Volcanic activity worldwide 14 Nov 2023: Fuego volcano, Popocatépetl, Semeru, Dukono, Reykjanes, Re…

Map of today’s active volcanoes

Reykjanes (Reykjanes peninsula (SW Iceland)): Increased levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas in the town of Grindavik were detected this afternoon, while residents had been allowed to return in order to collect personal belongings from their abandoned homes. As a result, an immediate evacuation was ordered.
The gas meters had been installed recently in an effort to give as much warning as possible should an eruption begin while at the same time allowing a calculated-risk based management to allow people return and save as much as possible from homes.
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Sulphur dioxide is contained in solution in magma at greater depths, but when magma is closer to the surface and under less pressure, most if it is released as its solubility decreases with decreasing pressure, thus leaves the magma and finds its way to the surface through cracks where fumaroles form or by diffuse degassing.

…14 Nov:
The Icelandic Met Office just published their latest assessment of the situation: the possibility of an eruption in the near future remains unchanged and is high, even though the past two days have been calmer on the surface.
„Since midnight, 700 earthquakes have been recorded across the magma intrusion, the largest being an event of magnitude 3.1 at Hagafell.
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Last night, there were also earthquakes at Kleifarvatn, the largest being a 3.8 magnitude event at 9.09pm local time.
The vast majority of earthquakes are in the area of the magma intrusion. Most of them are small and at a depth of 3-5 km.

…14 Nov:
The Chief of Police in Suðurnes has authorised restricted access for residents and businesses to a specific part of Grindavík. This controlled access, meant for essential visits only, does not imply that the area is open for general traffic. This area is specified as being east of Víkurbraut and north of Austurvegur, extending up to Ægisgata.
Residents from these neighbourhoods have been directed to a meeting point along Suðurstrandarvegur, where they are currently registering and receiving further instructions for entry. At this moment, vehicles from the response team are prepared to transport individuals into Grindavík.
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As noted by the police, this is a carefully managed operation that is not to be taken lightly. The authorisation for access does not imply the area is open for general traffic. Residents of Grindavík permitted into specified neighbourhoods should follow these guidelines:
Only go if absolutely necessary.

…14 Nov:
A remarkable surface crack feature extended through the town of Grindavík yesterday.
In the attached image, a yellow dotted line represents the crack propagating across the entire town towards the south shoreline. Several damages in the down include the intersection near the sports centre.
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It is also worth noting that the new crack follows the old crack from 1957, as visible in the former Grindavík map and occurs on top of the 1957 crack.
The crack is a result of the ground displacement due to magma propagation within the underground dike.

…14 Nov:
Magma continues to intrude through the dike injection, although earthquakes have been reducing both in numbers and strength over the past 24 hours.
„Only“ 900 quakes have been recorded by seismic stations since last midnight, mostly confined along the 15-km long SW-NE stretched oriented magma-filled intrusion at depths between 2-5 km.
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Over the past 6 hours, 110 quakes occurred below magnitude 2 that people normally don’t feel, of which the largest M 3.1 hit an area about 3.5 Km NNE of Grindavík at 3.8 km depth.
The latest GPS data from Grindavík depicts a decreasing trend of ground deformation. The significant graben-like formation is clearly visible from the satellite radar. The feature was first identified by the IMO early on 11 November. Graben is a down-dropped block of the earth’s crust resulting from extension, or pulling of the crust.

Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: ERUPTED AT 20231114/1422Z OVER FL060 EXTD SE OBS VA DTG:14/1420Z

Lewotolo (Lesser Sunda Islands): (13 Nov) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: DISCRETE VA TO FL060 MOV NNW OBS AT 13/2047Z

Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): (13 Nov) 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: DISCRETE VA TO FL140 MOV NW OBS AT 13/2250Z to 14000 ft (4300 m)

Dukono (Halmahera): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 7000 ft (2100 m) altitude or flight level 070 and is moving at 10 kts in SE direction.
The full report is as follows: VA TO FL070 OBS EXT SE OBS VA DTG:14/1040Z to 7000 ft (2100 m)

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 20000 ft (6100 m) altitude or flight level 200 .
The full report is as follows: ONGOING VA EMS. to 20000 ft (6100 m)

Fuego (Guatemala): (13 Nov) Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington 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: POSS VA EMS to 14000 ft (4300 m)

Sangay (Ecuador): (14 Nov) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: NO VA EMS

Reventador (Ecuador): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington 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: NEW VA EMS to 14000 ft (4300 m)

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

Traffic into Grindavík (image: Iceland Review)