we're closely monitoring it," said Pall Einarsson of the University of Iceland. "That said, it's normal for earthquakes to be detected around Katla. What's a bit unusual is that we're seeing swarms of small earthquakes, some occurring every 10 minutes or so."

After flying over the area to monitor the situation Tuesday evening, scientists said they could not yet determine what caused the increased seismic activity. Although they detected signs that Katla was preparing for an eruption, they also emphasized that the volcano had also seen similar activity without erupting before.

Arrow Up

North Atlantic Ridge opening up: Irish explorers discover active deep-sea hydrothermal vents near Azores

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© NGS
An Irish-headed expedition reports the discovery of a deep sea vent field almost 10,000 feet down in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Moytirra Vent Field, reported by a team led by Andy Wheeler of University College, in Cork, Ireland, rests on the mid-Atlantic ridge north of the Azores islands. Hydrothermal vents typically form deep-sea chimneys covered with minerals and release boiling waters into undersea ecosystems crawling with strange shrimp, snails and other critters. The team found the vents using a remotely-piloted sub called the the Holland I.

"On the first dive, we found the edge of the vent field within two hours of arriving on the seafloor," said Wheeler, in a statement. "The (sub) descended a seemingly bottomless underwater cliff into the abyss. We never reached the bottom, but rising up from below were these chimneys of metal sulphides belching black plumes of mineral-rich superheated water."

Bizarro Earth

Indonesia: Increased Activity at 22 Volcanoes, Alert Raised

Twin Peaks
© Komodo Park.comTwin volcanoes in Flores Island, Indonesia.
The government has requested that local administrations remain on the alert for severe risks of volcanic eruptions, as the number of volcanoes showing abnormal activity continued to raise.

As of Friday, activity in 22 volcanoes was categorized as above normal, with six at alert level three and 16 at level two. Volcano status ranges from level one, which is normal, to four, which is the highest alert.

The Volcanology and Geophysical Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) raised the status of Papandayan, one of the major tourist destinations in Garut, West Java, to alert level three on Friday.

"There were 48 shallow volcanic earthquakes detected, with one deep volcanic earthquake and a white cloud emitted as high as 20 meters on Thursday," National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

Sutopo added that his office had prepared contingency plans to anticipate worst-case scenarios if
Papandayan erupts.

"If Papandayan erupts, it would impact 171,744 people living in the five subdistricts and 20 villages," he said.

Indonesia has been dubbed the world's most disaster-prone country for its frequent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods and droughts.

Bizarro Earth

Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano Blasts Out Ash

Popocatepetl
© Wikimedia CommonsView of the Popocatepetl volcano from Amecameca, Mexico State.
The Popocatepetl (po-po-ka-TEH-peh-tel) volcano south of Mexico City is shooting blasts of ash from its crater.

Mexico's national disaster prevention agency says the volcano has spewed ash more than a half mile (a kilometer) into the sky four times Tuesday. It says there is a possibility ash could fall onto Mexico City overnight.

The agency is urging people to stay at least 7 miles (12 kilometers) from the crater.

The 17,886-foot (5,450-meter) volcano is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of the capital.

Bizarro Earth

Mount Etna In Sicily Puts On A Natural Fireworks Show

The Mount Etna volcano in Sicily, Italy, erupted for the twelfth time this year on Monday.

Throughout 2011, activity at Sicily's Mount Etna has been characterised by paroxysms: short, violent bursts of activity. Each event has included volcanic tremors, ash emissions, and lava flows centered around the New Southeast Crater, just below the summit.

According to the Osservatorio Vulcanologico dell'Etna: "On the early morning of 29 August 2011, the 12th paroxysmal eruptive episode of this year occurred at the New Southeast Crater, almost 8 days after its predecessor. This event generated tall lava fountains and an eruption column that caused ash falls in the southeast sector of the volcano, as well as various lava flows down the western slope of the Valle del Bove.