Volcano activity of October 10 until October 16, 2012

This (almost) daily post intends to follow up the activity changes of volcanoes all over the world.
This post is written by geologist Richard Wilson who specializes in Volcano seismicity and Armand Vervaeck. Please feel free to tell us about new or changed activity if we haven’t written about it. -

October 10 – 16 , 2012 volcano activity

ALAID
Kuril Islands (Russia)
According to KVERT, observers on Paramushir Island reported that on 5 October a large gas-and-steam plume from Alaid rose 200 m above the crater. A thermal anomaly on the volcano was detected in satellite imagery for 7.5 hours the next day. The increased activity prompted KVERT to raise the Aviation Color Code to Yellow on 7 October. Satellite imagery detected a thermal anomaly on 15 October.

GAMALAMA
Halmahera, Indonesia
CVGHM reported that eruptions at Gamalama during 15-16 September prompted CVGHM to raise the Alert Level to 3 (on a scale of 1-4) on 16 September. An eruption on 17 September produced a white-and-gray plume that rose 300 m above the crater and drifted E and SE. Ashfall was reported in the ESE part of Ternate (S, SE, and E part of island). After the eruption through 8 October white plumes rose 10-50 m high. Seismicity decreased in early October. The Alert Level was decreased to 2 on 9 October. Visitors and residents were warned not to approach the crater within a radius of 1.5 km.

KLIUCHEVSKOI
Central Kamchatka (Russia)
KVERT reported that seismic activity at Kliuchevskoi had been gradually increasing since June; episodes of volcanic tremor were first detected on 21 June and continued through 14 October. A weak thermal anomaly was detected in satellite imagery during 1 September-14 October. Strombolian activity was observed at night during 14-15 October. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow.

PALUWEH
Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia)
Based on seismic data and visual observations, CVGHM raised the Alert Level for Paluweh from 2 to 3 (on a scale of 1-4) on 13 October. The Alert Level had been raised to 2 five days earlier.

SANGEANG API
Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia)
CVGHM reported that during 1-10 October Sangeang Api was often not visible due to fog; occasionally plumes were visible and rose as high as 20 m above the crater. The lava dome and surrounding areas had not changed compared to the beginning of the year. Both the number and magnitude of earthquakes increased on 5 October, declined during 6-8 October, then again increased on 9 October. The Alert Level was raised to 3 (on a scale of 1-4) on 10 October.