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Archived Volcano News - John Seach
March 2003
News reports posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT + 10 hr)
Reports written by John Seach
Asama Volcano (Japan)
36.40 N, 138.53 E, summit elevation 2560 m, complex volcano
Monday 31st March 2003
The Mount Asama volcano puffed up a column of gray smoke near the central Japanese city of Nagano on Sunday, but the government said there was no immediate danger of a major eruption. The 8,470-foot mountain near Karuizawa, about 90 miles west of Tokyo, last rumbled to life in 1990. In 1947, 11 mountaineers were killed after being struck by molten rocks on the mountain. Mount Asama is about 30 miles southeast of Nagano, site of the 1998 Winter Olympics.
More on Asama volcano...
Lokon-Empung Volcano (Indonesia)
1.35 N, 124.79 E, summit elevation 1580 m, stratovolcano
Monday 31st March 2003
Thick white ash reported above the summit on 28th March.
More on Lokon-Empung Volcano...
Stromboli Volcano (Italy)
38.79 N, 15.21 E, summit elevation 926 m, stratovolcano
Sunday 23rd March 2003
Three vents remain active on the Sciara del Fuoco at an elevation of 590 m. Intense degassing is present at the summit craters indicating that the magma column is rising. A resumption of strombolian activity at the summit craters is likely in the future. White vapours are emitted from the summit.
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Mayon Volcano (Philippines)
13.257 N, 123.685 E, summit elevation 2462 m, stratovolcano
Wednesday 19th March 2003
Mayon volcano erupted on Monday sending a column of ash half a mile high. Rainwater hitting still-hot lava deposits on Mayon's crater may have caused the rumbling, which was accompanied by a minor earthquake. Westward winds blew the plume toward a farming community, but it was not expected to pose any threat to the population. Famed for its near-perfect cone, 8,118-foot Mayon, about 200 miles southeast of Manila, is the most dangerous of the country's 22 active volcanoes. About 50 major eruptions have been recorded since 1616.
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Mauna Loa Volcano (Hawaii)
19.47 N, 155.60 W, summit elevation 4170 m, shield volcano
Monday 17th March 2003
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory confirms that Mauna Loa volcano has resumed swelling. Lengthening, uplift, and tilting to indicate resumed swelling of the magma reservoir within the volcano.
More on Mauna Loa Volcano...
Sheveluch Volcano (Russia)
56.653 N, 161.360 E, summit elevation 3283 m, stratovolcano
Friday 14th March 2003
The eruption of Sheveluch volcano in Kamchatka (the Russian Far East) put land communication between Petropavlovsk and the Usk-Kamchatski district into immediate jeopardy. As RIA Novosti was told in the Kamchatka experimental-methodological seismological party on Thursday, in the past few weeks Shiveluch has been extremely active. The seismic stations register broken volcanic vibration in the cupola area. Gas and ash outbursts over the crater rise to a height of 5,000 metres, and avalanches are registered on the seismometer.
Information from satellites shows thermal anomalies. Mud flows come down off the slopes of the volcano. According to head of the Ust-Kamchatski district Boris Nevzorov, the thawing of the snow on the warmed cupola of the volcano had caused a flood of the Bekesh river. The level of water has come close to the sole bridge linking the banks. If the bridge is washed down the Ust-Kamchatski district will be left without land communication between it and the Regional centre for 2-3 months. This, in turn, can become a serious obstacle to the preparation for the 2003 salmon-catching season.
More on Sheveluch volcano...
Oldest Human Footprints found on Italian Volcano
Thursday 13th March 2003
Scientists in Italy said on Wednesday they have uncovered what are thought to be the oldest footprints of primitive humans. The fossilized hand and footprints, known locally in Italy as the "devils' trails," belong to three early humans who were probably climbing down the side of the Roccamonfina volcano in southern Italy about 385,000 to 325,000 years ago. They were made by primitive humans that walked upright with a free-standing gait and used their hands to steady themselves. Three tracks with prints show curve or zigzag patterns. The prints, embedded in fossilized volcanic ash, are about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide and belonged to primitive humans who were about 4 feet, 11 inches tall. Hominoid footprints 3.5 million years old have been found in petrified volcanic ash at Laetoli in northern Tanzania, but these belong to a member of the human family.
More on Roccamonfina Volcano...
Volcanoes of Italy...
Papua New Guinea Earthquake (Mag 6.8)
Wednesday 12th March 2003
The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: A large earthquake occurred IN THE NEW IRELAND REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, about 120 km (75 miles) east-southeast of Rabaul, New Britain, or 840 km (520 miles) northeast of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 12:27 AM MST, Mar 11, 2003 (5:27 PM local time in Papua New Guinea). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. There have been no reports of damage.
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Mauna Loa Volcano (Hawaii)
19.47 N, 155.60 W, summit elevation 4170 m, shield volcano
Saturday 8th March 2003
There are signs that Mauna Loa volcano is starting to swell. After about two months of relative quiet, sensitive global positioning system instruments once again appear to be picking up an inflating of the Mauna Loa caldera called Moku'aweoweo, indicating swelling of the magma reservoir below. Similar swelling was observed before the last two eruptions at Mauna Loa. Unmistakable swelling of the Mauna Loa caldera began in late April or May 2002 and continued for about five months before slowing in late October or November. The swelling appears to have resumed in early February 2003. Mauna Loa's longest period without an eruption was 25 years, from 1950 to 1975. The volcano last erupted19 years ago, in March 1984.
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Stromboli Volcano (Italy)
38.79 N, 15.21 E, summit elevation 926 m, stratovolcano
Friday 7th March 2003
INGV report that ash emissions occurred from the summit at Stromboli volcano on Wednesday 5th March. Eruptions occurred at the following times 9.04, 9.07, 9.13, 10.18, 16.56 hr (local time). Summit eruptions at Stromboli volcano have been absent since the landslide and lava flows in December 2002. Stromboli volcano has one of the longest recorded histories of eruptive activity, with explosive summit eruptions observed since before 450 BC. The current ash emissions mean that explosive activity might be returning to the summit of Stromboli, and soon we will see the characteristic strombolian eruptions the volcano is famous for.
More on Stromboli volcano...
Nyiragongo Volcano (Democratic Republic of Congo)
1.52 S, 29.25 E, summit elevation 3469 m, stratovolcano
Thursday 6th March 2003
A volcanic ash advisory issued from Toulouse indicated that Meteosat imagery has detected an eruption from Nyiragongo volcano. An ash cloud extends 100 nautical miles W of the volcano.
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Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Thursday 6th March 2003
Lava flows continue at Kilauea volcano. The Kohola lava flow has crossed the Chain of Craters Road and is now only 30 m from entering the sea. The lava has moved 55 m in the past day. The lava flow stopped briefly overnight and now is starting to reinflate. Grasses and brush is being set alight by the lava. Last month the Kohola lava flow forced the removal of the rangers station at the end of the Chain of Craters Road.
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Sheveluch Volcano (Russia)
56.653 N, 161.360 E, summit elevation 3283 m, stratovolcano
Wednesday 5th March 2003
An eruption of Sheveluch volcano occurred on Tuesday 4th March at 2230 UT. Reported by Tokyo volcanic ash advisory centre. More details will be posted when available.
More on Sheveluch volcano...
Nyiragongo Volcano (Democratic Republic of Congo)
1.52 S, 29.25 E, summit elevation 3469 m, stratovolcano
Saturday 1st March 2003
Witnesses in the villages around Nyiragongo volcano report that a glow is visible during the night at the summit. A visit by volcanologists to the crater on 25th and 26th February showed that vegetation was killed 200 m from the crater. Heavy ash falls have occurred also on the southern flank where a thick layer of ashes was found on leaves. Sounds were heard several km from the central crater. Lava fountains 100 m high were observed at the summit during the night. Lava fountains were emitted from one location, although a second, much smaller glow was observed.
Seismic activity is increasing at a fast rate. This activity has been observed by different seismic stations, Luboga, Katale and Kunene. A larger eruption may occur within days or weeks.
More on Nyiragongo Volcano...
Lokon-Empung Volcano (Indonesia)
1.35 N, 124.79 E, summit elevation 1580 m, stratovolcano
Saturday 1st March 2003
Government authorities in North Sulawesi issued a volcano alert concerning the activities of Mount Lokon in Tomohon district. The volcanology office in North Sulawesi reported that the volcano began rumbling on Sunday 23rd February (morning), exerting black smoke up to 2,500 metres into the sky, spewing hot rocks and gravel. The volcano is still on level three "alert" status for residents living nearby the Lokon volcano. No casualties were reported.
More on Lokon-Empung Volcano...