Mystery Volcano in Bolivia: (eruption, volcanoes, look, Alaska)

[Vinylly]

Rapidly Inflating Volcano Creates Growing Mystery | Volcanic Eruptions | Uturuncu Volcano

[Tek_Freek]

Boom!!!!!

Now that's interesting. I typed that word in uppercase and CD changed it. Tacky, CD.

So I say BOOM!!!!

[Six Foot Three]

I wonder if it has anything to do with the melting permafrost as i've read somewhere before about how it ''supposedly'' keeps many of the magma chambers around the planet in check by compression although i'm not sure how much truth there is to that?

[Chango]

It seems like everyday I run into a new way for the world to end badly.

[orogenicman]

Uturuncu is surrounded by many massive volcanoes, and although at over 20,000 feet is the highest volcanic peak in the region, it is far from the largest volcanic edifice there. If you look at this Google Earth image, you will note that the region is loaded with volcanic features. But note the massive volvano to the east of Uturuncu. It dwarfs pretty much everything else in the region. I have to point out here that although there is apparent uplift at Uturuncu, the region as a whole is well to the east of the main active volcanic belt in Boliva, which is to the west along the crest of the Andes.

[Glitch]

Bolivia is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire which extends as far south as Chile and as far north as Alaska. Then across to Siberia, southwest through Japan, then south through the Philippines to Java (where Krakatoa is located).

All these areas are extremely active, as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan recently demonstrated. There are more than 40 active volcanoes in Alaska alone with over 300 earthquakes per month (with at least one being 5.0 or greater in magnitude).

I just got this e-mail today.

ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORT Tuesday, November 1, 2011 11:39 AM AKDT (Tuesday, November 1, 2011 19:39 UTC)

CLEVELAND VOLCANO (CAVW #1101-24-)
52°49'20" N 169°56'42" W, Summit Elevation 5676 ft (1730 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Clouds have obscured satellite views of Cleveland volcano over the past 24 hours. AVO has received no reports of activity since October 23, when a TerraSAR-X satellite radar image showed surface deflation or collapse of the surface of the lava dome that resides in the summit crater. Such features are consistent with a pause in eruption of lava, but we are unable to confirm if this has continued past October 23.

Effusion of lava may resume at any time. This could result in lava overtopping the crater rim and flowing down the flank of the volcano. Portions of this lava flow could collapse and produce avalanches of hot debris that reach the sea accompanied by small ash clouds. A sudden explosion and ash cloud exceeding 20,000 ft above sea level could also occur. Such explosions could go undetected in satellite imagery for hours. However, in cooperation with the University of Washington, AVO has implemented a lightning alarm system that may detect significant ash-producing events within minutes of onset. In the event of a large ash explosion, seismic signals may be recorded on AVO seismic networks at nearby volcanoes; there is no real-time seismic network on Cleveland.

Additional information on Cleveland volcano and the current activity may be found at this link:
Cleveland - Eruption Page : Alaska Volcano Observatory

CONTACT INFORMATION:
John Power, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
jpower@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497

Steve McNutt, Coordinating Scientist, UAF
steve@giseis.alaska.edu (907) 474-7131

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

[Neuling]

I just read about this super volcano on another site. If it erupts, or explodes rather, it may cause a kind of ice age on earth

[Brian.Pearson]

I'd be a lot more interested in the part about inflation than the fact that is (rapidly) inflating one to two centimeters.