Volcanic activity worldwide 23 Jul 2024: Etna volcano, Fuego, Semeru, Ibu, Kilauea, Sangay, White Is…

Map of today’s active volcanoes

Etna (Sicily, Italy): The 4th paroxysm (lava fountaining episode) from the Voragine central crater in 2024 so far ended this morning, after a very long build-up phase lasting over 36 hours. During its peak phase from around 8-10 a.m. this morning (Tue, 23 July 2024), it generated a tall ash plume that rose to approx. 8 km altitude and drifted south.
As a consequence, Etna’s southern slopes and beyond, including the city of Catania received heavy black sandy ash fall, forcing the airport of Catania to shut down temporarily and cancel most flights of today.
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The activity at the Voragine had re-started with mild, intermittent strombolian bursts some time on Sunday afternoon, then remained stable for most of the night Sunday-Monday and Monday.

…23 Jul:
A new strong eruptive episode, classified as paroxysm, is now in progress at the volcano’s Voragine crater.
Following strombolian explosions yesterday evening, which became stronger, near-continuous and more intense, the activity increased into the violent lava-fountaining phase early night at 01:00 local time.
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An ash plume of several km height is rising from the summit and drifting east-southeast.

Bezymianny (Central Kamchatka Depression): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 15000 ft (4600 m) altitude or flight level 150 and is moving at 10 kts in W direction.
The full report is as follows: VA AT 20240723/1120Z FL150 EXTD W OBS VA DTG:23/1120Z to 15000 ft (4600 m)

Ibu (Halmahera, Indonesia): 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 .
The full report is as follows: VA TO FL070 LAST REPORTED AT 23/1258Z, MOV NORTH to 7000 ft (2100 m)

Lewotobi (Flores): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: VA ERUPTION REPORTED FM GND SEISMIC ACTIVITY 23/0433Z

Lewotolo (Lesser Sunda Islands): (23 Jul) The effusive activity at the volcano seems to have ceased or halted.
Judging from the latest Sentinel-2 satellite image, the lava flow eruption appears to be stopped or at least paused some time over the past few days and is no longer active. In the attached timelapse animation from the beginning of 2024, the lava has been primarily active on the southern and eastern slopes of the volcano’s edifice.

Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: DISCRETE INTERMITTENT ERUPTIONS REPORTED FM GND 23/0424Z

White Island (New Zealand): (23 Jul) Analysis of data from two recent gas flights, combined with ground deformation data from satellite radar, has confirmed that the active vent was enlarged by minor eruptive activity, most likely between 3-7 July, when abundant plumes were observed by coastal observers and captured by the GeoNet Whakatāne webcam. Satellite data from 10 July indicates that the active vent has increased in size by approximately 20 meters.
Photographs from the gas and observation flights also show evidence of a minor explosive eruption. Impact craters caused by flying rocks extend up to 250 meters from the active vent, and a thin ashfall deposit spreads across more of the crater floor.
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Gas emissions remain at moderate levels compared to those recorded before May but are now declining. The crater lake has dried up, and gas and steam are now emitting less vigorously from the enlarged vent on the crater floor. Steam and gas emissions are also occurring from several other vents that have existed for some time. No ash was observed in the plume during the flight on 18 July.
Although the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2, eruptions can still occur with little or no warning. The Volcanic Alert Level reflects the current level of volcanic unrest or activity and is not a forecast of future activity. While Volcanic Alert Level 2 is mostly associated with volcanic unrest hazards (including the discharge of steam and hot volcanic gases, earthquakes, landslides, and hydrothermal activity), the potential for eruption hazards remains.

Kilauea (Hawai’i): Following the burst of the intense activity at about 03:30 AM local time today, localized earthquake and ground deformation rates in Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone have significantly decreased.
Consequently, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is lowering the Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards from from Orange to Yellow.
…23 Jul:
The alert status for the volcano was raised to „orange“, as the volcanic-seismic crisis and ground deformation have been increasing and still evolving.
Earthquakes, which have been more frequent beneath the Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone since 03:30 PM local time today, likely reflect magma intrusions located near Pauahi Crater.
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At this moment, it is not possible to definitively determine if this activity will result in an eruption.

…23 Jul:
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) reported that an increased seismic activity and ground deformation rates at the upper East Rift Zone started at about 11:00 local time yesterday.
Approx. 40 earthquakes have been registered, of which the largest has been located with a maximum magnitude of M 3.1.
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The HVO continues: „The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is watching the situation closely and will issue additional messages as needed. Currently, there are no signs of an imminent eruption; however, conditions could change quickly. Past eruptive activity in this area of Kīlauea’s upper East Rift Zone has typically occurred between Hiʻiaka crater and Maunaulu in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Rates of seismicity and ground deformation beneath the lower East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone remain low. Current activity is restricted to the summit and upper East Rift Zone region.“

Fuego (Guatemala): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA NOT OBSD

Sangay (Ecuador): 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: VA EM OBSD to 20000 ft (6100 m)

Sabancaya (Peru): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Buenos Aires warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 20000 ft (6100 m) altitude or flight level 200 and is moving at 20 kts in SE direction.
The full report is as follows: INTERMITTENT EMISSIONS to 20000 ft (6100 m)

The ash plume from Etna’s paroxysm this morning seen from the east flank