Volcano activity of December 12, 2012 (including interesting images)

The best independent earthquake reporting website in the world

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. -

December 12, 2012 volcano activity

KVERT reports strong (but now fluctuating amplitude) volcanic tremor at Plosky Tolbachik (Kamchatka Peninsula) again today. The new unsteadiness in tremor amplitude may be the first sign of an ebbing magma supply. KVERT also reports relatively strong volcanic tremor eminating from nearby Klyuchevskoi Sopka. Small strombolian explosions are currently taking place at the summit of Klyuchevskoi.  Volcanic tremor at Tolbachik remains strong enough to interfere with seismic monitoring at nearby Bezymianny volcano. The Bezymianny seismometers are overwhelmed with the seismic “noise” coming from Tolbachik to the extent that only relatively large local events (M2.5+) can be identified and located using Bezymianny seismograms. (Images courtesy and copyright Kvert, Russia)

GNS volcano scientists report that a small lava dome is growing in the crater of White Island volcano (New Zealand). The dome apparently has slowly emerged since a steam and ash explosion at the volcano in August. The lava dome is the first such structure to have been historically observed growing at the volcano and represents the first fresh magma to be erupted at White Island in 12 years. Continued strong, sustained volcanic tremor at the volcano, coupled with the emergence of a lava dome signifies the volcano is in a dangerous state of unrest and should not be approached. (Imaage courtesy and copyright Geonet and GNS Science New Zealand)

Elsewhere, seven earthquakes (M1.0 Coso Volcanic Field (CA) overnight. Only two events actually occurred within the field proper. The remaining five events likely represent a regional tectonic response to the recent (27 November-09 December) earthquake swarm (dike injection?) beneath the Coso rhyolite dome cluster.

Exhalations of gas and ash at Popocatepetl volcano (Mexico) averaged between one and two per hour during the past 24 hours. The Popo seismogram shows a few low magnitude local earthquakes and possibly some low-level volcanic tremor today (web software glitch not-withstanding!). (Image courtesy Cenapred Mexico)

Numerous volcanic earthquakes dot seismograms at Pacaya volcano (Guatemala) (station PCG), while volcanic tremor appears on the rise at both Fuego (station FG3) and Santa Maria (STG6) volcanoes during the past few hours. The Fuego volcanocam shows a small ash “puff” drifting from the summit of the volcano. The “spikey” nature of the Santa Maria seismogram is due to seismic equipment malfunction.

Pulses of low-level volcanic tremor continue at Nevado Del Ruiz volcano (Colombia) (station OLLZ).

Moderate eruptive seismicity resonates within Reventador volcano (Ecuador) (station CONE).

Seismicity at the other two restive New Zealand volcanoes (Ruapehu and Tongariro) consists of a few low-magnitude local earthquakes at each.

Recent satellite imagery shows only one Pacific rim volcano (Popocatepetl) exhaling a substantial SO2 plume today.

Source: