Bulletin N°6, Activity blong Gaua Volkeno, Gaua Isl and, 08 January

Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources
Geo-Hazard Section
Port Vila
Telephone: 22907 Fax: 22213
Bulletin blong Alert blong volkeno
Bulletin N°6, Activity blong Gaua Volkeno, Gaua Isl and, 08 January 2010
14°16’0”S 167°30’0”E Summit (797m )
Activity blong Gaua volcano we I bin start long Monday 14th December 2009 wetem wan significant
erapsen blong asis hemi still continue. Ol man blong vilij oli reportem sam explosions long 29th
December 2009. Eraptive phase ia hemi lukim plante asis (tick plume) I kamaot long volcano since
long Monday 14th December 2009 kasem tede mo kala blong asiss hemi dark pitim bifo (luk photos).
Change ia hemi reflectem evolution blong source (alimentation) blong volkeno. Ol assis ia oli continue
blong fuldaon long westen part blong Gaua mo wetem ol change blong daereksen blong win, oli save
foldaon too long sam eria blong easten part blong aelan.
Ol analysis blong ol asis we I foldaon long October 2009 I bin soem se I kat ol asis ia oli contenem ol
particles we oli gat posen long olgeta. Moa analisis bae I kamap yet long olgeta dark assis we I tes
fuldaon blong evaluetem ol possibility blong existence blong posen ia insaed long ol asis we oli stap
foldaon naoia long Gaua.
Ol letes OMI satelaet imejes blong tede oli continue blong soem saen se plante gas I stap kamaot yet
long Gaua volkeno.
Ol infomesen we ol machine blong etquek oli ricordem oli confemem se activity blong volkeno
ia hemi still strong mo strong activity ia bae hemi save plante week moa yet.
Wetem ol infomesen ia, hemia hemi wan rimaenda se Alert Level blong activity blong volkeno ia
hemi still stap long level 2 long Vanuatu Volcano Alert Level (VVAL).
Monitoring blong Gaua volkeno hemi bae still continue, mo bambae nekis bulletin bae hemi kamaot
taem I gat moa update long activity.
Blong kasem moa infomesen yu save kontactem Geo-Hazard Unit blong Department blong Geology, Mines mo Water
Resources, telephone 22907/22423 email [email protected], mo [email protected] , or luk long internet
long www.geohazards.gov.vu .
Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources
Geo-Hazard Section
Port Vila
Telephone: 22907
fax: 22213
Volcano Alert Bulletin
Bulletin N°6, Gaua Volcano activity Gaua Island, 08 January 2010
14°16’0”S 167°30’0”E Summit 2615ft (797m)
The continuous ash emission activity of the Gaua volcano that begun on Monday 14th December 2009
with the significant emissions of ashes is still ongoing. This was accompanied by explosions heard from
the villages on the 29th of December 2009. This eruptive phase is different from previous activities with
thicker and darker plumes (see photos). These changes reflect the evolution of the source
(alimentation) of the volcano. Ash falls continue to persist in the western part of Gaua and with the
changes in the direction of the wind; it is possible that ash falls may also be experienced in the eastern
part of the island.
Chemical analysis of the ashes that fell and were collected in October, which was carried out by York
University in England, have indicated that there is a high concentration of chemicals which are
hazardous to the human health within these ash particles from Gaua. More analysis will be coming up
on the new deposits.
The latest OMI satellite images clearly show the persistence of significant flux of gases being emitted
from Gaua volcano.
Seismic Data from the Gaua seismic network confirms that the activity of this volcano is still
strong and may be maintained for a longer period of time.
With all these information, the Alert Level of this volcano’s activity is still maintained at Level 2
according to the Vanuatu Volcano Alert Level (VVAL).
Close monitoring of this volcano must continue. The next bulletin will be issued at the availability of the
update information on the development of the activity.
For specific information, please contact the Geo-Hazards Unit of the Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources,
telephone 22907/22423 email [email protected], and [email protected] or web: www.geohazards.gov.vu .
Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources
Geo-Hazard Section
Port Vila
Telephone: 22907 Fax: 22213
Bulletin d’Alerte volcanique
Bulletin N°6, Activité volcanique de Gaua, le 08 Ja nvier 2010
14°16’0”S 167°30’0”E Summit 2615ft (797m)
L’activité éruptive du volcan de Gaua avec de fortes émissions de cendres a continue depuis le lundi
14 Décembre 2009. Des explosions ont été entendues le 29 décembre 2009 depuis les villages. Cette
phase éruptive diffère des activités précédentes par la concentration à la couleur plus sombre des
cendres (voir photo). Cela traduit l’évolution de la source de l’alimentation du volcan. Des retombées de
cendres continuent dans la partie Ouest de Gaua. Selon la direction du vent, elles peuvent atteindre
certaines régions de la partie Est de l’île.
Les analyses chimiques des cendres récupérées à Gaua au mois d’Octobre, effectuées par l’Université
d’Angleterre (York University) soulignent l’existence d’une importante concentration des particules
toxiques dans les cendres. De nouvelles analyses doivent être conduite d’ici peu sur les nouveaux
dépôts.
Les images satellites OMI récentes montrent une continuation des émissions de gaz volcaniques du
volcan de Gaua.
Les données sismiques enregistrées par le réseau de Gaua confirment que l’activité de ce
volcan reste forte et qu’elle peut durer pendant un certain temps.
Avec ces informations, l’alerte volcanique du volcan de Gaua reste au niveau 2 selon le Vanuatu
Volcano Alert Level (VVAL).
Ainsi, la surveillance de ce volcan doit continuer. Le prochain bulletin sera émis prochainement
dépendant de la disponibilité de l’information sur le développement de l’activité de ce volcan.
Pour plus d’information spécifique, contacter la section Risques Géologiques du Département de la Géologie, Mines et
Ressources en Eaux, téléphone 22907, email [email protected], et [email protected] ou consulter le site
internet www.geohazards.gov.vu
Gaua volcano, 31th December 2009 view from the caldera
Ash cloud direction on the west part of Gaua Island,
rim
December 29 2010.
Ash cloud deposits on the west part of Gaua Island,
Ash deposits recorded the 29 December 2009 on
th
th
December 29 2009
th
Quetekaveau village