Schlagwort: volcano

Strombolian eruptions from Etna’s New SE crater this evening (image: LAVE webcam from Schiena dell’Asino)

Although no paroxysm has occurred since the last one almost a week ago (on 22 Dec), Etna continues to erupt, mainly from the eastern summit vent of the New SE crater.

Intense strombolian activity is currently taking place there, with a slow, but noticeable tendency to increase during the past day. Whether this might be heading towards another fire fountaining phase (paroxysm) in a nearer future can only be speculated upon.

Tremor signal showing a slow, steady increase lately (image: INGV Catania)

Satellite imagery of Ruapehu volcano (image: Sentinel 2)

GeoNet reported that the crater lake temperature has decreased since the last update. On 21 December the temperature reached a maximum of 43 °C that subsequently declined to approx. 41 °C. A lake temperature peak of approximately 40-46 °C is common during the heating-cooling cycles. The lake temperature exceeded 40 °C on at least 7 occasions since 2007. According to lake temperature decrease, estimated energy into the crater lake has decreased from 400 MW to 200 MW.

The elevated tremor continues accompanied with volcano-tectonic earthquakes. The largest earthquake with magnitude M 2.2 located under the volcano occurred on 26 December. Volcanic earthquakes of this size are uncommon and the combination with elevated tremor and still high lake temperature indicate moderate to heightened volcanic unrest.

The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Source: GeoNet New Zealand volcano activity update 28 December 2020

Ruapehu volcano today (image: GeoNet)