AVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Takawangha (VNUM #311090)

Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Previous Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL

Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW
Previous Aviation Color Code: GREEN


Issued: Friday, November 18, 2022, 4:34 PM AKST
Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2022/A1315
Location: N 51 deg 52 min W 178 deg 1 min
Elevation: 4754 ft (1449 m)
Area: Aleutians

Volcanic Activity Summary:

The number of small earthquakes detected near Takawangha volcano has increased over the past few days and has intensified over the past 24 hours. The earthquakes, the largest with magnitudes between 2 and 3, have preliminary depths of about 2 to 4 miles (3 to 6 km) below sea level. This activity may be due to the movement of magma beneath the volcano. It marks a departure from background activity and therefore AVO is raising the Aviation Color Code to YELLOW and Alert Level to ADVISORY for Takawangha volcano.

No eruptive activity has been detected in satellite or other monitoring data.

Takawangha is monitored with a local seismic network, a single local infrasound sensor, regional infrasound and lightning sensors, and satellite imagery.  

Recent Observations:
[Volcanic cloud height] Not applicable
[Other volcanic cloud information] Not applicable
[Lava flow/dome] Not applicable
[Lava flow] Not applicable

Remarks:

Takawangha is a remote, 1,449 m (4,754 ft)-high stratovolcano located on the northeast portion of Tanaga Island, roughly 95 km (59 miles) west of Adak in the Andreanof Islands. Takawangha's summit is mostly ice-covered, except for four young craters that have erupted ash and lava flows in the last few thousand years. Parts of Takawangha's edifice are hydrothermally altered and may be unstable, possibly leading to localized debris avalanches from its flanks. Takawangha lies across a saddle from historically active Tanaga volcano to the west. No historical eruptions are known from Takawangha; however, field work shows that recent eruptions have occurred, and it is possible that historic eruptions attributed to Tanaga may instead have come from Takawangha.

Contacts:

Michelle Coombs, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS, mcoombs@usgs.gov, (907) 786-7497

David Fee, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI, dfee1@alaska.edu, (907) 378-5460

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

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(1) VOLCANO OBSERVATORY NOTICE FOR AVIATION (VONA)
(2) Issued:	(20221119/0134Z)
(3) Volcano:	Takawangha (VNUM #311090)
(4) Current Color Code:	YELLOW
(5) Previous Color Code:	GREEN
(6) Source:	Alaska Volcano Observatory
(7) Notice Number:	2022/A1315
(8) Volcano Location:	N 51 deg 52 min W 178 deg 1 min
(9) Area:	Aleutians
(10) Summit Elevation:	4754 ft (1449 m)
(11) Volcanic Activity Summary:	The number of small earthquakes detected near Takawangha volcano has increased over the past few days and has intensified over the past 24 hours. The earthquakes, the largest with magnitudes between 2 and 3, have preliminary depths of about 2 to 4 miles (3 to 6 km) below sea level. This activity may be due to the movement of magma beneath the volcano. It marks a departure from background activity and therefore AVO is raising the Aviation Color Code to YELLOW and Alert Level to ADVISORY for Takawangha volcano. No eruptive activity has been detected in satellite or other monitoring data. Takawangha is monitored with a local seismic network, a single local infrasound sensor, regional infrasound and lightning sensors, and satellite imagery.
(12) Volcanic cloud height:	Not applicable
(13) Other volcanic cloud information:	Not applicable
(14) Remarks:	Takawangha is a remote, 1,449 m (4,754 ft)-high stratovolcano located on the northeast portion of Tanaga Island, roughly 95 km (59 miles) west of Adak in the Andreanof Islands. Takawangha's summit is mostly ice-covered, except for four young craters that have erupted ash and lava flows in the last few thousand years. Parts of Takawangha's edifice are hydrothermally altered and may be unstable, possibly leading to localized debris avalanches from its flanks. Takawangha lies across a saddle from historically active Tanaga volcano to the west. No historical eruptions are known from Takawangha; however, field work shows that recent eruptions have occurred, and it is possible that historic eruptions attributed to Tanaga may instead have come from Takawangha.
(15) Contacts:	Michelle Coombs, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS, mcoombs@usgs.gov, (907) 786-7497 David Fee, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI, dfee1@alaska.edu, (907) 378-5460
(16) Next Notice:

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