Volcanic activity worldwide 22 Dec 2020: Etna volcano, Klyuchevskoy, Popocatépetl, Shiveluch, Reven…

Map of today’s active volcanoes

Etna (Sicily, Italy): A third paroxysm occurred at the volcano in the early morning hours today, following the previous one after almost exactly 24 hours.
After around 2 am local time, the New SE crater showed increasing strombolian activity from its main vent (the so-called saddle vent), as well as, to lesser degree, from the eastern summit vent. This activity continued to increase until a phase of lava fountaining set in around 5 am that lasted approx. one hour.
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As during the previous paroxysm, a lava flow was issued from the fracture beneath the vent during the height of activity. It branched into two flows, one directed SW towards the 2002 and Monte Frumento Supino cones, overlapping the previously emplaced flows, the other SE into the Valle del Bove, visible in this video:

Klyuchevskoy (Kamchatka): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: VA IS NOT IDENTIFIABLE IN SATELLITE IMAGERY.

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Anchorage warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 28000 ft (8500 m) altitude or flight level 280 and is moving at 40 kts in E direction.
The full report is as follows: RESIDUAL VA FM 20201222/0015Z ERUPTION. to 28000 ft (8500 m)
…22 Dec:
A spectacular vulcanic explosion occurred from the crater at 12:20 local time today as volcanological observatory KVERT reported.
Plume of ash rose to an altitude of 16,000 ft (4,876 m) and formed relatively large umbrella region in the upper part of the eruption column as can be seen in the image.
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A few hours later, at 19:30 local time on today evening, another strong explosion detected by Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo produced spectacular ash plume rising up to 28,000 ft (8,500 m) altitude and extended about 130 km to the southeast of the volcano.
Incandescence continues to be observed in the crater identified in satellite data.

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: EXPLODED AT 20201222/1221Z OVER FL080 STNR OBS VA DTG:22/1210Z

Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: EXPLODED AT 20201222/1214Z FL060 EXTD S OBS VA DTG:22/1210Z
…22 Dec:
Intense explosive activity of the volcano continues characterized by near-constant eruptions.
Strombolian explosions become stronger than the average size of explosions at the volcano and more frequent at regular intervals of 2 to 4 per hour during the past few weeks.
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An explosions generated an ash plumes which reached approx. 1,968 ft-3,937 ft (600 m-1,200 m) altitude and drifted SW. Some of a lava bombs were ejected as far as 800 m away from the crater.
In addition, the activity is accompanied with a strong glow from the Otake crater that suggesting rise of flux of magma within the volcano.

Ruapehu (North Island): GeoNet reported that Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) temperature has been rising and is now 43ºC. During a gas flight last week, the lake was observed to be a uniform grey colour which shows it is well-mixed. The gas output through the crater lake has also increased markedly in response to this heating cycle. The amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur gases (SO2 and H2S) in the plume are the largest measured in the past two decades. The continued flow of gases and hydrothermal fluids though the lake shows that the underlying vent area is open.
Volcanic tremor is being produced as short-lived pulses that coincide with increased gas passing through the crater lake and its plumbing system. Modelling of energy input into the lake has shown increase during the past month from around 200 MW to around 400 MW. Since 2007 Crater Lake temperature has exceeded 40 °C a number of times, without leading to an eruption.
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The combination of the increased lake temperature, volcanic tremor and gas output leads to the Alert Level change. The Volcanic Alert Level raised to Level 2 and the Aviation Colour Code is changed to Yellow.

Kilauea (Hawai’i): The new eruption continues at steady pace: during the first day of activity, lava effusion focused on only one of the initially 3 fissure vents in the lower crater walls, something that is often the case as the rising magma tends to exploit the best-available path, now clear of obstacles.
The lava effuses from the active fissure with little explosive interaction into a flow that continues to fill the growing lava pond at the bottom of the crater. Once the vent is submerged, we might be able to adore another true lava lake in Halema’uma’u!

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 19000 ft (5800 m) altitude or flight level 190 .
The full report is as follows: NEW VA EM to 19000 ft (5800 m)

Sangay (Ecuador): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 19000 ft (5800 m) altitude or flight level 190 .
The full report is as follows: NEW VA EM to 19000 ft (5800 m)

Reventador (Ecuador): (22 Dec) Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 15000 ft (4600 m) altitude or flight level 150 and is moving at 15 kts in NW direction.
The full report is as follows: NEW VA EMS OBS to 15000 ft (4600 m)

Sabancaya (Peru): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: continuous ash emissions

Lava fountain from Etna’s New SE crater early this morning (image: LAVE webcam)