Gallery: And the 2011 Pliny for Volcanic Event of the Year Goes to ...
dave withrow01honorable-mention
The voting is in and it is time to announce the 2011 winner of the __Pliny for Volcanic Event of the Year__. Over 200 votes were cast for the award and this year's winner was a slam-dunk, but it was a tight race for spots 2 through 4. My method for tallying the score was as follows: 6 pts for each 1st place vote, 5 pts for 2nd, 4 pts for 3rd, 3 pts for 4th, 2 pts for 5th and 1 pt for 6th. The tally for each volcano is listed in parentheses next to the volcano's name. Honorable Mention ----------------- Erta Ale, Ethiopia (5); Cleveland, Alaska (8); Tungurahua, Ecuador (8); Kizimen/Kamchatka, Russia (11) A few volcanoes just miss the cut for the top 10 - including Cleveland in the Aleutian islands of Alaska (see above). The volcano made [a too-little, too-late run in late December](http://www.usatoday.com/weather/story/2011-12-29/alaska-volcano-travel/52274100/1) by producing [a 15,000 foot plume](http://avo.alaska.edu/activity/report_getter.php?need=current&id=20581&type=3) that prompted air traffic warnings and diversions. During much of the late summer, [a dome grew within the summit crater](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/wednesday-whatzits-orange-alert-at-cleveland-more-italian-eruptions-kilaueas-lava-lakes-and-more/) of Cleveland, prompting fears of an explosive eruption thanks to the dome plug. Many of the rest of our honorable mentions were consistent performers throughout the year including [the volcanoes of the Kamchatka Peninsula](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/4-volcanoes-for-the-price-of-1-in-kamchatka/) in Russia and [Ecuador's Tungurahua](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/tungurahua-in-ecuador-has-largest-eruption-in-the-past-decade/), who saw its largest explosive period in over a decade. *Image: The crater area at Cleveland seen on August 8, 2011, courtesy of AVO/USGS by Kym Yano (NOAA)*
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10. Katla, Iceland (12) ----------------------- We start the top ten with a volcano that was likely more famous for stubbornly not erupting\* rather than any dramatic event. Sure, Katla has seen an [increase in seismic activity](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/earthquake-swarm-keeps-icelands-katla-rocking/) over the past 5 years (see above) and has produced a few [small jokulhlaups](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/small-jokulhlaup-at-katla-in-iceland/) (glacial outburst floods) likely generated by small eruptions under the [Mýrdalsjökull](http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/ice/lec07/myrdal.htm) ice cap that covers the volcano. However, much of the [media attention poured on the volcano was for the perceived "doomsday" threat](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15995845) that the volcano supposedly posed - more "[disaster hype](http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/katla-volcano-threatens-eruption-capable-of-disrupting-air-traffic/story-e6frf7jo-1226212876200)" than real danger. Just don't look for the hype to end as 2012 rings in. \* One *Eruptions* reader suggested an award for the volcanoes that didn't erupt but were repeatedly brought up in the news on their potential danger if they were to erupt - a *Hype of the Year Award*, if you will. Candidates included the aforementioned Katla, along with [Yellowstone](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/yellowstone-the-public-and-media-obsession-with-the-caldera/), the [Auckland Volcanic Field](http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1104/S00009/forgotten-ancient-eruptions-in-auckland.htm) and [Fuji](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/mt-fuji-japans-sacred-volcano/). *Image: Plots of seismicity at Katla in Iceland over the last 13 years, showing the increasing in number of earthquakes at the caldera since 2006. Data and figure courtesy of the Icelandic Meteorological Office.*
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9. Sakurajima, Japan (16) ------------------------- If anything, Sakurajima is consistent. The Japanese volcano produces thousands of small explosions per year (see above) - meaning that you rarely get a large explosion but on any given day, if you turn on one of the [many webcams pointed at the volcano](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/volcano-webcams-of-the-world#sakura), you're likely to see something. Sakurajima begun the year as part of a [duo of volcanoes erupting in Japan](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/monday-musings-noisy-times-in-japan-and-making-tenuous-connections-between-volcanoes-and-climate/) - starting a [very active (and tragic) geologic year](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-update-stunning-videos-and-images/) for the island nation. *Sakurajima erupting in early 2011. Image courtesy of James Reynolds - check out [his year end video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNs7GSSPi2Y) with shots from Sakurajima erupting.*
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8. Kilauea, Hawai'i (39) ------------------------ Another consistent performer, Kilauea not only kept up its act at the [Halema`uma`u summit crater](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/lava-lakes-remain-active-on-kilauea/) and the [east rift's Pu`u O`o crater](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/kilaueas-puu-oo-crater-putting-on-a-show/), but added a new move. In March, the summit and [Pu`u O`o craters dramatically drained](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/puu-oo-crater-vent-collapse-and-new-eruption-at-napau-crater/) and [a new fissure opened on the volcano](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/new-eruption-on-kilauea-continues-with-video-and-images-to-prove-it/) - the quickly named [Kamoamoa fissure](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/more-details-on-the-kamoamoa-fissure-eruption-at-kilauea-with-new-video/) (see above). The fissure was only active for a few weeks, but it marked the first dramatic change in the style of activity at Kilauea in a few years. [Activity returned](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/lava-returns-to-puu-oo-as-eruptive-activity-changes-on-kilauea/) to the summit and Pu`u O`o later in the year and the volcano started [its first ocean entry](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/vulcans-view-6-eruption-news-and-volcanoes-from-space-for-december-23-2011/?pid=2721) within the National Park as 2011 closed. *The Kamoamoa Fissure seen on March 6, 2011. Image courtesy of HVO/USGS.*
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7. Nyamuragira, DR Congo (50) ----------------------------- One of the top most active volcanoes in Africa (along with its nearby neighbor Nyiragongo) saw [its biggest explosive eruption in decades](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/new-flank-eruption-at-the-congos-nyamuragira/) when [a new flank fissure vent](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/vulcans-view-eruption-news-and-volcanoes-from-space-for-november-18-2011/?pid=2509) opened in November on the volcano. The [Congolese government saw the eruption as a chance to lure tourists](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/take-a-volcano-vacation-the-latest-eruption-of-nyamuragira/), offering camping trips with armed guards to visit the eruption, which was producing some spectacular fire fountains (see above). *Image: The coalesced fissure eruption from Nyamuragira seen on November 14, 2011.*
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6. Kirishima, Japan (51) ------------------------ Sometimes being early in the year will hurt when it comes to the year-end voting and I think that the [January/February eruption from the Shimnoedake cone 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/) might have felt just that. One of the first big volcanic events of 2011 saw some amazing ash plumes (see above) from one of the more active volcanoes in Japan when the [Shinmoedake crater produced its first major eruption since 1991](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/expanded-evacuations-as-the-kirishima-eruption-continues/) (it had experienced a few smaller, steam-driven explosions in 2008-10). During the course of the activity, [Kirishima was joined by nearby Sakurajima](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/kirishima-and-sakurajima-seen-from-space-and-more/) to produce two major ash plumes simultaneous in southern Japan. *Image: The ash plume from Kirishima in Japan seen in early February 2011. Image courtesy of James Reynolds - check out [his year end video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNs7GSSPi2Y) with shots from Kirishima erupting.*
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5. Grímsvötn, Iceland (60) -------------------------- Since last year's Eyjafjallajökull eruption (the [2010 Pliny winner](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/and-the-2010-pliny-for-volcanic-event-of-the-year-goes-to/)) that brought air traffic over Europe to its knees, nothing gets the media's attention like an eruption in Iceland. Eyjafjallajökull and Katla both stayed quiet, but Grímsvötn, another active volcano on the island nation, did see its first major eruption since 2004. The eruption [started as a subglacial event](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/more-information-on-the-may-21-eruption-of-grimsvotn-in-iceland/) that was highly explosive - producing a plume that reached 15-20 km / 55,000-60,000 feet, one of the tallest Icelandic plumes of the last century. An eruption of this magnitude [did cause a few minor flight disruptions](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/grimsvotn-ash-cloud-causes-flight-disruptions-but-ryanair-president-says-it-doesnt-exist/) due to ash from the eruption, but overall, Grímsvotn did not produce major issues. Within a week of the start of the eruption on May 21, [it was deemed as over.](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/that-about-wraps-it-up-for-the-grimsvotn-eruption/) *Image: The eruptive plume from Grímsvötn seen on May 21, 2011. Image by Ólafur Sigurjónsson courtesy of the Icelandic Meteorological Office.*
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4. Etna, Italy (133) -------------------- If Grímsvötn was the "one hit wonder" for 2011, then Etna was the Beatles. The Italian volcano had 18 paroxysms over the course of the year, some of which produced lava flows, towering ash plumes and/or strombolian explosions. Thanks to Etna's location, each of these events were closely monitored by the likes of Dr. Boris Behncke at the [Osservatario Etneo](http://www.ct.ingv.it/) - along with many Eruptions readers who could catch the action of one of the many webcams pointed at the volcano. *Image: An explosion at Etna on August 29, 2011 as part of the 12th paroxysm of the year. Image courtesy of Dr. Boris Behncke.*
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3. Nabro, Eritrea (134) ----------------------- The eruption of Nabro in Eritrea was the opposite of many of the eruptions that could be watched live via webcams from the comfort of your home. The [little-known caldera erupted in June](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/speculating-on-the-2011-nabro-eruption-in-eritrea/) and was first spotted via satellite and most, if not all, of the monitoring done after Nabro was identified as the culprit was down from eyes in the sky (see above). The [eruption itself threw a plume](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/quick-update-on-the-nabro-eritrea-and-puyehue-cordon-caulle-eruptions/) over northern Africa and parts of the Middle East but more spectacularly erupted [a long lava flow](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/dissecting-the-nabro-lava-flow-from-space/) that stretch out of the caldera down into the flatlands surrounding Nabro. [Even into late November](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/vulcans-view-eruption-news-and-volcanoes-from-space-for-november-18-2011/?pid=2508), the lava flow and vent area showed signs of magmatic heat and a layer of dark volcanic ash marked the landscape south of the volcano. *The lava flow and ash fall from the Nabro eruption as seen on September 28, 2011. Image courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory.*
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2. El Hierro, Canary Islands (194) ---------------------------------- We might not have had much warning when it came to Nabro, but the eruption to the south of El Hierro in the Canary Islands had months of precursory seismicity that had many watching the island closely to see if and when an eruption might occur. As early as the end of July and the beginning of August, [thousands of small earthquakes had occurred](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/earthquakes-under-el-hierro-in-the-canary-islands-what-can-we-expect/) under the island that had not seen an eruption in potentially 2,500 years. By late August, [deformation was observed at the volcano](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/deformation-at-el-hierro-in-the-canary-islands/), a sure sign of magma intrusion and by October, [a submarine eruption had started](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/submarine-eruption-off-of-el-hierro/) to the south of El Hierro. As the eruption continued, the submarine eruption produced ["jacuzzis"](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/el-hierro-eruption-quite-the-jacuzzi/) (see above) and [strange "coconuts" were found](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/mixing-magmas-at-the-ongoing-el-hierro-eruption/) on the surface, likely the product of mixing magmas, but by December, [it appeared that the eruption was ending](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/vulcans-view-6-eruption-news-and-volcanoes-from-space-for-december-23-2011/?pid=2718) with most of the activity occurring beneath hundreds of meter of seawater. *Image: A "jacuzzi" formed by submarine eruptions to the south of El Hierro as seen on November 23, 2011. Image courtesy of INVOLCAN.*
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1. Puyehue-Cordón Caulle, Chile (308) ------------------------------------- [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/?attachment_id=90894)The winner of the __2011 Pliny for Volcanic Event of the Year__ - and by a longshot - was the [stunning and long-lived eruption](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/spectacular-images-and-video-of-the-puyehue-cordon-caulle-eruption-in-chile/) of Puyehue-Cordón Caulle near the Chilean-Argentine border. In early May, the volcano was placed on "Yellow Alert" status by the SERNAGEOMIN but a strong increase in seismicity was observed starting in late April. Almost exactly one month later, Puyehue-Cordón Caulle showed that it meant business, [producing a giant explosive eruption that reached 10 km / 35,000 feet](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/update-eruption-at-puyehue-cordon-caulle-in-chile/) and was spotted from space punching through the cloud deck. Eventually, [a lava flow was spotted](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/vulcans-view-eruption-news-and-volcanoes-from-space-for-november-18-2011/?pid=2510) coming from the fissure vent on Cordón Caulle as well. For the rest of the winter and into the spring and summer the [volcano caused periodic air traffic closures](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/tuesday-tidbits-indonesian-action-puyehue-cordon-caulle-still-erupting-volcanoes-and-rain-and-more/) and brought towns near the volcano, like Bariloche, to a standstill. Lakes and land around Puyehue-Cordón Caulle were [choked with pumice and ash](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/06/puyehue-cordon-caulle-ash-makes-it-to-buenos-aires-and-paraguay/) from the eruption and [ash continues to fall even as 2011 draws to a close](http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=76810). Look for the __Volcanic Year in Review__ at the beginning of next week! *Image: The ash plume from Puyehue-Cordón Caulle captured via webcam on June 13, 2011.*
