Volcanic activity worldwide 12 Mar 2021: Etna volcano, Pacaya, Fuego, Popocatépetl, Semeru, Ibu, Re…

Map of today’s active volcanoes

Etna (Sicily, Italy): The 12th paroxysm from Etna’s New SE crater in less than a month occurred during the morning today, as had been expected since the early hours when activity started to pick up. It was particularly powerful and rather long-lasting, marking the 12th such event in a row.
After a rather slow start, lava fountaining began around 8am local time, and increased until reaching a peak phase during 9:30-10:40 am. During the peak of the eruption, the ash and steam column rose up to approx. 10 km altitude and drifted east, causing heavy lapilli and ash fall in places on the eastern sector of the volcano including Milo, Giarre and others.
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The volcano observatory in Catania (INGV) gives a detailed summary of the event in this post on their blog, translated as follows:
„In the early hours of 12 March 2021, Etna, almost as precise as a clock, registered the start of new Strombolian activity at the New Southeast Crater (NSEC) of modest intensity, while at the same time the intracrateric explosive activity continued at the Voragine, Bocca Nuova and the North East Crater vents. Almost immediately, the average amplitude of the volcanic tremor showed a marked increase reaching high values, while the sources of the tremor moved below the New SE crater to a depth of about 2.5 km. It was clear that this was the prelude to a new paroxysmal episode, the twelfth in just under a month.

…12 Mar:
Truly amazing, the volcano continues to behave almost exactly like clockwork. After the typical time span of 2.5 days between paroxysms (lava fountaining episodes) has now passed, Etna seems to be heading towards a new paroxysm right now:
At the New SE crater, strong strombolian explosions and likely effusion of a lava flow have started again. Volcanic tremor is sharply rising and already passed the threshold of high levels. Both are the tell-tale signs of the impending onset of another violent lava fountain to occur soon.
If true, it will mark the 12th paroxysm in a row of the current series since 16 Feb 2021.

Fagradalsfjall (Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland): The earthquake swarm in the Reykjanes peninsula, concentrated in the area around Mt. Fagradalsfjall SW of Keilir, continues with no signs of weakening. By early afternoon, the Iceland Met Office (IMO) had already recorded over 1700 earthquakes since midnight alone, including many of magnitude 3 or higher and a widely felt magnitude 5 event at 07:53 GMT this morning.
This seismic activity has been identified as result of continuing influx of magma into a newly forming dike (sheet-shaped magma reservoir) at shallow depth, of only about 1km beneath the surface in places. The longer it continues the higher the likelihood of it breaching the surface, or in other words causing a volcanic eruption.
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Icelandic scientists concluded that „the dike intrusion is expanding with the most active magma flow centered at the southern part of it. A volcanic eruption remains a possibility as magma is still flowing into the corridor. With the ongoing activity the probability of an eruption increases day by day. It is considered very unlikely that lava from a possible eruption would reach populated areas.
The latest report by IMO further states:

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): (12 Mar) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: EXPLODED AT 20210312/0418Z VA CLD UNKNOWN OBS VA DTG:12/0410Z

Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: EXPLODED AT 20210312/1753Z FL050 EXTD SE OBS VA DTG:12/1740Z

Taal (Luzon, Philippines): (12 Mar) Since the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the alert level for the volcano to level 2 (increased unrest) on 9 March 2021, a total of 144 volcanic tremors were recorded over the following 72 hours. These include 38 low frequency volcano-tectonic quakes at shallow depths beneath the volcano edifice. On 10 March, the volcano experienced a low-level background volcanic tremor which lasted for 4.5 hours. A total of 1010 tremors were recorded since 13 Feb. 2021.
Significant emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) were measured by PHIVOLCS on 10 March and 11 March 2021. They measured about 1327 tonnes/day and 795 tonnes/day respectively.

Ibu (Halmahera, Indonesia): (12 Mar) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: DISCRETE VA EMISSION TO FL070, MOV NE AT 11/2330Z.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 12000 ft (3700 m) altitude or flight level 120 and is moving at 05 kts in SW direction.
The full report is as follows: GROUND REPORT OF DISCRETE ERUPTION WITH VA TO FL120 to 12000 ft (3700 m)

Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): (11 Mar) Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 14000 ft (4300 m) altitude or flight level 140 .
The full report is as follows: VA EMISSION TO FL140, MOV N AT 11/2130Z OBS VA DTG:11/2145Z to 14000 ft (4300 m)

Kilauea (Hawai’i): (12 Mar) According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) a small lava pond developed near the western fissure during 5-7 March.
On 7 March at about 13:00 local time a levee of the pond started to collapse allowing the pond lava to drain into the main lake. The lake has developed a subtle levee on its south margin (just below the center of the photo), with several lava streams cascading down onto the lower level on the eastern end of the levee.
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A new lava flow was active north of the normal lava flow entering the lake. This new lava flow was perched above the lake surface, and fed a narrow channel entering the lake. The new stream was set within a collapse scar that resulted from the collapse of a small lava pond.
Minor changes in the geometry of the western fissure, like this, happen occasionally.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA DISP

Pacaya (Guatemala): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 12000 ft (3700 m) altitude or flight level 120 .
The full report is as follows: CONT VA EMS OBS IN SUMMIT WEBCAM to 12000 ft (3700 m)

Fuego (Guatemala): 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 .
The full report is as follows: OCNL VA EMS OBS IN STLT IMAGERY to 15000 ft (4600 m)

Sangay (Ecuador): (12 Mar) The explosive activity of the volcano continues.
A strong explosive eruption was recorded by the Instituto Geofísico (IGEPN) and VAAC Washington starting around 09:35 local time yesterday as huge spectacular ash plume rose up to upper tropospheric altitude of 41,000 ft (12,500 m). The clear sky darkened by dense dark ash content as some observers reported in social media. Moderate-to-strong ashfall was detected in Cantón Guamote including Chambo, Riobamba, Penipe, and Guano areas.
Satellite-based measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations in the atmosphere measured impressive approx. 25 kilotons (25,000,000 kg) in the plume.

Reventador (Ecuador): 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 .
The full report is as follows: VA CLDS OBS IN SUMMIT WEBCAM to 15000 ft (4600 m)

Sabancaya (Peru): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: UNABLE TO DETECT

Volcano Activity Summary for 12 Mar 2021:

Eruption column and plume from Etna’s paroxysm today reaching approx. 10 km altitude (image: Fernando Famiani / EtNativo / facebook)