Volcano activity of January 16, 2013

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This (almost) daily post intends to follow up the activity changes of volcanoes all over the world.
This post is written by geologist Rodger 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. -

January 16, 2013 volcano activity

KVERT reports that the level of volcanic tremor accompanying the ongoing effusive eruption at Plosky Tolbachik (Kamchatka Peninsula) has approximately doubled in amplitude since last week.  There have been no other changes in eruption parameters otherwise.

A swarm of small (MMammoth Mountain volcano (CA) (station MMS) in the past day.  The events are focused at around 5 km depth and may be related to earlier, deeper ( 12 km – 20 km depth) earthquake swarms which have struck the volcano since October 2012.

Exhalations of gas and some ash continue to affect Popocatepetl volcano (Mexico) at an average rate of about 2 events per hour.  A few volcanic earthquakes are apparent on seismograms at Colima volcano. There have been no explosion signals recorded at the volcano since early yesterday.

Seismicity remains very low at Fuego volcano (Guatemala) (station FG3), while volcanic tremor has recently increased at Santa Maria volcano (station STG6).  Amplitudes and numbers of volcanic earthquakes have increased overnight at Pacaya volcano (station PCG).

Numbers of volcanic earthquakes remain high at San Cristobal volcano (Nicaragua) (station CRIN).  Amplitude of volcanic tremor at nearby Masaya volcano (station MASN) continues to approach background level.  Volcanic earthquakes and occasional pulses of volcanic tremor continue at Concepcion volcano (station CONN).

Another episode of volcanic earthquakes struck Nevado Del Ruiz volcano (Colombia) (station OLLZ) late yesterday (the large “green” event is a regional earthquake).  Small earthquakes continue at the volcano.  Small earthquakes also continue at Machin (station CIMA) and Cumbal (station MEVZ) volcanoes.

Seismicity has declined somewhat at Reventador volcano (Ecuador) (station CONE) overnight.

Seismicity has increased once again at Copahue volcano (Chile-Argentina border).  SERNAGEOMIN reports over 1700 seismic events during the past 24 hours.

Magnitudes of local earthquakes near Tongariro and Ruapehu volcanoes (New Zealand) have increased.  Volcanic tremor essentially saturates seismic records from White Island volcano now.

@JohnSeach reports :
- Krakatau volcano, Indonesia. Alert level downgraded to YELLOW at beginning of January 2013 due to reduced activity.
- Mount Lokon volcano, Sulawesi. Eruption on 16 January 2013. Ash to altitude 12,000 ft.
- Stromboli volcano, Italy. Decreased seismic tremor and reduction in eruptions. Small lava flows continue.

Recent satellite imagery shows only relatively weak SO2 emission from the Guatemalan volcanoes today.

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