Fri, 3 Jul 2020, 09:22

Dolomieu crater at Piton de la Fournaise volcano on 28 June (image: OVPF)

Source: Observatoire volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise volcano activity update 3 July 2020 [less]

Mon, 22 Jun 2020, 07:28

Volcano-tectonic earthquakes during 1-21 June at Piton de la Fournaise volcano (image: OVPF) During 16-22 Jun the seismic station at OVPF volcano observatory recorded 18 volcano-tectonic earthquakes at 2 km depth beneath the summit. ... more 1.5 and 2.5 km below the summit.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions that reached maximum values during the last April eruption (2-6 Apr), continue to decrease, but the absolute values of the SO2 flux remain very high. Flux of magma rising within the volcano to the more superficial areas of the feeding system. Ground movements recorded during the past 15 days at Piton de la Fournaise volcano (image: OVPF) less] Resumption of seismicity is associated with inflation at the base and at the top of the volcano edifice. This inflation is synonymous with a pressurization of the superficial magmatic reservoir located at depths betweenbelow the summit.Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions that reached maximum values during the last April eruption (2-6 Apr), continue to decrease, but the absolute values of the SO2 flux remain very high. Flux of magma rising within the volcano to the more superficial areas of the feeding system. read all the seismic station at OVPF volcano observatory recorded 18 volcano-tectonic earthquakes atbeneath the summit.

Mon, 6 Apr 2020, 07:51

Eruptive fissure at Piton de la Fournaise volcano on 6 April (image: OVPF)



A strong gas plume and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions have been observed. [ Increasing activity of lava flows in the near future is possible, although still greatly disturbed by the cloud cover around the volcano. Over the past 12 hours, average flows have been estimated at 30 m3/s. The thermal images taken yesterday evening show that the casting is still very active. The northernmost casting fronts had stopped, with the activity focusing on a new casting arm to the south.A strong gas plume and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions have been observed. [ less

Thu, 2 Apr 2020, 19:08

Lava fountains at Piton de la Fournaise volcano at 15:00 local time today (image: OVPF) ... more

The lava fountains observed along the fissure did not seem to exceed 30m in height. Tremor has remained at stable levels, suggesting a relatively stable output of lava, which is estimated to be in the order of 4 cubic meters per second. A branching lava flow is traveling downslope. The location of the eruption tremor today (image: OVPF) less] The volcano observatory (OVPF) confirmed that an eruptive fissure opened on the eastern flank of and at about 1.7 km distance from the summit of the Dolomieu crater, likely around 12:20 local time when tremor began. The eruptive fissure is located at around 1900 m above sea level, slightly below the site of the previous eruption during 10-16 Feb 2020.The lava fountains observed along the fissure did not seem to exceed 30m in height. Tremor has remained at stable levels, suggesting a relatively stable output of lava, which is estimated to be in the order of 4 cubic meters per second. A branching lava flow is traveling downslope. read all A new eruption has indeed started at the volcano, as could be confirmed when weather cleared to allow an overflight.

Thu, 2 Apr 2020, 09:58

View from Piton Bert (Piton de la Fournaise volcano, image: OVPF webcam)



At first, it was followed by a more than 3 hours interval of relative calm, which lead to the suspicion that the intrusion might have stopped, something that often occurs, i.e. so-to-say a "failed eruption". However, this changed now: volcanic tremor indicating (upwards) magma movement started a short time ago, at 12:20 local time. [ The earthquake swarm, related to the fracturing of and intrusion into rocks due to magma pressure from below, was accompanied by rapid ground deformation (inflation) of 10-20 micro-radians, which means that magma had moved to shallow depths beneath the surface.At first, it was followed by a more than 3 hours interval of relative calm, which lead to the suspicion that the intrusion might have stopped, something that often occurs, i.e. so-to-say a "failed eruption". However, this changed now: volcanic tremor indicating (upwards) magma movement started a short time ago, at 12:20 local time. [ less

Thu, 2 Apr 2020, 09:36

Piton de la Fournaise volcano today (image: OVPF) ... more

Source: Observatoire volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise volcano activity update 2 April 2020 [less] Seismic crisis is associated with rapid deformation. This indicates that magma has left the surface magmatic reservoir and has spread to the surface. read all OVPF recorded 92 volcano-tectonic earthquakes today from 08:15 to 08:51 local time.

Thu, 2 Apr 2020, 09:15

Mon, 9 Mar 2020, 15:30

Number of shallow volcano-tectonic earthquakes recorded in February 2020 (top). Number of deep volcano-tectonic earthquakes recorded in February 2020 (bottom) (© OVPF-IPGP). ... more

Photographs taken on February 13 around 12:00 local time (© PGHM-SAG). less] During the month, there were 249 shallow volcano-tectonic earthquakes (0 – 2 km depth) below the summit craters, 11 deep earthquakes (>2 km depth) and 563 rockfalls (inside the Cratère Dolomieu or along the cliff of the Enclos Fouqué caldera and the Rivière de l’Est rampart). Around 4 earthquakes per day were occurring from February 1-9. Out of the 249 shallow volcano-tectonic earthquakes, 208 occurred on the morning of February 10 prior to the February 10-16 eruption. This “seismic crisis” lasted for around 30 minutes. After the eruption, the summit volcano-tectonic activity decreased with only 2 shallow earthquakes recorded between February 17-29. During this period however, 8 deep earthquakes were recorded beneath Piton de Crac, and on the edge of the deformation field which OVPF-IGPG claim is linked to magma injection that fed the February 10-16 eruption. read all The Piton de la Fournaise Volcanological Observatory have released their monthly report for the month of February 2020.

Mon, 17 Feb 2020, 09:12

Thermal anomaly detected by satellite (image: Sentinel 2)

thermal anomaly at the level of the eruptive vent. This anomaly as well as the persistent puffs of gas during the morning on 16 February indicated a weak residual subsurface activity until the final shutdown of the tremor at 14:12 local time.

Source: Observatoire volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise volcano activity update 17 February 2020 [less] A satellite image from 16 February at 10:35 local time shows aThis anomaly as well as the persistent puffs of gas during the morning on 16 February indicated a weak residual subsurface activity until the final shutdown of the tremor at 14:12 local time.

Mon, 17 Feb 2020, 08:12

Weak thermal anomaly at the vent of Piton de la Fournaise's last eruption (image: OVPF) ... more

No significant earthquake activity has been recorded since the eruption ended, only a thermal anomaly persists at the vents, caused by hot gasses still escaping from there. This anomaly as well as the weak tremor signal still present in the morning of 16 Feb indicated a weak residual subsurface activity until the final cessation of the tremor at 14:12 on 16 Feb. [ The volcano observatory did not find any evidence of eruptive activity since the abrupt drop and cessation of volcanic tremor on 16 Feb at 14:12 local time, which was therefore declared as the end of this eruption.No significant earthquake activity has been recorded since the eruption ended, only a thermal anomaly persists at the vents, caused by hot gasses still escaping from there. This anomaly as well as the weak tremor signal still present in the morning of 16 Feb indicated a weak residual subsurface activity until the final cessation of the tremor at 14:12 on 16 Feb. [ less read all The first eruption of the volcano in 2020 lasted less than a week, from 10 - 16 Feb 2020.

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OVPF volcano observatory recorded seismic unrest at the volcano associated with rapid deformation. A new batch of magma could be rising inside the volcano's conduits.OVPF reported that eruption continues on the eastern flank. The seismic station records since 5 Aprilat approx. 2 km depth beneath the southeastern part of the Dolomieu crater. These earthquakes testify to the weakening of the environment, either by a circulation of fluid or the emptying of a reservoir, most certainly in connection with the feeding of the eruptive site and its renewed activity. A risk of collapse of the crater is not excluded.A new eruption might be underway at the volcano. This morning, a seismic crisis was recorded by the instruments of the volcano observatory (OVPF) with 92 superficial volcano-tectonic earthquakes between 8:15 am and 8:51 am local time.OVPF reported thaton 16 February at 14:12 local time. No earthquake has been recorded since the eruption stopped.