Gallery: Volcanic Year in Review for 2011
01january-kirishima-japan
Now that 2011 has come to a close, it is time for me to look back on the year. This by no means is an inclusive list of all the activity in 2011. For something close to that, check out the [archives of the Smithsonian/USGS Global Volcanism Program](http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?content=archive). However, this is a look back at many of the volcanic topics we tackled on *Eruptions* this year. Enjoy! January ------- 2011 started with a number of the usual suspects making noise, including [Kizimen in Kamchatka](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/friday-flotsam-eruption-updates-for-merapi-and-kizimen-frostquakes-in-iceland-and-bromo-up-and-close/), a renewed burst of activity at [Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/renewed-activity-prompts-evacuations-around-anak-krakatau/) and [explosions at Bromo](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/ash-explosions-from-bromo-and-anak-krakatau-in-indonesia/). By mid-month, we started to see the signs of what was to be a very busy year at Italy’s Etna as [small explosions began to occur](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/eruption-update-for-152011-etna-kizimen-tungurahua-merapi/) at the beginning of the month and the [1^st^ paroxysm of 2011](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/etna-starts-off-2011-by-putting-on-a-show/) began on January 13. However, the biggest eruption was from Japan’s Kirishima volcanic complex, where [the Shimnoedake crater produced impressive explosive plumes](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/kirishima-erupts-in-spectacular-fashion/) (see above) and produced [a small dome as well](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/monday-musings-noisy-times-in-japan-and-making-tenuous-connections-between-volcanoes-and-climate/). The activity at Kirishima continued into the spring. January also brought [my examination of Vatnajökull in Iceland](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/vatnajokull-and-the-volcanoes-under-the-glacier-in-iceland/) (a bit of unintentional foreshadowing for the Grímsvötn eruption later in the year) and I posted the [“Volcano webcams of the World”](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/all-the-volcano-webcams-of-the-world/) compendium. We also had the first of a long line of media sensationalism over geologic events, this [first one on an earthquake swarm at Yellowstone](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/yellowstone-the-public-and-media-obsession-with-the-caldera/) (and somebody [let Michio Kaku talk](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/yellowstone-addendum-when-credibility-counts/)). *Image: Webcam capture of Kirishima in Japan erupting on January 26, 2011.*
02february-huila-colombia
February -------- February brought fresh seismicity to two areas that got people’s attention – the [Taal caldera in the Philippines](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/wednesday-whatzits-kirishima-update-taals-restlessness-new-zealands-pink-terraces-found-and-atlantis/) and [Vatnajökull in Iceland](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/recent-seismicity-under-vatnajokull-could-be-leading-to-a-new-eruption/). Only one lead to an eruption this year, which shows how difficult it can be to make predictions of volcanic activity based on the hints a volcano can provide, like seismicity or gas emissions. [Eruptions continued at Kirishima](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/new-explosions-at-kirishima-shatter-windows-8-km-away-and-its-all-caught-on-webcams/), we saw evidence for [dome growth at Colombia’s Huila](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/potential-hazards-of-continued-dome-growth-on-colombias-nevado-del-huila/) (see above) and we saw [activity at Kilauea](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/two-us-volcanoes-making-news-kilauea-and-st-helens/) (including a lava lake highstand) while new eruptions occurred at [Bulusan in the Philippines and Indonesia’s Lokon-Empung](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/eruption-updates-bulusan-lokon-empung-and-kilauea/) and we saw the bubbling at [Dallol in Africa](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/new-images-of-activity-in-africa-nyiragongo-and-dallol/). We looked at the [1886 eruption of Tarawera](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/the-1886-eruption-of-mt-tarawera-new-zealand/) in New Zealand after the [famed Pink Terraces were rediscovered](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/wednesday-whatzits-kirishima-update-taals-restlessness-new-zealands-pink-terraces-found-and-atlantis/), while the south island suffered [another significant earthquake in Christchurch](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/tag/christchurch/). I also examined the [potential of power generation](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/using-magma-as-a-power-source-not-as-simple-as-it-seems/) from magma and [the sensationalism of scientific research concerning Mt. Baker](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/tremors-mt-baker-and-the-media-the-sensationalism-of-science/) in Washington. [And Etna erupted](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/etna-puts-on-a-show-but-keeps-the-curtains-closed/). *Image: Dome growth at Huila in Colombia in early February 2011. Image courtesy of INGEOMINAS.*
03march-kilauea-hawaii
March ----- March started out with a bang, as the [crater floor at Pu`u O`o collapsed](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/puu-oo-crater-vent-collapse-and-new-eruption-at-napau-crater/). This was followed closely by the opening of [a new fissure on Kilauea](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/napau-puu-oo-rift-eruption-on-kilauea-now-over-2-km-long/), what came to be called the “Kamoamoa” eruption. This [new fissure would erupt for the next few weeks](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/new-fissure-eruption-on-kilauea-with-video/) and was the first activity at Kilauea outside of the Pu`u O`o or Halema`uma`u area in years. However, by the end of the month, [activity was returning to normal](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/lava-returns-to-puu-oo-as-eruptive-activity-changes-on-kilauea/) and the Kamoamoa eruption was over. The biggest news of the month, however, was not volcanic but rather the [March 11 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-update-stunning-videos-and-images/) – we did see [eruptions of Kirishima and Sakurajima after the earthquake](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/japans-kirishima-erupts-after-the-sendai-earthquake/) but so far the “predicted” eruption of [Fuji following the earthquake](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/mt-fuji-japans-sacred-volcano/) never materialized. Speaking of which, remember how the Supermoon caused global catastrophes on March 18? [Yeah, me neither](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/on-earthquakes-eruptions-and-the-moon/). In the Philippines, [carbon dioxide emissions at Taal were on the rise](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/increasing-carbon-dioxide-emissions-at-taal-cause-concern/), along with the seismicity. I also looked at the prospects of [drilling into the mantle](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/drilling-into-the-planet-why-we-want-to-sample-the-mantle-and-why-we-already-have/) – and why it isn’t entirely necessary. *Image: The Kamoamoa Fissure on Kilauea seen in mid March, 2011. Image from HVO/USGS webcam.*
04april-bombing-a-volcano
April ----- Ruapehu in New Zealand started the month [showing some signs of increased unrest](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/more-signs-of-unrest-at-new-zealands-ruapehu/), including very warm temperatures in the summit crater lake. However, nothing came of this activity. The [alert at Taal in the Philippines also rose](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/taal-at-elevated-alert-as-the-volcano-remains-restless/), with government officials preparing for evacuations and at the time, an eruption looked more or more likely. A couple volcanoes in South America got our attention as [Tungurahua produced its largest eruption](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/tungurahua-in-ecuador-has-largest-eruption-in-the-past-decade/) in a decade and [Planchon-Peteroa in Chile](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/dark-ash-plume-at-chiles-planchon-peteroa/) produced a small explosive plume. People were getting nervous about [an earthquake swarm near Aurora/Bodie](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/tuesday-tidbits-watching-taal-cooler-crater-at-ruapehu-and-swarms-in-nevada/) on the California/Nevada border – was it magmatically related? It turns out it wasn’t, instead it was motion along a normal fault. I [looked at the Eyjafjallajökull eruption one year later](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/eyjafjallajokull-one-year-on-what-have-we-learned-and-not-learned/) and [a study of the ash showed that the decision to close the airspace](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/closing-airspace-over-eruption-due-to-eyjafjallajokull-ash-was-right-decision/) of Europe was likely the right one. I also talked about how a docudrama like Supervolcano can tell us about [how people perceive certainty and uncertainty](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/certainty-vs-uncertainty-what-supervolcano-teaches-us-about-science-and-society/) and why you might ever [bomb a volcano](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/why-would-you-ever-bomb-a-volcano/) (see evidence above). [And Etna erupted](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/new-eruption-started-at-italys-etna/). *Image: Cement dividers dropped on a lava flow at Etna in Italy in 1992. Image courtesy of Claude Grampey.*
05may-grimsvotn-iceland
May --- As May started, [another Chilean volcano was put on alert](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/south-american-eruption-update-tungurahua-and-planchon-peteroa-still-making-noise-puyehue-cordon-caulle-on-alert/) – a certain Puyehue-Cordón Caulle (we all know [what comes next](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/eruptions?pid=2807)). Japan was another eruption as a [small explosive event occurred at the Aso caldera](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/new-eruption-at-japans-aso-caldera/) while in Central America, [Telica in Nicaragua](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/nicaraguas-telica-bursts-back-into-action/) has a number of significant explosive eruptions as well. However, the big event of the month was [the eruption at Grímsvötn in Iceland](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/subglacial-eruption-starting-at-icelands-grimsvotn/) (see above). The subglacial explosive event produced the tallest plume in decades in Iceland, reaching [as high as 18 km / 60,000 feet](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/grimsvotn-eruption-closes-keflavik-airport-near-reykjavik-and-more-images-of-the-eruption/). However, the eruption [didn’t produce the same level of disruption](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/grimsvotn-ash-cloud-causes-flight-disruptions-but-ryanair-president-says-it-doesnt-exist/) in Europe as 2010’s Eyjafjallajökull and within a week, [the Grímsvötn eruption was over](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/that-about-wraps-it-up-for-the-grimsvotn-eruption/). We also chuckled at the idea of [a big action/romance about the 79 AD Vesuvius](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/eruption-update-tungurahua-from-space-and-earth-gamkonora-and-a-busy-gvp-activity-report/) eruption and I get a little testy towards [bad science in the media](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/dont-believe-everything-you-read-volcanic-source-of-ocean-warming-and-the-great-rome-earthquake/), including volcanic heating of the oceans (isn’t happening) and the “Great Rome Earthquake” (didn’t happen). [And Etna erupted.](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/new-eruption-started-at-etna-in-italy-may-11-2011/) *Image: Radar image of the ash plume from Grímsvötn in late May, 2011.*
06june-puyehue-cordon-caulle-chile
June ---- I started June by looking at [how carbon dioxide could be a volcanic hazard](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/carbon-dioxide-as-a-volcanic-hazard-at-the-dieng-plateau-and-beyond/) in its own right after all the news of degassing at the Dieng Plateau in Indonesia – later in the month I looked at [an *EOS* article the very clearly showed how volcanoes cannot be the source](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/why-volcanism-isnt-the-source-of-increasing-carbon-dioxide-emissions/) of the sharply increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, our attention was quickly taken by [the massive eruption of Puyehue-Cordón Caulle](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/update-eruption-at-puyehue-cordon-caulle-in-chile/) in Chile (see above) that disrupted life in much of southern South America for the winter. There was some [impressive footage of the thick pumice and ash from the eruption](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/spectacular-images-and-video-of-the-puyehue-cordon-caulle-eruption-in-chile/), including scuba divers swimming through pumice-coated lakes. Not long after the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption came news of an eruption in remote Eritrea. [At first it was thought to be from Dubbi](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/quick-update-on-the-nabro-eritrea-and-puyehue-cordon-caulle-eruptions/), but it was quickly realized through satellite images that [it was, in fact, the Nabro caldera](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/speculating-on-the-2011-nabro-eruption-in-eritrea/). Across the planet, Mt. Rainier in Washington reminded us that [even when a volcano isn’t erupting, it can be hazardous](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/debris-flow-on-mt-rainier-why-volcanoes-are-dangerous-even-when-not-erupting/). We also marked the [20^th^ anniversary of the eruption of Pinatubo](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/the-20th-anniversary-of-the-eruption-of-pinatubo-in-the-philippines/) in the Philippines. *Image: The ash plume from Puyehue-Cordón Caulle punching through the clouds in early June, 2011. Image courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory.*
07july-nabro-eritrea
July ---- When July opened, the [alert at Taal as lowered](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/tuesday-tidbits-soputan-eruption-alert-lowered-at-taal-taupo-earthquake-australian-fears-and-argentine-recovery/) as both seismicity and gas emissions were down – and no eruption ever occurred. However, the media did get a [hold of “unrest” at Hekla in Iceland](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/signs-of-unrest-at-icelands-hekla-but-what-do-the-signs-mean/) with the usual sensationalized results – but just to keep everybody on their toes, [Katla chose July to produce a small jokulhlaup](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/small-jokulhlaup-at-katla-in-iceland/), likely caused by a very minor eruption under the Myrdalsjökull. I spent much of July in the field, so a [couple guest posts](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/guest-post-the-rocks-are-always-greener-volcanoes-and-land-accessibility/) kept us [entertained](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/guest-post-unusual-volcanism-in-the-central-andes/) along with a [great Q&A from Dr. Clive Oppenheimer](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/qa-dr-clive-oppenheimer-answers-your-questions/), including questions on the [ongoing Nabro eruption](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/dissecting-the-nabro-lava-flow-from-space/) (see above). However, I did have time to debunk some terrible “science” that [claimed an eruption had occurred at Pisgah Crater](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/the-non-eruption-at-pisgah-crater-the-dangers-of-untrained-interpretation-of-real-time-data/) in California – we would revisit this sort of nonsense in August with [the “steaming hills” of Santa Barbara](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/volcanic-or-not-volcanic-the-steaming-hills-of-santa-barbara-are-not-volcanic/). Oh yes, [and Etna](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/etna-might-be-ready-to-put-on-a-show/) erupted ([four times!](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/spectacular-eruptions-at-italys-etna/)) *Image: Nabro in Eritrea erupting in early July, 2011. Image courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory.*
08august-axial-seamount-pacific-ocean
August ------ The start of August saw [my first post on the seismicity at El Hierro](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/earthquakes-under-el-hierro-in-the-canary-islands-what-can-we-expect/) in the Canary Islands and I could a stab at what to expect (if only I thought the eruption would be submarine) and as the month wore on, we also [saw deformation at the hotspot volcano](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/deformation-at-el-hierro-in-the-canary-islands/). Over at another hotspot, the [Pu`u O`o crater at Kilauea was hosting a large lava lake until the lava lake collapse](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/puu-oo-crater-floor-collapse-and-a-new-lava-flow-on-kilauea/) and new flows issued from the crater. We got to see the results of recent volcanism on the ocean floor with a great live stream of the ROPOS dive to [Axial Seamount](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/us-volcano-update-kilauea-cleveland-and-the-axial-seamount/) (see above). I had some pictures from [my visit to Lassen Peak in July and the heavy snows](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/visiting-snowy-lassen-peak-in-july-2011/) from the winter of 2010-11 were still readily evident. Closer to (my) home, at the end of the month the [eastern U.S. felt its first sizable earthquake in decades](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/wow-magnitude-5-9-earthquake-in-virginia/), centered in northern Virginia. We also had news of [new activity at Indonesia’s Marapi](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/increased-activity-at-marapi-in-indonesia-prompts-elevated-alert/) (as opposed to Merapi). In fact, Indonesia was active the whole year and sometimes because of how constant that activity is we lose track of how volcanically active it can be – 2011 saw activity or rumblings at no less than 14 Indonesian volcanoes (Anak Krakatau, Karangetang, Bromo, Dieng Plateau, Lokon-Empung, Merapi, Marapi, Soputan, Papandayan, Tambora, Lewotobi, Ranakah, Dukono, Gamalama and Ijen). *Image: Pillow lavas from Axial Seamount off the coast of Oregon, seen during the ROPOS '11 dive in late August.*
09september-etna-italy
September --------- At the end of August and into September, we heard that [there were signs of unrest at one of the world’s most famous volcanoes](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/signs-of-unrest-at-the-famous-tambora-caldera-in-indonesia/) – Tambora. However, unlike many of the news stories, a [new eruption of Tambora is not likely to destroy us all](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/tambora-why-the-volcano-wont-kill-us-all-at-least-not-yet/). Another favorite of the doom-and-gloom crowd, Katla, also rumbled, with [seismic swarms](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/seismic-swarm-at-icelands-katla/) that [continued into the fall](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/earthquake-swarm-keeps-icelands-katla-rocking/), making 2011 one of the [most seismically-active years in the past decade at Katla](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/and-the-2011-pliny-for-volcanic-event-of-the-year-goes-to/?pid=2802). The eruption at Puyehue-Cordón Caulle in Chile continued, but the [activity was more subdued so flights could resume](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/monday-musings-tamboras-rumblings-in-the-news-clevelands-new-dome-and-flights-resume-in-argentina/) to cities close to the volcano. I took a look at the [rumblings in Colombia this year](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/colombian-volcano-update-september-12-2011/) – not a lot of activity, but plenty of noise. [El Hierro was also beginning to get more interesting](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/increasing-indications-of-an-potential-eruption-at-el-hierro/), as the seismicity increased. I also [made the move here to *Wired*](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/welcome-to-eruptions-4-0/) during the middle of the month. [And Etna erupted](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/etnas-latest-fireworks-show/) (see above). *Image: Etna erupting in late September 2011. Image courtesy of Dr. Boris Behncke, INGV Catania.*
10october-cerro-hudson-chile
October ------- October kept me busy in more ways than one – and showed my dedication to the blog as the activity at El Hierro finally lead to [an eruption on October 10](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/submarine-eruption-off-of-el-hierro/) (coincidentally the same day Esa was born). Over the next few weeks, we talked about all the “Jacuzzis” and “coconuts” related to this eruption that was [taking place under hundreds of meters of seawater](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/el-hierro-eruption-continues-but-not-likely-to-form-new-island/). A few volcanoes were showing signs of unrest or new explosions, including [Costa Rica’s Poás and Rincon de la Vieja](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/busy-september-for-costa-rican-volcanoes/) and [over at Anak Krakatau](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/explosions-and-earthquakes-at-anak-krakatau-as-alert-status-raised/). Meanwhile, [seismicity at Rainier](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/mt-rainier-earthquakes-when-the-news-isnt-news/) and [Mauna Kea](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/earthquake-swarm-at-mauna-kea-in-hawaii/) got people’s attention, but neither seemed to be directly related to magma in the volcano. I took a look at [volcanism on Mercury](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/the-flood-basalts-of-mercury/) and where I might put [my volcanic “evil lair”](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/top-5-evil-volcano-lairs-pfpt-they-missed-the-best-one/). However, the month closed with a [surprise eruption as Cerro Hudson in Chile](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/eruption-updates-for-hudson-hierro-and-lokon-empung-for-october-31-2011/) (see above) produced a small explosive eruption likely caused by steam in the upper parts of the volcanic conduits. And Etna erupted. *Image: Plumes from Cerro Hudson in Chile seen in late October 2011. Image courtesy of SERNAGEOMIN.*
11november-el-hierro-canary-islands
November -------- We were all waiting for November to [spawn a monster at El Hierro](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/hydrovolcanism-when-magma-and-water-mix/) (see above), but the volcanic activity [remained submarine for much of the month](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/eruption-at-el-hierro-creeping-towards-the-surface/). The eruption was coughing up some [impressive examples of magma mixing](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/mixing-magmas-at-the-ongoing-el-hierro-eruption/) throughout the month. In Africa, [Nyamuragira produced its largest fissure eruption in years](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/new-flank-eruption-at-the-congos-nyamuragira/), with fire fountains reaching over 200 meters tall. Taking a break from [*Vulcan’s View* of volcanoes from space](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/vulcans-view-eruption-news-and-volcanoes-from-space-for-november-18-2011/?pid=2508), I took us in to see [volcanic rocks under the microscope](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/unravelling-a-volcano-using/). And [Etna erupted](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/etna-has-its-18th-eruption-of-2011/) (for the 18^th^ and last time in 2011). *Image: A "jacuzzi" of hot seawater and volcanic material above the submarine eruption south of El Hierro, seen in early November. Image courtesy of INVOLCAN.*
12jebel-zubair-red-sea
December -------- The year ended on the relatively quiet side in terms of volcanic activity. In Indonesia, [Gamalama erupted](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/monday-musings-new-eruption-at-gamalama-continued-eruption-at-tungurahua-and-no-eruption-at-katla-still/) and the rains that followed [produced lahars (volcanic mudflows)](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/gamalama-eruptions-causes-extensive-mudflows/) that killed at least a half dozen people living near the volcano. Another [surprise eruption occurred in eastern Africa as Jebel Zubair](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/potential-eruption-off-the-coast-of-yemen/) in the Red Sea erupted to form a new island (we’ll see how long it lasts – see above). Finally, Cleveland in Alaska closed out the year with a new explosive eruption after spending much of the fall [producing a new dome](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/gvp-weekly-volcanic-activity-report-for-august-3-9-2011-clevelands-dome-indonesian-volcanoes-and-a-busy-etna/) at the summit. In what might be my most popular post ever, I looked at what might really happen [if you fell into lava](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/the-right-and-wrong-way-to-die-when-you-fall-into-lava/) and after my trip to AGU 2011, I talked about [how to gauge the duration of giant eruptions](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/agu-2011-wrap-up-gauging-the-duration-of-giant-eruptions/). All in all, 2011 was another exciting year when it comes to volcanic activity – hopefully 2012 will be just as exciting! *Image: The eruption near Jebel Zubair in the Red Sea, seen on December 23, 2011. Image courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory.*
