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Major eruption of Mount Sinabung sends ash up to 9.1 km, Indonesia

major-eruption-of-mount-sinabung-sends-ash-up-to-9-1-km-indonesia

A major eruption of Indonesian Mount Sinabung accompanied by large pyroclastic flows started at 20:45 UTC on March 4, 2015.

Darwin VAAC reported ash cloud reached an altitude of 9.1 km at 23:30 UTC, and drifted 231 km (143 miles) to the NW. Aviation Color Code is on Red. 

Ash fall completely covered nearby villages and has reportedly reached the city of Aceh, 250 km to the northwest. 

CultureVolcan reports there were 7 different large pyroclastic flows which reached some 3 500 m, others reached 4 500 m.

Forests south of the volcano are on fire.

In their Volcanic Ash Advisory issued 07:07 UTC today, Darwin VAAC said high level volcanic ash is moving to the NW and dissipating, but low level volcanic ash continues to SW.

​Based on satellite images and weather models, the Darwin VAAC reported that on February 20 an eruption from Sinabung generated ash plumes that rose to an altitude of 13.7 km a.s.l., drifted almost 540 km NW, and became detached.

A lower-level eruption later that day produced an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 7.3 km a.s.l.

Geologic summary

Gunung Sinabung is a Pleistocene-to-Holocene stratovolcano with many lava flows on its flanks. The migration of summit vents along a N-S line gives the summit crater complex an elongated form. The youngest crater of this conical, 2460-m-high andesitic-to-dacitic volcano is at the southern end of the four overlapping summit craters. An unconfirmed eruption was noted in 1881, and solfataric activity was seen at the summit and upper flanks in 1912. No confirmed historical eruptions were recorded prior to explosive eruptions during August-September 2010 that produced ash plumes to 5 km above the summit. (GVP)

Featured image: Mount Sinabung eruption on March 5, 2015. Image credit: Leopold Kennedy Adam (via Twitter)

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2 Comments

  1. This Vedic astrology writer from India known internationally has already predicted about volcanic eruptions like ash during 2015 in some countries published in article – Planetary placement and world affairs – in February 2015 issue of Sedona Journal of Emergence from Arizona, US. Interested readers may like to read the masterpiece predictions.

  2. Let us hope that nearby Lake Toba supervolcano remains dormant. If not, mankind maybe into a major hiccup in their time line. Much greater impact then a few SUV’s and Leon De Caprio’s jets, yachts and mansions.

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