Earthquake and Volcano activity

[MVWxObserver]

A 7.3 quake struck 147 miles northeast of Gisborne, New Zealand at 2:27 a.m. Fri (8:27 a.m. EST). A tsunami warning had been issued for residents but thankfully the threat of a tsunami has passed and people who were evacuated can now return home. There was also a 7.4 that struck near NZ's Kermadec Islands at 6:41 a.m. Fri.

At least 8 aftershocks have been reported including one of 5.4 magnitude.

[MVWxObserver]

Tsunami waves could be headed for Hawaii and American Samoa after a third major earthquake struck off northern New Zealand, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned Thursday.

There is a threat of sea-level fluctuations and strong ocean currents that could be a hazard along beaches, in harbors and in coast waters of American Samoa, the center said. The earliest a tsunami could reach American Samoa would be at 10:19 a.m. Thursday (4:19 p.m. EST).

"All residents along the coasts must evacuate immediately to higher grounds," the National Weather Service said. American Samoa is about 1,700 miles northeast of New Zealand.

In a separate post, the Tsunami Warning Center said, "An investigation is underway to determine if there is a tsunami threat to Hawaii."

The earliest a tsunami wave could reach Hawaii is 4:35 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (9:35 p.m EST), the center said.

[tron777]

Thanks for starting this thread again, Bro. For volcanoes... Mt. Etna in Italy has been active again.

https://www.foxnews.com/science/italy-m ... e-48-hours

[Bgoney]

A large eruption started at Sangay volcano, Ecuador at around 04:00 UTC on March 6, 2021, producing a volcanic ash column up to 12.2 km (40 000 feet) above sea level, according to the Washington VAAC.

[Bgoney]

A rapid increase in the amplitude of volcanic tremor at Etna volcano started at 01:30 UTC on March 7, 2021, leading up to an increase in Strombolian activity at the SE crater around 03:30 UTC and 10th paroxysm since February 16. The Aviation Color Code was raised to red at 02:19 UTC.

At 02:19 UTC, strong strombolian activity was forming an eruptive cloud to a height of about 5.2 km (17 000 feet) a.s.l., moving E and to 6 km (20 000 feet) by 03:30 UTC.

Lava flows were at about 2.8 km (1.7 miles) a.s.l. at 03:50 UTC.

Lava fountaining started shortly after 06:30 UTC and ended around 07:10.

By 07:15 UTC, the top of the ash cloud was reaching 10.7 km (35 000 feet) above sea level.

[Bgoney]

A significant explosive eruption took place at Sangay volcano, Ecuador from 08:15 to 10:45 UTC on Thursday, March 11, 2021.

According to the Washington VAAC, volcanic ash to 12.5 km (41 000 feet) above sea level is extending up to 46 km (29 miles) in all quadrants as of 10:50 UTC, with additional volcanic ash up to 12.5 km possible up to 111 km (70 miles) W of the summit.

IGEPN warned ashfall is likely in the province of Chimborazo and urged all affected residents to take necessary precautions.

[Bgoney]

The seismo-volcanic crisis on Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland continues on March 11, 2021, with more than 35 000 earthquakes detected since February 24, 2021. The probability of an eruption is increasing and the most likely place where it might start is from Keilir to Fagradalsfjall.

The Scientific Council for Civil Protection met at a teleconference on March 10, concluding that as the current situation lasts longer, the probability of an eruption increases.

Processing of satellite images received on the morning of March 10 and the latest GPS measurements, confirm that magma is still restricted at the southern end of the magma channel that extends from Keilir to Fagradalsfjall.

This place is still considered to be the most likely place in the event of an eruption.

More earthquakes can be expected if the magma flow continues to expand and cause tension in the area.

[Bgoney]

Eruption starts near Fagradalsfjall on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula. A volcanic eruption started near Fagradalsfjall in Geldingadalur, Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system, Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula at 20:45 UTC on March 19, 2021, after more than 50 000 earthquakes registered since February 24. The last eruption in this area took place in 1340 (VEI 1) - 681 years ago.

[Bgoney]

A powerful earthquake registered by the JMA as M7.2 hit near the east coast of Honshu, Japan at 09:09 UTC (18:09 JST) on March 20, 2021. The agency is reporting a depth of 60 km (37 miles). USGS is reporting M7.0 at a depth of 54 km (33 miles). JMA has issued tsunami advisories and forecasts for the nearby coast.

[MVWxObserver]

A powerful earthquake registered by the JMA as M7.2 hit near the east coast of Honshu, Japan at 09:09 UTC (18:09 JST) on March 20, 2021. The agency is reporting a depth of 60 km (37 miles). USGS is reporting M7.0 at a depth of 54 km (33 miles). JMA has issued tsunami advisories and forecasts for the nearby coast.

In and around the same region that got rocked by one a decade ago. I remember that quake compromised a nuclear power plant i.e.

[Bgoney]

etna-march-23-2021-lava-fountains-bg.jpg

Strombolian activity resumed at Etna's Southeast crater at 19:05 UTC on March 23, intensified at around 20:30 UTC, and evolved into lava fountaining by 22:00 UTC. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red at 20:46 UTC on March 23. This is the 16th paroxysmal eruptive episode at Etna since February 16, 2021.

A pyroclastic flow was observed on surveillance cameras and confirmed by INGV personnel at 02:37 UTC on March 24. The flow headed toward the Valle del Bove, reaching a height of about 2 900 m (9 500 feet).

[Bgoney]

Increased eruptive activity continues at the Guatemalan Pacaya volcano, with strong ash emissions and lava flows.

Moderate to strong explosions continue at the volcano, generating thick ash columns up to 4 km (13 120 feet) above sea level, moving N, NE, and NW to a distance of approximately 50 km (31 miles) on March 23, 2021.

Lava flows are 1 500 km (4 920 feet) long on the southwest flank and 500 m (1 640 feet) on the eastern flank.

[Bgoney]

The 17th paroxysmal eruptive episode since February 16 started at Etna volcano, Italy at 23:00 UTC on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red at 19:11 UTC on March 31 and remains at this level as of 09:32 UTC when the last VONA was issued. 7 people who got lost on the mountain on Wednesday were rescued on Thursday morning.

The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Etnaeus Observatory (INGV-OE), informs that starting around 23:00 UTC on March 31, Strombolian activity at the Southeast Crater has gradually switched to a lava fountain, marking the start of the 17th paroxysm since February 16.

At 00:18 UTC on Thursday, April 1, a lava overflow started at the eastern edge of the Southeast Crater expanding in the upper part of the Valle del Bove.

The ash cloud rose up to 9 km (29 500 feet) a.s.l. by 07:47 UTC, drifting SSW.

The temporal trend of volcanic tremor amplitude highlights a continuous increase in values that have reached very high levels, INGV-OE reported at 01:52 UTC.

The center of the sources of volcanic tremor is located at the SE crater at an elevation between 2 500 m and 2 800 m (8 200 - 9 180 feet) above sea level.

This is the longest paroxysm in the sequence that started on February 16, 2021.









The ash was scattered onto the nearby city of Catania and closed its international airport, ANSA reports.

Lapilli also fell onto a number of smaller towns and villages on Etna's southern slopes including Nicolosi, Trecastagni, Pedara, Aci Sant'Antonio and San Gregorio, where the eruptions rattled windows and doors.

According to ANSA, a group of seven young people ascended the volcano to see the latest eruption, got lost during high volcanic activity, and had to spend the night in the open. They were rescued on Thursday morning.

Geological summary
Mount Etna, towering above Catania, Sicily's second-largest city, has one of the world's longest documented records of historical volcanism, dating back to 1500 BCE.

Historical lava flows of basaltic composition cover much of the surface of this massive volcano, whose edifice is the highest and most voluminous in Italy.

The Mongibello stratovolcano, truncated by several small calderas, was constructed during the late Pleistocene and Holocene over an older shield volcano. The most prominent morphological feature of Etna is the Valle del Bove, a 5 x 10 km (5.1 x 6.2 miles) horseshoe-shaped caldera open to the east.

Two styles of eruptive activity typically occur at Etna. Persistent explosive eruptions, sometimes with minor lava emissions, take place from one or more of the three prominent summit craters, the Central Crater, NE Crater, and SE Crater (the latter formed in 1978).

[Bgoney]

After days of stratospheric venting, explosive volcanic activity is continuing on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, with the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)

Particulates ejected above approx. 10km into the stratosphere which can shade sunlight and reduce terrestrial temperatures — smaller particulates can linger in the upper atmosphere for years or even decades+ at a time.

As of today, 50 volcanoes are continuously erupting on our planet (a continuously erupting volcano is classed as having intermittent eruptive events without a break of at least 3 months). That number of 50 is considered well-above the average.

In addition, “generally there are around 20 volcanoes actively erupting on any particular day,” according to volcano.si.edu; and as of April 13, there are some 30 volcanoes busily spewing ash and toxic gas into the atmosphere, an increase of 50%.

Today’s worldwide volcanic UPTICK is thought to be tied to the low solar activity we’re experiencing, coronal holes, a waning magnetosphere, and the influx of Cosmic Rays penetrating silica-rich magma.

[Bgoney]

new high-level, major eruption took place at Soufriere St. Vincent volcano at 10:40 UTC on April 13, 2021. The SO2 emissions produced over the past 2 days are now spreading over two continents -- South America and Africa. Extremely heavy ash is covering the island of St. Vincent, leaving the nation without electricity.

The pattern of seismicity changed again, with the end of the episodes of high-amplitude tremor 2 to 8 hours apart, the University of West Indies Seismic Research Center (UWI-SRC) said early April 13, 2021.

Three episodes of tremor have been recorded since 06:00 LT on April 13, 2 of them with lower-amplitude, and the third, at about 17:00 LT, was high-amplitude. The episodes continue to coincide with periods of enhanced venting or explosive activity.

Observations indicate that pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) had descended several valleys on the southern and western flanks of the volcano and had reached the sea at Morne Ronde, Larikai, and Trois Loupes Bay.

Extensive damage to vegetation was noted in an area extending from Larikai Bay to Turner Bay on the west coast. No other areas along the coast had been affected by PDCs but villages located on the eastern flank of the volcano had been affected by heavy ashfall.

Explosions and accompanying ashfall, of similar or larger magnitude, are likely to continue to occur over the next few days with the chance of PDCs occurring, UWI-SRC warned just hours before another massive eruption at 10:40 UTC today:

[MVWxObserver]

Will be interesting to see how possibly ? the St. Vincent volcanic activity affects the summer air mass and the Cape Verde tropical season.

[Bgoney]

A new flank eruption started at Nyiragongo volcano around 17:15 UTC on Saturday, May 22, 2021, producing fast-flowing lava flows that reached inhabited areas. Hundreds of homes and other structures were destroyed. According to the Toulouse VAAC, volcanic ash cloud rose to an estimated height of 13.7 km (45 000 feet) above sea level by 21:00 UTC. The government held an emergency meeting late Saturday and activated an evacuation plan.

While initial assessment of the eruption showed lava was not flowing toward the city of Goma (population 670 000), new fissures opened on the eastern flank of the volcano several hours after the eruption started, producing fast-flowing lava toward the city.

Lava reached the city's airport late Saturday (LT), May 22, and engulfed an unknown number of homes and other structures in nearby villages.

Judging by aerial imagery made by Virunga Alliance early Sunday morning, hundreds of homes were destroyed:

[Bgoney]

Think we can add the Sun as a go along subject?


Solar Cycle 25 is waking up while Earth’s magnetic field is waning: this spells bad news for our electrical grid.

On May 22, sunspot AR2824 unleashed a sequence of solar flares unlike anything we’ve seen in years, writes Dr Tony Phillips of spaceweather.com, who labelled the event a “solar flare frenzy.”



NOAA

In only 24 hours, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded 10 C-flares and 2 M-flares:




The rapidfire explosions hurled multiple overlapping Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) into space.

According to NOAA models, a combined CME will hit Earth’s magnetic field during the late hours of May 25, potentially sparking G2-class geomagnetic storms.

However, given Earth’s ever-waning magnetic field the effects will likely be even stronger, and could potentially lead to minor/moderate electrical disturbances.

Solar activity has increased from low to moderate levels on Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23, 2021, with a series of C- and M-class solar flares produced by Active Region 2824. Multiple CMEs were produced during this period, with several having Earth-directed components. Consolidated WSA-ENLIL run shows arrival times beginning late Tuesday, May 25. A G2 - Moderate geomagnetic storm watch is in effect.

Three M1 solar flares were produced on May 22 and 23 -- M1.1 at 17:11 UTC on May 22, M1.4 at 21:36, and M1.1 at 11:18 on May 23.

In addition, several noteworthy C-class flares were produced during the same period, including an impulsive C6.1 at 02:56 UTC on May 22 with an associated Type II radio emission (estimated velocity of 1 530 km/s), an impulsive C6.0 with a Type II emission (estimated velocity 653 km/s) at 06:17 on May 22, and a long duration C1.3 at 08:44 on May 22.

Multiple CME signatures were observed during these and other events and each was modeled and put into a consolidated WSA-ENLIL run showing arrival times beginning late on May 25, SWPC forecasters said.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach G1 - Minor storm levels from May 25 to 27, with G2 - Moderate storming on May 26.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels from May 26 to 29 due to CME enhancements.




Image credit: SWPC

"Although individually these CMEs are small, as our Enlil model shows they have the potential to merge as they approach Earth," the UK's Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC) forecasters said.

"This means Minor to Moderate (G1 - G2), possibly even Strong (G3), Geomagnetic Storms are possible late Tuesday, May 25 or Wednesday."

[tron777]

Saw a tweet from BG this morning about an 8.2 quake hitting Alaska. All tsunami watches warmings have now been cancelled.

[Bgoney]

Etna continues to be active and growing. Etna entered August 2021 with continued growth at its Southeast Crater and impressive paroxysmal eruptive episode, the first since July 20.

Strombolian activity at the crater gradually intensified into lava fountaining by 21:22 UTC on July 31. The episode lasted through 23:30 UTC, with lava fountains reaching a height of about 1 km (3 300 feet) a.s.l.

A SW lava flow produced during the event reached an altitude of 2.8 km (9 200 feet) a.s.l. at 21:43 UTC.

E7sU2qcWQAIUD4E.jpeg

[Bgoney]

A major eruption started at the Japanese submarine Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba volcano at around 21:20 UTC on August 12, 2021, and continued into August 13.

According to the Tokyo VAAC, volcanic ash was rising up to 16.4 km (54 000 feet) above sea level at 23:50 UTC and heading SSW toward the Philippines.1

Their latest VA Advisory, issued at 06:00 UTC, confirmed ash was still rising from the volcano at 05:20 UTC

Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba-volcano-eruption-japan-august-13-2021-0520z-bg.jpg

[Bgoney]

This is a huge concern, as this is one volcano that has the potential to cause a Tsunami along the east coast if it blows.



La Palma, Canary Islands: seismic crisis Sep 2021 - updates
Earthquakes continue, becoming shallower
Update Wed 15 Sep 2021 05:31
Seismic traces of quakes under La CUmbre Vieja volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands) (image: IGN)
Seismic traces of quakes under La CUmbre Vieja volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands) (image: IGN)
The seismic crisis continues with no signs of slowing. More than 250 quakes large enough to be located were detected during the past 24 hours. Minutes ago, a magnitude 3.2 event at only 4 km depth occurred and was felt.
This quake can be seen on the seismic trace as the large green signal.

PA01_2021-09-15_05-06_F2.jpg

[Bgoney]

new eruption has begun at Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma, Canary Islands around 14:12 UTC on September 19, 2021. The Alert Level has been raised from Yellow to Red. This is the first eruption at the volcano since 1971 (VEI 2).

The eruption follows an intense seismic swarm at shallow depths which started on September 11. More than 25 000 quakes were registered to September 19.1

Seismicity further increased over the past few hours, with intense surface seismicity between 0 and 6 km (0 - 3.7 miles) and numerous earthquakes felt by the population, IGN said in an update released 12:00 UTC today.2

The accumulated maximum vertical deformation has increased to around 15 cm (5.9 inches) in the area close to the current seismicity and its distribution is still compatible with a center of pressure in this area.

[Bgoney]

Lava flows produced by the eruption at Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, destroyed 166 buildings since the eruption started on Sunday, September 19, 2021. As of September 20, lava flows are covering 103 ha (254 acres) of land.

[tron777]

The Canary Is volcano is interesting to watch. I am wondering how long it lasts and do we get a nice explosion out of the deal? Too early to know. Right now, lava flows seem to be the bigger ordeal for those folks as well as tourists. Lot of good video's on it out there.