As an interested observer, it appears that volcanic activity is working its way around the “Ring of Fire.” Seismic activity is also on the rise, and I believe it’s safe to speculate that the entire area is adjusting itself to compensate for the recent changes which occurred during Indonesia’s great quake and tsunami. No one can predict earthquakes and volcanoes yet, however, we can identify patterns - and it seems to me one is developing.

I mentioned to my son a few days ago that I believed this was happening, and when Columbia’s volcano erupted Thursday night, it seemed too much of a coincidence not to document and mention. It appears to be moving in a northerly direction and I now believe we will see some serious volcanic activity in the United States.

For those who have not visited this site before, my interest was piqued when I caught CNN minimizing the danger of Yellowstone National Park, Earth's only known active “super volcano”. The ground has swelled in Yellowstone 27 centimeters in the last century. However approximately one third of that groundswell occurred in the past three years.

CNN referred to Yellowstone as the site of an “ancient volcano” which was light-years from the truth, so I did an in-depth article that virtually went around the world. CNN Oversimplifies The Danger of Yellowstone National Park I have a firm belief when a news organization as astute as CNN purposely plays-down a story there’s a reason, and I imagine they don’t want to cause fear or panic if some people over-reacted to the situation, which quite frankly, there’s absolutely nothing we can do about. An eruption of a super volcano the size of Yellowstone is an extinction level event.

Ever since that article, I have paid particular attention to volcanic activity as it relates to this hemisphere, and if you note the locations, it is increasing in frequency as well as moving north.

January 10 - 14, 2008

LLAIMA Chile 38.692°S, 71.729°W; summit elev. 3125 m

SERNAGEOMIN reported that seismicity from Llaima decreased in energy, but the number of events increased during 10-14 January. Based on seismic interpretation, weak explosions produced plumes of gas and ash. On 11 January, lava flows on the W flank that were observed during an overflight were cooled and snow-covered near the crater but snow-free, and therefore still hot, about 500 m further down on the flank. Blocks of incandescent material rolled about 1.5 km and caused steam emissions at several points where they contacted the glacier. Ash plumes drifted NE. Abundant cracks in glaciers to the SW of the crater were noted. Based on observations of satellite imagery and pilot reports, the Buenos Aires VAAC reported that ash plumes rose to an altitude of 5.5-6.7 km (18,000-22,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and SW on 11 and 13 January, respectively.

Geologic Summary. Llaima, one of Chile’s largest and most active volcanoes, contains two historically active craters, one at the summit and the other to the SE. The massive 3,125-m-high, glacier-covered stratovolcano has a volume of 400 cu km. A Holocene edifice built primarily of accumulated lava flows was constructed over an 8-km-wide caldera that formed about 13,200 years ago, following eruption of the 24 cu km Curacautín Ignimbrite. More than 40 scoria cones dot the volcano’s flanks. Following the end of an explosive stage about 7,200 years ago, construction of the present edifice began, characterized by Strombolian, hawaiian, and infrequent subplinian eruptions. Frequent moderate explosive eruptions with occasional lava flows have been recorded since the 17th century.

January 2 -7 - 12, 2008

NEVADO DEL HUILA Colombia 2.93°N, 76.03°W; summit elev. 5365 m

Based on seismic interpretation, INGEOMINAS reported ash emissions from Nevado del Huila on 2, 7, and 12 January.

Geologic Summary. Nevado del Huila, the highest active volcano in Colombia, is an elongated N-S-trending volcanic chain mantled by a glacier icecap. The andesitic-dacitic volcano was constructed within a 10-km-wide caldera. Volcanism at Nevado del Huila has produced six volcanic cones whose ages in general migrated from south to north. Two glacier-free lava domes lie at the southern end of the Huila volcanic complex. The first historical eruption from this little known volcano took place in the 16th century. Two persistent steam columns rise from the central peak, and hot springs are also present.

January 9 - 14, 2008

POPOCATEPETL México 19.023°N, 98.622°W; summit elev. 5426 m

CENAPRED reported that emissions of steam and gas from Popocatépetl were visible during 9-14 January. The plumes occasionally contained slight amounts of ash during 9-12 January. On 14 January, high-frequency seismic tremor was followed by an explosion that produced ash emissions and propelled fragments from the crater.

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