Eruption Update for April 4, 2013: Etna, Tolbachik, Grozny Group and AVO

Lava fountaining from the new Southeast Crater on Etna during the April 3, 2013 paroxysm. Image: Dr. Boris Behncke. Time to gather up some of the tidbits of volcano news from around the world: Italy Another day, another paroxysm at Etna. This one was quite spectacular event in the new Southeast Crater -- Dr. Boris Behncke captured some of the splendid lava fountaining from this eruption. Interestingly, he noted that the most impressive feature of this paroxysm, the 34th since the start of 2011, was the sound. This eruption features some loud explosions that it startled people 20 km (12 miles) away from the active crater. Be sure to check out this video of the eruption that shows "flashing arcs" caused by the compression wave of the explosions. These highly explosive paroxysms with lava fountains seem to be the modus operandi for the volcano in 2013, so always keep your eyes peeled for more activity. Russia A few volcanoes have been making some noise in far eastern Russia. Tolbachik has been active since late 2012 and now seems to be ramping back up in activity according to reports from the Kamchatka Volcano Observatory. Lava flows have intensified from the main crater of the eruption, with one reaching 3 meters deep and moving at a healthy speed of 3-5 meters/second. Two craters are still erupting with intermittent ~100 meter fountains and a small lava lake is still active in the main crater. Meanwhile, further south in the Kuril Islands, a small explosive eruption occurring in the Grozny Group -- the second such eruption in less than a year. This new activity dusted the city of Kurilsk (25 km away) with ~ 2 mm of ash. Alaska We can also wish a happy 25th birthday (albeit a few days late) to the Alaska Volcano Observatory. They are one of the busiest USGS volcano observatories, both in terms of number of volcanoes to watch and number of eruptions over the past two-and-a-half decades (Redoubt, Okmok, Kasatochi, Cleveland to name a few). If you're looking for even more volcano news, be sure to check out the latest USGS/Smithsonian Institute Global Volcanism Program Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.