Vulkane.net reports of anomalous (CO2) gas emissions from the Fossa Crater on the Island of Vulcano. My husband and I are visiting the island in about 1 month I hope things stay cool in the village... [though this time, we will be located on the Vulcanello peninsula; the island with a 123 m peak seen to the right, which attaches to Vulcano). In the background you see Lipari, and the double peaks of Salina more to the left, in bluish tones]
If i recall correctly, there was a point 3 years ago or so, where carbon dioxide levels where high in some places of the village, starting to penetrate basement floors in houses, and some people even had to be evacuated. Also back then, it was forbidden to climb the Fossa crater (or you got a 500 € fine) As of now, it is free to go up there.
Zwei schwache Erdbeben vor der Südwestküste von Vulcano. Das INGV meldet anomale Entgasungswerte am Krater.
www.vulkane.net
Two weak earthquakes off the southwest coast of Vulcano
- INGV reports anomalous degassing values
The relaxation at the Lipari island volcano Vulcano did not last long, because since May there have been more earthquakes, increased fumarole temperatures and now also anomalous degassing values. You can find out what this means in this article.
On the INGV's shakemap, you can again see two yellow dots southwest of the island of Vulcano, which represent two very weak earthquakes that manifested themselves on September 2 just off the southwestern tip of the island. The earthquake foci were located at depths of 7 and 10 kilometers. The earthquakes alone give no cause for concern.
However, the data on gas emissions
published in the latest bulletin are a different story. The INGV speaks of anomalous degassing values and a rising trend in carbon dioxide flux, which has increased significantly compared to previous weeks. The average value for the month of August was 16081 g/m2/day. On August 31, values of up to 18240 g/m2/day were measured. Carbon dioxide emissions are not only a cause for concern at the crater rim, but also at some points on Vulcano Porto and at the Sicilia campsite, where there was an increase in emissions. Sulphur dioxide emissions are also still high. The same applies to fumarole temperatures.
The crisis on Vulcano began 3 years ago
when a magma body intruded under the island. A second, smaller intrusion may have occurred in May this year, when the values suddenly rose again during a relaxation phase.
Active Magma body
The data indicate that there is an active magma body in the subsurface that is maturing and whose melt could continue to be capable of eruption. In the course of the maturing process, a lot of gas is released in the magma body, which is now reaching the surface. It must be assumed that the release of gas also increases the pressure in the magma body.
The maturing process causes the magma to cool slowly and form crystals. Nevertheless, there may be enough eruptible melt over long periods of time for a volcanic eruption to occur even years after the intrusion. Usually, the longer the maturation process takes, the more explosive the eruptions become. It becomes particularly critical if another magma body intrudes into the existing one. The risk of eruption then increases significantly.
The INGV researchers describe the volcano as dormant and see the main danger in the gas emissions themselves: The carbon dioxide could collect particularly in basements and cause problems there. In general, there are warnings that further volcanic hazards could develop if the parameters change.
Am Kilauea auf Hawaii manifestierte sich ein kleiner Vulkanausbruch im Mittleren Ostrift. Weiterhin intrudiert Magma.
www.vulkane.net
Volcanic eruption in the Middle East Drift of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii
Significant ground deformations measured
Last night I wrote that there may have been a small volcanic eruption in the east rift of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. Some data supported this, but due to bad weather there were initially no visual observations of the event. Shortly after I published my article, the HVO confirmed the eruption in the remote area of the national park: The eruption began on the evening of September 15 between 21:00 and 22:00 HST and was short-lived. Lava flowed from two fissures over a hundred meters long west of the Nāpau crater, spreading about 90 meters and burning vegetation in the surrounding area. Despite the eruption, no damage to the infrastructure was reported. Residents of the region reported the smell of volcanic gases.
The volcanic eruption was described by scientists as very small.
The lava extended 90 meters to the sides of the eruption fissures and flowed a good 480 meters. It covered an area of 2 hectares and instead of a lava field, it is referred to as a lava pad. The amount produced was estimated at 20,000 cubic meters.
Before the eruption, the formation of a magmatic vein could be observed, which resulted in strong ground deformations and numerous earthquakes. An infrasound event was also recorded. Strong degassing and weak explosions occurred when the eruption fissures opened. During the course of Monday, HVO employees flew over the area with a helicopter and were able to document the traces of the eruption. At this point, however, no more lava was escaping from the surface, although the underground intrusion continued.
On Monday evening, around 18:00 HST, the activity resumed and magma emerged on the surface. More detailed descriptions of the 2nd part of the eruption are not yet available.
The volcano alert level for ground-based hazards remains at “watch”, and the alert code for air traffic remains at “orange”. The eruption does not currently pose a threat to human life or infrastructure, but temporary closures have been put in place within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Chain of Craters Road, which is located near the eruption area, remains closed. Volcanic gases may be detected in surrounding settlements and may fluctuate in intensity over the coming days.
Activity continues to be limited to the central eastern rift zone, while seismicity and ground deformation rates remain low in neighboring zones. A magmatic intrusion has been taking place near the Makaopuhi crater since September 14. There has been a vertical ground uplift of 20 centimeters and a horizontal offset of 58 centimeters. Magma accumulates at a depth of 2-3 kilometers.
The smaller eruptions and monitoring of the region show the ongoing activity of Kīlauea, which is closely monitored by scientific observations.
END OF ARTICLE
Yesterday's article (16 Sep 2024) from Vulkane.net as follow:
Seismische Krise am Kilauea wurde durch Magmenintrusion im Mittleren Ostrift ausgelöst - Vulkanausbruch droht auf Hawaii.
www.vulkane.net
Seismic crisis triggered by magma intrusion in the Middle East Rift - volcanic eruption imminent
The seismic crisis at Kilauea, which began on September 14 and continues, is caused by magma intruding into the east rift and forming a magmatic dyke. Due to the possibility of the melt reaching the surface and opening an eruption fissure, the volcano warning level for ground-level hazards has been raised from “Caution” to “Watch” and the warning level for air traffic has been raised from “Yellow” to “Orange”.
The current activities are taking place in a remote part of the Middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. The affected area is within the boundaries of the National Park. No changes have been observed in the lower zone of the eastern rift or the southwestern rift zone.
Since September 14, around 6 pm HST
intense, localized earthquakes have been occurring between Maunaulu and Makaopuhi crater, accompanied by ground deformations that indicate underground crack growth. On September 15, a good 500 earthquakes were recorded and a strong deflation set in at the summit. Despite a decrease in earthquake activity, the ongoing deformations indicate that magma continues to flow from the storage chambers at the summit into the area between Maunaulu and the Makaopuhi crater at the eastern rift. An InSAR image shows the recent ground movements in this region. The magmatic passage lies between the two circles with the colored rings.
Between about 9pm and 10pm HST tonight, infrasound instruments registered a strong signal indicating escaping gas or vapor. However, there is no seismic data or thermal anomalies indicating a volcanic eruption. However, heavy rainfall in the region makes it difficult to interpret the data.
In 2007, lava erupted in this area following a magma intrusion, covering an area about the size of half a soccer field. A small and unnoticed eruption under similar conditions is also possible now.
The last eruption in this region took place over 35 years ago
near the Puʻuʻōʻō crater. The exact location of a future eruption will determine which areas could potentially be affected by new lava flows. Theoretically, lava could flow from here into the sea. (Source: HVO)
Kilauea eruption intensified on September 17
• Volcanic eruption at Kilauea in Hawaii produced lava fountains
Kīlauea in Hawaii is erupting along an eruption fissure several hundred meters long, which began to open on September 14. Images taken on the morning of September 17 show that lava fountains are rising several dozen meters high at four points in a segment of the eruption fissure. These fountains feed lava flows that initially move away from the side of the fissure and then merge to form a stream that flows a good kilometer to the southwest.
The erupting part of the fissure runs through the Nāpau crater
which was split in half by the fissure. The eruption took place in several phases, as there was already an eruption on the night of September 15, which took place on a northwestern segment of the fissure.
The HVO (Hawaiian Volcano Observatory) quickly installed a mobile webcam in the eruption area. On the morning of September 17 (late evening in Hawaii), the red glow of a lava flow can be seen through fog, but no lava fountains are visible. Geophysical measurements show that the tremor phase, which had already peaked five hours ago, is now slowly subsiding. Earthquake activity and deflation in the summit area have also decreased significantly, indicating that less magma is flowing from the reservoir below the summit area of Kīlauea into the east rift. The magma intrusion seems to have stopped and the eruption is slowing down. Nevertheless, it could flare up again in the next few hours, as there could still be eruptible melt in the underground dyke system.
The formation of the dyke in the East Rift, which ultimately led to the eruption, was accompanied by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake that occurred on September 14. This earthquake was probably triggered at the beginning of the vein formation, when the magma began to flow from the magma body under the summit caldera into the East Rift. It is possible that a blockage that had held back the melt until then broke. It is likely that increased activity will be observed along the east rift in the coming months.
Since the Leilani eruption in 2018, things had become quieter along the eastern rift. Previously, the Puʻuʻōʻō crater had been active there practically without interruption since 1983 and was responsible for lava flows that reached up to 12 kilometers to the ocean. But long before the formation of Puʻuʻōʻō, there were also extensive lava flows at Kīlauea that flowed all the way to the sea. It is therefore possible that Puʻuʻōʻō will become active again or that a similar eruption center will establish itself along the eastern rift. And perhaps we will then experience the magic of an ocean entry again.
Die neue Eruptionsspalte am Nāpau-Krater bleibt aktiv: Ein Lavafall fließt über den Kraterrand und der Kraterboden wird mit Lava überflutet.
www.vulkane.net
New eruption fissure at Nāpau crater remains active - crater floor flooded with lava
The eruption of the Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii continues. The 150 m long eruption fissure, which opened on September 18 at 3:15 p.m. Hawaii time west of the Nāpau crater, is producing lava fountains that feed a lava flow. This flows over the western rim of Nāpau Crater and covers the flat crater floor. This is already the fourth fissure system that has formed since the magma intrusion began on September 14. As the fissure is located close to the crater rim, lava cascades formed immediately after the fissure opened.
Since the new eruption on September 18
around 250,000 square meters of crater floor have been covered with lava. In total, around two thirds of the crater floor has been flooded with lava since Sunday evening, which corresponds to an area of 500,000 square meters. The lava flow rate varies between 5 and 15 cubic meters per second. The sulphur dioxide emission from the new fissure measured yesterday was 10,000 tons per day. What began as a small eruption has now developed into a much larger event.
The activity continued all day yesterday and is still going on tonight (Hawaii time).
The eruption is occurring in a remote and cordoned off part of the national park, so there is no immediate danger to human life or infrastructure. However, nearby residents may experience temporarily elevated volcanic gas emissions that could fluctuate over the next hours and days. The alert level for the volcano and the flight color code remain at WATCH/ORANGE. No changes have been observed in the lower East Rift Zone or the Southwest Rift Zone.
Seismic activity in the summit area has decreased significantly
with only a few earthquakes recorded. The inclinometer in Sandhill near the summit continues to show strong deflation, while the Uēkahuna instrument measures slightly weaker deflation. This indicates that magma continues to flow from the summit into the eastern rift zone. Seismic activity near the eruption site is high and has increased significantly since the opening of the new eruption fissure. Tremor continues to be recorded.
Video scenes from the lava covering the Nāpau crater
Inclinometers in the Middle East Rift Zone (MERZ) show no significant changes. However, GPS instruments have measured horizontal displacements of over 20 cm at several stations in the MERZ. The largest displacement was recorded at station MKAI, below Makaopuhi crater, which has moved 54 cm to the south-southwest since September 14. The GPS data and tilt measurements indicate that magma is intruding into a storage region several kilometers below the surface.
Currently, activity is confined to the eastern rift zone between Makaopuhi crater and Puʻuʻōʻō. There is no evidence of change further down in the Middle or Lower East Rift Zone. (Source: HVO)
END OF ARTICLE
A little older map from 17-18 Sep 2024...
...and the latest one
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted a reconnaissance overflight of the eruption near Nāpau Crater on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. They observed lava cascading over the rim of the crater from a channel more than 50 meters (about 164 feet) wide. Lava is contained within Nāpau Crater and now covers about two thirds of the crater floor.” (USGS photo by M. Zoeller)
The Chain of Crater Road in the National Park was re-opened on Wednesday.
However, the National Park Service warns that volcanic hazards have increased from the eruption site. Heavy concentrations of volcanic gasses and particulate matter may occur along Chain of Craters, and motorists are being asked not to stop at overlooks or on the side if the road. They say eruption viewing is not possible, although lava glow may be present in the sky over the activity. Visitors should be prepared for heavy traffic, long lines of cars, limited parking, and no restrooms.
Mexikanische Vulkanlogen prognostizieren die Entstehung eines neuen Vulkans nahe Mexiko Stadt.
www.vulkane.net
Mexican volcanologists predict the formation of a new volcano near Mexico City Summary:
- Mexican volcanologists predict the formation of a new volcano
- The volcanic field Sierra de Chichinautzin south of Mexico City is the site of the volcano's formation
- Diffuse carbon dioxide emissions from the ground provide evidence of magmatism underground
- Eruption possible in 800 to 1200 years
The Earth is an extremely dynamic planet whose development is far from complete. This is important, because without these ongoing geological processes, Earth would probably be a lifeless planet like Mars. Mars may have been habitable at first, but probably lost its atmosphere and oceans after its interior solidified, causing plate tectonic activity to cease and the protective magnetic field to collapse. But as is so often the case, creation and destruction lie close together. It is therefore possible for new volcanoes to form on Earth, which can also cause destruction. The last time this happened was 81 years ago in Mexico, when a farmer witnessed the formation of a new volcano in his field: Paricutín was formed in 1943 and was active for nine years.
Now scientists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have discovered that the birth of a new volcano could be imminent near Mexico City. The volcanic field of the Sierra de Chichinautzin, where the cinder cone of the Xitle volcano last formed around 2,000 years ago, has been identified as a probable location.
The Sierra de Chichinautzin is an active volcanic field located about 70 km south of Mexico City and within sight of the famous Popocatépetl volcano. It stretches across the states of Mexico and Morelos and is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The area contains numerous volcanoes, most of which are monogenetic cinder cones, i.e. volcanoes that only erupt once in their existence.
Geo-researchers Hugo Delgado and Roberto Villalpando have developed a method to predict the probable location of the next volcanic eruption in the volcanic field. This method is based on monitoring diffuse carbon dioxide emissions from the ground, which indicate rising magma that is about to penetrate the earth's crust. The researchers have been monitoring these emissions in the districts of Tlalpan, Xochimilco and Milpa Alta since 2008. This has enabled them to narrow down the possible location of the next volcano. However, the region is populated, as it is part of the suburbs of Mexico City. This news has caused concern among the population about a possible volcanic eruption. However, scientists are giving the all-clear: according to their calculations, the new cinder cone will not form for another 800 to 1,200 years. So there is plenty of time to take appropriate precautions.
Olympus Mons, Planet Mars
Since Mars was mentioned at the beginning, another study should be mentioned here: based on new measurement data, researchers from the Dutch University of Delft have discovered that the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, is possibly still active and could erupt again in the future. They discovered a low-density region beneath the volcano, which indicates a large magma reservoir. However, how this magma could form when the planetary dynamics are close to zero remains a mystery.
An article at the Icelandic channel MBL.is, reports from an interview (via Morgunblaðið) with the vulcanologist professor Þorvaldur Þórðarson that the longer time passes, the more chances that a shield volcano / shield eruption might get created there. The kind of eruption that is believed to go on for a very long time. Well, possibly, maybe. Or not.
The chance of a shield eruption seems to be increasing
According to scientists, lava shields form in one long eruption. mbl.is/Árni Sæberg
The probability of a shield eruption in the Sundhnúkagígar crater row increases with time. That would mean that the Reykjanesbraut Road is not the only infrastructure on the Reykjanes Peninsula that is in danger. Such an eruption could last for several years or even decades.
This is what volcanology professor Þorvaldur Þórðarson says in an interview with Morgunblaðið.
Shield eruptions often result in shield mountains, but the eruption must last for quite a long time to form large shields such as Skjaldbreiður , which took about 30-100 years to form. Most of the eruptions since last December have started between Mt Sundhnúkur and Mt Stóra-Skógfell. If the next eruption occurs there, the probability of a prolonged eruption increases, according to Þórðarson. But how likely is this?
Þorvaldur Þórðarson volcanology professor at the University of Iceland. mbl.is/Arnþór
"It's a possibility, and I think the longer this goes on, the likelier it becomes," says Þórðarson and adds:
"If it continues like this, it will end up with an event that can become a very protracted eruption and then actually form a lava shield." There is at least one possibility, and if it happens, much more than Reykjanesbraut Road will go under the lava."
Not the most likely scenario
He states that this is not the most likely scenario, and in fact rather unlikely, but nevertheless the probability of this is increasing.
Could this eruption then last for a few months?
"Yes, or even years or decades."
He says that the general feeling among scientists is that lava shields are formed in one long eruption. However, it is not completely known what the lead-up to such eruptions is.
"They could start as many small eruptions, which then get bigger and bigger until we have such a large and powerful eruption that we create a lava lake in the main crater. It gets big enough to take in a significant amount and then splits lava from itself and spreads lava all around it. But the flow from below – it's just constant into this lava lake – so the eruption can last for much more than a month,” he says, pointing out that something like this happened in Hawaii in 1983. That eruption lasted for 35 years.
Steigerung der Erdbebentätigkeit am Vesuv - 186 Erschütterungen im Oktober.
www.vulkane.net
Increase in earthquake activity at Vesuvius
- 186 tremors in October
Vesuvius has been slumbering in the shadows of the media in recent years, while the neighbouring Campi Flegrei caldera has been basking in the limelight, but this trend could soon change: if you look at the INGV shakemap for Vesuvius, you can see that there have been several earthquakes a day in recent weeks, not only concentrated on the volcano itself, but also spread over a larger area. On November 9, a small earthquake swarm began, which had produced 20 quakes by yesterday. The strongest had a magnitude of 2.8 and manifested itself at a depth of 0.9 kilometers under the southwest flank of the volcano.
The recently published monthly report for October shows that there were 186 quakes in the Vesuvius area in October, which is a record for the year. And the year to date is also characterized by significantly higher earthquake activity than has been the case in recent years. As many as 1036 tremors were detected in 2024, compared to fewer than 700 in previous years. The distribution pattern of the quakes was also different, as the quakes were mainly confined to the core area of Vesuvius without being more widely scattered.
Ground subsidence stopped at the foot of Vesuvius
Once again this year, most of the quakes were concentrated in the central area of Vesuvius at depths of less than 3 kilometers. The INGV volcanologists also analyzed other geochemical and physical data and came to the conclusion that this year's quakes are also caused by a contraction process in the core area of Vesuvius and that the long-term trend is continuing. This trend indicates that there is shrinkage in the vent filling of the conveyor system due to cooling processes, which triggers the quakes and causes a slight subsidence of the central volcanic edifice.
However, if you look at the ground uplift data from measuring instruments at the foot of the volcano, you can see that there is no longer any subsidence here and that the multi-year trend has been broken. This, together with the scattering of the earthquakes, raises the question of whether magma is perhaps accumulating at depth or whether the ground uplift of Campi Flegrei is having an effect here and changing the stress field, resulting in the scattering of earthquakes. Another cause of the scattering could be increased activity of the hydrothermal system, although it is new to me that Vesuvius has such a large-scale system.
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I hope things stay cool in the village... [though this time, we will be located on the Vulcanello peninsula; the island with a 123 m peak seen to the right, which attaches to Vulcano). In the background you see Lipari, and the double peaks of Salina more to the left, in bluish tones]
www.vulkane.net
... speaking of Vesuvius; this article came to the fore at German Vulkane.net today
