eruption

The first explosion in Kilauea’s main crater in 84 years happened yesterday as gravel sized rock rained down over an area of 75 acres. Scientists believe the blast was caused by gas buildup, as no lava actually erupted from the blast.

Note: Photo is from a previous eruption on Kilauea’s south flank

No lava erupted as part of the 3 a.m. explosion. That suggests it was caused by hydrothermal or gas buildup, Kauahikaua said.

Scientists monitoring the summit say that there’s a “remote possibility” of an eruption inside the half-mile-wide crater, but that it’s unlikely because other indicators of an eruption aren’t present.

“The recent explosive event represents a significant addition and change to Kilauea Volcano’s ongoing activity, and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is using every means available to study its causes and consequences,” Kauahikaua said in a statement.

More information from the Geoblogosphere
Andrew Alden’s Geology Blog at About.com
Geotripper
Ron Schott’s Geology Home Companion Blog
The Volcanism Blog

More information from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is available here.

CNN reports that 30 earthquakes have shook the Galeras volcano, located in Colombia, since Saturday. This has raised fears of a possible eruption though the government has not upgraded the volcano warning levels. More than 30 temblors have occurred within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of the Galeras volcano beginning Saturday, geologist Roberto Torres said. Several had a magnitude near 5 and seven were strong enough to be felt by people. “The tremors are small in earthquake terms, but in terms of the volcano, they are notable,” said Torres, of the government’s Geology and Mines Institute. Galeras erupted in 1993, killing 9 people, including 5 volcanologists monitoring the volcano who were caught inside the crater.

I know I haven’t posted much news lately. Been busy with school and then on Spring Break. Anyway, it was 25 years ago that Mount St. Helens begin stirring to life.

Twenty-two quakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater happened in an eight-hour period, shaking avalanches of ice and snow off the sides of the mountain.

The volcano would eventually erupt on May 18, 1980.