Kategorie: Climate Change

The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin issued the following bulletin.

Original VAAC bulletin:

FVAU05 at 23:40 UTC, 13/08/26 from ADRM
VA ADVISORY
DTG: 20260813/2341Z
VAAC: DARWIN
VOLCANO: AMBAE 257030
PSN: S1523 E16750
AREA: VANUATU
SOURCE ELEV: 1496M AMSL
ADVISORY NR: 2026/75
INFO SOURCE: VAAC WELLINGTON
ERUPTION DETAILS: UNKNOWN
OBS VA DTG: 13/2341Z
OBS VA CLD: 
FCST VA CLD +6 HR: 14/0541Z NOT PROVIDED
FCST VA CLD +12 HR: 14/1141Z NOT PROVIDED
FCST VA CLD +18 HR: 14/1741Z NOT PROVIDED
RMK: PLEASE SEE FVPS01 NZKL 132331 ISSUED BY VAAC WELLINGTON
 WHICH DESCRIBES CONDITIONS OVER OR NEAR THE VAAC DARWIN AREA
 OF RESPONSIBILITY.
NXT ADVISORY: NO LATER THAN 20260814/0541Z=

Satellite image of Lewotobi volcano on 13 Aug 2026

The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin issued the following bulletin.

Original VAAC bulletin:

FVAU04 at 19:05 UTC, 13/08/26 from ADRM
VA ADVISORY
DTG: 20260813/1910Z
VAAC: DARWIN
VOLCANO: LEWOTOBI 264180
PSN: S0833 E12246
AREA: INDONESIA
SOURCE ELEV: 1703M AMSL
ADVISORY NR: 2026/374
INFO SOURCE: HIMAWARI-9, CVGHM
ERUPTION DETAILS: VA LAST REPORTED AT 13/1842Z
EST VA DTG: 13/1850Z
EST VA CLD: SFC/FL090 S0817 E12244 - S0835 E12303 - S0856
 E12252 - S0848 E12222 - S0825 E12222 MOV SW 05KT
FCST VA CLD +6 HR: 14/0050Z SFC/FL090 S0833 E12300 - S0855
 E12252 - S0853 E12223 - S0830 E12219 - S0819 E12242
FCST VA CLD +12 HR: 14/0650Z SFC/FL090 S0832 E12259 - S0848
 E12254 - S0851 E12224 - S0827 E12218 - S0816 E12240
FCST VA CLD +18 HR: 14/1250Z SFC/FL090 S0832 E12259 - S0848
 E12255 - S0851 E12224 - S0827 E12218 - S0816 E12240
RMK: VA NOT IDENTIFIABLE ON SATELLITE DUE TO MET CLD. GROUND
 REPORTS INDICATE ERUPTIONS ARE ONGOING. VA HEIGHT AND
 MOVEMENT BASED ON PAST SATELLITE IMAGERY, GROUND REPORTS AND
 MODEL GUIDANCE.
NXT ADVISORY: NO LATER THAN 20260814/0110Z=

Etna’s lava flows, ash emissions and extended flight suspension at Catania stood out in a day of widespread eruptive activity. Kilauea showed increased activity with lava fountaining and overflows, while Fuego, Ibu and Semeru produced frequent explosions and ash-bearing plumes. Changes from the previous day include Kilauea’s increased activity and its Watch / Aviation ORANGE designations.

United States

Great Sitkin continued to slowly erupt lava in its summit crater, with seismically detected rockfalls; it was at Watch / Aviation ORANGE. At Kilauea, intermittent lava dome fountaining and vent overflows marked the start of episode 53. Kupreanof and Shishaldin remained in unrest at Advisory / Aviation YELLOW.

Indonesia

Explosive activity was especially notable at Ibu, which recorded 107 explosions and plumes up to 1,000 m, and at Lewotolok, where 165 explosions were detected. Merapi produced hot rockfalls traveling up to 2 km, while Semeru generated 100 explosions with plumes up to 1,100 m. Several other Indonesian volcanoes emitted gas and vapor or remained at elevated alert levels.

Japan

Sakurajima produced ash plumes up to 1,300 m above the vent. An eruption at Minamidake summit crater lasted from 0020 to 0150 on 12 August, followed by lower ash emissions.

Philippines

Kanlaon and Mayon remained at Alert Level 2, reflecting moderate or increasing unrest. Taal stayed at Alert Level 1, while Bulusan continued in low-level unrest.

Mexico

Popocatepetl emitted ash, gas and vapor. Its Yellow Alert – Phase 2 remained in effect.

South America

Purace produced six ash emissions, with the highest rising 500 m. The volcano remained at Orange Alert.

Europe

Etna maintained lava flows from several vents, while explosive activity at Voragine Crater sent ash southward. Tremor remained high, and the suspension of flights at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport was extended until 1400 UTC on 13 August.

Other

In Central America, Fuego generated up to 10 explosions per hour, ash-and-gas plumes, and incandescent rockfalls. Rincon de la Vieja had two energetic phreatic eruptions, a 1,000-m gas-and-vapor plume, and a lahar. Santa Maria also produced explosions and plumes, while Poas, Pacaya and Turrialba remained in eruption or unrest.

Source: Smithsonian/USGS Daily Volcanic Activity Report, 12 August 2026.

Activity Summary for 12 August 2026

Explosive activity continues. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned of a volcanic ash plume rising to an estimated 16000 ft (4900 m), or flight level 160, and moving at 10 kts in SW direction.

Original VAAC bulletin:

FVXX20 at 11:27 UTC, 13/08/26 from KNES
VA ADVISORY
DTG: 20260813/1123Z

VAAC: WASHINGTON

VOLCANO: FUEGO 342090
PSN: N1428 W09052

AREA: GUATEMALA

SOURCE ELEV: 12346 FT AMSL

ADVISORY NR: 2026/943

INFO SOURCE: GOES-19. WEBCAM. NWP MODELS. 

ERUPTION DETAILS: VA EMS CONT

OBS VA DTG: 13/1100Z

OBS VA CLD: SFC/FL160 N1433 W09110 - N1429 W09052
- N1426 W09050 - N1350 W09153 - N1421 W09214 -
N1433 W09110 MOV SW 10KT 

FCST VA CLD +6HR: 13/1700Z SFC/FL160 N1430 W09052
- N1426 W09050 - N1340 W09234 - N1418 W09244 -
N1430 W09052 

FCST VA CLD +12HR: 13/2300Z SFC/FL160 N1430
W09053 - N1426 W09051 - N1359 W09204 - N1422
W09211 - N1430 W09053 

FCST VA CLD +18HR: 14/0500Z SFC/FL160 N1430
W09052 - N1426 W09050 - N1404 W09207 - N1425
W09210 - N1430 W09052 

RMK: VA EMS OBS ON STLT DISPERSING GEN SW APPRX
75 NM FM SUMMIT. WEBCAM SHOWS CONS PLUME FM
SUMMIT. NWP MDLS SUG GEN SW TO WSW MVMT THRU
T+18. ...EVANS

NXT ADVISORY: WILL BE ISSUED BY 20260813/1730Z

Tall lava fountain from Kilauea's Halema'uma'u crater late afternoon of 12 Aug 2026 local time (image: USGS / HVO webcam)

The 53rd lava fountaining episode from Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:45 p.m. HST on August 12 and continues as of this update.
Peak fountain heights have reached 500 ft (150 m) above ground level between 5:00 and 5:45 p.m. HST. The plume from this eruption is reaching over 18,000 feet above sea level. Ground-level sensors near the eruptive vents indicate that winds are blowing from the northeast carrying SO2 gas along with fine ash and Peleʻs hair to the southwest. Models, NWS data, and satellite images show the plume carrying gas and possibly fine ash and Peleʻs hair westward from the vent area.
Precursory low-level activity for this episode had began around 11:20 a.m. HST on August 12, 2026, with the onset of intermittent lava dome fountaining and overflows from the north vent. A second overflow
began at 11:35 and lasted roughly 4 minutes. Summit inflation is continuing.
All eruptive vents and lava flows are confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Tephra fall from volcanic ash clouds is greatest within 3 miles (5 km) of the vents, lighter ash and Pele’s Hair may stay suspended for large distances from the vents.
Three Kīlauea summit livestream videos that show eruptive lava fountains are available on the HVO’s youtube channel.