Volcanoes
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Phoenix

New Zealand: Ruapehu activity slowing but still elevated

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© Ray MaxwellEarly winter snow on Mt Ruepehu
Volcanic activity on Mt Ruapehu appears to be slowing according data monitored by GNS Science.

While activity seems to be decreasing overall, and there are no data to suggest an imminent eruption, the volcano remains in a state of elevated unrest above the typical background level.

The Aviation Colour Code remains at Yellow and the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.

The temperature of Crater Lake is down to around 33-34C from a peak of 41C in March 2011.

Arrow Up

Philippines: 20 volcanic quakes in Taal recorded in last 24 hours

taal
© Agence France-PresseWater in the crater of Taal is reportedly heating up while the volcano's emissions of carbon dioxide have risen
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) maintained the Alert Level 2 hoisted over Taal Volcano, as 20 volcanic earthquakes were recorded during the past 24 hours.

Alert 2 status means present activities could eventually lead to an eruption, according to Phivolcs.

Phivolcs said there was a noticeable increase in seismic activity of the volcano. Water temperature at the Main Crater Lake also slightly increased from 29.8°C to 30.1°C.

Phivolcs advised the public to keep away from the Main Crater, Daang Kastila Trail and Mt. Tabaro because sudden hazardous steam-driven explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate.

Bizarro Earth

Indonesia Merapi Sees New Lava Dome

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© BPPTK, Yogyakarta
Indonesia's most active volcano Merapi has seen a new lava dome formation at a diameter of 400 meters recently.

"The dome is resulted from the latest eruption which has expanded to 400 meters in diameter," said Subandriyo, Chief of Volcanology Technology Research and Development Agency (BPPTK) of Yogyakarta, on Tuesday.

According to Subandriyo, the new lava dome is not visible, "because it does not overflow."

Bizarro Earth

Taal Volcano quakes increase in number in 24 hours

According to the most recent bulletin of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), there were 11 earthquakes produced by the activity of the Taal Volcano today, April 12, 2011. This is 4 quakes more than yesterday's recorded volcanic quakes.

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© adcorner.ph/danielgTaal Volcano
The bulletin added that the carbon dioxide emissions of the Volcano is still in high levels which suggest anomalous gas release from the magma at depth. The Alert Level II hoisted last Saturday has not been lifted due to the increased activity of Taal Volcano.

The Institute had advised the public that the Main Crater, Daang Kastila Trail and Mt. Tabaro (1965 -1977 Eruption Site) are strictly off-limits because sudden hazardous steam-driven explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate.

In today's episode of TV Patrol, it was reported that there were cracks noted on the walls and floors of the houses and on the roads in Talisay, Batangas which is 10 km away from Taal Volcano. The Phivolcs is still to investigate what caused the cracks.

Bizarro Earth

Italy: New Eruption Started at Italy's Etna

Etna_1
© RavingWebcam capture of Etna on April 10, 2011. The new lava flow can be seen on the upper right-hand slope of the volcano.
Another quick weekend post!

Etna has sprung back to life as April opens, with new eruptions from the Southeast Crater Cone. Friday and Saturday (April 8-9), the Italian volcano produced some ash and a 3-km lava flow, but then quieted. However, the seismicity under the volcano continued and late tonight into today (April 10), Etna starting producing small strombolian explosions from the Southeast Crater Cone (see below). You can check out a full description of the renewed activity on the INGV-Catania website (written by, surprise, Dr. Boris Behncke - be sure to follow him on Twitter for all sorts of updates). This is now the third eruption at Etna since the beginning of 2011. Eruptions reader Pgen Pgen also posted a timelapse of some of the April 9-10 activity at Etna.

Bizarro Earth

Thousands defy Philippine volcano warnings

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Manila - Thousands of people living near a volcano on an island close to the Philippine capital defied official warnings to evacuate as fears of an eruption grew.

Only 77 people living near the crater of Taal Volcano left the island, a popular visitor spot 65 kilometres (40 miles) south of Manila, over the weekend, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Sunday.

The island is home to 7,000 farmers, fishermen and tourist guides, according to the country's volcanology institute.

Phoenix

Japanese volcano blows its stack

Geologists monitor latest eruptions at Sakurajima, which is sending large amounts of ash into the air

Japan's Sakurajima volcano, which has been regularly recorded blowing its stack since the 10th century, is at it again.

The volcano, located in the south of the country near the city of Kagoshima, is perhaps most famous for a 1914 eruption, which went into the record books as the most powerful of any in 20th century Japan.

The latest flare-up recently led the nation's meteorological agency to issue an ash warning for the Sakurajima volcano, now considered to be "very dangerous." But given what Japan has gone through these last several weeks, this is probably the least of the nation's worries just about now.

Bizarro Earth

Volcanic quakes recorded at Taal, Bulusan; crater glow at Mayon

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© Unknown
Restive Taal Volcano continued to show signs of activity, as state volcanologists recorded at least five volcanic quakes there in the last 24 hours.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Wednesday said it also observed weak steaming activity at the thermal area of the main crater-lake.

Phivolcs also reiterated its warning against carbon dioxide in the area, saying gas measurements in March amounted to 4,670 tons per day - double the 2,250 tons per day in January.

"The remarkable increase in C02 [Carbon dioxide] concentration indicates anomalous gas release from the magma at depth," it said.

It added Alert Level 1 remains over Taal Volcano, saying no eruption is imminent but the public should strictly observe some safety precautions.

Phivolcs said the main crater should remain strictly off-limits because sudden hazardous steam-driven explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate.

Attention

Stromboli: Series of Explosions and Landslides

Stromboli Volcano_01
© Volcano Discovery300 m tall, candle-like eruption from the central crater of Stromboli
Sicily - There has been a concerted series of explosions and landslides on Stromboli. Over the last 24 hours, monitors at the Vesuvian Observatory have picked up fifteen seismic signals associated with mild landslide events, all along the Sciara del Fuoco (Stream of Fire). Most of these events were follow-ons to the explosions and can therefore be attributed to rolling debris.

Comment: Latest recorded seismic activity around Sicily, Italy:

3 shakes and minor landslides, Feb. 18 - Stromboli
5 shakes and minor landslides, Feb. 22 - Stromboli
5 shakes and minor landslides, Feb. 28 - Stromboli
2.6 and 2.7, Mar. 4 - (Sea-quake) Porto Palo di Capo Passero, Ionio Sea
2.6 and 3.7, Mar. 9 - Messina, Sicily
2.1, April 2 - Messina, Sicily

(A 6.1 magnitude one was recorded in Greece on April 1)


Igloo

New Zealand: Aviation alert at Mt Ruapehu as first dump of season falls

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© UnknownMt. Ruapehu
Aviation authorities have issued alerts to planes flying over Mt Ruapehu due to the volcano's crater lake sustaining a prolonged hot phase.

In addition to the high water temperature, other signs of volcanic unrest have been recorded by vulcanologists including changes in volcanic gas output, seismic activity and crater lake water chemistry.

However, despite the changes in volcanic activity, there were no indications an eruption was on its way, GNS Science volcano surveillance co-ordinator Brad Scott told the New Zealand Herald.

He said the volcanic alert level remained at level one, which meant there were signs of volcanic unrest.

But it is an active volcano and future eruptions may occur with little or no warning.