Luang Volcano Eruption: Strongest in 22 Years – Updates and Impact

Ruang Volcano (725m above sea level) is a volcanic island in the Sangihe Islands in Indonesia. In September 2002, there was a strong eruption that sent plumes of smoke up to a height of about 20,000 meters.

During the eruption on the 17th (Wednesday), observations from the Himawari 9 meteorological satellite indicate that the plume reached a height of 19,000 meters near the tropopause. Since then, geological satellites have also been analyzing the presence of volcanic ash in the Celebes Sea and elsewhere, but as of yesterday, the 19th (Friday), it was almost invisible from satellites .
» Radar satellite cloud imaging method

Solid volcanic ash has already fallen and its concentration in the atmosphere has decreased, but volcanic gases are still visible from satellites.

Looking at the results of sulfur dioxide (SO2) observations monitored by the US satellite Suomi NPP and the European satellite Sentinel-5P, it was confirmed that the sulfur dioxide (SO2) was gradually weakening and spreading west on the 18th and 19th. can.

Sulfur dioxide is a gas heavier than air, so it is thought to travel on winds in the lower atmosphere. The results of the observation show that the flow is divided east and west from the pit, and although it has not spread much on the east side, the west side goes through the north Kalimantan Island and reaches as far as the Malay Peninsula, Malay Strait. Malacca, and the Island of Sumatra You see that.

Unlike volcanic ash, it does not interfere with aircraft operations, but it may give off a rotten egg smell and cause an increase in PM2.5 due to photochemical reactions. Although it is unlikely that high concentrations will flow towards Japan, depending on the wind direction, they may move north through the South West China Sea, so we will continue to monitor them .

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Image source
NASA WORLDVIEW (weather news processing)

If a large amount of volcanic ash is released into the atmosphere as a result of an eruption, it can have a negative impact on aircraft operations, such as stopping the engines of aircraft that inhale it or damaging the cockpit window glass, making it difficult to see there is a risk of harm.

Depending on the future status of volcanic activity, it is possible that there will be delays due to changes in the routes of international flights connecting Eurasia and Oceania.
» Radar wind mode (wind flow)

When a large explosion occurred in the volcano Tonga Hunga Tonga-Hungaha’apai in January 2022, an unusual tsunami was created, and the tsunami even reached Japan.

As the height of the Mount Luang eruption reached the standards set by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that they would monitor changes in the rate of eruption.

Similar announcements will be made for Manam volcano in March 2022, Bezimany volcano in May 2022, Semer volcano in December 2022, Siberci volcano in April 2023, Uraun volcano in November 2023, and Bezimany volcano in December 2023. This is the seventh such event, after the eruption of Mt. Marapi.

» Check the weekly weather forecast

When the volcano Tonga Hunga Tonga-Hungaha’apai erupted on a large scale in January this year, an unusual tsunami was created, which even reached Japan.

Although it is not known whether this eruption of the Semeru volcano will cause a tsunami, the Japan Meteorological Agency has announced that they will monitor changes in the level of the massacre.

This is the third such notification, following the eruption of the Manam volcano in March and the Bezimany volcano in May.