Indonesia volcano eruption panics villagers

From Google News: Indonesia volcano eruption panics villagers
JAKARTA — One of Indonesia's most active volcanoes erupted Tuesday, spewing clouds of ash and panicking villagers but no evacuation has been ordered so far, a government vulcanologist said.

The first eruption at Mount Lokon was at 3:07 am (1907 GMT Monday), followed by two more bursts within minutes, Farid Bina told AFP from a monitoring post near the volcano on Sulawesi island.

"The eruption was heard as far as five kilometres (three miles) away, causing panic among villagers living close to the volcano," he said, adding that winds blew volcanic ash to villages up to five kilometres to the east and northeast.

"Two villages with about 10,000 people each have been affected by the ash, which stopped later in the morning," he added.

More than 5,200 people were evacuated to temporary shelters when the 1,580-metre volcano erupted in July, sending huge clouds of ash as high as 3,500 metres (11,500 feet) into the sky.

Lokon's last deadly eruption was in 1991, killing a Swiss tourist.

The Indonesian archipelago has dozens of active volcanoes and straddles major tectonic fault lines known as the "Ring of Fire" between the Pacific and Indian oceans.

The country's most active volcano, Mount Merapi in central Java, killed more than 350 people in a series of violent eruptions last year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Regular blog postings begin on DECEMBER 26, Monday.

Volcanic eruption doesn't mean catastrophe: Icelandic expert

From EnglishNews.ccn: Volcanic eruption doesn't mean catastrophe: Icelandic expert
REYKJAVIK, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The next eruption of the southern Icelandic volcano Katla is unlikely to be a century catastrophe, and scientists in Iceland are even not certain about whether it will erupt in the near future, said Icelandic volcanologist Pall Einarsson on Monday.

"It is very little probability that the next Katla eruption will be similar to the Laki eruption in 1783, which is the biggest catastrophe we have ever had in the history of Iceland, making half of the livestock and 20 percent of the population die and also causing global disaster," said Professor Einarsson of Icelandic Institute of Earth Science in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

Although the last big eruption of Katla was in 1918, the size of the next eruption doesn't depend on the time when it stays dormant, explained Einarsson, who has been studying volcanoes for more than 40 years.

"In fact, we may have had a small eruption of Katla this summer, on July 9, but we are still debating on whether it was a eruption, because it was too small," he added.

Meanwhile, Einarsson confirmed that the Katla has recently been under a period of unrest, and the water melting from the Myrdal glacier, covering the Katla volcano, had caused flood in southeastern Iceland, lasting three to four hours on July 9 and ruined a bridge.

"It had been relatively quiet before July 9, but after that possible eruption, the earthquakes increased, so we have definitely an agitated state of the volcano, so this is the time we have to be extra cautious about Katla," said Einarsson.

According to him, the increasing melting water and earthquakes can be signs of the active state of the volcano, which means " something is cooking," but whether it is going to be a big eruption in the near future still remains uncertain.

"The last time this happened was in 1999, it also started with a small eruption, but following that, there were four or five years that the Katla volcano was agitated, and then it got quiet again without a big eruption," explained Einarsson, adding that similar situations also happened both in 1976 and 1967.

"We should try to stay away from the alarmist's view of the volcanoes, we have about 30 active volcanoes in Iceland and we have eruptions every two or three years, so when we say there is going to be a eruption, that does not mean there is going to be a catastrophe," stressed Einarsson.

"We have several volcanoes that are likely to erupt in the next few years, but that does not mean this is big news, it's just like saying that there is going to be an automobile accident tomorrow," he added.

As one of the most four active volcanoes in Iceland, the Katla volcano system is even larger than the Eyjafjalla glacier volcano, which erupted in April 2010, shooting smoke and ash thousands of meters into the air, crippling air travel across Europe and causing chaos all over the world.

But Einarsson claimed that "A lot of news reports misunderstand this. They think the Eyjafjalla eruption was a small eruption, which was very damaging, and Katla is much bigger, so it's a catastrophe. This is not true."

According to him, the impact of volcano eruption is not only based on the size of eruption, but also depends on many other factors like the weather during the eruption and the chemical composition of the product.

"The Grimsvotn volcano's eruption, which happened this spring, is ten times bigger than the Eyjafjalla glacier volcano's eruption last year, but it only had a small effect," said Einarsson.

He explained that the Grimsvotn's eruption only lasted a week, and the weather was favorable so it blew the ash away from Europe, and the chemical composition of the product is basaltic, which means the ash was not fine and fell down in a short time.

"I guess the eruption of Eyjafjalla glacier volcano opened people's eyes that this can have a global effect on everybody's daily life. I think that is the first time that this was demonstrated, but that doesn't mean every eruption has that effect, " said Einarsson.

Braving Etna with the airborne volcano ash trackers

From NewScientist: Tech: Braving Etna with the airborne volcano ash trackers
If you're going to fly around volcanic ash, first you have to see it up ahead. New Scientist flies shotgun on Sicilian field trials of a new sensor system

I'M IN a helicopter, flying low over the verdant foothills of mount Etna in Sicily. To my left, a tiny light aircraft is approaching the immense volcano's sweeping flanks as an ash plume rises from it. The diminutive plane looks like a bug buzzing a tetchy grizzly but its size belies the major impact it could have: it is carrying a raft of experimental instruments that could reduce the mayhem that restless volcanoes cause to aviation.

Aircraft engines must be protected from silicate-based volcanic ash particles. That's because they melt at engine-operating temperatures, coating turbine blades with thick, glassy gunk that blocks airflow, hindering fuel combustion and causing engines to cut out. Currently, the International Civil Aviation Organisation tells pilots to avoid flying in ash if its concentration is above just 4 milligrams of ash per cubic metre. That's why in the spring of 2010, when ash began spewing from the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, aviation in Europe was grounded for extended periods between 15 April and 17 May. It cost the aviation industry billions of dollars.

Sensors attached to planes are needed to let pilots detect ash clouds up ahead so they can still fly but just navigate around them - much like weather radar warns them of storms. But the geochemistry of volcanoes varies widely and no one knows which are the best particles and gases to detect in-flight to help guide aircraft around ash clouds.

So the scientists I'm observing at the landing strip at Calatabiano, Sicily, are using a light aircraft to do two things. First, they are performing initial low-altitude, low-speed tests on an ash sensor developed at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) in Kjeller, funded by the UK airline Easyjet. Second, Konradin Weber at Dusseldorf University of Applied Sciences in Germany is training four different sensors on Etna's ash-and-gas plume, and exploring what other chemical markers might help predict trouble for pilots.

NILU's Fred Prata says his sensor comprises a pair of fast-sampling infrared cameras - one seeking telltale IR absorption at a wavelength of 10 micrometres and the other at 12 micrometres. Software combines these to detect silicate-containing ash particles of 2 to 40 micrometres in diameter, the size that wrecks engines. This, Prata tells me in the airstrip's tin hangar, measures the ash "dose" ahead of the plane, how far away it is and its altitude. Combining this with lower-resolution satellite data allows the crew to work out an alternate course. His tests last week were encouraging, with a very low false-positive rate, but needs testing at airliner speeds and altitudes.

Out by the runway, Weber says other volcanic emissions could provide important information too. His equipment includes a counter for micrometre-scale particles, a nanoparticle counter, an ultraviolet detector for measuring sulphur dioxide concentration - which can indicate heightened volcanic activity - plus a hydrogen sulphide/carbon dioxide meter. The sulphur dioxide sensor gave Icelandic airport authorities the confidence to reopen airports after the Grímsvötn volcano erupted in May, for example.

Konradin hopes that nanoparticles on the breeze might also give early warning of ash ahead. "It's a new approach," he says. "Nanoparticles might give us an indication of volcanic ash plumes, and may be a way to tell you the age of the plume and how it is developing."

For airlines like Easyjet, which lost £55 million in the 2010 groundings, sensors to help keep planes flying cannot come soon enough.

She's gonna blow
The imminent threat of eruption by the enormous ice-covered Icelandic volcano Katla has helped focus the minds of the airline industry - because it could pump 10 times more ash into Europe's skies than Eyjafjallajökull did in spring 2010.

Throughout history Katla has erupted every 40 to 80 years - but it has not done so since 1918 - making it 14 years overdue. And recent seismic rumblings suggest magma may once again be stirring up beneath Katla.

Ian Davies, engineering chief at UK-based airline Easyjet, says it is vital that technology be in place to keep planes airborne. "This large scale grounding of flights should not happen again," he says

Seismologists set off dynamite to probe volcano

From the Japan Times: Seismologists set off dynamite to probe volcano
KAGOSHIMA — Seismologists set off a large amount of explosives early Thursday to create "artificial earthquakes" as part of their investigations into the strata under the Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Analyzing the reflections of man-made seismic waves is an effective way to grasp the situation, the seismologists said.

During the two-hour experiment that started shortly past midnight, experts from nine universities as well as the Meteorological Agency set off numerous sticks of dynamite at 14 locations in succession. Tremors caused by the explosions were measured by 250 seismometers.

Scientists: Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano has an explosive future

From the Weather Space: Scientists: Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano has an explosive future
(TheWeatherSpace.com) - Many believe the Hawaiian volcano of Kilauea is a silent volcano, but scientists predict an explosive future coming up.

Located on the Big Island if Hawaii, Kilauea is awesome view to behold. The lava fountains, the fiery glow at night, and the unique weather patterns bring tourists to the area on a daily basis. But is there a darker side to it?

Kilauea is also known in history to produce violent eruptions, a surge of moving hot gas and ash down the sides of the mountains at hurricane velocity. You cannot escape that if it happens.

The violent eruption study has been done by the University of Hawaii. Geology professor Michael Garcia studied samples of the volcano and has viewed the past eruption phases over the last 2,500 years. About 60% of the eruptions during that time were violent.

Kilauea does have the eruptive power to dwarf Mt. St. Helens back in 1980, which killed 57 people and destroyed 150 square miles of forest.

TheWeatherSpace.com Senior Meteorologist Kevin Martin states that these phases could alter the climate across the low latitudes.

"Volcanoes tend to have an affect on the winters preceding their major eruptions and if this one goes off like advertised, it will make the weather patterns go whacky for a few winters following such an eruption," said Martin.

Scientists do not know when Kilauea will erupt violent again, but do say it should not steer people away from the beautiful place.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offering hikers access to lava flow’s ocean entry

From Hawaii Magazine: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offering hikers access to lava flow’s ocean entry

Hawaii_Big Island_volcanoes_lava_ocean-entryHawaii Volcanoes National Park is providing hiking access to a sea cliff area at its eastern border where lava from Kilauea volcano’s remote Puu Oo vent is pouring into the ocean.

The lava reached the ocean-entry site, dubbed by scientists as “West Kaili ili,” late last week, marking the first time since 2007 that lava has entered the ocean within park boundaries. Other recent ocean-entries have occurred by way of private land and within County of Hawaii jurisdiction.

Currently, several streams of lava are pouring into the ocean, providing dramatic views (pictured, right and below). Visitors who stay after dark can also see channels of lava flowing down the pali (slope) and across the flow field, but conditions can change at any time.

Want to catch a glimpse of the dazzling spectacle of molten lava slipping into steaming ocean waters?

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando is pleased to extend the opportunity. But before dashing out to the Big Island site, better double-check whether you’re ready for the 4-mile hike to the West Kaili ili entry, which starts at the bottom of Chain of Craters Road.Hawaii_Big Island_volcanoes_lava_ocean-entry

“Hikers must be adequately prepared with plenty of drinking water, dressed for rain or sunshine, wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, carry a flashlight and spare batteries, and be in good physical shape for this hike,” across and uneven flow field, Orlando said in a news release issued yesterday by the national park.

In addition, hikers must heed all warning signs and ranger advisories, and be aware of earth cracks and crevices, sharp terrain and rain-slick pahoehoe (smooth) lava and other hazards. Further, steam plumes produced by lava entering the sea contain fine lava fragments and acid droplets that can be harmful. Also, scientists have confirmed that a lava delta is being formed at the base of a sea cliff at West Kaili ili. Lava deltas can collapse with little warning, produce hot rock falls inland, and generate large local waves.

Visitors who are not up for the hike can observe the ocean-entry plume from the end of Chain of Craters Road, near the ranger station. After sunset, flowing lava from Puu Oo has been visible from the turnout on the hairpin curve on Chain of Craters Road, weather permitting.

Puu Oo, a cinder cone Kilauea volcano’s eastern flanks, began erupting in January 1983. The ongoing 29-year Puu Oo eruption, among the longest-lasting Hawaiian eruptions in recorded history. The first written accounts of eruptions in Hawaii date back to the 1820s, when American missionaries arrived on the Big Island.

Daily updates on Kilauea volcano activity are available at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website.

Colombia raises alert on possible Galeras volcano eruption

From English News.cn: Colombia raises alert on possible Galeras volcano eruption

BOGOTA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's National Geological System (SGN) on Friday raised the alert level for the Galeras volcano located in the southern province of Narino after several quakes.

The SGN also ordered the evacuation of residents living in the vicinity of the slopes of the 4,276-meter high volcano, which sits close to the Colombian border with Ecuador, saying the series of quakes reported during the last 24 hours could be an indicator of an eruption.

Due to the increased activity of the volcano, which last erupted in August 2010 when it spewed gases, ashes and rocks through a series of explosions, SGN Director Martha Calvache said the SGN had raised the alert to level 2, which means that an eruption could happen in the next 48 hours.

The Galeras, which is just 9 km from Pasto, the provincial capital of Narino, has been active for years. It turned deadly in January 1993 when a group of geologists who were inspecting one of the craters were all killed by a sudden eruption.

Volcano continues to spew ash in Indonesia

From English News.ca: Volcano continues to spew ash in Indonesia
BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Mount Gamalama, on the eastern Indonesian island of Ternate, continues to spew ash. It has forced more than 1,200 nearby residents out of their homes.

A large ash cloud covered the peak, and ash continues to shoot out near the crater. Scientists are constantly monitoring the nearly two thousand metre-high volcano.

Villagers living on the mountain’s slopes are staying in five different shelters, and are not equipped with enough supplies.

The area has been blanketed by smoke since last Monday, but there have been no casualties since the first eruption on December 4.

Time Keeps On Slipping Into the Future

Sorry for the dearth of posts recently...I've been working on a project, wanted to devote all my time to it, and kept telling myself...it'll be done today so I can get back to blogging here tomorrow.

The next day it was... okay, it's definitely going to get done today....

Well, today it is done... so back to posting here on a daily basis tomorrow. (With the first post appearing tomorrow afternoon while I'm watching football!)

Thanks for your patience.

Lava fingerprinting reveals differences between Hawaii's twin volcanoes

From Hawaii Reporter: Lava fingerprinting reveals differences between Hawaii's twin volcanoes

Hawaiʻi's main volcano chains – the Loa and Kea trends – have distinct sources of magma and unique plumbing systems connecting them to the Earth’s deep mantle, according to research published this week in Nature Geoscience by scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of British Columbia (UBC), and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Lava field on Hawaii Island in November 2011 - Photo by Chuck Denny

This study is the first to conclusively relate geochemical differences in surface lava rocks from both chains to differences in their deep mantle sources, over 1,700 miles below the Earth’s surface, at the core-mantle boundary.

“We now know that by studying oceanic island lavas we can approach the composition of the Earth's mantle, which represents 80 percent of the Earth's volume and is obviously not directly accessible,” said Dominique Weis, Canada Research Chair in the Geochemistry of the Earth’s Mantle and Director of UBC’s Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research. “It also implies that mantle plumes indeed bring material from the deep mantle to the surface and are a crucial means of heat and material transport to the surface.”

The results of this study also suggest that a recent dramatic increase in Hawaiian volcanism, as expressed by the existence of the Hawaiian islands and the giant Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes (which are higher than Mount Everest when measured from their underwater base), is related to a shift in the composition and structure of the source region of the Hawaiian mantle plume. Thus, this work shows, for the first time, that the chemistry of hotspot lavas is a novel and elegant probe of deep earth evolution.

Weis and UBC colleagues Mark Jellinek and James Scoates made the connection by careful fingerprinting of samples of Hawaiian island lavas – generated over the course of five million years – by isotopic analyses. Co-author and University of Massachusetts professor J. Michael Rhodes emphasized that the research included collecting 120 new samples from Mauna Loa, "the largest volcano on Earth,"

”Hawaiian volcanoes are the best studied in the world and yet we are continuing to make fundamental discoveries about how they work,” said co-author and UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) volcanologist Michael Garcia.

The next steps for the researchers will be to study the entire length of the Hawaiian chain (which provides lava samples ranging in age from five to 42 million years old) as well as other key oceanic islands to assess if the two trends can be traced further back in time and to strengthen the relationship between lavas and the composition of the deep mantle.

Research support provided by the Belgian Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS), NSERC Discovery Grants, and U.S. National Science Foundation, and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

Nature Geoscience: Spatial and temporal variability in Hawaiian hotspot volcanism induced by small-scale convection, DOI: 10.1038/NGEO1328

Content of this press release was co-written with UBC.

Forget Ziplining; Costa Rica is All About Canyoneering Next to a Volcano

From Jaunted: Forget Ziplining; Costa Rica is All About Canyoneering Next to a Volcano
Canopying goes hand-in-hand with Costa Rica. Maybe it's the allure of the seven volcanoes and the lush flora and fauna they support or the desire to get down and dirty, but visitors to the country often have communing with nature on their minds and we're no different.

Instead of ziplining through the trees and crossing swing bridges on the Caribbean/rainforesty side of the country, however, we were able to go whole hog on the Pacific/dry forest side in the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park of the Guanacaste region, where canopying combines with ziplining, rappeling, rock climbing, canyoneering and—yes, swing bridges—to make an experience simultaneously exhilarating and exhausting. There's no one word to describe it, but for now "adventure" will just have to do.

It begins easily enough. The lower half of your body is jimmied into harnesses and a helmet buckled onto your head, where nervous sweat is already starting to bead. From base at the Hacienda Guachipelin's Adventure Tours HQ, it's only a 2-minute walk to the first platform, from which you will take the plunge to zoom the longest of 12 ziplines.

All in all, there's those 12 ziplines, 24 platforms, 2 climbing walls, a stop to rappel (upside-down or rightside-up) above the rushing river, Tarzan moments, a swing bridge and some light hiking. It feels awesome while you're getting the grit under your nails and some air time, but bring Icy Hot for the next day, trust us.

Pricing for the Hacienda Guachipelin Adventure tour is $50 per adult/$40 per student/$30 per child, and your hotel can typically arrange the transfers and tours. You don't need to be in American Gladiator shape to go for it, by the way. Every platform has one or two guides to hook you up, answers questions, help out or just calm you down before doing that spider rappel only feet from Class IV rapids.

Pro-tip: While strapping your camera around you works on most parts of the course, don't try to keep your iPhone in your pocket or even bring a bag. Minimal or nothing is the rule here, which is why we don't have any videos of the action. Come prepared with more than a wriststrap, and a plastic baggie in case of rain would be advisable.

Disaster Tourism Update: Chernobyl Shuts Down, Congo Volcano Draws Crowds

From Forbes.com: Disaster Tourism Update: Chernobyl Shuts Down, Congo Volcano Draws Crowds
Less than a year after the Ukrainian government invited visitors to tour the site of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear plant meltdown, a Kiev court has officially ended the practice, according to a brief report by the Voice of Russia. And why would anyone want to tour the site of the worst nuclear disaster in history anyway? It seems disaster tourism—an industry in which a perverse curiosity draws travelers to creepy, scary or depressing disaster sites over beaches, museums or ski slopes—is alive and well. Other popular spots on disaster tourism hit lists:

1. Democratic Republic of Congo: Intrepid explorers are flocking to a corner of this war-ravaged country, where rebel groups still terrorize much of the population. The spectacle tourists have come to witness, though, is a natural one: that of Mount Nyamulagira, in Virunga National Park, which has been erupting since early November. The park is offering tours and overnight tent stays, and now presents the Mikeno Lodge, with 12 thatched-roof bungalows going for $200 to $450 a night.

2. Christchurch, New Zealand: Since it was rocked by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake and endless aftershocks this year, Christchurch has seen its share of visitors who want to view the destruction—via bus, walking or Segway tours around the perimeter of affected areas, notes a report in the New Zealand Herald. In addition, helicopter and small-plane tours are allowing a bird’s-eye view of the damage.

3. New Orleans, LA: “Katrina tours” of areas including the Lower Ninth Ward have become a popular industry since the 2005 hurricane and flooding, and various versions are still on offer, including the Post Katrina Tour via van, Gray Line Hurricane Katrina bus tour and Ninth Ward Rebirth Bike Tours.

4. Japan’s Tohoku region: Since the devastating Tohoku Earthquake, tsunami and subsequent level-7 meltdown at the Fukushima Daiishi nuclear power plant in March, Japanese tourists have been making cross-country treks to the region to snap photos of the mass destruction, with a favorite stop including a lone 200-year-old pine tree in what used to be a forest in Rikezentakata, according to a report in the Telegraph.

5. Ground Zero: It’s been over a decade since the attacks of 9/11, but tourists still flock to Lower Manhattan to stare at the construction zone where it all happened. Guided tours of the area, plus the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, provide focus.

Largest Underwater Volcanoes

From Silicon India News: Largest Underwater Volcanoes
Bangalore: Volcanoes have been a threat to human life and other species existing in the environment as they are unexpected. In the world there are many volcanoes that are active and eruption takes place anytime. Like them there are underwater volcanoes that cause heavy damage to the marine life when erupted.


As technology has developed these volcanic eruptions can be measured before and instructions are passed to avoid further life or property loses. Here are 10 Largest Underwater Volcanoes that are ready to snatch away lives as much as possible with their hot and poisonous gases.

Kolumbo, Santorini Island
This is one of the largest and active underwater volcanoes in the world. This volcano has not seen any major eruptions for long time but is said to be one of the most dangerous one. The active submarine volcano is located in Aegean Sea which is 8km northeast of cape Kolumbo of Santorini Island.


The diameter of the volcano is about 3 km with crater 1.5 km across. The last explosion happened in 1650 where the lava reached the surface of the sea and spread to the shores of Santorini which led to the death of about 70 people and several animals.

Mt Marsili, Europe
Europe’s largest submarine volcano is an active one, the scientists have stated. Mt Marsili is one of Europe’s largest submarine volcanoes which is active according to scientists who have been monitoring it continuously. This mountain rises to an altitude of 9800 feet from the Tyrrhenian Sea bed and can cause large tidal waves in southern Italy if there is an eruption.

Mount Marsili is a 3000-metre high seamount beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea, 150 km south-west of Naples. Marsili is active and recent research has indicated signs of restlessness.

Aleutian Islands, Alaska
The Aleutian Islands are a chain of rugged, volcanic islands curving 1,900 kilometer west from the tip of the Alaska Peninsula and approaching Russia's Komandorski Islands, separate the Bering Sea from the Pacific Ocean. Alaska has 43 of the nation's 53 historically active volcanoes.

The 2,500 km long Aleutian arc is a chain of large calc-alkaline, strato volcanoes with huge calderas. It is responsible for nearly all the historical volcanism of Alaska. Volcanoes on the Aleutian Islands, on the Alaska Peninsula, and in the Wrangell Mountains are part of the "Ring of Fire" that surrounds the Pacific Ocean basin.

There are more than 80 potentially active volcanoes in Alaska, about half of which have had at least one eruption since 1760, the date of the earliest written record of eruptions.

Morro Rock in California
Morro Rock is one of a line of ancient volcanic intrusions or sometimes called the Seven Sisters or The Nine Morros, depending on how many of the peaks are included in the count. They are a unique set of landmarks between the city of Morro Bay and the City of San Luis Obispo in California.

Morro Rock and indeed all of the Seven Sisters or The Nine Morros, are all volcanic necks, the rock that solidified in the "piping" of the volcano. It is a 576 feet tall plug of a volcano and is one of the series extending for many miles inland.

Heimaey, Iceland
Heimaey is the largest island in the Vestmannaeyjar group. An eruption began at Heimaey in 1973. A curtain of fire erupted 300-400 metres from Kirkjubair, the most easterly houses in the town. In six months a cone 225meter high was formed and 360 houses buried which is said to be a worst and impactable.

The 1973 eruption on the island of Heimaey is a classic example of the struggle between man and volcanoes. With a large effort the people of Iceland saved the town of Vestmannaeyjar and the country's most important fishing port.

Brothers volcano, New Zealand
Brothers is an active submarine caldera volcano in the Kermadec Arc, 400 km north east of White Island. It is an oval shape about 13 kilometer long and 8 kilometer wide. The 3 kilometer wide summit caldera has very steep walls 300-500 metres high.

The caldera floor is 1850m below sea level, and has a 350 meter high dome within it. The eruptive history, including that of any recent eruptions is still unknown. The crater walls reveal layers of dacite lava flows from which a later eruption has blown out a caldera.

Undersea volcanoes are not monitored by GNS Science, however they are a focus of current exploration. The spectacular minerals and marine life found around active undersea volcanoes may have economic and biotechnology benefits for New Zealand.

Kick ‘em Jenny, Caribbean Sea
Kick 'em Jenny is an underwater volcano 8 kilometer off the northern coast of the island of Grenada in the Caribbean. She has erupted at least 10 times since discovery in 1939 and has provided scientists with a rare opportunity to learn about the growth and gradual development of submarine volcanoes into islands.

The name Kick 'em Jenny is probably a reference to the force with which she erupted in 1939. Then, sizeable rocks were thrown as high as 300meter above the sea's level. Kick 'em Jenny is part of a chain of volcanoes known as the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc.

This arc is associated with a subduction zone at the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Plate. It is the southern-most active volcano in this arc, and is also the only active submarine volcano there. The summit of Kick 'em Jenny lay at 180-190meter below sea level.

Barren Island, Andaman Sea
Barren Island is an effusive as well as explosive stratovolcano in the Andaman Sea, northeastern Indian Ocean. It is the northernmost active volcano of the great Indonesian arc. The volcano is 3 km in diameter, has restricted public access, and no regular monitoring.

The volcano is known to have been active from 1787, when it produced basalt and basaltic andesite tephra and lava flows from a cinder cone located in a 2 km diameter caldera. The lavas flow into the sea through a breach in the caldera wall on the western side.

Barren Island is the only active volcano in the Indian Subcontinent, located 135 km east of Port Blair, in east Andaman Sea and is a part of Andaman Nicobar chain of islands in the Indian Ocean. The Barren Island lies on the inner arc extending between Sumatra and Myanmar. The volcano consists of a caldera open towards the west, with a central polygenetic vent enclosing at least 5 nested tuff cones.

South Pacific – Vailulu’u
Beneath the waves of the South Pacific lies a volcanic realm. It sits within the crater of a gigantic underwater mountain rising more than 4,500 meters (15,000 feet) from the ocean floor near the island of Samoa. The seamount, called Vailulu'u, is an active volcano, with a 2 mile wide (3.2 kilometer wide) crater.

The volcano rises up more than 16,400 feet from the seabed to within 2,000 feet of the ocean's surface. It is located 45 km east of Ta'u, the easternmost island of the Samoan chain. Vailulu'u is the youngest volcano in the Samoan volcanic chain and it contains an active hydrothermal system.

The volcano's base lies in 4800 m of water and summit is 590 m deep. The total volume of the volcano is 1050 cubic kilometer.

The Rumble III, New Zealand
The 2300meter Rumble III forms part of the Kermadec Ridge, a chain of 30 large underwater volcanoes that ascend from the ocean floor between New Zealand and Tonga. This area has the highest activity of submarine volcanoes. The Rumbles consist of five volcanoes, Rumble I to V.

The Rumble III seamount, the largest of the Rumbles seamount group along the South Kermadec Ridge, rises 2300 meter from the sea floor to within about 200 meter of the sea surface. Rumble III sits on the southern ridge of the Kermadec Arc of about 100 submarine volcanoes.

Rumble III has been the source of several submarine eruptions detected by hydrophone signals. Early surveys placed its depth at 117 meter, and later depths of about 200 meter, 140 meter, and 220 meter.

Colombia Raises Alert On Possible Galeras Volcano Eruption

From Bernama.com: Colombia Raises Alert On Possible Galeras Volcano Eruption
BOGOTA, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Colombia's National Geological System (SGN) on Friday has raised the alert level for the Galeras volcano located in the southern province of Narino after several quakes, reported China's Xinhua news agency.

The SGN also has ordered the evacuation of residents living in the vicinity of the slopes of the 4,276-meter high volcano, which sits close to the Colombian border with Ecuador, saying the series of quakes reported during the last 24 hours could be an indicator of an eruption.

SGN Director Martha Calvache said that SGN had raised the alert to level 2, which means that an eruption could happen in the next 48 hours.

In Aug 2010, the volcano erupted and spewed gases, ashes and rocks through a series of explosions.

The Galeras, which is just 9 km from Pasto, the provincial capital of Narino, has been active for years. It turned deadly in January 1993 when a group of geologists who were inspecting one of the craters were all killed by a sudden eruption.

New posting schedule

Sorry for the long delay in posting - had some family issues.

The posting schedule for this blog - starting this Wednesday, Nov 23, will be Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Thanks for your patience!

New amphitheater at Mount St. Helens observatory

From the Seattle Times: New amphitheater at Mount St. Helens observatory
ONGVIEW, Wash. —

Work on an amphitheater at the Johnston Ridge Observatory is nearly completed, just as the volcano visitors' center prepares to shut down Oct. 30 for the winter.

The Daily News reports the amphitheater is part of $600,000 in improvements to the Forest Service observatory this year.

It will seat more than 100 for outdoor presentations about the volcano.

http://mountsthelens.com/

Teens take science lesson at Mount St. Helens

From Seattle PO: Teens take science lesson at Mount St. Helens
LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — Keith Reitz woke up at 4 a.m. Tuesday, eager for the chance to visit Mount St. Helens for the first time.

Five hours and two bus trips later, the Naselle High School sophomore was standing near the banks of Coldwater Lake, testing nitrogen levels of water samples taken from the 200-foot deep water body the volcano created 31 years ago.

He seemed indifferent to the swirling winds, the driving rain and the fact that the volcano was completely hidden by the clouds.

"It's kind of cool thinking how much this place has changed in this little amount of time," the 15-year old said.

Reitz and about 30 other students from a half-dozen local high schools are participating in a pilot program that introduces them to science-related careers. Paid for by a federal grant and organized by the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council, the program mainly targets students who have shown an interest in careers in science, math or technology. The U.S. Department of Labor anticipates demand for workers in those fields will increase 70 percent in just three years.

Reitz, who is taking biology this semester at Naselle, said he's considered pursuing a career in ecology, possibly studying rivers.

"Science has always been my strong suit," Rietz said. "I wanted to come out here and see what scientists do and see if that's what I want to do as a career."

That's one of the messages that scientists, rangers and volunteers were hoping to get across Tuesday, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Ken Sandusky. The Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey and Mount St. Helens Institute teamed up to offer about six hours of teaching and hands-on activities in the blast zone.

Tuesday was day one of the two-day program. Students will gather at a Lower Columbia College science lab to study soil and water samples taken from the volcano blast zone and to compare them with samples collected from the Longview area.

At Coldwater Lake, Forest Service Ranger David Butler showed students how to test water samples to indicate whether water might be suitable for drinking or agricultural use, or whether a lake might sustain a healthy fish population.

Just off the Hummocks Trail, Forest Service scientist Peter Frenzen described how plant life has rebounded near the trail, which traverses billions of tons of debris that tumbled off the volcano during its eruption on May 18, 1980. He showed students how to study a plot of land to accurately determine the density of a particular type of plant.

"They learn about science concepts in high school, but they don't really see where it applies," said Mary Brown, the workforce council's director of strategic initiatives. "This shows them what you can do."

Nearly one-third of the students were visiting Mount St. Helens for the first time, organizers said.

The event was funded with a portion of a $2 million Department of Labor grant the workforce council received in 2009. It is aimed at preparing workers for jobs that require science, technology, math or engineering skills. Last year, the group organized a technology-focused workshop at Lower Columbia College. The grant money is spread out to offer programs at high schools throughout Southwest Washington and parts of Oregon.

The three-year grant runs out after this year, but the workforce council hopes to find other funding to make the program an annual offering, Brown said.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to continue this," she said.

For Reitz, the Naselle student, the experience gave him a different view of science and scientists.

"I'm seeing that they're not always just sitting in labs," he said.

Canary Islands: Two New Eruptions Observed in Subsea Volcano

From International Business Times: Canary Islands: Two New Eruptions Observed in Subsea Volcano
Two new volcanic eruptions were confirmed on Wednesday (Oct 11) off the south coast of the Canary Island of El Hierro.

Nearly 600 people from the southernmost village, La Restinga, remained out of their homes Thursday after they were evacuated on Tuesday.

Seismologists have found two separate fissures less than 2.3 miles and 1.7 miles from La Restinga.

"I confirm the existence of two points of volcanic eruption at El Hierro," Laura Otero, a spokeswoman for the local authorities, told AFP.

The first eruption occurred at a depth of 700 meters (2,300 feet) and the other at a depth of 200 meters (655 feet).

Scientists from ING, CSIC, and the University of Cadiz are trying to determine if the subsea volcanic vent is widening and, if so, if it is widening in the direction of El Hierro.

Geophysicist Carmen Lopez confirmed that there is a single eruption with two points of emission of underwater nature, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.

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Authorities detected a sulfur odor in the area and have also spotted numerous dead fish floating on the surface. Scientists said the fish were likely killed by gas escaping from the subsea volcano.

A spokesman for a volcanology institute, David Calvo, told Spanish National Radio on Thursday that while authorities remain vigilant, there was no cause for alarm.

Because the eruptions eased pressure in the area, further evacuations were unlikely.

Several tourists along with the 570 residents of La Restinga were evacuated on Tuesday after a 4.3-magnitude quake the previous day.

El Hierro, the smallest of the Canaries, has experienced over 10,000 earthquakes since July 19, a signal that magma is rising toward the Earth's surface.

The volcanic eruption near El Hierro on Monday was Spain's first since the 1971 eruption of the Teneguia Volcano on the nearby island of La Palma.

Some took to message boards on Tuesday and Wednesday claiming that a landslide in the Canary Islands could cause a mega-tsunami that would devastate the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.

An infamous BBC documentary "Horizon" explained that if earthquakes or volcanic eruptions struck La Palma -- just north of El Hierro -- there was a possibility that a large part of the island would slide into the ocean and trigger a huge tidal wave that could travel across the Atlantic in six hours.

Findings by the scientists behind the claims have since been widely dismissed.

Reports came in on Monday from crews aboard four separate ships that noticed the presence of dead fish floating on the surface. Pointing to "uncertainty over the coming days," authorities raised the warning level to "red alert" on Tuesday for La Restinga, while the rest of the island remained just below that on "yellow alert."

After Spain's Instituto Geographico Nacional (IGN) confirmed that an underwater eruption was occurring about three miles off the southern coast, local authorities summoned everyone in the area to a local football field on Tuesday and announced that they would evacuate the residents and tourists in La Restinga because of the risk of another eruption closer to the coast.

"Facing a change in the seismic event that is affecting El Hierro Island, and as a preventative measure, we are carrying out the relocation of the population of La Restinga," a local government spokesman said in a statement.

La Restinga is the southernmost town in the Canaries.

Most of the evacuees found refuge with friend and relatives in other villages, though dozens of others, mostly tourists, spent Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in a student dormitory and a local gym.

78 people are in shelters, 31 of which are tourists, according to Typically Spanish News.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Canary Islands government said that although no specific changes have been observed since Tuesday evening, precautions remain in effect:

"Among the security measures to ensure the safety of the population remains the designation by the Maritime Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife maritime exclusion zone which is closed to shipping, fishing, diving, sports or recreation in the area within a radius of four nautical miles from the tip of La Restinga."

Ferry crossings to the island also remain suspended.

People were, however, allowed to return to their homes on Wednesday under the protection of civil safety officials to retrieve medicines, clothing, and other necessities.

El Hierro, which means iron is Spanish, was designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 2000 with 60% of its territory protected. Although over 200 years have elapsed since the last eruption, El Hierro has the largest number of volcanoes in the Canaries with over 500 open sky cones, another 300 covered by the most recent outflows, and some 70 caves and volcanic galleries.

El Hiero is home to roughly 11,000 residents. It is currently the most volcanically active of the Canaries.

Watch out for that volcano: Mini golf Master's tournament being staged in SC

From The Republic: Watch out for that volcano: Mini golf Master's tournament being staged in SC
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Golfers in North Myrtle Beach are playing around a simulated volcano as the U.S. Pro Minigolf Masters tournament gets under way.

http://prominigolf.com/rumble.html

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports that 80 golfers from around the world are participating in the tournament that continues through Saturday.

It's being played at Hawaiian Rumble Golf that features a 40-foot tall simulated volcano that erupts every 20 minutes with flames shooting from the top.

Richard Lockner of Sweden is back to defend his title as is last year's runner-up Olivia Prokopva of the Czech Republic. The winner gets $4,000 and a green jacket.

Clue to Climate-Changing Super Volcanic Eruptions Found

From International Business Times: Clue to Climate-Changing Super Volcanic Eruptions Found
Researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) claim to have found the possible cause for "super-eruptions" in massive volcanoes on the Earth that occur every 100,000 years and are known to induce planetary climate change.

A model presented by researchers at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Minneapolis suggest that a combination of temperature influence and the geometrical configuration of the magma chamber is a potential cause for these super-eruptions, OSU said in a news release Wednesday.

According to Patricia Trish Gregg, the lead author of the modeling study, the creation of a ductile halo of rock around the magma chamber allows the pressure to build over tens of thousands of years, resulting in extensive uplifting in the roof above the magma chamber and eventually causing eruption.

Researchers of the study, which was funded by the National Science Foundation, said the super-eruption of major volcanic systems on the Earth could trigger climate change by inducing Ice Ages and other impacts.

"Short of a meteor impact, these super-eruptions are the worst environmental hazards our planet can face. Huge amounts of material are expelled, devastating the environment and creating a gas cloud that covers the globe for years," Gregg said.

Huckleberry Ridge eruption of present-day Yellowstone Park was one such eruptions that happened about two million years ago and was over 2,000 times larger than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington.

Gregg said that super-volcano eruptions had occurred from time to time throughout history and the magma reservoirs feeding the eruptions could be as large as 10,000 to 15,000 square cubic kilometers.

The Yellowstone eruption was one of the largest super-volcano events in history and it had happened several times but it didn't appear that Yellowstone was primed for another super-eruption anytime soon, though the slow process of volcanic uplift was taking place every day, she added.

Other super-volcano sites include Lake Toba in Sumatra, the central Andes Mountains, New Zealand and Japan.

Edinburgh, Scotland: Call for runners for special light event in Edinburgh

From BBC News: Call for runners for special light event in Edinburgh

The search has been launched for thousands of Scottish runners who will help light up Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh.

Speed of Light is one of four projects commissioned in Scotland to celebrate the 2012 Olympic Games.

Every night for three weeks next August, hundreds of runners in special lightsuits will run across the extinct volcano to create a light display.

The routes the runners will follow will be specially choreographed.

The company behind the project, Glasgow based public arts charity NVA, have now launched their search for participants.
Visual statement

Each runner must have the stamina to complete a 3-5km (2-3mls) hill run.

There is also a £10 registration fee.

In addition to runners, audience members, 800 per night, will be integral to the event.

Columbus, OH: Volcanos, waterfalls, tiki torches – Lessner’s latest downtown eatery boasts Polynesian flair

Everyone loves a volcano!

From Columbus Business First: Volcanos, waterfalls, tiki torches – Lessner’s latest downtown eatery boasts Polynesian flair

Elizabeth Lessner hopes her newest restaurant venture is a blast. The co-founder of the five-restaurant Columbus Food League is adding a sixth eatery to the portfolio.

The Grass Skirt seeks to revive the fire-and-tiki kitsch of tiki bars of yore with Polynesian fare and flair at 105 N. Grant Street in spring 2012. “We’re working on a volcano,” Lessner said. “We can’t promise it yet because it may not work.”

Also part of the South Pacific plans — steaming drinks, a waterfall, Spam, pineapples and maraschino cherries. “We all grew up loving the Kahiki,” she said of the once-popular Columbus restaurant that lives on as a frozen food brand. “We try to find niches. Our restaurant group goes for a fun vibe.” The venture includes the rest of the Columbus Food League team — Carmen Owens, Amy Brennick, Tim Lessner and Harold LaRue. One appeal of the old MadLab Theater and Gallery space was that it was a high-ceiling and open space — giving the business brain trust the freedom to be more creative, including not just the Polynesian decor but the ability to build the kitchen from scratch.

Menu details still are in the works, but pricing will be affordable, Lessner said.

The Grant Street location, which will be next door to the new downtown Hills Market, also hopes to be a lunch and dinner draw for students at nearby Columbus State Community College and the Columbus College of Art & Design.

Underwater volcano creates a brand new Canary Island

From Travel.aol.co.uk: Underwater volcano creates a brand new Canary Island

An underwater volcano near the Canary Islands has been releasing so much lava that it could protrude so far above the Atlantic Ocean it creates a brand new island.

It has been growing steadily over the last three weeks, and is already 100 metres above sea level. Another 150 metres would see it becoming the Canary Island's first new holiday hotspot for over a million years.

The volcano is situated off the coast of El Hierro, the most southern Canary Island, and is causing the ground to shake several times a day.

Experts say it currently only poses a risk to the immediate area around it, but a submarine taking pictures of the ocean floor is monitoring the situation.

However, a cloud of ash bigger than El Hierro itself is floating off the island, and schools of dead fish have been spotted on the sea surface.

Although it sounds scary, fresh magma flow is responsible for creating the archipelago, and is also a huge factor in protecting the Canaries from coastal erosion.

The Canary Island's local residents are already mulling over names for the potential new island, with some including The Discovery, Atlantis and The Best, according to the report in the Daily Mail.

The Canary Islands, located 100km northwest of the Africa's mainland, are a major tourist attraction.

Over 12 million holidaymakers flock to the islands every year to enjoy the subtropical climate, beaches and natural attractions, like the Teide National Park and Mount Teide, the highest mountain in Spain and the third tallest volcano in the world.

Spanish scientists map underwater volcano

From UPI.com: Spanish scientists map underwater volcano

TENERIFE, Spain, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Spanish scientists say they've mapped the formation of an underwater volcano that emerged in the waters off the Canary Islands earlier this month.

The volcanic cone off El Hierro Island has reached a height of 300 feet with a lava tongue still flowing down its side, even though its activity has slowed in the past few days, a release from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology said Friday.

"This is probably the first time that such a young underwater volcano has been mapped in such high resolution," Juan Acosta of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography said.

Within 15 days of the first signs of eruption on Oct. 9, scientists on the institute's research ship Ramon Margalef completed mapping the seabed and the growing volcano with unprecedented precision, he said.

"It is spectacular to see how what was once an underwater valley is now a volcanic cone with its descending lava tongue," Acosta said.

The base of the volcano lies at a depth of almost 1,000 feet. It is conical, 300 feet high with a base diameter of 2,200 feet and a crater width of 400 feet, the researchers said.

Life on Earth may have started in Greenland volcano

The National Academy of Science used isotypes of zinc to measure the acid levels and thermal fluids of the Isua mud volcanoes in the south west of Greenland

From The Telegraph: Life on Earth may have started in Greenland volcano
Researchers say they have discovered the chemical elements crucial to the formation of life in mud volcanoes at Isua in south-west Greenland.

It was believed life began in underwater geysers - but scientists now argue that these could not have sustained life, and that the volcanoes offered the oldest environment where life could begin.

Amidst the ancient rocks, believed to be some of the oldest on earth, scientist found the vital mineral of serpentinite - which is the crucial ingredient needed to support life.

Serpentinite is formed when sea water breaks through the earth's upper mantle, the mineral allows aminio-acids to stabilise and form organic molecules.

Primitive life was presumed to have first developed in hydrothermal sources under sea mountains.

These geysers which spewed out hydrogen, methane and other gases were thought to produce an environment favourable to life.

But French researches claim these geysers, known as black smokers, were too acidic to allow life building block's aminio-acids to stabilise.

Instead, they argue life was more likely to have started within the volcanoes.

These life-forms formed when the continents barely covered the earth's surface and the planet was awash with seas.

The geological study published in the National Academy of Science used isotypes of zinc to measure the acid levels and thermal fluids of the Isua mud volcanoes.

They found that these minerals formed a favourable environment for amino-acid stabilisation.

Researchers from the Laboratoire de Geologie de Lyon Marie-Laure Pons said: "Mud volancoes at Isua have been identified as a possible birthplace for life on earth.

"Nearly four billion years ago, at a time when the continents only occupied a very small part of the surface area of the globe, the oceanic crust of Isua was permeated by basic hydrothermal fluids, rich in carbonates, and at temperatures ranging from 100 to 300°C.

"Phosphorous, another indispensable element to life, is abundant in environments where serpentinisation takes place.

"As this process generates mud volcanoes, all the necessary conditions were gathered at Isua for organic molecules to form and be stable.

"The mud volcanoes at Isua thus represent a particularly favourable setting for the emergence of primitive terrestrial life."

Indonesia’s Volcano Man Dedicated to the People

From Jakarta Globe: Indonesia’s Volcano Man Dedicated to the People

When Mount Merapi started rumbling last year, Indonesia turned to the country’s preeminent geophysicist and volcanologist for guidance.

The millions of people living on the mountain’s slopes had to depend on Surono to determine whether they should evacuate and how far they should flee.

Even President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono devotedly followed Surono’s updates on what later turned out to be the Merapi’s largest eruption in more than a century.

Born 56 years ago on July 8 to a poor family from Banyumas, Central Java, Surono never thought he would become the preeminent volcanologist in a country that is home to a third of the world’s volcanoes.

Surono had always wanted to be a lecturer, and he pursued that dream by enrolling in the physics department of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

“I didn’t have any money back then, and I was already married,” he said. “I had to support my family by working as a freelance photographer, wandering around everyday offering my services to random people.”

In 1982, while working as a lecture assistant at his alma mater, he was assigned to accompany a geologist from Wisconsin who was conducting research in Mount Kelud, East Java.

After observing how people lived their lives on the slopes of the mountain, he decided volcanoes were his new obsession.

“Instead of teaching those intelligent people in ITB, I decided I would teach these simple mountain people to save their lives,” he said.

He told his superiors that he no longer wanted to be a lecturer and left to join the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG), which he now heads. He earned his masters degree in 1983 at Grenoble University in Grenoble, France, and got his doctorate in geophysics at Savoei University in Chambery, France, in 1993.

The burden of the job, he said, was sometimes overwhelming and even unbearable. Thousands of people would evacuate and have their lives turned upside down if he told them to do so.

“I’m very stubborn and I will not have my recommendations not followed [by people],” said Surono, who is known to berate reporters who ask him questions without understanding the issues at hand.

For instance, he has frequently been criticized for recommending that people evacuate even when a volcano seems to be nowhere near erupting.

“If I’m wrong and the volcano doesn’t erupt, I don’t mind being fired from my job,” Surono said. “But if I’m right, thousands of people would not be able to save themselves in time.”

Before Mount Kelud erupted in 2007, thousands of anxious evacuees begged him to let them go home after living in refugee camps for three weeks, but he insisted they stay. The mountain eventually did erupt, and the evacuees were spared.

In July, when Mount Lokon in North Sulawesi began showing an increase in volcanic activity, Surono recommended the local government immediately relocate its people. It refused, saying the mountain erupted every year and never killed anybody. In the end there was a serious eruption, and the local government had to scramble to save the residents.

Surono believes there is no such thing as too much caution when dealing with nature, especially in Indonesia, where more than a hundred volcanoes are active.

“The only certain thing about nature is the uncertainty,” he said. “Even the most cutting-edge equipment wasn’t made to defeat nature. Technology only helps to read it better.”

Surono’s team must consider every single detail before deciding whether to increase or lower the alert level or if the danger zone should be extended or reduced.

“Even then, my calculations will never be good enough,” Surono said.

On the other hand, when Merapi erupted a second time last year and claimed dozens of lives, Surono was criticized for not being able to persuade some villagers to leave their village.

“I admit it was my fault,” he said. “I didn’t try hard enough to force them to evacuate. I’m going to live with that for the rest of my life.”

Despite their destructive capacity, Surono said Indonesians should feel blessed to live in a country with hundreds of volcanoes.

“We have to acknowledge that we take so many things from volcanoes,” Surono said. “All of those beautiful high-rise buildings in our cities use materials from volcanoes. We take a lot and the mountains never ask anything in return.

“I don’t think it would be too much to ask for us to learn to respect and leave the mountains temporarily when they want to grow and clean themselves.”

Chile’s Hudson Volcano Forces Evacuations; Region on Red Alert

International Business Times: Chile’s Hudson Volcano Forces Evacuations; Region on Red Alert
Chile's Hudson Volcano is rumbling and the government has issued a red alert, ordering the evacuation of all residents living within 25 miles.

The red alert includes the Chilean cities of Aysen, Rio Ibanez and Chile Chinco. So far, 115 people have been evacuated and the government is working to contact 10 workers in the area near Lago Caro.

Rodrigo Ubilla, the minister of the interior, reported new volcanic activity in the area Thursday morning and declared the next 12 hours crucial in determining the extent of the emergency. Officials are preparing for an imminent major eruption.

Concerns arose after the Hudson Volcano blasted steam nearly a mile skyward on Tuesday. The eruption's seismic activity triggered an avalanche in the area, though there were no reports of injuries or damage.

Wednesday's measures come in the wake of a Preventative Early Warning issued on June 14.

The Hudson Volcano lies 995 miles south of the Chilean capital, Santiago. It last erupted in 1991, causing millions of dollars in damages to local farms, killing an estimated 1.5 million sheep. The eruption melted part of the glacier that sits on the crater and triggered massive mud flows.

Hudson experienced moderate eruptions in 1891 and 1971, followed by the "colossal" eruption in 1991. That eruption reached 5 on the 8-step Volcanic Explosivity Index and was Chile's second largest in the 20th century.

Volcanic eruptions at the 6,250-foot volcano are characterized by eruptive columns several miles high that could affect localities near the remote volcano, according to the National Office of Emergency of Chile's Interior Ministry (ONEMI).

Chile's chain of roughly 3,000 volcanoes along the Pacific "Ring of Fire" is the second largest in the world after Indonesia. Some 500 are said to be potentially active and precautionary evacuations in the nation are not uncommon.

In June, Chile's Puyehue volcano erupted after being dormant for decades, grounding flights from Buenos Aires to Sydney. The travel delays lasted for weeks and the airline industry suffered a major drop in profits.

Phillipines: Taal

Aerial photo of Taal Volcano; North is on right-hand side of photo.

From Wikipedia:
Taal Volcano is a complex volcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Historical eruptions are concentrated on Volcano Island, an island near the middle of Lake Taal. The lake partially fills Taal Caldera, which was formed by powerful prehistoric eruptions between 140,000 to 5,380 BP. Viewed from Tagaytay Ridge, Taal Volcano and Lake presents one of the most picturesque and attractive views in the Philippines. It is located about 50 km (31 mi) south of the capital of the country, the city of Manila.

The volcano had several violent eruptions in the past causing loss of life in the island and the populated areas surrounding the lake, with the death toll estimated at around 5,000 to 6,000. Because of its proximity to populated areas and its eruptive history, the volcano was designated a Decade Volcano, worthy of close study to prevent future natural disasters. It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the Pacific ring of fire.

Geography
Taal Volcano and Lake are wholly located in the province of Batangas. The northern half of Volcano Island falls under the jurisdiction of the lake shore town of Talisay, and the southern half to San Nicolas. The other towns that encircle Taal Lake include Tanauan, Talisay, Laurel, Agoncillo, Santa Teresita, Alitagtag, Cuenca, Lipa, Balete and Mataas na Kahoy.

Permanent settlement in the island is prohibited by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or PHIVOLCS, declaring the whole Volcano Island as a high-risk area and a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ). Despite the warnings, poor families have settled on the island, risking their lives, earning a living by fishing and farming crops from the rich volcanic soil.

Recent activity
Although the volcano has been quiet since 1977, it has shown signs of unrest since 1991, with strong seismic activity and ground fracturing events, as well as the formation of small mud pots and mud geysers on parts of the island. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) regularly issues notices and warnings about current activity at Taal, including ongoing seismic unrest.

2011
* 5 Jul. Alert Level was lowered from 2 to 1 after 11 weeks (April 9) of increased activity.

* 1 Jun. Alert Level 2. Volcanic earthquakes (24 hrs) = 22. (2) Intensity II earthquakes in the eastern sector of volcano accompanied by rumbling sounds. Bubbling activity observed in the middle of Main Crater Lake.

* 31 May. Alert Level 2. Volcanic earthquakes (24 hrs) = 31. (1) Intensity I and (2) Intensity II earthquakes, NE & SE sector of volcano accompanied by rumbling sounds.

* 30 May. Alert Level 2. Volcanic earthquakes (24 hrs) = 115. (1) Intensity I, (9) Intensity II, (1) Intensity III, and (1) Internsity IV earthquakes, NE, SW & SE sector of volcano accompanied by rumbling sounds.

* 29 May. Alert Level 2. Volcanic earthquakes (24 hrs) = 10.

* 28 May. Alert Level 2. Volcanic earthquakes (24 hrs) = 6. Magma has been intruding towards the surface, as indicated by continuing high rates of CO2 emissions in the Main Crater Lake and sustained seismic activity. Field measurements on 24 May 2011 show lake temperatures slightly increased, pH values slightly more acidic and water levels 4 cm higher. A ground deformation survey conducted around the Volcano Island 26 April - 3 May 2011 showed that the volcano edifice inflated slightly relative to the 05-11 April 2011 survey.

* 22 May. Alert level 2. Volcanic earthquakes (25 hrs) = 5.

* 10 Apr. Alert Level 2. The main crater, Daang Kastila Trail, and Mt Tabaro are strictly off-limits to the public because sudden hazardous steam-driven explosions could occur. Breathing air with high concentration of gases can be lethal to humans, animals and can even damage vegetation, the agency warned.

2010
* 8 June. PHIVOLCS raised the volcano status to Alert Level 2 (scale is 0-5, 0 referring to No Alert status), which indicates the volcano is undergoing magmatic intrusion which could eventually lead to an eruption. PHIVOLCS reminds the general public that the Main Crater remains off-limits because hazardous steam-driven explosions may occur, along with the possible build-up of toxic gases. Areas with hot ground and steam emission such as portions of the Daang Kastila Trail are considered hazardous.

* 11–24 May. Crater lake temperature increased by 2-3°C. The composition of Main Crater Lake water has shown above normal values of Mg/Cl, SO4/Cl and Total Dissolved Solids. There has been ground steaming accompanied by hissing sounds on the northern and northeast sides of the main crater.

* 26 April. Volcanic seismicity had increased.

2009
* 20 July. National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) executive officer Glenn Rabonza warned that although there were no volcanic quakes detected at Taal since the detection of nine volcanic quakes from June 13 to July 19, and there had been no steaming activity monitored since last recorded on June 23, Phivolcs Alert stands at Level 1, warning that Taal’s main crater is off-limits to the public because steam explosions may suddenly occur or high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate.

2008
* 28 August. PHIVOLCS notified the public and concerned authorities that the Taal seismic network recorded ten (10) volcanic earthquakes from 5:30 AM to 3 PM. Two of these quakes that occurred at 12:33 and 12:46 PM, were both felt at intensity II by residents at barangay Pira-piraso. These quakes were accompanied by rumbling sounds. The events were located northeast of the volcano island near Daang Kastila area with depths of approximately 0.6 km (12:33 PM) and 0.8 km (12:46 PM)"

Geological history
Taal Volcano is part of a chain of volcanoes along the western side of the edge of the island of Luzon, which were formed by the subduction of the Eurasian Plate underneath the Philippine Mobile Belt. Taal Lake lies within a 25–30 km caldera formed by four explosive eruptions between 500,000 and 100,000 years ago. Each of these eruptions created extensive ignimbrite deposits, reaching as far away as where Manila stands today.

Since the formation of the caldera, subsequent eruptions have created another volcanic island, within the caldera, known as Volcano Island. This island covers an area of about 23 square kilometres (8.9 sq mi), and consists of overlapping cones and craters. Forty-seven different cones and craters have been identified on the island.

Eruption history
There have been 33 recorded eruptions at Taal since 1572. The first eruption of which there is any record occurred in 1572, the year the Agustinian friars founded the town of Taal on the shores of the lake (on what is now San Nicolas, Batangas). In 1591, another mild eruption took place featured by great masses of smoke issuing forth from the crater. From 1605 to 1611, the volcano displayed such great activity that Father Torna de Abreu had a huge cross of anubing wood erected on the brink of the crater.


The dormant Binintiang Malaki (Big Leg) Crater is the center of the 1707 & 1715 eruption.

Between 1707 and 1731, the center of activity shifted from the Main Crater to other parts of Volcano Island. The eruptions of 1707 and 1715 occurred in Binitiang Malaki crater (the cinder cone visible from Tagaytay). Minor eruptions also emanated from the Binintiang Munti crater on the westernmost tip of the island in 1709 and 1729. A more violent activity happened on September 24, 1716, when the whole southeastern portion of the crater (Calauit), opposite Mount Macolod, was blown out. The 1731 eruption off Pira-Piraso or eastern tip of the island created an island. No studies had been done to determine whether Napayon or Bubuin Island was formed in the eruption, or just a pumice raft.

Activity returned to the Main Crater in 1749, and it was remembered for being particularly violent (VEI = 4). Then came the great 200-day eruption of 1754, the greatest eruption of Taal which is described below.

Taal remained quiet for 54 years except for a minor eruption in 1790, not until March 1808 did another big eruption occur. While this outbreak was not as violent as the one in 1754, the immediate vicinity were covered with ashes to a depth of 84 centimetres (33 in).

It brought great changes in the interior of the crater, according to chroniclers of that time. Before, the bottom looked very deep and seemed unfathomable, but at the bottom, a liquid mass was seen in continual ebullition. After the eruption, the crater had widened and the pond within it had been reduced to one-third and the rest of the crater floor was higher and dry enough to walk over it. The height of the crater walls has diminished and near the center of the new crater floor, a little hill that continually emitted smoke. On its sides were several wells, one of which was especially remarkable for its size.

On July 19, 1874, an eruption of gases and ashes killed all the live stock on the island. From November 12 to 15, 1878, ashes ejected by the volcano covered the entire island. Another eruption took place in 1904 as a result of which a new outlet was formed in the southeastern wall of the principal crater. The last eruption from the Main Crater was in 1911 which obliterated the crater floor creating the present lake. In 1965, a huge explosion sliced off a huge part of the island, moving activity to a new eruption center, Mount Tabaro. Eruptions have also been recorded in 1634, 1635, 1641, 1645, 1790, 1825, 1842, 1873, 1885, 1903, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976 and 1977.Some of the major eruptions are described below:

The 1754 eruption
Taal Volcano's greatest recorded eruption occurred in 1754 which lasted from May 15 to December 1. The following is the narrative account of Fr. Buencuchillo, parish priest of Sala, and stationed at Taal at that time:

On May 15, 1754, at about 9 or 10 o'clock in the night, the volcano quite unexpectedly commenced to roar and emit, sky-high, burning flames intermixed with glowing rocks which, falling back upon the island and rolling down the slopes of the mountain, created the impression of a large river of fire. During the following days there appeared in the lake a large quantity of pumice stone which had been ejected by the volcano. Part of these eject had also reached the hamlet of Bayuyungan and completely destroyed it.

The volcano continued thus until June 2, during the night of which the eruption reached such proportions that the falling ejecta made the entire island appear to be on fire, and it was even feared that the catastrophe might involve the shores of the lake. From the said 2nd of June until September 25, the volcano never ceased to eject fire and mud of such bad character that the best ink does not cause so black a stain.

During the night of September 25, the fire emitted was quite extraordinary and accompanied by terrifying rumblings. The strangest thing was, that within the black column of smoke issuing from the volcano ever since June 2, there frequently formed thunderstorms, and it happened that the huge tempest cloud would scarcely ever disappear during two months.

At daybreak of September 26 we found ourselves forced to abandon our dwelling for fear lest the roofs come down upon us under the weight of ashes and stones which had fallen upon them during that hapless night. In fact, some weaker buildings collapsed. The depth of the layer of ashes and stones exceeded two "cuartas" (45 centimeters), and the result was that there was neither tree nor other plant which it did not ruin or crush, giving to the whole region an aspect as if a devastating conflagration had swept over it. After this the volcano calmed down considerably, though not sufficiently to offer any prospect of tranquility.

During the night of November 1, Taal resumed its former fury, ejecting fire, rocks, sand, and mud in greater quantities than ever before. On November 15, it vomited enormous boulders which rolling down the slopes of the island, fell into the lake and caused huge waves: The waves mentioned were most probably due to the earthquake rather than to the falling rocks]. The paroxysms were accompanied by swaying motions of the ground which caused all the houses of the town to totter. We had already abandoned our habitation and were living in a tower which appeared to offer greater security; but on this occasion we resolved that the entire population retire to the Sanctuary of Casaysay, only the "Administrator" and myself to remain on the spot.

At 7 in the evening of November 28 occurred a new paroxysm, during which the volcano vomited forth such masses of fire and ejecta that in my opinion, all the material ejected during so many months, if taken together, would not equal the quantity which issued at the time. The columns of fire and smoke ascended higher than ever before, increasing every moment in volume, and setting fire to the whole island, there being not the smallest portion of the latter which was not covered by the smoke and the glowing rocks and ashes. All this was accompanied by terrific lightning and thunder above, and violent shocks of earthquakes underneath. The cloud of ejecta, carried on by the wind, extended itself toward west and south with the result that we saw already some stones fall close to our shore. I, therefore, shouted to all those who were still in the town to take to flight and we all ran off in a hurry; otherwise we would have been engulfed on the spot; as the waves of the angry lake began already to flood the houses nearest to the beach.

We left the town, fleeing this living picture of Sodom, with incessant fear lest the raging waters of the lake overtake us, which were at the moment invading the main part of the town, sweeping away everything they encountered. On the outskirts of the town, I came upon a woman who was so exhausted by her burden of two little children and a bundle of clothing that she could proceed no farther. Moved by pity, I took one of the toddlers from her and carried him, and the little indio who has been wailing while in the arms of his mother, stopped short when I took him into mine and never uttered a sound while I was carrying him a good piece of the way.

Having reached a secure place on elevated ground at a distance of about half a league (2 kilometers) from the town, we halted in a hut to rest a little and take some food. From this spot the volcano could be contemplated with a little more serenity of mind. It still continued in full fury, ejecting immense masses of material. Now I also observed that the earth was in continuous, swaying motion, a fact which I had failed to notice during the excitement and fear of the flight.

Shortly afterward the volcano subsided almost suddenly; its top was clear and apparently calm. We, therefore, returned on the following day, the 29th, to the town with the intention of surveying the havoc wrought during the preceding night.

The 29th had dawned calm, but while we were still trying to persuade ourselves that the tragedy was over and the volcano had exhausted its bowels, at about 8 o'clock, we heard a crash and then I noticed that smoke was rising from the point of the island that looks towards east. The smoke spread very gradually as far as the crater of the volcano, while there were many whiffs issuing from points in the direction of another headland. I realized that the island had opened in these places and fearing that, if a crater should open below the water, an explosion might follow, much more formidable than the preceding ones, I mounted a horse and retired permanently to the Sanctuary of Caysasay.

Between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the said 29th, it began to rain mud and ashes at Caysasay [12 miles from the volcano] and this rain lasted three days. The most terrifying circumstance was that the whole sky was shrouded in such darkness that we could not have seen the hand placed before the face, had it not been for the sinister glare of incessant lightnings. Nor could we use artificial light as this was extinguished by the wind and copious ashes which penetrated everywhere.

All was horror those three days, which appeared rather like murky nights and we did not occupy ourselves with anything but see to it that the natives swept off the roofs the large quantities of ashes and stones which kept on accumulating upon them and threatened to bring them down upon us, burying us alive beneath their weight. But fearing that even these precautions might prove unavailing, we 3 Europeans - viz. Fr. Prior, the Alcalde, and myself - the only ones who were at the time in the Convento of Caysasay, took refuge on the landing of the stairs; as the safest place, and awaited there whatever God might dispose with regard to us. To all this was added incessant thunder and lightning, and it really looked as if the world was going to pieces and its axis had been displaced.

During the night of the 30th we had not a moment of repose, as every moment we heard the loud crush of houses collapsing under of stones, mud, and ashes piled upon them, and feared that the turn of the convento and the church of Casasay would come in next. Shortly before daybreak of December 1 there was a tremendous crash as if the house were coming down on our heads: the roof of the apse of the church had caved in! Not long afterward, the roof of their kitchen gave away with a thud. Both were tile roofs.

The first of December broke somewhat clear and our eyes contemplated everywhere ruins and destruction. The layer of ashes and mud was more than 5 spans [1.10 m] thick, and it was almost a miracle that the roof of the church and convento sustained so great a weight. We caused the bulk of the material to be removed, while new continued to fall on that day and the following, on which latter the direction of the wind changed, carrying the ejecta toward Balayan. On the 3rd and 4th we had a formidable typhoon, and thereafter the volcano quieted down.

Soon afterward I resolved to visit my town of Taal; nothing was left of it except the walls of the church and convento. All the rest, the government house, the walks of the rope factory, the warehouse, everything was buried beneath a layer of stones, mud, and ashes more than 10 spans [2.20 m] thick; only here and there could be seen an upright post, the only remnant of a comfortable dwelling. I went down to the river and found it completely filled up, with a boat belonging to the alcalde and many of private persons buried in the mud.

After incredible efforts I finally succeeded in unearthing in what had once been the church and sacristy, the chests which contained the sacred vestments and vessels. Nearly all of them were demolished by the rocks and beams which had fallen upon them, and filled with foul-smelling mud that had ruined or disfigured their contents. With the aid of some natives of Bauang, I likewise recovered some property from among the ruins of the convento.

Twelve persons are known to have perished - some carried away by the waves of the lake, others crushed beneath their collapsing houses. Thus the beautiful town of Taal remains a deserted wilderness and reduced to the utmost misery, while once it was one of the richest and most flourishing places. In the villages to the west of the lake, which were the greater and better part, all the houses have either collapsed under the load of material which had been piled upon them or have disappeared completely, swept away by the waves which in these places were so violent that they dug three ditches or channels, too wide and deep to be forded, and thus rendered impassable the road which joins the town with Balayan. In other parts of the lake shore have likewise opened many cracks and occurred very extensive slides.

The worst of all is, that, the mouth of the river Pansipit having been blocked, the lake is rising and invading the towns of Lipa and Tanauan, both being on the lowest level, and inundating their buildings. All the animals of whatever kind have perished, some by being buried, others by drowning, the rest by starving, as not a green blade remained anywhere.

The same fate as Taal has befallen the towns of Lipa, Tanauan, and so much of Sala as still existed. These towns, together with Taal, lay around the lake, being situated within easy reach of it, and less than one league [4 kilometers] from the volcano. The bulk of the population left this neighborhood and settled in more distant places. Thus out of 1200 taxpayers whom Taal contained formerly, hardly 150 remain in the poorest and least respectable villages, which suffered little from the rain of ashes.

1911 eruption
One of the more devastating eruptions occurred in January, 1911. During the night of the 27th of that month, the seismographs at the Manila Observatory commenced to register frequent disturbances, which were at first of insignificant importance, but increased rapidly in frequency and intensity. The total recorded shocks on that day numbered 26. During the 28th there were recorded 217 distinct shocks, of which 135 were microseismic, while 10 were quite severe. The frequent and increasingly strong earthquakes caused much alarm at Manila, but the observatory staff was soon able to locate their epicenter in the region of Taal Volcano and assured the public that Manila was in no danger, as Taal is distant from it some 37 miles (60 km).

In Manila in the early hours of January 30, 1911, people were awakened out of their sleep by what they at first took for loud thunder. The illusion was heightened when great streaks of lightning were seen to illumine the southern sky. Those who investigated further, however, soon learned the truth. A huge, fan-shaped cloud of what looked like black smoke rose to a great height. It was crossed and crisscrossed with a brilliant electrical display, which the people of Manila at first took for lightning. This cloud finally shot up in the air, spread, then dissipated, and this marked the culmination of the eruption, at about 2:30 a. m.

On Volcano island, the destruction was complete. It seems that when the black, fan-shaped cloud spread, it created a blast downward that forced hot steam and gases down the slopes of the crater, accompanied by a shower of hot mud and sand. Many trees had the bark shredded and cut away from the surface by the hot sand and mud blast that accompanied the explosion and contributed so much to the loss of life and destruction of property. The fact that practically all the vegetation was bent downward, away from the crater, proved that there must have been a very strong blast down the outside slopes of the cone.

Very little vegetation was actually burned or even scorched. Six hours after the explosion, dust from the crater was noticeable in Manila as it settled on furniture and other polished surfaces. The solid matter ejected had a volume of between 70,000,000 and 80,000,000 cubic meters (VEI = 3). Ashes fell over an area of 2,000 square kilometres (770 sq mi), although the area in which actual destruction took place measured only 230 square kilometres (89 sq mi). The detonation from the explosion was heard over an area more than 600 miles (970 km) in diameter.
Death toll
The eruption claimed a reported 1,335 lives and injured 199; although it is known that more perished than the official records show. The seven barangays that existed on the island previous to the eruption were completely wiped out. Post mortem examination of the victims seemed to show that practically all had died of scalding by hot steam or hot mud, or both. The devastating effects of the blast reached the west shore of the lake where a number of villages were also destroyed. Cattle to the number of 702 were killed and 543 nipa houses destroyed. Crops suffered from the deposit of ashes that fell to a depth of almost half an inch in places near the shore of the lake.

Observations on the Volcano Island after the eruption
Volcano Island sank from three to ten feet as a result of the eruption. It was also found that the southern shore of Lake Taal sank in elevation from the eruption. No evidences of lava could be discovered anywhere, nor have geologists been able to trace any visible records of a lava flow having occurred at any time on the volcano back then. Another peculiarity of the geologic aspects of Taal is the fact that no sulphur has been found on the volcano. The yellow deposits and encrustations noticeable in the crater and its vicinity are iron salts, according to chemical analysis. Slight smell of sulfur was perceptible at the volcano, which came from the gases that escape from the crater.

Changes on the crater after the eruption
Great changes took place in the crater after the eruption. Before 1911, the crater floor was higher than Taal lake and had several separate openings in which were lakes of different colors. There was a green lake, a yellow lake, a red lake and some holes filled with hot water from which steam issued. Many places were covered with a shaky crust of volcanic material, full of crevices, which was always hot and on which it was rather dangerous to walk. Immediately after the explosion, the vari-colored lakes had disappeared and in their place was one large lake, about ten feet below the level of the lake surrounding the island. The crater lake gradually rose until it is on a level with the water in Taal Lake.

Opinions after the creation of the lake that the presence of the water in the crater has a tendency to cool off the material below and thus lessen the chances of an explosion or make the volcano extinct, but the preponderance of expert opinion was otherwise.(The subsequent eruption in 1965 and succeeding activities came from a new eruptive center, Mount Tabaro.)

Ten years after the eruption, no changes in the general outline of the island could be discerned at a distance. On the island, however, many changes were noted. The vegetation had increased; great stretches that were formerly barren and covered with white ashes and cinders became covered with vegetation.

Vulcan Point
One large rock, now called Vulcan Point that projects from the surface of the crater lake was the remnant of the old crater floor that is now surrounded by the 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide lake, now referred to as the Main Crater Lake. Vulcan Point is cited as the world's largest island within a lake on an island within a lake on an island, i.e., Vulcan Point within Crater Lake, on Taal Island within Lake Taal, on the island of Luzon.

1965 to 1977 eruption
The most recent period of activity lasted from 1965 to 1977 with the area of activity concentrated in the vicinity of Mount Tabaro. The 1965 eruption was classified as phreatomagmatic, generated by the interaction of magma with the lake water that produced the violent explosion that cut an embayment on Volcano Island. The eruption generated "cold" base surges which traveled several kilometers across Lake Taal, devastating villages on the lake shore and, killing about a hundred people. That eruption, in particular, led to the recognition of base surge (one of the American geologists who witnessed an atomic bomb explosion as a soldier and visited the volcano shortly after the 1965 eruption, compared it to an atomic base surge) as a process in volcanic eruption, which are now called pyroclastic surges when relating to volcanoes.

The population of the island was evacuated only after the onset of the eruption. Precursory signs were not interpreted correctly until after the eruption.

The strombolian eruptions of 1968 and 1969 produced massive lava flow that eventually covered the bay created by the 1965 eruption, reaching the shore of lake Taal. The last major activities on the volcano were the phreatic eruptions of 1976 and 1977.

Eruption precursors at Taal
* Increase in frequency of volcanic quakes with occasional felt events accompanied by rumbling sounds
* On the Main Crater Lake, changes in the water temperature, level, and bubbling or boiling activity on the lake.

Before the 1965 eruption began, the lake's temperature rose to several degrees above normal. However, on some eruptions there is no reported increase in the lake's temperature. On some eruptions, the dissolution of acidic volcanic gases into the lake has resulted in the death of large numbers of fish and animals.

* Development of new or reactivation of old thermal areas like fumaroles, geysers or mudpots
* Ground inflation or ground fissuring
* Increase in temperature of ground probe holes on monitoring stations
* Strong sulfuric odor or irritating fumes similar to rotten eggs
* Fish kills and drying up of vegetation

Other possible precursors
Volcanologists measuring the concentration of radon gas in the soil on Volcano island measured an anomalous increase of the radon concentration by a factor of six in October 1994. This increase was followed 22 days later by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on November 15, centered about 50 km south of Taal, off the coast of Luzon.

A typhoon had passed through the area a few days before the radon spike was measured, but when Typhoon Angela, one of the most powerful to strike the area in ten years, crossed Luzon on almost the same track a year later, no radon spike was measured. Therefore, typhoons were ruled out as the cause, and there is strong evidence that the radon originated in the stress accumulation preceding the earthquake.