Schlagwort: volcano

Map of today’s active volcanoes

Karymsky (Kamchatka): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 6000 ft (1800 m) altitude or flight level 060 and is moving at 30 kts in E direction.
The full report is as follows: POSS ERUPTION OBS AT 20241020/1300Z FL060 EXTD E OBS VA DTG:20/1320Z to 6000 ft (1800 m)

Ibu (Halmahera, Indonesia): (20 Oct) Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 12000 ft (3700 m) altitude or flight level 120 .
The full report is as follows: DISCRETE VA TO FL120 MOV NE OBS VA DTG:20/0350Z to 12000 ft (3700 m)

Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: ERUPTION REPORTED AT 20/1319Z EST VA DTG:20/1510Z

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: LGT VA EMS to 20000 ft (6100 m)

Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): 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 EMS OBS to 20000 ft (6100 m)

Sangay (Ecuador): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA EMS HAS DISP

Reventador (Ecuador): 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 REPORTED to 13000 ft (4000 m)

Sabancaya (Peru): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Buenos Aires warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 22000 ft (6700 m) altitude or flight level 220 and is moving at 5 kts in NW direction.
The full report is as follows: continuous ash emissions to 22000 ft (6700 m)

Fantale (Ethiopia): (20 Oct) Since early September 2024, a series of earthquakes has been shaking the area between Fantale and Dofen volcano in the Awash area of central Ethiopia, about 150 km northeast from the capital Addis. Several quakes have reached magnitudes of up to almost 5 and destroyed many houses.
Ground cracks have opened up, and some of them began to erupt hot water, some in the form of small geysers and steam explosions. Satellite data show that the ground has risen by up to 30 cm over a length of around 10 km in the same area.
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This suggests that magma is currently intruding (or has intruded recently) underground. It might lead to a new eruption in the near future, or it might calm down and remain as an intrusion. This is something that cannot be predicted at this point, although the most recent information seems to suggest that the events have started to slow down.
Unfortunately, there is no (publicly accessible) earthquake network covering the area, so only the largest quakes (above magnitude 4.5 approx.) can be picked up by international seismic agencies. However, local reports indicate that a much larger number of smaller quakes have been occurring.

Volcano Activity Summary for 20 Oct 2024:

Satellite image of Ibu volcano on 20 Oct 2024

Ground deformation of the area around Fantale volcano (image: NERC COMET @NERC_COMET / X.com)

Since early September 2024, a series of earthquakes has been shaking the area between Fantale and Dofen volcano in the Awash area of central Ethiopia, about 150 km northeast from the capital Addis. Several quakes have reached magnitudes of up to almost 5 and destroyed many houses.
Ground cracks have opened up, and some of them began to erupt hot water, some in the form of small geysers and steam explosions. Satellite data show that the ground has risen by up to 30 cm over a length of around 10 km in the same area.
This suggests that magma is currently intruding (or has intruded recently) underground. It might lead to a new eruption in the near future, or it might calm down and remain as an intrusion. This is something that cannot be predicted at this point, although the most recent information seems to suggest that the events have started to slow down.

Unfortunately, there is no (publicly accessible) earthquake network covering the area, so only the largest quakes (above magnitude 4.5 approx.) can be picked up by international seismic agencies. However, local reports indicate that a much larger number of smaller quakes have been occurring.
Social media hint at Fentale volcano as the main suspect although the epicenter of quakes are closer to the neighboring Dofen volcano. Fantale is a prominent stratovolcano with a caldera that has been inactive for centuries while Dofen is a system of fissures and small cones with frequent eruptions in the (geologically recent) past, although none has been dated.

Sentinel-1 data show a magma intrusion occurred north of Fentale volcano, Ethiopia, on around 27 September, causing many felt M4+ earthquakes. Today’s acqcuisition shows deformation is now decreasing. Please follow Ethiopian experts at IGSSA for more information. pic.twitter.com/wOZv3RFCnx

— NERC COMET (@NERC_COMET) October 18, 2024

In any case, all available data strongly indicate that a magma intrusion has been taking place northeast of Fantale volcano. After all, this is a typical event in the Rift Valley, which owes is existence to the African Continental plate slowly being pulled apart by tectonic forces, resulting in frequent fissure eruptions that make up the valley floor. Whether of not the current episode of unrest will lead to an eruption remains to be seen.