Eruptions

New Eruption Started in the Galapagos Islands

Wolf in the Galapagos Island has erupted for the first time since 1982.
The May 25 2015 eruption of Wolf in the Galapagos Islands.
The May 25, 2015, eruption of Wolf in the Galapagos Islands.REUTERS/GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK/DIEGO PAREDES

UPDATE 11 am EDT: Here's the Washington VAAC report on the volcanic plume from eruption.
UPDATE 12 pm EDT: The IG-EPN released an information statement on the eruption. Some highlights:

  • The plume was likely as tall as 15 kilometers (50,000 feet) on the morning on May 25. The initial plume height looks to have been 10 kilometers (35,000 feet).
  • The eruption is coming from a new fissure on the southeast flanks of Wolf. Confirmed by satellite and ground observations.
  • Some of the settlements on Isabela may get minor ash fall from the plume.
  • The explosions from the start of the eruption were captured on the nearest seismometer (20 km away)

It is hard to get a sense of scale on this image, but you can clearly see the curtain of fire from the fissure along with a number of long lava flows as well.

Eruptions from Wolf tend to last about a month, but this new eruption is occurring in an are that appears to have no threat to people or wildlife in/around Isabela.

I'll try to update this post as more details emerge.