Forums

Posted: 29-08-2010 09:19 Post subject:

Thousands flee Indonesia volcano on Sumatra

Thousands of Indonesians have been forced to flee after a volcano erupted on the island of Sumatra.

Officials issued a red alert after Mount Sinabung began to spew lava shortly after midnight (1900 GMT).

Smoke and ash reportedly shot 1,500m into the air, and witnesses said they could see lava from the volcano from several miles away.

Mount Sinabung, some 60km (40 miles) south-west of Sumatra's main city Medan, has not erupted for 400 years.

The volcano had been pumping out smoke all day Saturday, but alert levels had not been raised, and local media reported that villagers had been taken by surprise.

The Medan Tribune quoted one local resident as saying he panicked and ran when he saw lava coming towards his him "like a ball of fire".

Priyadi Kardono from Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency told the BBC that more than 10,000 people were being evacuated from nearby villages.

But he added that some had already gone home as volcanic activity was decreasing.

Surono, head of the nation's volcano disaster alert centre, told AFP news agency that the alert level had been raised to red because the situation was "clearly dangerous".

"Initially we thought the ash and smoke were triggered by rain but now we know the driving pressure was from magma," he said.

The Indonesian archipelago lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and has at least 129 active volcanoes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11123169

Posted: 22-09-2010 08:11 Post subject:

Scientists to drill 13,000ft into active volcano in test that could cause earthquake
Scientists are planning to drill 13,000ft into the heart of an active volcano in Italy in an attempt to protect the nearby city of Naples by gauging when it is likely to erupt.
By Nick Squires in Rome
Published: 9:38PM BST 21 Sep 2010

But experts have warned that the project could trigger an explosion of red hot magma or even an earthquake.

The team of scientists wants to insert a borehole inside Campi Flegrei, a huge volcanic formation outside Naples, in the hope of gauging how active it is.

Also known as the Phlegraean Fields, Campi Flegrei is an eight-mile-wide caldera lying west of Naples.

It comprises 24 volcanic fissures and craters – one of which was believed by the ancient Romans to be the home of Vulcan, the god of fire - although much of it lies under water as it extends into the Bay of Naples.

It last erupted in 1538, and recent seismic activity in the area has raised fears that it could be ready to blow again.

The project is due to start early next month, when the team will drill 1640ft into the ground at a site in Bagnoli, near Naples.

The second phase, due to start in the spring, will involve the drilling of a 4,000 metre deep borehole at the same location.

Scientists will use sensors to measure seismic activity and the temperature of the rock at different depths in an attempt to understand how unstable the area is.

"Calderas are the only volcanoes that can cause truly catastrophic eruptions with global consequences, yet they are still poorly understood," Giuseppe De Natale, the project's coordinator and a geophysicist at Italy's National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology, told the science magazine Nature.

But there are fears that the experiment, which will tap into 500-600C hot magma, could lead to an eruption which would endanger the 1.5 million people who live in and around Naples.

Benedetto de Vivo, a professor of geochemistry at the University of Naples, said a similar drilling project in Iceland had to be stopped last year after magma was found at a much shallower depth than expected.

The Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed by a catastrophic eruption by nearby Mt Vesuvius in AD79.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8016893/Scientists-to-drill-13000ft-into-active-volcano-in-test-that-could-cause-earthquake.html

Posted: 04-11-2010 14:04 Post subject:

Posted: 10-02-2011 09:44 Post subject:

Icelandic volcano 'set to erupt'
Scientists in Iceland are warning that another volcano looks set to erupt and threatening to spew-out a pall of dust that would dwarf last year's event.
6:38PM GMT 08 Feb 2011

Geologists detected the high risk of a new eruption after evaluating an increased swarm of earthquakes around the island's second largest volcano.
Pall Einarsson, a professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland, says the area around Bárdarbunga is showing signs of increased activity, which provides "good reason to worry".

He told the country's national TV station that a low number of seismometer measuring devices in the area is making it more difficult to determine the scale and likely outcome of the current shifts.
But he said there was "every reason to worry" as the sustained earthquake tremors to the north east of the remote volcano range are the strongest recorded in recent times and there was "no doubt" the lava was rising.

The geologist complained that the lack of coverage from measuring devices means he cannot accurately detect the depth and exact location of the increased number of localised earth movements.
"This is the most active area of the country if we look at the whole country together," he told the Icelandic TV News. "There is no doubt that lava there is slowly growing, and the seismicity of the last few days is a sign of it.
"We need better measurements because it is difficult to determine the depth of earthquakes because it is in the middle of the country and much of the area is covered with glaciers."

Respected volcano watcher Jón Frímann, said on his volcano watch blog: "After the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption in the year 2010 it seems that geologists in Iceland take earthquake swarms more seriously then they did before."

He explained the Icelandic Met Office had on Sunday warned of the increased risk of a eruption in north-west side of Vatnajökull glacier due to the high earthquake activity in the area, and added: "It is clear that only time is going to tell us if there is going to be a eruption in this area soon or not."

The last recorded eruption of Bárdarbunga was in 1910, although volcanologists believe its last major eruption occurred in 1477 when it produced a large ash and pumice fallout. It also produced the largest known lava flow during the past 10,000 years on earth.
It is the second largest volcano on Iceland and is directly above the mantle plume of molten rock.

By comparison, Bárdarbunga dwarves the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which shutdown most of Europe's airspace last year after its ash cloud drifted across the continent's skies.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/iceland/8311924/Icelandic-volcano-set-to-erupt.html

Posted: 10-02-2011 19:25 Post subject:

Bárdarbunga is a so called monster/super volcano with a crater 70 km2 large.

Posted: 10-02-2011 21:06 Post subject:

Which is bigger? Bárdarbunga or Yellowstone?

There's only one way to settle this! Very Happy

Posted: 11-02-2011 15:18 Post subject:

Posted: 11-02-2011 16:38 Post subject:

Posted: 11-02-2011 20:07 Post subject:

It would be one hell of a fight, with the extinction of the human race as a possible result.
Shocked

Posted: 07-03-2011 12:46 Post subject:

New vent opens in Kilauea volcano
AP
Monday, 7 March 2011

[Video: Lava flows on the Pu'u O'o crater on Kilauea Volcano yesterday]

A new vent opened at Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, sending lava shooting up to 65ft, scientists said.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the fissure eruption was spotted shortly after the floor at the Pu'u O'o crater collapsed at around 5pm local time on Saturday. It occurred along the middle of Kilauea's east rift zone, about two miles west of Pu'u O'o.

"As a volcanogist, this is what we do. These are the moments we wait for," Janet Babb said. "It is exciting to see an eruption begin particularly if you can see it from the very start."
Kilauea has been in constant eruption since January 3, 1983.

At the summit, lava receded rapidly late on Saturday but seemed to slow yesterday. There were also about 150 small earthquakes were recorded within Kilauea in the past 24 hours.

Scientists said areas near the vent could erupt or collapse without warning, posing a threat to visitors or hikers to the area. Also potentially lethal concentrations of sulphur dioxide gas could be present within about a half-mile downwind of vent areas.

Because of the latest activity, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has closed Chain of Craters Road and all east rift zone and coastal trails. Kulanaokuaiki campground was also closed until further notice.

Ms Babb told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald that the fissure had expanded to about 535 yards long and that scientists were hiking into the remote area to observe it and take readings.
No homes are under threat.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/new-vent-opens-in-kilauea-volcano-2234528.html

Posted: 13-03-2011 00:23 Post subject:

An earthquake enthusiast (?!?) on ATS is reporting increased activity in Yellowstone.
On ATS they think it is related to the Japanese earthquake in some way of course.

The japanese people got an advanced warning system for earthquakes available for PC users. The system is counting down to when it will start.

Posted: 13-03-2011 01:22 Post subject:

A recent article on Yellowstone volcano activity awareness, from the Buffalo Bulletin:
http://www.buffalobulletin.com/articles/2011/03/09/elsewhere_in_the_bulletin/doc4d76af3d66be1752582981.txt

Possibly reassuring blog, on whether,or not, the Yellowstone Caldera is safe, from the end of last month:
http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/02/is_the_yellowstone_caldera_saf.php?utm_source=networkbanner&utm_medium=link

confused

Posted: 13-03-2011 12:30 Post subject:

Posted: 05-06-2011 08:34 Post subject:

Chile: Puyehue volcano chain erupts, forcing evacuation

A chain of volcanoes has erupted in southern Chile, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents.
Large columns of smoke have been rising from the Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle volcano range, about 800km (500 miles) south of the capital Santiago.
Witnesses also reported a strong smell of ash and sulphur. A dozen small earthquakes were recorded before the eruption began.

The officials have issued a red alert - the maximum warning level for the area.
Evacuation orders were issued for some 3,500 people, the local authorities said.
They added that the residents would be relocated in temporary shelters in safe areas.

So far there have been no reports of any injuries.
However, ash clouds have drifted to neighbouring Argentina where officials have ordered residents to stay indoors.
A regional airport in the Argentine city of Bariloche has been closed due to the volcanic ash.

Eyewitness Juli Kessler told the BBC she saw "big black clouds hanging over the Andes" and ash dust lying on the road.
It is the first time since 1960 that the volcanic chain has erupted.
Chile is one of the most volcanic countries in the world.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13657187

(BTW, discussion of Yellowstone, etc, should go on the Super Volcanoes thread.)

Posted: 06-06-2011 22:19 Post subject:

Some good photos of the eruption and associated lightning here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394503/Chile-volcano-causes-ash-cloud-lightning-tears-sky-apart.html

(But note that some of the pics labelled 'time lapse' are in fact 'long exposure' shots, as can be seen from the star trails.)