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by US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and associates
Kīlauea, one among Earth’s most lively volcanoes, has been on the Smithsonian Establishment’s World Volcanism Program (GVP) listing of erupting volcanoes because the present summit eruption started on September 29, 2021.
Previous to that, Kīlauea was on the listing repeatedly from 1983 to 2018, after which it took a welcome 2-year break. Kīlauea jumped again on the listing in December 2020, however shortly dropped off when that eruption resulted in Might 2021.
Sometimes, in a given yr, 40–50 volcanoes erupt, or a bit lower than 10% of the world’s lively volcanoes. Let’s check out just a few of Kīlauea’s notable contemporaries this yr.
As of March 17, the GVP reported 48 volcanoes in an erupting standing! This contains volcanoes which may be intermittently erupting and not using a break of three months or extra.
Lots of the volcanoes on this listing have been erupting recurrently for years to many years to even centuries. Yasur volcano, within the Republic of Vanuatu (South Pacific, Oceania), has been erupting intermittently since not less than the yr 1774. Stromboli volcano, in Italy, is assumed to have been erupting semi-continuously for ten instances as lengthy in keeping with Roman information!
The volcano to affix the listing most lately is Volcan Wolf within the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (South America). Volcan Wolf started erupting on January 6 of this yr, with an 8-km (5-mile)-long fissure sending lava flows about 18.5 km (11 miles) down its flanks.
Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional, the group accountable for monitoring volcanic exercise in Ecuador, reported that the eruption ceased on Might 5. So, Volcan Wolf might not be lengthy on the listing of erupting volcanoes, until the eruption resumes or one other eruption begins throughout the subsequent two months.
Breaking the listing of erupting volcanoes down by continent demonstrates how variable in location they’re on Earth: 1 in Antarctica, 2 in Europe, 4 in Africa, 4 in North America, 6 in Asia (together with 3 on the Kamchatka Peninsula within the Russian Far East), 7 in Central America, 7 in South America, and 17 in Oceania.
It’s no shock that Oceania, a lot of which lies throughout the “Ring of Hearth,” dominates the listing of areas on Earth with erupting volcanoes. The Ring of Hearth outlines the Pacific Ocean, and it’s an space the place volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are frequent as a consequence of tectonic plate boundaries.
Many of the erupting volcanoes in Oceania, South America, Central America, North America, and Asia are a part of the Ring of Hearth. Kīlauea, nevertheless, is situated on the Hawaiian scorching spot in the midst of the Pacific Plate and Ring of Hearth.
Effectively-known volcanoes on the listing of erupting volcanoes embody Erebus (Antarctica) and Erta Ale (Ethiopia, Africa). Erebus, Erta Ale, and Kīlauea are three of the eight volcanoes on Earth which are identified to host persistent lava lakes.
Lesser-known volcanoes on the listing embody Dukono in Indonesia (Oceania), Telica in Nicaragua (Central America), and Suwanosejima in Japan (Asia). Dukono occupies the distant island of Halmahera and has been erupting sporadically since 1933. Telica has been erupting intermittently since April 2021 whereas Suwanosejima has been doing so since October 2004.
Domestically, 4 volcanoes in the USA make the GVP listing of volcanoes in an erupting standing, together with Kīlauea and three volcanoes in Alaska: Pavlof, on the Alaska Peninsula, has been on the listing since August 2021; Nice Sitkin, within the central Aleutian Islands, since Might 2021, and Semisopochnoi, within the western Aleutian Islands, since February 2021.
Up to now, this dialogue has been human-centric, solely contemplating the volcanoes that we are able to see. However hidden deep beneath the ocean floor are volcanoes that erupt undetected. Although they account for 75% of Earth’s magma manufacturing, mid-ocean ridge volcanoes are poorly understood and normally erupt unseen.
Iceland, the place the Mid-Atlantic Ridge involves the floor, affords us a window into this predominantly submarine world. The current eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano, from March–September 2021, was a spectacular instance of mid-ocean ridge volcanism and one of many uncommon instances when a mid-ocean ridge volcano made the GVP listing.
If you happen to’re curious to study extra about volcanoes and eruptions on Earth over the previous 12,000 years, the GVP hosts a “Volcanoes of the Phrase” database that you may discover.
Volcano Exercise Updates
Kīlauea volcano is erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert stage is at WATCH.
Over the previous week, lava has continued to erupt from the western vent inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater. All lava is confined inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes Nationwide Park. Sulfur dioxide emission charges stay elevated and had been final measured at roughly 3,900 tonnes per day (t/d) on Might 31. Seismicity is elevated however secure, with few earthquakes and ongoing volcanic tremor. Summit tiltmeters confirmed little floor deformation for a lot of the previous week, although deflation started simply earlier than midnight on June 1.
Mauna Loa will not be erupting and stays at Volcano Alert Degree ADVISORY. This alert stage doesn’t imply that an eruption is imminent or that development to an eruption from the present stage of unrest is for certain.
This previous week, about 30 small-magnitude earthquakes had been recorded beneath the summit and higher elevation flanks of Mauna Loa—the vast majority of these occurred at shallow depths lower than 15 kilometers (9 miles) beneath sea stage. World Positioning System (GPS) measurements present low charges of floor deformation over the previous week. Gasoline concentrations and fumarole temperatures at each the summit and at Sulphur Cone on the Southwest Rift Zone have remained secure over the previous week. Webcams present no modifications to the panorama.
One earthquake was reported felt within the Hawaiian Islands throughout the previous week: a M2.2 earthquake 3 km (1 mi) SW of Honalo at 5 km (3 mi) depth on Might 31 at 12:46 a.m. HST.
HVO continues to intently monitor Kīlauea’s ongoing eruption and Mauna Loa for any indicators of elevated exercise.
Volcano Watch is a weekly article and exercise replace written by US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and associates. Maui Now added info to this report.
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