Global Volcano Watch

February 17, 2013 – ANDAMAN ISLANDS – A new eruption seems to have started. An ash plume rising to 20,000 ft (6 km) altitude and drifting 120 nautical miles to the SW was reported last night by VAAC Darwin. The aviation color code was raised to RED. This volcanic island stands in the midst of a volcanic belt on the edge of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates. Barren Island is located in the Andaman Sea, one of the most easterly of the Andaman Islands. It is the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia. Along with the rest of the Andamans, it is a part of the Indian Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and lies about 135 km (84 mi) northeast of the territory’s capital, Port Blair. The first recorded eruption of the volcano dates back to 1787. Since then, the volcano has erupted more than ten times, with the most recent one which started in September 2010 and continued through January 2011. –Volcano Discovery, Wikipedia

February 20, 2013 – ITALY – Italy’s Mount Etna sent lava and gas shooting toward the stars early this morning (Feb. 19), the first big eruption for the volcano in 2013. The famous Sicilian volcano burst to life overnight, sending a fountain of fire into the air. The dramatic scene was captured in a video by Klaus Dorschfeldt, a videographer and webmaster at Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, had emitted signs of an imminent paroxysm in recent weeks. On Jan. 22, lava and strong flashes in the volcano’s New Southeast Crater were clearly visible from the Sicilian foothills; these often herald a new paroxysm: short, violent eruptive bursts. Dorschfeldt said he knew Mount Etna’s recent signals could precede new activity. “I followed the activity of Etna for many years, and with time you learn to know it as if it were your friend,” he said in an email interview. “Following it constantly (you) learn to be a keen observer and a minor change can lead to something important,” he told OurAmazingPlanet. The tallest volcano in Europe, Mount Etna is almost constantly spewing gas or lava. Its Bocca Nuova crater also erupted earlier this year, from Jan. 10 to Jan. 20. In 2011, Etna’s violent bursts were spotted from space. –Live Science

February 24, 2013 – NEW ZEALAND — White Island is stirring again but volcanologists say activity within the crater is only minor. GNS has monitoring cameras in place at the volcano which take photos of the crater every 15 minutes and scientists noticed an increased level of activity between 11.30am and 1.30pm today. Duty volcanologist Arthur Jolly said the ash was confined to within the crater and would not affect aviation in the area. He was unsure as to what the rest of the weekend had to hold. “In certain volcanic systems you can see an evolution in the pattern and we know from many volcanoes worldwide that some volcanoes follow a pattern that leads to an eruption,” Jolly said. “But in this case, this volcano doesn’t follow this kind of set script.” By the end of last month the hot crater lake on White Island completely dried up as explosive rocks, mud and gas were thrown into the air from the active volcano. The volcano has been spewing a steady stream of gas since activity heated up in December. It’s the most active the volcano has been since 2000. –Stuff

(Reuters) - Hundreds of small earthquakes have shaken the earth around the Sabancaya volcano in southern Peru over just a few days and the rumbling, along with plumes of smoke spewing up to 320 feet high, have put officials on alert to evacuate the area. Peru's geological agency Ingemmet recorded some 536 quakes, about 20 an hour, on February 22 and 23 and periodic movement is ongoing. Thousands of people live in the valleys surrounding the volcano. Some have already started to leave the region because the unusual seismic activity has damaged their homes. About 80 homes were damaged by one temblor on February 22, Peru's national defense office said.

The 20,000-foot (6,000-meter) volcano Sabancaya, which means "tongue of fire" in Quechua, has not had a significant eruption in nearly a decade. It sits atop the South America tectonic plate, which forces magma to the surface when it clashes with the neighboring Nazca plate.

Volcanoes Today, 27 Feb 2013 - recent updates on world-wide volcanic activity: Stromboli
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): A new lava flow has started to descend the Sciara del Fuoco. Judging from webcam images, it has probably reached about 500 m elevation, but seems to be relatively well alimented.

March 6, 2013 – ITALY – Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano sent plumes of ash and lava into the night sky on the island of Sicily. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology has recently registered increased explosive activity by the volcano, Italy’s Civil Protection agency said. There are several inhabited villages on the slopes of Mount Etna. Eruptions are not infrequent, and Italian airliners sometimes have to alter their routes to avoid flying through ash clouds. Tuesday’s eruption did not cause any interruption to air traffic at the airport serving the nearby town of Catania, according to reports. -Telegraph

March 8, 2013 – JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia scientists say they are closely monitoring a smoking volcano on Java Island, urging villagers and tourists to stay off the mountain’s slope. Government volcanologist Hendra Gunawan said Thursday that Mount Tangkuban Perahu in West Java province shot up smoke and ash nearly 500 meters (1,640 feet) into the air since Monday, and was placed at the second-highest alert level. It does not send debris or lava far down its slopes and nearby towns and villages were in no danger, but authorities warned tourists off limit its danger zone of 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the crater, citing a build-up of poison gas inside the peaks. The 2,084 meter (6,837 feet)-high mountain is one of Java’s most popular tourist attractions where people can hike to the edge of the crater to view boiling mud up close. It last erupted in 1983. –News Observer

Strong degassing at Soufriere Hills volcano: Pungent fumes drifting over Antigua from Montserrat’s volcano sparked alarm yesterday, prompting disaster chiefs to issue a health alert. The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) told OBSERVER media that staff had received a number of calls from concerned members of the public complaining about a stench of sulfur. Director Philmore Mullin said a change in wind had blown gases from the Soufriere Hills volcano over to the island. He advised residents with sensitive eyes, or who suffer from asthma or other respiratory illnesses, to stay indoors. Sulfur dioxide is irritating to the eyes, throat and airways. It can cause a burning sensation, difficulty breathing for those with pre-existing conditions, and tightness in the chest. Mullin said, “We received several calls from people complaining about a foul smell, something like sulfur, so I called our counterparts in Montserrat and they confirmed there had been a wind change and fumes from the volcano were now coming our way.” He continued that emissions were not unusual for this time of year and that there was no immediate need to panic. “If you stand outdoors long enough and stick your tongue out, you will definitely get a sulfur taste. “People with respiratory issues may see some moderate attacks and if you have sensitive eyes, you could also feel burning.” The NODS director said there was a chance the gas could bring on an asthma attack. International guidelines suggest prolonged or repeated exposure to sulfur dioxide can be dangerous for people with pre-existing heart and lung diseases. –Antigua Observer

March 16, 2013 – ALASKA – A NASA satellite captured a small cloud of ash puffing from the top of Cleveland volcano on March 14, 2013. Who needs TV in Alaska when you’ve got Mount Cleveland to watch? The ever-simmering volcano in the Aleutian Islands has once again let out an ash plume just one month after last being upgraded after satellite imagery indicated increased temperatures in the peak. NASA’s Earth Observatory released a photo Friday showing a small ash cloud emanating from Cleveland and a field of ash staining the volcano’s winter-white summit. The volcano rests on an uninhabited island about 45 miles west of the community of Nikolski. Cleveland had been listed under “advisory” status by the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) on Wednesday, meaning that it was showing signs of unrest beyond normal background levels, but no imminent indications of eruption. Satellite imagery on a clear day Wednesday suggested no unusual activity at the volcano. In the most recent weekly report for Cleveland, observers said that temperatures in the dome had returned to normal in late February, prompting a downgrade from the “watch” status the volcano had been under. “Anomalous surface temperatures prevalent in late January through mid-February declined, and the last thermal anomaly observed in satellite imagery was reported on February 26,” researchers said, before downgrading the volcano to its current status. Chris Waythomas, a geologist with the AVO, said that Thursday’s ash burp was nothing alarming, or even out of the ordinary, for Cleveland. “If you were to look at the summit of some other pretty constantly active volcanoes … they’d look very similar,” Waythomas said. He said that the peak of Cleveland is typically pretty warm, and almost always snow-free, whether from the heat or from wind in the weather-weary Aleutians blowing across the summit. Cleveland has no real-time monitoring due to its remoteness, so scientists rely on distant seismic equipment and satellite imagery — the latter of which is only really helpful on days when it’s not cloudy. “We’ve been keeping a pretty close eye on it — or as close as we can — and satellite data indicates the lava dome in the crater hasn’t changed at all,” Waythomas said. He said that the internal heat of the volcano can cause steam, and some ash to burst out of the peak on a regular basis, though it doesn’t rise much beyond a couple of hundred feet. –Alaska Dispatch http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130315/alaskas-ever-sizzling-cleveland-volcano-releases-ash-plume

With all of the solar CMEs - the volcanoes are more active.

March 17, 2013 – INDONESIA – A small explosive eruption occurred this morning at around 08:05 local time, generating a small ash plume rising a few hundred meters above the crater. Marapi volcano, one of Sumatra’s most active, has been producing intermittent explosions with ash plumes up to 1 km high frequently since August 2011. For Indonesian standards, this is no big activity, and Indonesia’s Volcanological Survey maintains alert level II only. A larger explosive eruption from Karkar volcano (PNG) produced an ash plume rising to 28,000 ft (8.5 km). The plume is rapidly drifting NW. Activity at the Colima volcano (Mexico) continues to increase. The new lava dome in the summit crater has apparently grown enough that incandescent lava could soon start descending into the Lumbre canyon on the western flank and produce pyroclastic flows, scientists from the university of Colima have warned. In a similar way, the Cordobán and Monte Grande canyons in southwestern and southern flanks are at increased risk, and Civil Protection has advised the population to avoid these valleys. –Volcano Discovery

Quake rattles dormant NZ volcano: Two earthquakes, within minutes of each other, have rattled Aucklanders and put cracks in some driveways, but experts say it’s nothing to worry about. The first quake, registering just over three on the Richter scale, hit just after 4pm and was felt in parts of Auckland. A bigger 3.9 quake centred on Motutapu Island beside the volcano Rangitoto sent many scurrying into the streets. Although the quakes were small, both were shallow, at less than 6km deep. Auckland is believed to be far from major fault lines, but the city is built on a field of more than 40 volcanoes, the youngest of which – Rangitot0 – blew up only 700 years ago. -ID

Shiveluch unleashes ash plume: Kamchatka’s Shiveluch volcano in the Russian Far East has been spewing ash to a height of 6 kilometers above sea level. There is no danger to the population; no volcanic dust has been recorded in surrounding villages. In the last 24 hours around 90 local quakes have been registered at Shiveluch. This volcano is the northernmost, and one of the most restless of Kamchatka’s active volcanoes. –English Ruvr

Increased activity at Ecuadorian volcano: Several Ecuadorian zones in the provinces of Tungurahua and Chimborazo remain today on orange alert due to the increased activity of the Tungurahua volcano, located 80 kilometers south of Quito, which was rated high by the Geological Institute (IG). The National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR) raised the alert from yellow to orange in areas of those provinces located close to the volcano. The IG report noted that activity in the Tungurahua increased substantially by generating columns of ash and gases, the highest rose to about four kilometers above the crater. Noises have been longer, lava fountains or constant emissions of incandescent material were observed rising 200 to 300 meters above the crater. This activity is expected to increase with incandescent flows down streams. There are reports of ash falling in the towns of El Manzano, Palitagua and Chogluntus. There is also a report of material rolling in the upper headwaters of the Rio Ulba. This volcano erupted in 1999 and has since periods of high activity interspersed with periods of relative calm. The Tungurahua is located in the Royal Mountain Range of the Andes (Cordillera Real de los Andes) in Ecuador and has a height of 5,020 meters. –Prensa Latina

The Icelandic Meteorological Office has informed the National Commissioner for Civil unusual Seismicity at Hekla. IMO has also increased monitoring points Hekla to yellow due to air traffic, which means that the volcano show unusual activity.

Uncertainty level civil means for increased monitoring of the actions of that at a later stage could lead to health and human safety, environmental or building will be threatened. To describe the level of uncertainty is part of the processes in the organization of civil protection to ensure formal communication and information. Uncertainty level is declared to inform the appropriate emergency and is a process in civil emergency planning and the lowest of the three.

In light of this, will the National Police Commissioner and the Commissioner of Hvolsvöllur warn people on journeys while Hekla uncertainty level is valid. Translated: National Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner of Hvolsvöllur declare confidence level of civil eruptions of Hekla

http://volcanocafe.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/continued-activity-at-el-hierro/



Volcano Activity

Event date: 26.03.2013 11:57:26
Country: Iceland
State: Southern Iceland
Location:- [Hekla Volcano]

Volcano Activity in Iceland on Tuesday, 26 March, 2013 at 11:57 (11:57 AM) UTC.
Base data
EDIS Number: VA-20130326-38648-ISL
Event type: Volcano Activity
Date/Time: Tuesday, 26 March, 2013 at 11:57 (11:57 AM) UTC
Last update: ---
Cause of event:
Damage level: Unknown Damage level
Geographic information
Continent: Europe
Country: Iceland
County / State: Southern Iceland
Area: Hekla Volcano
City:
Coordinate: N 64° 0.000, W 19° 40.000

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_summary&edis_id=VA-20130326-38648-ISL

March 26, 2013 – ICELAND – Icelandic police say seismic activity near the Hekla volcano has prompted them to declare an “uncertainty phase” — the lowest level of civil warning. Monitoring of the area in southern Iceland has been increased. Police advise people not to hike in the area, though it is not forbidden. Vidir Reynisson, the department manager for civil protection, said Tuesday that a swarm of earthquakes prompted the warning but are not necessarily a sign of pending eruption. Scientists worry that Hekla is overdue for an eruption; in recent decades it has erupted roughly every 10 years, most recently in 2000. Concern about seismic activity in the north Atlantic nation has grown since April 2010, when ash from the Eyjafjallajokul volcano grounded flights across Europe for days, disrupting travel for 10 million people. –CTV News

Peruvian volcano on verge of eruption: Peruvian scientists have warned that Arequipa’s Sabancaya Volcano is currently in a pre-eruptive stage. According to Domingo Ramos, head of volcano monitoring at Peru’s Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute (Ingemmet), Sabancaya’s activity has led the agency to issue a yellow alert. “We have already talked with local authorities so that they can warn the nearby population, about the volcano’s status, and how to prepare before an eventual eruption,” Ramos said according to the daily. Sabancaya, he said, is currently emitting large plumes of smoke, and is seeing between 300 and 500 seismic movements, Peruthisweek.com reported quoting Peru21. Fredy Apaza, a chemist at Ingemmet, said the signs of continuous gas release indicates that magma is rising to the surface, but said the agency was not yet able to estimate how much magma could be on the way. “That’s why Ingemmet has installed volcanological equipment and telemetry in strategic points at Sabancaya, we expect results within 15 days,” he said. -Andina

March 29, 2013 – INDONESIA – VSI raised the alert level to the third highest level Siaga (3 out of 4) for Indonesia’s volatile Dieng volcano, because significant changes were observed at the crater lake. The most spectacular was the change of the lake water color to dark brown on 24 March. In addition, a significant increase in CO2 concentration within 500 m from the Timbang crater was measured, from 0.01% (by volume) in early March to 2.5% between 11 and 15 March. Also the emissions of the magmatic gas H2S increased. The now elevated gas concentrations are becoming a significant hazard (illustrated by a cat found suffocated by CO2). Therefore, it is strongly advised not to approach the Timbang crater within one kilometer to avoid the risk of suffocation, due to the high CO2 concentrations (note that CO2 is absolutely odorless and lethal when inhaled in larger quantities). –Volcano Discovery


Saturday, Mar 30, 2013 - Small lava overflow from the NE crater of Stromboli - Activity remains elevated. A small lava overflow has started from the NE crater, accompanied by relatively strong tremor and explosion signals visible on the seismic signal.


Saturday Mar 30, 2013 09:59 AM - The "Volcano of Fire" has become a tourist attraction with now up to 200 weak to moderate explosions per day, and frequent incandescent rockfalls / small pyroclastic flows that descend the flank of the volcano to a length of up to 1.5 km and are a spectacular view at night.
Melchor Ursua Quiroz, director of the State's Civil Protection unit, said that the Fuego de Colima volcano is currently the most active of the country, and has recently increased its explosive activity. In an article in the El Universal newspaper, he "rules out" any risk for the population. A 8 km exclusion zone is in place around the volcano and the governments of Colima and Jalisco are on permanent alert.


El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain): Friday, Mar 29, 2013 - Another large quake of magnitude 4.6, which was widely felt on the island, just occurred at 08:14 GMT at 18 km depth about 10 km west of the island under the seabed. ...

Volcano Activity Summary for 29 Mar 2013:
Currently erupting:
Ambrym (Vanuatu): active lava lakes in several craters (updated 22 Mar 2013)
Bagana (Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea): occasional ash explosions (updated 25 Mar 2013)
Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): strombolian explosions, ash plumes up to 500 m, extrusion of a small lava dome with rockfalls (updated 26 Mar 2013)
Colima (Western Mexico): growing lava dome, small explosions (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Erebus (Antarctica): active lava lake in summit crater (updated 21 Jan 2012)
Erta Ale (Ethiopia): active lava lake in northern pit crater, active hornito with intermittend flow in southern crater (updated 11 Jan 2013)
Etna (Sicily, Italy): Etna's New SE crater paroxysm - videos (updated 16 Mar 2013)
Fuego (Guatemala): strombolian explosions, lava flow on southern flank (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Gamalama (Halmahera): ash eruptions since 17 Sep (updated 17 Sep 2012)
Heard (Australia, Southern Indian Ocean): possible lava lake in summit crater (updated 26 Mar 2013)
Karkar (Northeast of New Guinea): possible ash eruption on 1 February (updated 15 Mar 2013)
Kilauea (Hawai'i): lava lakes in Halemau'uma'u and Pu'u 'O'o, lava flows on coastal flat and weakly active ocean entries (updated 21 Mar 2013)
Kizimen (Kamchatka): growing lava dome, lava flow on eastern flank, avalanches (updated 20 Mar 2013)
Lokon-Empung (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): frequent small to moderate ash explosions (updated 25 Mar 2013)
Manam (Papua New Guinea): steaming, occasional ash venting (updated 27 Mar 2013)
Nyiragongo (DRCongo): active lava lake in summit crater (updated 22 Mar 2013)
Ol Doinyo Lengai (Tanzania): spattering and lava flows of natrocarbonatite lava inside the summit crater (updated 9 Dec 2012)
Paluweh (off Flores Island, Indonesia): active growing lava dome (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Rabaul (Tavurvur) (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): ash emissions, small explosions (updated 14 Mar 2013)
Raung (East Java): mild strombolian eruption inside the crater (updated 8 Nov 2012)
Reventador (Ecuador): growing lava dome, lava flows on upper flank, frequent explosions (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): 0-3 weak to moderate vulcanian-style explosions per day, ash clouds up to 2-3 km altitude (updated 25 Mar 2013)
Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): advancing viscous active lava flows, weak occasional explosions (updated 27 Mar 2013)
Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): growing lava dome, ash venting and small to moderate explosions (updated 25 Jul 2012)
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): slow dome growth, occasional explosions and pyroclastic flows (updated 20 Mar 2013)
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): strong strombolian explosions, intermittent small lava overspills (updated 27 Mar 2013)
Tinakula (Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands): increased activity at the volcano (updated 8 Feb 2013)
Tolbachik (Kamchatka): effusion of fluid lava flows (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Yasur (Tanna Island, Vanuatu): strong strombolian activity (level 3), crater currently closed (updated 12 Mar 2013)

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/31674/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-29-Mar-2013-Popocatepetl-Dieng-El-Hierro.html

Eruption warning / minor activity:
Bezymianny (Central Kamchatka Depression): slow lava flow extrusion from dome (updated 10 Mar 2013)
Chirpoi (Kurile Islands, Russia): thermal anomaly at summit crater, steaming (updated 9 Jan 2013)
Dieng (Central Java): increased degassing (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Dukono (Halmahera): thermal anomaly, probably small explosive activity in summit crater (updated 15 Mar 2013)
El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain): strong seismic swarm west of the island, inflation (updated 29 Mar 2013)
Galeras (Colombia): seismic unrest, occasional ash venting (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Gorely (Southern Kamchatka): strong steaming (updated 10 Mar 2013)
Grozny (Iturup Island): fumarolic activity (updated 20 Feb 2013)
Ibu (Halmahera, Indonesia): Thermal anomalies indicate continuing eruption, possible lava dome growth (updated 18 Oct 2012)
Karangetang (Siau Island, Sangihe Islands, Indonesia): hot spot visible at the summit (updated 27 Jan 2013)
Karymsky (Kamchatka): occasional small explosions, thermal anomaly (updated 10 Mar 2013)
Kirishima (Kyushu): degassing, slightly increased seismic activity (updated 30 Jul 2012)
Krakatau (Sunda Strait, Indonesia): strong degassing (updated 1 Oct 2012)
Langila (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): occasional ash explosions (updated 11 Feb 2013)
Marapi (Western Sumatra, Indonesia): intermittent mild ash explosions (updated 17 Mar 2013)
Medvezhia (Kurile Islands, Russia): strong steaming, thermal anomaly (updated 17 Jan 2013)
Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): steaming, weak ash venting (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Nyamuragira (DRCongo): Fort dégazage du cratère sommital (updated 27 Apr 2012)
Pacaya (Guatemala): weak strombolian activity from Mackenney crater (updated 27 Mar 2013)
Pagan (Mariana Islands): steaming, thermal anomaly (updated 12 Dec 2012)
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): steam and ash emissions (updated 29 Mar 2013)
Rasshua (Central Kuriles)
Rincón de la Vieja (Costa Rica): small phreatic eruption on 11 April (updated 6 Oct 2012)
Sabancaya (Peru)
Sacabaya (Northern Chile, Bolivia and Argentina)
Sangay (Ecuador): no recent explosions reported (updated 25 Feb 2013)
Soputan (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): new eruption on 18 (updated 9 Nov 2012)
Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): steaming, occasional weak eruptions, elevated seismicity (updated 23 Feb 2013)
Telica (Nicaragua): ongoing seismic swarm (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Tungurahua (Ecuador): steaming, small explosions and weak ash venting (updated 26 Mar 2013)
Turrialba (Costa Rica): vigorous steaming, occasional phreatic explosions (updated 17 Mar 2013)
Ulawun (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): ash emissions and rumblings heard (updated 23 Mar 2013)
Villarrica (Central Chile): weak deep-seated explosive activity, steaming (updated 20 Jan 2013)
White Island (New Zealand): minor mud and steam explosions from the active crater (updated 28 Mar 2013)

Restless / uncertain activity:
Aoba (Vanuatu): minor phreatic activity from Lake Vui (updated 8 Feb 2013)
Askja (Central Iceland): increased seismicity (updated 27 Mar 2013)
Bárdarbunga (Iceland): earthquake swarm (updated 26 Jan 2013)
Barren Island (Indian Ocean)
Bromo (East Java, Indonesia): seismic unrest, steaming (updated 3 Oct 2012)
Campi Flegrei (Phlegrean Fields) (Italy): swarm of small earthquakes related to bradyseismus (updated 6 Feb 2013)
Chaitén (Southern Chile and Argentina)
Changbaishan (China / North Korea border): increased seismic and degassing activity, deformation (updated 29 Sep 2012)
Cleveland (Aleutian Islands, Alaska): lava dome growing (updated 9 Mar 2013)
Concepción (Nicaragua): seismic unrest (updated 23 Jan 2013)
Copahue (Chile/Argentina): seismic swarms (updated 19 Feb 2013)
Cumbal (Colombia): continuing seismic swarms (updated 31 Jan 2013)
Gamkonora (Halmahera): alert level lowered to yellow (updated 14 Sep 2012)
Gaua (Vanuatu)
Hakone (Honshu)
Hekla (Iceland): seismic unrest (updated 26 Mar 2013)
Ijen (East Java, Indonesia): increased steaming and seismicity, alert level raised on 24 July (updated 17 Apr 2012)
Irazu (Costa Rica)
Iwo-jima (Volcano Islands): weak degassing, occasional volcanic tremors (updated 22 Jan 2013)
Katla (Southern Iceland): occasional seismic swarms (updated 17 Aug 2012)
Kerinci (Sumatra)
Ketoi (Kurile Islands, Russia)
Kliuchevskoi (Kamchatka): weak seismic activity (updated 19 Mar 2013)
Kuchinoerabu-jima (Ryukyu Islands)
Kverkfjöll (Eastern Iceland): occasional small earthquake swarms (updated 21 Oct 2012)
Laguna del Maule (Central Chile): seismic unrest, deformation (updated 9 Mar 2013)
Lewotobi (Flores): steaming and seismic activity decreased, alert lowered back to 1 (out of 4) (updated 5 Apr 2012)
Loihi (United States, Hawaiian Islands): Magnitude 4.2 earthquake at Loihi (updated 26 Nov 2012)
Machin (Colombia): elevated seismic activity (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Masaya (Nicaragua): elevated seismic activity (updated 28 Mar 2013)
Mauna Loa (Big Island, Hawai'i)
Mayon (Luzon Island): steaming, increased earthquakes, slight inflation (updated 11 Nov 2012)
Merapi (Central Java): Dome collapse sometime in October (updated 21 Oct 2012)
Mt Fuji (Honshu): earthquakes at the end of January and in February 2012, new craters reported, increasing fumarolic activity (updated 4 Feb 2013)
Nevado del Huila (Colombia): degassing (updated 31 Jan 2013)
Papandayan (West Java): alert status back to 2 (updated 1 Feb 2012)
Poas (Costa Rica): Small phreatic explosions on 29 October (updated 14 Mar 2013)
Reclus (Southern Chile and Argentina): increased number of earthquakes (updated 31 Aug 2012)
Rinjani (Lombok)
San Cristobal (Nicaragua): seismic unrest (updated 28 Mar 2013)
San Miguel (El Salvador): seismic unrest (updated 19 Mar 2013)
Sangeang Api (Indonesia): occasional weak steaming (updated 3 Jan 2013)
Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia)
Siple (Marie Byrd Land, Western Antarctica): possible steaming detected on 20 June (updated 28 Jun 2012)
Sirung (Pantar Island, Indonesia ): steaming and elevated seismicity (updated 27 May 2012)
Slamet (Central Java): degassing, strong fumaroles (updated 9 Aug 2012)
Sotará (Colombia): weak seismic unrest (updated 31 Jan 2013)
Soufriere Hills (Montserrat, West Indies (UK)): seismic unrest, occasional light ash venting (updated 21 Mar 2013)
Tahalra Volcanic Field (Algeria): 2 km deep volcanic earthquake on 14 february (updated 17 Feb 2013)
Talang (Sumatra)
Tiatia (Kunashir Island): weak thermal anomaly (updated 6 Sep 2012)
Tjörnes Fracture Zone (North of Iceland): continuing earthquake swarm (updated 1 Mar 2013)
To-shima (Izu Islands): seismic swarm (updated 10 Mar 2013)
Tongariro (North Island, New Zealand): strong steaming from Te Maari craters, slightly elevated seismic activity (updated 19 Feb 2013)
Torfajökull (Iceland): earthquake swarm (updated 17 Feb 2013)


Volcanic activity worldwide 28 Mar 2013: Fuego, Colima, Popocatépetl, Reventador, Galeras, White Is...

El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain): The latest CO2 measurements show a significantly higher than normal level of gas emission, consistent with fresh magma arriving from deeper sources.
...28 Mar:

Another strong pulse of tremor and earthquakes (including a felt 3.8 magnitude event a short time ago) is in progress. The hypocenters of quakes have "dived" to 18-20 km depth, which could suggest a new batch of magma arriving from depth.

Tolbachik (Kamchatka): Volcanic tremor increased slightly and lava continues to effuse from the fissure vent and feed two main flow fields.
No changes were reported recently for the other volcanoes in Kamchatka: seismicity remains at a moderate level at both Sheveluch and Kizimen volcanoes (lava dome building), while Tolbachik's tremor overrides the seismic signals from Bezymianny, which also has been effusing its lava dome for years.
... [read more]

Paluweh (off Flores Island, Indonesia): The lava dome on the island remains very active with now more or less daily ash plumes observed rising to 10,000 ft (3 km) elevation,- sign that active dome growth continues along with associated rockfalls / pyroclastic flows and explosions / ash venting.

White Island (New Zealand): Volcanic tremor is continuous and at high levels. Strong steaming can be seen on the webcam.
GNS reported increased CO2 emission (1,950 tons/day on 03 March vs 2,400 tons/day on 26 March), which likely indicates influx of fresh magma at depth.

Colima (Western Mexico): Explosions and incandescent rockfalls sometimes forming small pyroclastic flows on the flanks of the volcano remain frequent. The rockfalls from the growing dome provide a spectacular show at night.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): the current phase of elevated activity continues. Emissions of steam and gas and small to moderate explosions have risen to an average of 3 per hour and sometimes merged into continuous activity yesterday and today. Some of the stronger explosions ejected lava bombs to distances of 1 km from the crater and produced plumes of steam and ash rising up to 1.5 km.
CENAPRED also recorded spasmodic tremor segments of high frequency and low amplitude.

Fuego (Guatemala): An increase in explosive activity is apparent from the volcano observatory's daily reports. For the past 24 hours between yesterday and today, 13 explosions (7 weak and 6 moderate in size) were reported with ash plume heights up to 1200 m above the crater.
The plumes drifted 8-12 km to the west and southwest and caused light ash falls in the areas Panimaché I and II, Morelia and Santa Sofía.

Telica (Nicaragua): The earthquake swarm continues with high amplitude but less frequent quakes.

San Cristobal (Nicaragua): A phase of stronger tremor has occurred today.

Masaya (Nicaragua): Volcanic tremor has been fluctuating between elevated levels (such as yesterday and this morning) and normal background levels to which is has decreased again now.

Machin (Colombia): Seismic activity remains elevated with frequent earthquake swarms. A probably shallow swarm occurred yesterday, but has now eased again. INGEOMINAS locates most volcanic-tectonic earthquakes in an area SE of the dome at depths between 3.5 - 8 km. No surface activity has been observed (yet).

Galeras (Colombia): During clear days, steaming and occasional weak ash venting (on 22 and 25 March) was observed. Seismic activity has shown a decreasing trend recently, INGEOMINAS reported. Most earthquakes detected at the volcano recently were related to internal fluid movements and of weak energy.

Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): No significant changes in activity have been reported in recent days. Small bursts of small volcanic-tectonic earthquakes, indicators of frequent small magma intrusions, continue to show up almost daily, and are clustered mostly in an area northeast and northwest of the Arenas crater at shallow depths between 0.5-8 km.
Strong degassing accompanies this process at the surface. A large SO2 plume was visible on yesterday's NOAA satellite data.

Reventador (Ecuador): A steam column was seen rising 1 km above the crater yesterday. Seismic activity remains alternating between periods of calm and bursts of tremor / explosion signals.

April 3, 2013 - New research by The Open University and Lancaster University discovered another type of Icelandic volcanic eruption that could cause disruption.
Published in Geology (February 2013), the team found magma that is twice as 'fizzy' as previously believed, which increases the likelihood of disruptive ash clouds from future eruptions.

Many of the largest explosive eruptions in Iceland involve a viscous, high-silica magma called rhyolite, and are driven by volcanic gases (mostly water and carbon dioxide). It is these gases that give a volcanic eruption its fizz. At depth these gases are dissolved within the magma, but as the magma rises towards the surface during an eruption, the gases expand dramatically, causing the magma to froth and accelerate upwards as a foam. The viscous rhyolite foam breaks down into tiny ash fragments which form the ash clouds...

Previously scientists had thought that Icelandic magma was less fizzy than those from Pacific Ocean volcanoes and expected much less explosive eruptions by comparison. However, this new research suggests some Icelandic volcanoes could produce eruptions just as explosive as those in the Pacific Rim...
Dr Dave McGarvie, Senior Lecturer, Volcano Dynamics Group at The Open University, said: "We know that large explosive eruptions have occurred at infamous volcanoes such as Hekla and Katla, but it is important also to appreciate that large explosive eruptions are also produced by less well-known Icelandic volcanoes such as Torfajokull and Oraefajokull."

Dr Hugh Tuffen, Royal Society University Research Fellow at Lancaster University, said: "The discovery is rather worrying, as it shows that Icelandic volcanoes have the potential to be even more explosive than anticipated. Added to this is the view of several eminent scientists that Iceland is entering a period of increased volcanic activity. Iceland's position close to mainland Europe and the north Atlantic flight corridors means air travel could be affected again."

April 8, 2013 – VANUATU – Authorities in Vanuatu have upgraded the alert level of an active volcano on the island of Tanna. The Department of Meteorology and Geohazards says there’s been an increase in explosive activity at the Yasur volcano. Yasur, which is known for its consistent eruptions, has been upgraded to alert level two due to an increase in explosions and ash eruptions being observed. Geophysical engineer at the Department, Sylvain Todman, says communities living near Yasur have been warned to take precautions as activity grows. “It means more explosions, an increase of explosivity, more ash falling down to the close village and a lot of ash and some (volcanic) bombs falling down,” she said. Ms Todman says the Department of Meteorology and Geohazards is closely monitoring the volcano and will prepare a response plan if the alert level increases to three. –Radio Australia

April 8, 2013 – AZERBEIJAN - Akhtarma-Pashali mud volcano in Hajigabul region of Azerbaijan has erupted, head of the ANAS Institute of Geology’s Mud Volcano Department Adil Aliyev told APA. He said the eruption was recorded on April 1. The scientists of the Institute of Geology have carried out research in the area: “This is one of the largest volcanoes of Azerbaijan. Volcano is located 35 km from Shirvan city – in the south-eastern Shirvan. The volcano erupted for the first time in 1948, this is the 7th eruption.” Aliyev said that along with mud the eruption also spouted a great deal of various rocks. “The volcano mud covered 18 hectares, the total area is 220 000 cu m. The average thickness of the spouted material is 120 cm. A lot of cracks have appeared as a result of the volcano. One of them is too big. It spread out over 2 km. The depth of the crack is 2 m, width between 30 – 80 cm. At present the volcano has calmed down. Usually flames are observed when mud volcanoes erupt. No flame is observed in this volcano,” he said. According to the department chief, the diameter of the volcano is about 10 sq km meters: “Several volcanic areas separated from each other are located in the crater of eruption. Every time eruption occurs in a separated volcanic area. 21 percent of mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan pull a lot of oil out of surface. This volcano is also spewing oil. Oil soaked into all wastes. It should be noted that there was also oil shale. All of them will be studied in the laboratory and concrete information about the oil and gas resources of the area will be obtained after the tests.” –NEWS.AZ

April 13, 2013 – MEXICO – A phase of stronger, continuous emissions has started short time ago, accompanied by strong tremor. Over the past days, the volcano had been relatively calm, with 1-2 weak gas-steam-ash explosions per hour. Volcán Popocatépetl, whose name is the Aztec word for smoking mountain, towers to 5426 m 70 km SE of Mexico City to form North America’s 2nd-highest volcano. The glacier-clad stratovolcano contains a steep-walled, 250-450 m deep crater. The generally symmetrical volcano is modified by the sharp-peaked Ventorrillo on the NW, a remnant of an earlier volcano. At least three previous major cones were destroyed by gravitational failure during the Pleistocene, producing massive debris-avalanche deposits covering broad areas south of the volcano. The modern volcano was constructed to the south of the late-Pleistocene to Holocene El Fraile cone. Three major plinian eruptions, the most recent of which took place about 800 AD, have occurred from Popocatépetl since the mid Holocene, accompanied by pyroclastic flows and voluminous lahars that swept basins below the volcano. Frequent historical eruptions, first recorded in Aztec codices, have occurred since pre-columbian time. –Volcano Discovery

Activity remains elevated. Lava continues to overspill from the lips of the NE crater, showing that the magma column stands high inside the conduit. Frequent strombolian explosions are reaching heights of 2-300 m and the tremor signal is strong again today.

April 22, 2013 – INDONESIA - Contrary to earlier reports, no building collapsed due to the quake. But at least 311 houses were damaged. 34 of them with severe and 27 with moderate damage. Besides to the damage, 2 people were injured by the quake. A woman and her child suffered fractures and were taken to a nearby hospital. Evacuated people are gradually returning to their villages due to a decrease in volcanic activity of the Dieng volcano complex. At least 3 buildings in local villages collapsed due to the shaking. 9 additional buildings were affected with major damage. Nobody was injured. It is expected that this quake was tectonic nature, but with probably related to Deng volcano. 86 weaker earthquakes followed the main shock within 25 minutes. Cracks in walls and further damaged houses are the result of this Dieng earthquake which has also a volcanic basis. 1000 people have been evacuated to shelters provided by the Indonesian authorities. The earthquakes are part of the activity of the Dieng volcano. The alert level has been raised to Siaga on March 27. The volcano last eruption was in 2009. –Earthquake Report

May 7, 2013 – PHILIPPINES - One of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes spewed huge rocks and ash after daybreak Tuesday, killing at least five climbers and trapping more than a dozen others near the crater in its first eruption in three years, officials said. Rescue teams and helicopters were sent to Mayon volcano in the central Philippines to bring out the dead. At least seven were injured from a group of about 20 mountaineers who were caught by surprise by the sudden eruption, Albay provincial Gov. Joey Salceda said. Clouds have cleared over the volcano, which was quiet later in the morning. The climbers who died were struck by huge rocks, guide Kenneth Jesalva told ABS-CBN TV network by cell phone from a camp near the crater. They included a German, an Austrian and a Filipino. The injured included foreigners and Filipino guides. Some were in critical condition, said the chief of the national disaster agency, Eduardo del Rosario. Jesalva said he was in the group that spent the night on the picturesque mountain, known for its almost-perfect cone, when the volcano rumbled back to life early in the morning and rocks “as big as a living room” came raining down on them. He rushed back to the base camp to call for help. The head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Renato Solidum, said Tuesday’s eruption was normal for the restive Mayon, about 340 kilometers (212 miles) southeast of Manila. It has erupted about 40 times during the last 400 years. In 2010, thousands of residents moved to temporary shelters when the volcano ejected ash in an 8-kilometer (5-mile) zone surrounding the crater. Solidum said that no alert was raised for the volcano following the latest eruption and no evacuation was being planned. Climbers are not allowed when an alert is up, and the recent calm may have encouraged this week’s trek. –Yahoo News

Indonesia’s Lokon erupts: Another explosion occurred yesterday evening. It was heard in up to 6 km distance and incandescent bombs were ejected to 200 m distance from the Tompaluan crater. The eruption was preceded by an increase in seismic activity starting Saturday night, the local volcano observatory reported. An exclusion zone of 2.5 km radius from the volcano remains in place. –Volcano Discovery

Another Indonesian volcano awakening: Increased seismic activity was detected at the Papandayan volcano and VSI raised the alert level to 3 out of 4 (“Siaga, warning”) yesterday. Sudden phreatic explosions could occur with little warning at the volcano and present a significant hazard to visitors to the crater, which is a popular tourist site due to its varied, intense hydrothermal activity and colorful active fumaroles. The volcano last erupted in 2002. –Volcano Discovery

5.8 magnitude earthquake strikes Fiji: A 5.8 magnitude earthquake violently struck the Fiji Islands within the last hour. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that 5.8 shake was 239km NNE of Ceva-i-Ra, Fiji and hit at approximately 10:10:55 UTC. According to the U.S.-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, a destructive tsunami was not generated, based on earthquake and historical tsunami data. This is the first quake to hit the Fiji Islands since a 5.5 tremor was recorded on April 19, 2013. Though it was a strong earthquake reports suggest it was a safe distance from Suva, Fiji. A statement from the Mineral Resources Department’s Seismology Section explained that it was a medium-sized magnitude earthquake. The department said there was no felt report from the nearby places since the event source was very deep. In the past year, the Fiji Islands region has been hit with 112 earthquakes. –Guardian

May 9, 2013 – MEXICO – Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano has spewed ash over several towns in the central state of Puebla, just 55 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of Mexico City, but the country’s capital was spared. The volcano blew a huge stack of smoke that went 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) skyward late Tuesday, but surrounding residents were not in danger, said Jesus Morales, Puebla’s civil protection director. A three-centimeter (one-inch) thick carpet of ash covered nearby towns, forcing people to wear masks. The National Disaster Prevention Center said Wednesday that ash also fell in the state capital of Puebla. The 5,452-meter (17,900-foot) high Popocatepetl is Mexico’s second highest peak after the Citlaltepetl volcano. -HP

May 13, 2013 – MEXICO – Mexican authorities raised the alert level for the Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City on Sunday morning after observing an increased level of explosive activity. The lava dome of Popocatepetl, some 50 miles (80 km) to the southeast of the capital, may expand and unleash increasingly powerful explosions of ash and lava, Mexico’s National Center for Disaster Prevention said in a statement. The alert level for the towering volcano was raised to yellow phase three from yellow phase two, on orders from the country’s Interior Ministry. It is the third-highest warning on the center’s seven-step scale. This change in activity in the 5,450-meter (17,900-foot) volcano could provoke big explosions capable of sending incandescent fragments out over considerable distances, the center added. -GMA

Mexico’s volcano simmering towards a large eruption? Mexico’s giant Popocatepetl volcano may generate lava flows, explosions of “growing intensity” and ash that could reach miles away, the National Center for Disaster Prevention said Monday. Officials were preparing evacuation routes and shelters for thousands of people who live in the shadow of Popocatepetl, located 40 miles southeast of Mexico City. Officials have created a 7.5-mile restricted zone around the cone of the volcano. Popo, as the volcano is known, has displayed a “notable increase in activity levels” in the last few days, including tremors and explosive eruptions, according to a statement from the federal government. The 17,887-foot volcano has been disgorging large towers of steam and ash since mid-April, but officials have become more concerned in recent days as activity has intensified. Webcams have shown large chunks of molten rock spewing from the crater, and ash has rained down on the nearby city of Puebla. On Sunday, the National Center for Disaster Prevention elevated its warning level to Yellow Phase 3, the fifth stage of a seven-stage warning scale. At the next stage, Red Phase 1, a voluntary evacuation order would be issued for residents of nearby villages. Then, in a familiar ritual, bells would ring in town squares, residents would gather with their identification papers in plastic bags, and police and soldiers would offer to move them to safety. Popocatepetl, which means “smoking mountain” in the Aztec language Nahuatl, dominates much of the landscape in central Mexico, along with its nearby “twin” volcano, the dormant Iztaccihuatl. Popo was dormant for decades until 1994, when it began to stir. There have been moderate outbursts from Popo in recent years, forcing the government to evacuate as many as 75,000 people at a time. The government for the state of Puebla has already sent hundreds of police to three of the most vulnerable villages, where 11,000 people could be affected. Shelters have been set up and stocked with food, water and clothes. We’re ready for any emergency,” said Lidia Carrillo, a spokeswoman for the state. Volcanologists consider Popocatepetl one of the most potentially destructive volcanoes in the world because of the millions of people who have settled in and around the Mexican capital in recent decades. Although recent activity has mostly caused headaches for residents — from occasional evacuation orders — there is a lingering concern that the volcano is due for the kind of major eruption that occurred 1,100 years ago, when mudflows that swept down the mountain wiped out a Native American city near the current city of Puebla. “In the back of my mind is the fact that these volcanoes are more or less continuously accumulating gas and liquid in a subterranean chamber,” University of Buffalo volcanologist Michael F. Sheridan wrote recently about Popo, a volcano he has studied for years. “The longer the material is sitting down there … the bigger the eruption that could be expected.” Sheridan said in a phone interview that Popo posed a challenge for researchers because the last major eruption occurred so long ago. As a result, there are no data to help scientists understand what the signals preceding a huge eruption should look like. It is possible that the worst that Mexicans will suffer is the messy inconvenience of ash. Puebla and other towns have been dusted in recent days. In Mexico City on Monday, officials said they were preparing to distribute 500,000 face masks to residents in case the ash blows toward the capital. –LA Times

May 14, 2013 – ALASKA - Another volcano in Alaska is heating up, with seismic instruments signaling a possible eruption. The Alaska Volcano Observatory says tremors were detected Monday at Pavlof Volcano 1,000 km southwest of Anchorage. John Power, the US Geological Survey scientist in charge at the observatory, said satellite imagery shows the volcano is “very, very hot.” Pavlof is 60km from the community of Cold Bay. The volcano last erupted in 2007. It’s the second Alaska volcano to rumble this month. Cleveland Volcano, on an uninhabited island in the Aleutian Islands, experienced a low-level eruption in early May. Power said satellite imagery shows the volcano continues to discharge steam, gas and heat, although no ash clouds have been detected in the past week. Cleveland is not monitored with seismic instruments. –News 24

May 15, 2013 – ALASKA - U.S. Forest Service Geologist Jim Baichtal, who is based on Prince of Wales Island, and Anchorage geologist Sue Karl were looking at some hydrographic surveys, something geologists tend to do. When we were done, I noticed the area from Thorne Arm to Rudyerd had been surveyed,” Baichtal said. “I zoomed in and there was this large… some kind of volcano, and two other dome-like structures.” Karl added that, “This new NOAA survey allowed us to see things that people had never seen before.” Karl said a modern example of a similar eruption is Surtsey, a volcanic island in Iceland, which erupted from the sea floor in the 1960s, building itself up and eventually breaching the surface to form the island. Karl points out that when the newly discovered volcano erupted, sea levels also were lower than they are now, but even with that, “We still have too much depth. We have to call on glacial loading and rebound.” “When you get a thousand feet of ice sitting on the ground, it is very heavy,” she explains. “It actually depresses the earth’s crust. After the glacier melts back, the earth will rebound.” Like a trampoline, or waterbed, but at a much slower pace. “So at one time, in Misty Fiords, there was close to 4,000 foot of ice on that site, so the weight of that ice at least pushed down (created) as high as 400 feet of displacement,” Baichtal added. So, in summary, the volcano erupted within the last 13,000 years, after the ice retreated, as the land was slowly bouncing back, and when sea levels were lower. They figured out most of this stuff just from examining the surveys. Volcanoes show up along faults in the earth’s crust, so when the fault moves enough to expose magma, that can lead to a volcanic eruption. Since faults don’t go away, volcanic eruptions in Southeast Alaska are possible in the future. “With the evidence that we have and the geologic age of the things that are there, there is no reason why it couldn’t,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.” But, Karl said people shouldn’t get anxious about it. “We have much better technology for detecting the initiation of one of these sorts of things now,” she said. “I don’t think people need to get too worried.” The newly discovered volcano is very close to New Eddystone Rock, which is what’s left over from another volcano, which may have erupted around the same time frame. They are both near the entrance to Misty Fiords National Monument. -KRBD

May 16, 2013 – ALASKA – Eruptions from Pavlof Volcano continued on Wednesday after rumbling to life earlier in the week. The 8,261-foot peak on the Alaska Peninsula awoke Monday morning, kicking off a “low-level eruption of lava,” according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO). Sitting about 30 miles northeast of the community of King Cove, Pavlof is a frequently-active volcano that last erupted in 2007. The volcano’s rumbling has strengthened this week. At about noon Tuesday, satellite images showed a lava flow had coursed a third of a mile down the northern side of the volcano. By late Tuesday, an ash plume extended 15,000 feet above sea level, moving downwind to the northeast for up to 100 miles before dispersing. The National Weather Service issued a “Significant Meterological Event” warning, called a SIGMET, to alert pilots of hazardous conditions in the area. Pavlof continued to rumble Wednesday, with one pilot reporting a dark ash cloud reaching 20,000 feet. Residents of Cold Bay, located 37 miles southwest of the volcano, observed incandescent glow at the summit during the night. Pilot reports and photographs from yesterday afternoon indicate that the lava flow extending down the northwest flank is still active and has generated debris-laden flow deposits, presumably from interaction of hot lava with the snow and ice on the flank. Reports of possible eruptions from Pavlov date back to 1762, when historical accounts suggested an eruption in the area, though that activity may also have come from Pavlof Sister, another eruptive peak very close by. The most recent eruption at Pavlof, in 2007, featured spitting lava and small ash clouds during a month-long stretch of heightened activity. Unlike Mount Cleveland — a remote volcano located on a small Aleutian island and the only other volcano exhibiting activity in the Last Frontier at the moment — there is an extensive monitoring system set up at Pavlof due to its location and how often it’s active, including a webcam set up at Cold Bay. Meanwhile, Cleveland remains on orange alert following an ash explosion May 6. No further explosions have been recorded since then, but satellites still show elevated surface temperatures. –Alaska Dispatch