Glowing rockfalls from the active lava dome (image: PVMBG)
The active lava dome continues to grow and produce incandescent rockfall avalanches that descended the SW slope of the volcano. Collapsing parts of the flow generated a small avalanches that lifted an ash plumes (so-called phoenix clouds). Pyroclastic flows – turbulent and hot avalanches of hot lava rocks, ash and volcanic gasses mixed together – are being released from the growing dome.
Emissions of steam and gases rose 1,300 ft ft (400 m) above the summit and drifted E-NE and W. The volcano’s official alert level remains at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public is being warned to stay at least 5 km away from the summit.
Phoenix clouds lifted from the avalanche accompanied by white gas and steam plume from the summit vent (image: PVMBG)
Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 8000 ft (2400 m) altitude or flight level 080 and is moving at 15 kts in S direction. The full report is as follows: VA EMISSIONS CONTINUING OBS VA DTG:14/1720Z to 8000 ft (2400 m)
Lewotolo (Lesser Sunda Islands): (14 Mar) 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 MOV SW OBS VA DTG:14/0010Z to 7000 ft (2100 m)
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA EMS HAVE DISP IN STLT IMAGERY
Pacaya (Guatemala): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 13000 ft (4000 m) altitude or flight level 130 . The full report is as follows: VA EMS OBS IN STLT IMAGERY to 13000 ft (4000 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 CLDS OBS IN STLT IMAGERY to 15000 ft (4600 m)
Sangay (Ecuador): (14 Mar) Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 21000 ft (6400 m) altitude or flight level 210 . The full report is as follows: ONGOING VA EMS to 21000 ft (6400 m)
