US Volcano Activity Discussion - 2011

[venture]

Been awhile since we had this going, since the main driver was the Mt. Redoubt eruption in Alaska. Going to put somethings together for this thread to peak on what may be coming out the ground around the country.

Monitoring Agency Websites
Alaska Volcano Observatory - http://www.avo.alaska.edu/
Cascades Volcano Observatory - http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/home.html
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory - http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/
Long Valley (Calif.) Volcano Observatory - http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/lvo/
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory - http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/
USGS Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Alerts - http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/index.php

[venture]

Activity Reported in the past week...

Cleveland Volcano, Alaska
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Cleveland.php

ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY WEEKLY UPDATE
Friday, February 18, 2011 11:18 AM (Friday, February 18, 2011 20:18 UTC)

CLEVELAND VOLCANO (CAVW #1101-24-)
52°49'20" N 169°56'42" W, Summit Elevation 5676 ft (1730 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

No unusual activity was seen in partly cloudy satellite observations of Cleveland over the past week. No reports of activity were received.

Without a real-time seismic network at Cleveland, AVO is unable to track local earthquake activity related to volcanic unrest. Short-lived explosions with ash clouds that could exceed 20,000 ft above sea level can occur without warning and may go undetected on satellite imagery for hours. Low-level ash emissions at Cleveland occur frequently and do not necessarily mean a larger eruption is imminent. AVO continues to monitor the volcano using satellite imagery.

Mount St. Helens, Washington
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/framework.html

CASCADES VOLCANO OBSERVATORY WEEKLY UPDATE
Friday, February 18, 2011 1:50 PM PST (Friday, February 18, 2011 21:50 UTC)


CASCADE RANGE VOLCANOES
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN

Activity Update: All volcanoes in the Cascade Range are at normal levels of background seismicity. These include Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams in Washington State; Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters, Newberry Volcano, and Crater Lake, in Oregon; and Medicine Lake volcano, Mount Shasta, and Lassen Peak in northern California.

Recent Observations: An M4.3 earthquake that struck the Mount St. Helens region Monday, 14 February 2011, at 10:35 a.m. PST (18:35 UTC) was felt widely through southwestern Washington and Northwestern Oregon (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquak.../us/index.html). The earthquake was followed by a continuing sequence of aftershocks, including three greater than M2, several between M2 and M1 and and many smaller than M1. The earthquakes occurred about 8 kilometers north of the crater of Mount St. Helens at a depth of 4 to 6 kilometers in a previously active area that is part of the Mount St. Helens seismic zone. The earthquake patterns are consistent with tectonic stresses. There is no evidence that the earthquakes are a response to the magmatic system at Mount St. Helens, nor is there evidence that the earthquakes have generated a response of the Mount St. Helens magmatic system. More information can be found at http://www.pnsn.org/recenteqs/latest.htm. Elsewhere along the Cascade Range, monitoring systems show that activity at volcanoes during the past week was at background levels.

Kilauea, Hawai'i
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activi...aueastatus.php

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
Friday, February 18, 2011 8:06 AM HST (Friday, February 18, 2011 18:06 UTC)


This report on the status of Kilauea volcanic activity, in addition to maps, photos, and Webcam images (available using the menu bar above), was prepared by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park status can be found at http://www.nps.gov/havo/ or 985-6000. Hawai`i County Kalapana Viewing Area status can be found at 961-8093. All times are Hawai`i Standard Time.

KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Activity Summary for past 24 hours: A large-amplitude DI deflation continued while Kilauea volcano erupted at two locations: On the east rift zone, lava flows continued on the floor of Pu`u `O`o crater and from the Nov. 29 flow toward Kalapana. At the summit, the lava lake level was much deeper within an eruptive vent inset within the east wall of Halema`uma`u Crater. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the summit and east rift zone vents remained elevated.

Live Panorama of Halemaʻumaʻu from HVO, Kīlauea Volcano


Live Panorama of Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook Vent, Kīlauea Volcano


Live Panorama of Puʻu ʻŌʻō Cone, Kīlauea Volcano


Other US Volcanoes
Long Valley Caldera - Quiet with a few small earthquakes.
Yellowstone Caldera - Is only doing monthly reports right now, nothing new will be reported until March.
Remaining Alaskan Volcanoes - All in normal levels.
Remaining Hawaiian Volcanoes - Mauna Loa continues a period of uplift that started in 2010, but no unusual seismicity. Others all green.

[venture]

Source: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activi...aueastatus.php

Live Webcam - Panorama of Napau Crater, Kīlauea Volcano


KILAUEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-01-)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: RED

A fissure that opened on Kilauea's east rift zone after yesterday's collapse of the Pu'u 'O'o crater floor continues to erupt lava. Activity along the fissure was sporadic overnight and throughout today, with periods of quiet punctuated by episodes of lava spattering up to 25 m (80 ft) high.

The fissure is located west-southwest of Pu'u 'O'o in a remote area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Due to the ongoing volcanic activity, Park closures remain in effect in this area.

Live views of Kilauea's fissure eruption are now possible via a Webcam installed by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) this afternoon. The Webcam images, which are updated every five minutes, can be accessed at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/NCcam/.

Measurements made by HVO scientists today show that the Pu'u 'O'o crater floor dropped at least 115 m (377 ft) during Saturday's collapse. The only signs of activity within the crater today were infrequent cascades of rock fragments falling from collapse blocks. This activity is visible when Pu'u 'O'o Webcam views, accessible at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/POcam/, are not obscured by volcanic fume.

Lava flows on the pali and coastal plain are still active, but sluggish. Whether these flows are residual lava draining through the tube system or outbreaks that continue to be fed by lava from the east rift zone vent is not yet known. Based on similar events in past years, it will take a day or two to see if the lava supply has been cut off by the uprift fissure eruption.

At Kilauea's summit, the lava lake has receded deep within the vent in Halema'uma'u Crater and is now barely visible in HVO's Webcam images (http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/HMcam/). Small collapses of the vent walls occasionally produce dusty-brown plumes that can be seen from Park visitor overlooks.

Earthquakes are occurring at lower rates in the Napau Crater area adjacent to the new fissure eruption and beneath the summit caldera, but seismic tremor is significantly elevated in both areas. Summit deflation continues, but began to slow this afternoon. Deflation of the Pu'u 'O'o area has slowed throughout the day.

Daily updates about Kilauea's ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and east rift zone volcanic activity, and data about recent earthquakes are posted on the HVO Web site at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov. Additional status reports will be posted as warranted.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.

[ljbab728]

This is a little off topic because it's not US and not a volcano but it has some relation and is a significant event and could even affect Hawaii.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110311/...pan_earthquake

[Thunder]

Just found this thread. About that latest volcano warning, how close is it to Japan's quakes and is there any connections between these?

[venture]

Just found this thread. About that latest volcano warning, how close is it to Japan's quakes and is there any connections between these?

The Kilauea eruption has been on going for years (decades?) now, so very little connection. The recent warning was issued from a new fissure that erupted and provided some amazing images.

[venture]

Things have been quiet for awhile...time to necro this thread. :-)

CLEVELAND VOLCANO (CAVW #1101-24-)
52°49'20" N 169°56'42" W, Summit Elevation 5676 ft (1730 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

AVO raised the Aviation Color Code to Orange and the Alert Level to Watch yesterday in response to observations of a new lava dome in the summit crater of Cleveland Volcano . New observations from August 2 show that the lava dome has grown from about 40 meters (131 feet) to about 50 meters (164 feet) in diameter since July 29. Weak thermal anomalies were detected in satellite images last night and this morning which is consistent with slow dome growth or a cooling dome.

If dome growth continues, lava flows onto the flanks of the volcano may develop but would not be hazardous to aviation. The presence of the lava dome increases the possibility of an explosive eruption, but does not necessarily indicate that one will occur. Short-lived explosions could produce an ash cloud that exceeds 20,000 ft above sea level. These events can occur without warning and may go undetected in satellite imagery for hours.

Without a real-time seismic network at Cleveland, AVO is unable to track local earthquake activity related to volcanic unrest, provide forecasts of potential eruptions, or confirmation of explosive activity. Low-level ash emissions and elevated surface temperatures such as those observed recently do not necessarily mean a larger eruption is imminent. AVO continues to monitor the volcano using satellite imagery.

[venture]

Cleveland dropped to Yellow status over the last couple of weeks, but is now back to Orange as the Lava Dome is growing pretty fast. Eruption could be in the works.

AVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Cleveland (CAVW #1101-24-)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Previous Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Previous Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Issued: Tuesday, September 6, 2011, 4:08 PM AKDT (20110907/0008Z)
Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2011/A5
Location: N 52 deg 49 min W 169 deg 56 min
Elevation: 5676 ft (1730 m)
Area: Aleutians Alaska

Volcanic Activity Summary: Observations of Cleveland Volcano from Tuesday September 6, 2011 show that the small lava dome in the summit crater has resumed growth and now fills the floor of the crater. In response, AVO is raising the Aviation Color Code to Orange and the Alert Level to Watch.

A persistent thermal anomaly has been observed since September 3, probably marking the timing of resumed lava dome growth. The size of the dome as of August 30 when it appeared to have stopped growing was approximately 80 meters (262 feet)in diameter. The current dome is approximately 120 meters (394 feet) in diameter. If dome growth continues, lava flows onto the flanks of the volcano may develop but would not be hazardous to aviation. The presence of the lava dome increases the possibility of an explosive eruption, but does not necessarily indicate that one will occur. Short-lived explosions could produce an ash cloud that exceeds 20,000 ft above sea level. These events can occur without warning and may go undetected in satellite imagery for hours.

Without a real-time seismic network on the volcano, AVO is unable to track local earthquake activity related to volcanic unrest, provide forecasts of eruptive activity, or confirmation of explosive, ash-producing events. AVO will continue to monitor the volcano using satellite data as it becomes available.

Recent Observations:
[Lava flow/dome] 120 meter (394 feet) diameter dome fills the floor of the summit crater as of September 6, 2011.
[Volcanic cloud height] Unknown
[Other volcanic cloud information] Unknown

Contacts: John Power, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
jpower@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497

Steve McNutt, Coordinating Scientist, UAF
steve@giseis.alaska.edu (907) 474-7131

Next Notice: A new VAN will be issued if conditions change significantly or alert levels are modified. While a VAN is in effect, regularly scheduled updates are posted at
http://www.avo.alaska.edu

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

[venture]

Neat image of the Cleveland Volcano lava dome growth over the last month. The crater is almost filled completely by the new lava dome. More than likely it isn't going to stay this way and will probably collapse and cause a decent ash cloud or at least start spilling lava over the side.



Details:
Satellite radar image loop (August 7,18,29, September 9) from the TerraSAR-X sensor of the summit of Cleveland Volcano showing the summit crater and growth of the lava dome. The summit crater is about 200 meters across. Note that satellite radar images have some inherent topographic distortion due to the manner in which they are collected.
Picture Date: September 16, 2011
Image Creator: Schneider, Dave; Lu, Zhong;

Image courtesy of AVO/USGS.
Please cite the photographer and the Alaska Volcano Observatory / U.S. Geological Survey when using this image.

[HewenttoJared]

Cool.