Suwanosejima volcano (Tokara Islands, Japan): intense strombolian activity

The volcano continues to be in a phase of elevated activity which started gradually after around mid November. Webcams show intense glow, presumably generated by frequent explosions and / or the presence of a lava dome (or lava lake) in the active Otake crater in the northern end of the small island.
Low-level, but relatively intense ash emissions have been accompanying the eruption, reaching altitudes of up to approx. 1500 m elevation. The activity and its ash plumes, as long as it is at the current level only, pose no great risks, except to areas in the vicinity of the crater itself and low-flying small aircraft. Depending on wind direction, ash falls can affect infrastructure, in particular the (small) agricultural activity of the tiny population on the island.