The return of Mystery Volcano Photo! (#20)

It has been a quiet week, volcanically-speaking that is. Maybe they're all watching the World Cup, but there hasn't been a lot of new and exciting news to report this week. So, I thought this might be a good time to bring back Mystery Volcano Photo! Now, for those of you just joining us, I post a volcano photo and you have to identify it. The first person to get it right scores a point. We haven't done an MVP in a while (mostly because you all are too good at it), so to refresh our memories, the current standings:

The Bobs - 3
Don Crain - 3
gijs - 2
Boris Behncke - 2
volcanista - 1
Lockwood - 1
Elizabeth - 1
Ralph - 1
Anne - 1
Cam - 1
gg - 1
Damon Hynes - 1
Marco - 1
Doug C. - 1
Diane - 1

Alright! So, here is your MVP #20. Take a guess and post it as a comment. Enjoy!

i-2e76eb8c5eff21af97c7da8644a03c28-MVP20-thumb-400x258-51816.jpg
Mystery volcano photo #20.

More like this

Nevado de Sajama

Stephen Cheslin, Leeds, UK
Edzziza, Canada

By Stephen Cheslin (not verified) on 25 Jun 2010 #permalink

Ahhh I think Steve has beaten me to Edziza.

Hello to all !

Yes,that is definately Edzziza, Canada.

By Adrian,Dorset, UK (not verified) on 25 Jun 2010 #permalink

Redoubt?

By parclair, NoCal USA (not verified) on 25 Jun 2010 #permalink

Wow, folks. This is why MVP is so hard for me! I post a picture of a beat-up, glacially destroyed volcano and Steve gets it on the second guess. I'll have to do better next time.

definitely Mt. Edziza, north western B.C. ,Canada

By robert somerville (not verified) on 25 Jun 2010 #permalink

@Walter

Still OT... The first two sentences in the report are very revealing: no KVERT after the end of this month. It's sad how the aviation industry is ready to spend megabucks on fixing just one plane and none on receiving reports on volcanic activity to prevent those expensive repairs.

By Kultsi, Askola, FI (not verified) on 25 Jun 2010 #permalink

The browser add-on called TinEye finds the answer to this sort of photo puzzle in a few mouse-clicks! Nice idea though :)

By d9tRotterdam (not verified) on 25 Jun 2010 #permalink

@11 d9tRotterdam,Hi, O.T,

TinEye really is quite a piece of work ! I copy pasted the Jpeg that Erik used at the top of this page and TinEye found
gsc.nrcan.gc.ca (a valid link to Mt Edziza) in a split second flat.
Its really spoiled the whole premise of Mystery Volcano Photo though !!!

By Adrian,Dorset, UK (not verified) on 25 Jun 2010 #permalink

This blog is widely read and the statement by KVERT is provided with the intent to being disseminated. The contents speaks for itself. Highlights of the full message are provided below.

KVERT WILL WORK TILL JUNE 30, 2010.

KVERT HAVE NOT the AGREEMENT with RUSAVIATION from JULY 01, 2010.

CURRENT CHANGES IN AVIATION COLOR CODE:
AVIATION COLOR CODE OF GORELY: YELLOW

GORELY VOLCANO: 52°33'N, 158°02'E; Elevation 1,828 m
AVIATION COLOR CODE IS YELLOW
PREVIOUS AVIATION COLOR CODE WAS GREEN

Activity of the volcano is increasing. Probably an eruption of Gorely is preparing. Aerosol plumes from the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft.

Seismicity of the volcano was above background levels all week. Amplitude of volcanic tremor was the average about 1.6 mkm/s all week. Strong and moderate gas-steam activity of the volcano was observing on June 17-22. According by volcanologists who worked at the volcano last week, a new vent on the wall of Gorely active crater was discovered on June 17. Magmatic gas with temperature of 800-900 degrees of Celsius is emitting with strong rate from this vent. A red incandesce is noting into this vent. According to satellite data, the thermal anomaly over the volcano was registering on June 17-18 and 21-23. Clouds obscured the volcano in the other days.
www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/current/grl/index.html

KLYUCHEVSKOY VOLCANO: 56°03'N, 160°39'E; Elevation 4,750 m
AVIATION COLOR CODE IS ORANGE

Explosive-effusive eruption of the volcano continues. Ash explosions >7.0 km (>23,000 ft) ASL could occur at any time. The activity of the volcano could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

SHEVELUCH VOLCANO: 56°39'N, 161°21'E; Elevation 3,283 m, the dome elevation ~2,500 m
AVIATION COLOR CODE IS ORANGE

Explosive-extrusive eruption of the volcano continues. Ash explosions >10 km (>32,800 ft) ASL could occur at any time. The activity of the volcano could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

KARYMSKY VOLCANO: 54°03'N, 159°27'E; Elevation 1,486 m
AVIATION COLOR CODE IS ORANGE

Explosive activity of the volcano continues. Ash explosions > 6.0 km (or 19,700 ft) ASL could occur at any time. Activity of the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft.

BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO: 55°58'N, 160°36'E; Elevation 2,882 m
AVIATION COLOR CODE IS YELLOW

Grows of the lava dome of the volcano continues and aerosol plumes could affect low-flying aircraft.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Dr. Olga Girina, KVERT Project, IVS FED RAS
E-mail: girina@kscnet.ru
Tel. (4152) 297-890

Svetlana Droznina, KVERT Project, KB GS RAS
E-mail: ssl@emsd.ru
Tel. (4152) 298-053

Chris Waythomas, KVERT Project, Acting Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
E-mail: chris@usgs.gov
Tel. (907) 786-7497

The Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) is a non-commercial cooperative program of the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO, USA), the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (IVS) FED RAS and the Kamchatkan Branch of Geophysical Survey (KB GS) RAS (Russia). KVERT staff is available in the office from 8:30 AM till 6:00 PM (KST or KDT) and by phone during the evenings. KVERT uses daily satellite imagery, information from remote scientific observation stations, real-time seismic data for 10 volcanoes, and other information to monitor activity at Kamchatkan and Northern Kuriles Volcanoes.

The official web-page of KVERT (the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FED RAS): www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php
Archive of daily information KB GS RAS: ftp://emsd.iks.ru/pub/DATA/RTS/Volcanoes
KVERT Information Releases at the web-page of AVO (Alaska Volcano observatory): www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/avoreport.php?view=kaminfo

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/avoreport.php?view=kaminfo

Looks like HVOL cam (Eyja) is offline for the moment. Too bad, Mulakot is showing a nice pink cloud..

By birdseyeUSA (not verified) on 25 Jun 2010 #permalink

Quoting our most generous leader, The Right Honourable Stephen Joseph Harper, PC, MP

"Accountability is the key," Harper said. "If the countries with the greatest resources won't take action on the most urgent global issues, then who will?"

Read more: www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/06/25/g8-g20-huntsville-leaders.html

*blush*

By Raving taxpayer (not verified) on 25 Jun 2010 #permalink

Now is the time to raise this issue, while the lackeys of Mendenev and Obama continue to meet to work out various economic trade, military and political agreements.

The the venue now shifted to Toronto and G20 Summit, which is fortuitous as talks can include other interested parties. We need a permanent solution to this little issue of funding and aligning reporting coordination between KVERT and SVERT with AVO and VAAC.

It should be raised and discussed, and finalized - preferably with input from appropriate Canadian and Japanese counterparts.

It is a small, but very important problem that needs resolved now, while there is still time.

A niggling issue, which is the real reason for bringing this topic us:

As NASA and NOAA have taken careful pains to point out to the US Administration, Space Weather risk and instability is anticipated to worsen - substantially - in the upcoming 36-48 months.

It would a Very Good Thing to have a Fail-Safe Backup Strategy for recursive coverage of satellite and ground-based monitoring systems between the EU, Russia, Canada, the US and Japan - and, if we tread very, very carefully, China, too.

Flying Blind, with respect to environmental and aviation hazard monitoring and detection is not an option.

Sorry for the typos. Above should read 'The meeting venue has now shifted to Toronto.." and 'reason for bringing this up:'.

@Passerby (#19)

Now is the time to raise this issue, while the lackeys of Mendenev and Obama continue to meet to work out various economic trade, military and political agreements.

The the venue now shifted to Toronto and G20 Summit, which is fortuitous as talks can include other interested parties. We need a permanent solution to this little issue of funding and aligning reporting coordination between KVERT and SVERT with AVO and VAAC.

The next G20 summit is in November of this year in in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Having KVERT out of action for the next 4 months should make things interesting. :D

Well look for a guy in a 'TMFD' shirt on the Ãórólfsfelli cam on Sunday... I'm off to Iceland!

Just a one-day stopover on my way to Scotland. Scotland may get geological too; I may end up bashing some unusual undersaturated rocks at Loch Borrolan!

Mike

The plight of the Italian experts is a cautionary tale. Prediction is always going to be inexact and precedent is not always evidence of causation. This blog brings together curious by-standers and committed scientists in a fertile mix. It is a wonderful way to keep up to date with different perspectives and get them tested by professionals in the field.
So, while it's 'quiet', volcanically speaking, can anyone put a bit more together on electro-magnetism? A week ago Carl and Leon were getting excited about The Jupiter Effect, which seems to have been well researched back in the 1970's, and Birgit is measuring electro-magnetism in the volcanic ash.
Lightning around earthquakes before or during is historically documented, and I read last week via this blog about a possible release of radon causing a tell-tale predictor gap in clouds along the line of a rift. The gap in clouds is shaped like a snake with the 'tail' pointing in the direction of a quake, up to 2 weeks before it occurs, and with some inaccuracy as to the precise location. Does this link the presence of clouds with earthquakes or do most quakes occur when skies are clear?
Are electro-magnetic factors linked in the movement of magma, carbon dioxide and water within the earth's crust?
Just wondering.

My questions above are linked to this link below:

Scientists at the Russian Academy of Sciences have investigated the connection between magnetic storms and earthquakes in the seismically active Central Asian region, which also takes in northern Afghanistan - the site of recent quakes measuring over 6 on the Richter scale, causing untold damage and thousands of deaths.
The trigger effect
Since 1975, researchers have compared some 14 000 earth tremors in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan with around 350 sudden magnetic storms occurring over the same period in the region - concluding with some confidence the propensity for earthquakes increases after a magnetic storm takes place. The relationship is complicated but it is centred on the way magnetic storms, interacting with high-speed plasma streams, cause noticeable vibrations as they hit the earth's magnetosphere. The electromagnetic energy in the storm is converted into mechanical energy through a series of conversions in the rocks, such as the 'piezoelectric effect', which are believed to trigger earthquakes. The researchers hope to better understand the physical nature of this 'trigger effect' in the course of future fieldwork and laboratory experiments.
More information
Shmidt United Institute for Physics of the Earth
Russian Academy of Sciences
Contact: sobolev@uipe-ras.scgis.ru

@22 Fireman - Rats! We'll be on the road - hope someone else will see you - hope you get a decent day and not a dust storm! Safe travels.

By birdseyeUSA (not verified) on 26 Jun 2010 #permalink

Rats! I get tied up with some computer issues at work for a couple of days, and I miss a MVP! I didn't have a clue anyway...Good Job Stephen!

Hey Fireman, if you get this message I have a small request: Can you turn around and take a picture of the scene that overlooks the view at Thorolsfelli? I have always wondered what people see when they look back towards the web cam. (Of course, I also hope you can give us some decent quality images of GÃgjökull, weather permitting.) Have a good trip!

By Carla - Seattle (not verified) on 26 Jun 2010 #permalink

This is why MVP is so hard for me! I post a picture of a beat-up, glacially destroyed volcano and Steve gets it on the second guess. I'll have to do better next time.

Lots of dust / ash Blowing at Eyja, but it's the fitewst clear view of the crater elevation I've seen for weeks. There's a little puff of steam, but that's all.

Kutsi, I've noticed the flies there too.

@Erik: In order to make the challenge more difficult, and at the same time avoiding TinEye, you can try doing some (major) changes to the photo. Test at tineye.com and see if it works first.

By Thomas Nygreen (not verified) on 26 Jun 2010 #permalink

Activity report from CENAPRED,
www.cenapred.unam.mx/cgi-bin/popo/reportes/ultrep.cgi
June 1926 11:00 (16:00 GMT) (16:00 GMT)

In the last 24 hours the monitoring system of Popocatepetl recorded five low-intensity exhalations accompanied by steam emissions, gas and occasionally small quantities of ash. Other volcanic monitoring parameters remain without important changes.

At the time this report do not have visibility to the volcano due to cloud in the area, but this morning it was observed emitting steam and gas. (see picture).

The recent activity is within the expected parameters therefore not imply any change in the level of arousal, so that the lights of volcanic alert remains in YELLOW phase 2.

Maintain the likelihood of the following scenarios: moderate exhalations, some with ash emissions, and occasionally mild incandescence in the crater of the volcano observable in the night, sporadic bursts of low to moderate probability of emission of incandescent fragments within walking distance of the crater.

They have a nifty Java applet that shows graphic comparison, as percent, of maximum blow (Dec 2000) and intermediate eruption event (1998). The captions in Spanish are nearly self-explanatory and the Google translations are spot-on, in comparison to say, Icelandic doodles and Google canoodles. *snicker*

The traffic light is at yellow, reflecting the most recent 'continuous eruption' phase, a status given on GVP corresponding to elevated activity from 2005-2010 (to present). I note that yesterday's eruption was more sustained and produced larger steam exhalations than the previous one from a few weeks ago.

Popo is definitely on my radar for potential of a larger, noteworthy eruption. The odds of it being paired with an eruption at Colima is also good.

I would say Mt Rainier,Henrik.

By Adrian,Dorset, UK (not verified) on 26 Jun 2010 #permalink

Here is an interesting paper related to what was discussed in a paper by Foulger posted here some weeks ago about that there is a discrepancy between the size of Iceland and the spreading rates of the plates.

www-old.isor.is/~ah/walker/IAVCEI_2_Ch17.pdf

@Thomas Nygreen (#35) and Raving (#18): LMAO!

@Henrik - I just took a look at the video. The volcano in video is Mt. Baker, not Rainier.

By MK, Alberta (not verified) on 26 Jun 2010 #permalink

@Kenneth[39]

Thanks for that. Good read.

So where oh where did the extra crust go? And were the events causing the discrepancies cataclysmic spurts or some slow grind? I find it interesting that the current GPS monitoring does now show the rates that the geological record indicate... that would tend to lean towards the "time to make some crust" growth spurts.

@41. *squint*

You didn't really read that article, did you, Lurking? The hypothesis was, given a measured drift rate per annum over the course of the known spreading period of the MAR with respect to the continental shelf, Iceland should be x Km wide and it's really y Km: much wider than anticipated if the drift rates of each successive interior Iceland ridge-spreading activity phase were constant.

And then we have a niggling issue of the ages of various central volcanoes that does not match up with the drift rate very well.

You can solve it, if one supposes that there is additional crustal working (from the remnant Caledonian system) and injection from, and reworking of, underlying ancient crust*.

A subject I have commented on repeatedly here, as it also helps one to understand an otherwise puzzling bimodal type magma melt (with heavy metal enrichment oddities++) ejection over the course of an eruption for some volcanoes. There is...a certain recurrent theme of this concurrent injection and reworking of newer and ancient crust, in back-arc island-like environments**, too, where we have zones of spreading and nearby subduction, as is found in New Zealand.

**Ohhh, that just might be Mt Etna and it's new phase of eruption activity!

++ Quasimodo Effect

Yes I did read it. Some parts of it three times.

"...It is clear that the excess spreading suggested here
does not appear in the daily GPS measurements monitoring
the continuous crustal spreading in Iceland
(Sigmundsson et al. 2005).
"

Which begs the question of "how" (see below) the rate exceed that of the MCR. We know where, and sort of an idea of when... that was the basis for the measurements and the vindication of the original theory.

(below) "how" as in what characteristics does it have. Sudden, slow, sporadic, gradual build up etc...

And...

" Efforts have been made to solve the problem by
assuming that ancient oceanic crust (.15 Ma) or a
hidden piece of continental crust is located somewhere
below the surface between the rift axes
(Foulger et al. 2003; Foulger & Anderson 2005;
Foulger 2006). This would explain the extra width
of Iceland. In this study the problem of ancient
crust is bypassed.
"

Cherry-picking text won't save you here. The quoted text is:

Here, the pathways of the central volcanoes are followed away from their suspected place of origin. Their distance and age give the drift rate. Pieces of ancient crust do not affect that. It is, however, obvious that if the spreading
in Iceland is larger than the spreading on the
ocean floor around it, then it must be concluded
that an older crust underlies the country.

For our answer, we turn to a Gillian Foulger classic:

Iceland Forms from Extensive Melting of Subducted Crust Trapped in the Caledonian Suture, not From a Plume.

search.gps.caltech.edu/preprints/pdf/contribution_8933/8933.pdf

Figures and additional explanation can be found here:
www.mantleplumes.org/Iceland1.html

Expanded explanation here: see for instance, Fig 1, a graphic of the GreenlandâIcelandâFaeroe bathymetric ridge

A source for Icelandic magmas in remelted Iapetus crust
(2005) www.geo.umass.edu/petrology/Foulger%202004.pdf

It's the sliding of Iceland, as it floats above the MAR, and is elongated by the stretching injection of reworked crust through this intersection, that affords the additional material that forms Iceland.

Mind you, there is vertical ridging, magmetic extrusions and basalt erosion mechanisms at play in the extant surface that makes the mechanics both complex and fascinating.

It's a theory, but one that has decent working bits that explain other puzzles, like petrological and magnetic oddities, too.

@Lurking @Passerby Thanks for your posts. I find this discussion very, very interesting. I've been doing my homework but, for now, I can only ask to keep it going. Still trying to understand - so many mechanisms involved, as quoted by Passerby. I understand that the mantle plume theory itself isn't yet fully accepted, am I right? (Not only for Iceland). I hope I'll have more time in July to dive myself into the subject, just for the fun of it. Perhaps then I'll be bold enough to post a comment. More, more... :)

By Renato I Silveira (not verified) on 26 Jun 2010 #permalink

A passing thought.

I wonder if Lurking and Raving are related activities.

By Passserby (not verified) on 26 Jun 2010 #permalink

#46 Bad boy...

By Renato I Silveira (not verified) on 26 Jun 2010 #permalink

Three quakes struck Eyjafjöll area since yesterday:
27.06.201004:32:1763.664-19.5436.8 km1.641.683.4 km WSW of Básar
Sunday
27.06.201001:28:2563.622-19.6218.0 km0.741.329.2 km SW of Básar
Saturday
26.06.201018:51:4663.741-19.5511.1 km2.790.017.9 km NNW of Básar

By Renato I Silveira (not verified) on 26 Jun 2010 #permalink

"This is why MVP is so hard for me! I post a picture of a beat-up, glacially destroyed volcano and Steve gets it on the second guess."

That's because you keep posting pictures of volcanoes that have names!

:)

@Passerby

First of all, I'm not arguing. I'm asking a question.

Second, "cherry picking" proof that I have read the document?

Errr... no. Pointing out the data that raises my question.

Let me see if I can restate it in a less obscure manner.

From the document, there is geological evidence that Iceland grows faster than the GPS data is currently measuring. It also grows faster than the rest of the MAR. I'm not hazarding a guess as to why. That's outside of my ability to make an intelligent guess. Your version seems workable.

Now... if Iceland grows like this, are the expanded growth rate periods (psuedo)regularly spaced and overly small, or are they a collection of catastrophic events (at least to our frame of reference)?

I'm guessing psuedo regularly spaced and overly small. My reason is the 1783 Laki Flood Basalt event and 934 Eldgjá events, both part of the same fissure system. But I do imagine that it didn't seem small to the residents of the time. Also, if there is the potential for something much more violent than that... well, that would be sort of apocalyptic.

It is interesting that the imbrication idea does mesh with the rift jumping idea. Each zone/area could just be a separate area over the tail of the next slab. As that batch of melt grew light enough it would snake it's way to the surface.

@Lurking: Though extremely hazardous I would like to witness one of such effusive events. I'm sure Icelanders are prepared for them and it would mean touristic activity will benefit from it. Sorry if it sounds irresponsible, but that would be some unparalleled event, even more than a Katla or Hekla eruption. But I'll be rather content if the current Eyjaföll would evolve onto someone minor fac-simile of that.

By Renato I Silveira (not verified) on 26 Jun 2010 #permalink

@Renato I Sikveira

I'm not too sure that Eyj could pull that off. Granted, it seems like it is an overgrown and metastasized ancient flank eruption of Katla, but the piping may not exist. Katla is definitely on the Eldgjá structure that heads off towards GrÃmsvötn (and Laki was just the most recent flood basalt event), but I don't think Eyj is actually part of that.

I could be wrong, I've believed stupid stuff before. There is a diagonal quake stack leading from deep under Eyj towards Katla, but that could have just been some of Eyj's magma looking for places to go, people to see.

@La Kat: Yes, this has already been posted, I'm still trying to get into all its details. But I think such interesting stuff should be reposted every now and then so we don't miss any bit of precious knowledge you people are providing us. Thank you anyway!

By Renato I Silveira (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

Joy. R. Skaftá is back into flood. The IMO thinks it's the large bowl that opened this time. (There are two subglacial bowls that empty periodically into the Skaftá catchment.)

By Reynir, .is (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

I agree with Renato. Reposting isn't really all that bad. Some of us may miss a post, others may be new, and not know of the post.

By parclair, NoCal USA (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

El Popo is very quiet.

By Kultsi, Askola, FI (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

There's a swarm of EQs taking place in northern Iceland. One was 3,9 NNE of Grimsey. Tremor plots are accusing the vibrations too.

By Renato I Silveira (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

Regarding the catastrophic situation of research and education in Italy, a petition has been written by Adamantia Paizis of the National Institute of Astrophysics a few days ago. Everybody who is willing to support this petition can sign at the web site below:

http://no-brain-no-gain.net/

The very questionable legal issues raised against the chiefs of the Italian "Comission for Great Risks" for not having predicted the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake has already been mentioned here. This is just one of the many facets of the profound crisis that research in Italy is subjected to in this period. Some believe that a major volcanic crisis, extending over a period of at least several weeks to months, may be the only means to convince the government that funding for the INGV is necessary. I really hope this will not be necessary, although we all know that inevitably this will happen, sooner or later, at one of our active volcanoes, like Etna, Vulcano, Stromboli, Vesuvius, or Ischia.

@Boris #60, I hope it won't take a major eruption to convince the Italian government that they NEED monitoring. What I am concerned about, and I am sure you are, too, is what I call the "Street light syndrome" for lack of a better name. I have seen it happen in CA. You have an intersection that desperately needs a stop light. Nothhing happens until there is a fatal accident or several bad ones. Then they put up one red light that flashes both ways. Nothing more is done until there are several more accidents and maybe another fatal one. THEN they install the stop lights. Yes there will be other accidents, but not as many.

I hope you and your collegues don't have to deal with that, but it seems to be human nature as well as just not wanting to put out the money to do it.

Thank you for keeping us posted on this issue. I hope the right judge gets it on his docket and he throws it out.

By Diane N CA (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

There is little doubt that you will have your wish, 'a major volcanic crisis, extending over a period of at least several weeks to months'.

Etna, most certainly. Probably Stromboli and a rising possibly, Vesuvius as the recent pause in mid-May in seismicity, after a long run and burst in March, is a concern.

A question, is INGV prepared?

On the matter of the legal inquiry: how close is INGV to producing a deterministic EQ map for central Italy? There must be a project underway, as not one but two INGV 2009-authored papers found that the national map prepared in 2006 (probabilistic) to under-estimated risk.

The Abruzzo region, province of L'Aquila, remains an area of elevated concern.

@Passerby, the question of INGV being prepared is not that much the issue. The problem is whether Italy is prepared, and that the answer is basically no, I fear. I live in eastern Sicily, which is one of the regions of highest risk - much worse than Abruzzo, IMHO - and see that a large proportion of the building stock here is not up to the standards at all. A Magnitude 6.3 earthquake as in L'Aquila (where 300 died) would have possibly killed tens of thousands in a city like Catania. There is no lack of warning from INGV (and lots and lots of other institutions and people and even the news media) about this. There is a tremendous lack of will to react on the side of the authorities, and that's also why L'Aquila turned out so disastrous, it was not because INGV had lacked to declare that area as high risk.

I do agree that a mistake was made a few days before the 6 April L'Aquila earthquake when the "Commission for Great Risks" publicly declared there was no risk of a major quake in L'Aquila - that is something you can never say because nobody really knows at the current state of art in seismology. Behind the scenes there had been controversy between Enzo Boschi, the President of the INGV and other members of the commission about the likelihood of a major quake; Boschi indeed held the point of view that it was impossible to say how the seismic crisis would develop. This is evident from the minutes of a meeting that had been held prior to the erroneous public announcement. In a situation as delicate as it was in L'Aquila and surroundings already for weeks prior to the main earthquake, however, you don't say a thing like "there is no risk of a major quake".

That said, I think it is of no use wanting to hear somebody say that "in no more than 24 hours, but maybe much earlier, there will be a big earthquake", because if this concerns an area like Rome or Naples or Catania, this will cause mayhem. The call for precise predictions is always an excuse for not constructing safe buildings, for which the knowledge and technology exists, internationally, since many decades. In Italy, such excuses are very much en vogue. And as long as this is so, there will be tremendous disasters equal only to those in developing countries, where Italy considers itself one of the most developed countries on this planet (wrong).

Finally, Vesuvius is a volcano that personally I am not too worried about. Usually, before a cataclysmic eruption, it remains asleep for many centuries (like, 800 years before the AD 79 Pompei eruption, and 500 years before the equally devastating, though volumetrically smaller, 1631 eruption). Since its last eruption, only 66 years have passed. I think there will be several generations that will not live an eruption of this volcano. But you never know. So it's better to be prepared and ready in any given moment. Which, in an area as densely populated as that around Vesuvius, is a problem of unimaginable dimensions. Also, because volcanoes are better understood than earthquakes they are indeed more predictable, but recent eruptions (such as Okmok and Kasatochi in 2008 and Redoubt in 2009) have shown that volcanoes sometimes don't know they're gonna erupt until just a few hours before, or sometimes they decide to wait another two months in the last possible moment. This is something that humanity - not only Italy - is not very much prepared for, and the combination of volcanic unpredictability and human defiance will remain possibly the greatest challenge to volcanology for some time.

The top of Lady E is again pristine white: LOTS of snow or hail up there.

By Kultsi, Askola, FI (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

@Dennis 64. I can't get google translate to accept anything after http://vulkane.net/ so cannot read the full article-- can you give us an synopsis? Thnx, :-)

By parclair, NoCal USA (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

@parclair [67]

An alternative method is to block copy the text and drop it in the translate box.

...Professor Volker Lorenz of the Geological Faculty of the University of Würzburg, reported recently in Mendig to Maarvulkanen about his work. Years of studies and Maarvulkanen Diatremen brought him to the belief in the world, can Maarvulkane after long period of rest, and suddenly erupt with little Vorwarnzeichen. The result of his years of study abroad is also transferable to the meres of the volcanic Eifel, Lorenz says.

The State Agency for Geology and Mining Rheinland-Pfalz has indicated that it increased in the Eifel region is earthquake swarm and the increased carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide content in the mofettes. Professor Lorenz therefore calls for a more thorough monitoring of the volcanic Eifel.

@Lurking. Thanks for the translation-- and I will try the drop the next time.:-)

By parclair, NoCal USA (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

For those who want to learn from the 2009 Aquila earthquake, reports and studies of the aftermath, building damage, and recovery effort.

Why would I post this material? Quite simple, really.

The earthquake was moderate, originating from a short and structurally unimportant fault segment, not one of the larger lateral fault systems that has not been strain-relieved for a long time. And there are several in the area poised to rupture. Moderate earthquakes recur much more frequently, suggesting recurrence in the near future.

Italy need only look to the history of the area, for an idea of the magnitude of death and destruction that will visit the inhabitants.

The irony is that this will occur in a nation that is a repository and has produced some of the finest earthquake engineering knowledge of the 20th and early 21st centuries.

Ten months after the EQ, in Feb 2010, the rubble still had not been cleared to permit rebuilding to start.
www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=117930&sectionid=351020606

A must-read evaluation from Global Risk Miyamoto:
M6.3 L'Aquila, Italy Earthquake Reconnaissance Report
www.grmcat.com/images/Italy-EQ-Report.pdf

A collection of engineering earthquake reports for this event, EEFIT (Institute of Structural Engineers) report:
eeri.org/site/reconnaissance-activities/69-italy/544-m-63-laquila-italy

The UCL Earthquake Hazard Center published a review, one year on, that discusses structural damage types, necessary repairs and corrective actions necessary to attract insurers.

With just 15% of the buildings constructed to withstand a moderate earthquake, the majority of buildings in the area were not insured. About 70,000 people in the area are homeless; 40,000 have fled to find shelter and work elsewhere.

www.continuitycentral.com/news05130.html
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/1005/10050602

Many of these reports - and others not listed here - offer examples of simple remedial structural enhancements for historical buildings and modern structures, like the new hospital that were not built to code.

The lesson that must be learned: before rebuilding homes, schools and commercial buildings, the type structures and and materials of construction employed must be chosen for safety, risk controls and insurer confidence.

Italy has just one opportunity to get it right and to do it soon.

He also stated that the problem with "maare" would be the place of the eruptions, he said its not likely that such volcanoes would erupt at the same place, thats the hard trick to measure the zone of the "impact".

Barely awake and feeling right point-and-grunt. Still, a bit of assist for English-only readers...

According to my old Ger.-Icel. dictionary, Maar is an extinct crater, thus Maarvulkan is very likely an extinct volcano.

Vorwarnzeichen - previous (signs of) warning.

By Reynir, Nes., .is (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

@Martin Fischer #72 Noticed that too. And further N, under Askja a pretty strong swarm. One of the EQs was 3+ but has been erased from the list.

By Renato I Silveira (not verified) on 27 Jun 2010 #permalink

'Maar' seems to denote a crater created by an explosive phreatic eruption, currently either a lake or a dry depression; not a caldera, not a cone. Not a sustained eruption, just basically one big bang that leaves a hole in the ground. Ukinrek in Alaska was given as an example in Wikipedia.

Vorwarnzeichen - forewarning signs.

By Kultsi, Askola, FI (not verified) on 28 Jun 2010 #permalink

Of course I should have stated that the 'assist' above was specific to the translation further up, but hindsight is 20/20. Oh, well...

By Reynir, Nes, .is (not verified) on 28 Jun 2010 #permalink

I have been visiting the Turrialba every few days/weeks and I have noticed a slow increase in the steam/gas plume. Then I found this article. It looks like there has been a small eruption.
Maybe this was posted and I missed it.
http://www.teletica.com/noticia-detalle.php?id=52202&idp=1

Does anyone have a link to more information on this volcano.

By Dasnowskier (not verified) on 28 Jun 2010 #permalink

@Chris, Reykjavik -

Cool, thx!

Some people are just outright crazy...

By Kultsi, Askola, FI (not verified) on 28 Jun 2010 #permalink

Does anyone know what caused the spikes on the Eyjafjallajökull tremor plots at 9am today?

Possible eruption at Kirishima, S Japan according to TOKYO VAAC:

DTG: 20100628/0738Z

ERUPTION DETAILS: POSSIBLY ERUPTED AT 20100628/0702Z VA CLD UNKNOWN

Looks like some action. There should be light soon so you might want to check the webcams

ERUPTION DETAILS: EXPLODED AT 20100628/1459Z FL080 EXTD E
OBS VA DTG: NIL
OBS VA CLD: IN INVESTIGATING SATELLITE DATA.

earthquake united kingdom west Yorkshire 1.5m on thur 25th june 10 at 19.55

@ Dasnowskier no. 80

Re: Turrialba

I've been following this one too for several months. "Mike" has visited it recently so may have some great photos/info to share. (Hint, hint!)

You asked for some links for good articles on this volcano. There are already some super ones produced by OVSICORI available on their site, itself, of which you may have been previously unaware.

Once in OVSICORI Click on:"Informes de Prensa"/press releases or easier still, try this:

http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/informacion_general/prensa.htm

Click on any articles of interest by title/date but they are in Spanish so you may need a translation. Good old Google Translate(Smithsonian Inst., John Seach and Durham University, UK are also helpful. Google for links.)

Can only post one link, at a time, here to get 'round Erik's moderator.

Thanks for the links, Raving. Electro-magnetism changes, in ways beyond my understanding. The BP leaking well is apparently due to be closed by a probe which will locate it underground by finding its electro-magnetic signature, where it is changed from the surrounding area (once the new wells are ready to divert the gas and oil). It seems there is a lot that can be learned from reading the earth in this way.

Another amateur speculation on my part is that the opening of the North Atlantic Rift is compensatory to the significant subduction that occurred off the coast of Chile. It seemed to me that there was seismic movement and increased volcanic activity up the major plate fault lines until the Eyaf split started.

Usually the thought of Monkeys with computers pops in my head when I usually surf the net, but this is actually one of the few well written and constructed pages I've seen in a bit. Not only is it an Interesting read, but it's also put together great and visually appealing. If by any chance you need assistance running this page or any other projects you have going on shoot me a email or a reply.

Things you brought up sounds right. However, think about this, let's suppose you offered a little bit more? What i'm saying is, I do not tend to teach how to run your site, however if you actually added something that can certainly grab peoples awareness? Simply like a online video or a picture or even two to get viewers excited regarding what you are talking about.

Interesting post reminds me of another gem. - I believe there is something out there watching us. Unfortunately, it's the government. - Woody Allen Born 1935