ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey
Saturday, July 19, 2008, 2:59 PM AKDT (Saturday, July 19, 2008, 22:59 UTC)

OKMOK VOLCANO (VNUM #311290)
53°23'49" N 168°9'58" W, Summit Elevation 3520 ft (1073 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING
Current Aviation Color Code: RED

Since 18:15 UTC (10:15 ADT), the amplitude of seismicity at Okmok Volcano has risen markedly, reaching a level commonly associated with vigorous ash emission. AVO believes that ash from Okmok could be exceeding 25,000 feet above sea level. For this reason, AVO raised the aviation color code to RED and volcano alert code to WARNING.

Ash fall is expected to continue downwind of the volcano including over marine areas in the North Pacific. Areas in the immediate vicinity of the volcano on Umnak Island should be avoided, particularly the Crater Creek drainage northeast of the caldera. Ash clouds are drifting southeast of the volcano and poses a risk to aircraft in the vicinity. Ballistics may impact the areas around the caldera rim.

Please see http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Okmok.php for more information.

CLEVELAND VOLCANO (VNUM #311240)
52°49'20" N 169°56'42" W, Summit Elevation 5676 ft (1730 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Satellite and webcam views were mostly cloudy over the last 24 hours. AVO received no other reports of activity at Cleveland this week.

AVO monitors Cleveland Volcano with satellite imagery as weather allows. The lack of a real-time seismic network at Cleveland means that AVO is unable to track local earthquake activity related to volcanic unrest. Short-lived explosions of ash that could exceed 20,000 ft above sea level can occur without warning and may go undetected on satellite imagery. Please see http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Cleveland.php for more information.



CONTACT INFORMATION:

John Power, Acting Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
jpower@usgs.gov, (907)786-7497

Steve McNutt, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
steve@giseis.alaska.edu (907)978-5458

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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