Friday, January 20, 2012

[Geology2] Volcano News 1-20-2012

Turrialba Volcano Still Active and Keeping Neighbours On Edge

The fear of an enormous eruption fills the neighours of the Turrialba Volcano, located southwest of Cartago and a stone's through (volcano wise) from San José, as the colossus continues to emit ash and sometimes with greater force as it did earlier this week, spewing stones and gases.

Experts of the Red Sismológica Nacional (RSN) and the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico (OVSICORI) assure area residents that the volcano has calmed down since and there is no cause for further alarm.

However, on Thursday afternoon a new emission of ash from the new gap formed last week as noted, accompanied by a slight seismic activity.

Experts remind that this is normal for an "active" volcano and the residents of the areas of Turrialba, Alvarado and Jimenex should not be overly alarmed.

The Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) - national emergency commission is maintaining a "green" alert for the area.

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Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador), activity update: new eruptions and lahars

Thursday Jan 19, 2012 01:01 AM | Age: 2 days

BY: T

IG reported a new episode of activity and increased seismicity from Tungurahua during 11-17 January. On 12 January ashfall was reported in Manzano (8 km SW), Cahuají (8 km SW), and Choglontus (13 km WSW).
A lahar descended the Achupashal drainage, carrying blocks up to 1 m in diameter, and caused the road to Baños (9 km N) to be closed. Cloud cover prevented observations of the crater. On 13 January ash-and-gas emissions were observed, and ash plumes rose as high as 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W. Ash-fall was reported in Palitahua (6 km SSW) and roaring noises were heard in Cusúa (8 km NW) and Manzano.
On 14 January ash emissions rose 500 m above the crater and drifted WSW; ashfall was reported in Choglontus, Palitahua, and Manzano. Clouds obscured views on 15 January; however ashfall was reported in Palitahua and Manzano. Lahars descended drainages in Juive (NW) and Pondoa (N), carrying blocks 10-20 cm in diameter.

from: USGS/GVP weekly activity update ---

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Increased activity reported at Colombia's Cerro Machin volcano

Posted on January 18, 2012

January 18, 2012 – COLOMBIA – An increase in seismic activity has been observed at Colombia's Cerro Machin volcano. This was confirmed by the Colombian Geological Survey, which indicated that in the last week, Cerro Machin volcanic tremors, which is associated with rock fracturing within the volcanic edifice, was noted at the. It features a slight increase in seismic activity on January 15 between 3:30 and 4:30 local time. These seismic events were located in the main dome and the south-east of it, at depths ranging between 2 and 12 km. The earthquake of greatest magnitude during the week was 0.73 on the Richter scale, which corresponds to an event recorded on 15 January at 3:21 pm (Local Time). Other parameters are being monitored, as volcanic deformation and geochemistry have not undergone significant changes. The Colombian Geological Survey continues monitoring the evolution of volcanic phenomena in a timely manner and report changes that may occur. About 20,000 people live within the vicinity of the volcano. –La Tarde, translated

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Tourists visit bubbling mud volcano in Iran

Abedin Taherkenareh / EPA

A picture made available on Friday shows an Iranian tourist visiting the historic mud volcano called Gel-Afshan in the city of Chabahar in south-eastern Iran. A natural phenomenon of gas rising from the depths of the earth raises a hill of mud over time.

Abedin Taherkenareh / EPA

Tourists climb the mud volcano called Gel-Afshan.

Abedin Taherkenareh / EPA

A close-up view of bubbling mud.

By John Brecher, Multimedia editor at msnbc.com

Msourceuch of the photography reaching us from Iran focuses on matters of political conflict, so these images of a curious geological site are a pleasant change.