ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey
Saturday, November 19, 2011, 12:23 PM AKST (Saturday, November 19, 2011, 21:23 UTC)

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

Clouds have obscured satellite views of Cleveland volcano over the past 24 hours. AVO has received no reports of activity.

We are uncertain if the lava eruption has stopped or paused, and it is possible for effusion of lava to resume at any time. If it does, this could lead to the formation of lava flows that overtop the crater rim and flow down the flanks of the volcano. Such lava flows could collapse and produce avalanches of hot debris that reach the sea and may be accompanied by small ash clouds.

It remains possible for sudden explosions and ash emission to occur, and ash clouds exceeding 20,000 feet above sea level may develop. Such explosions and their associated ash clouds may go undetected in satellite imagery for hours. However, in cooperation with the University of Washington, AVO has implemented a lightning alarm system that may detect significant ash-producing events within minutes of onset. If a large explosive event occurs, seismic signals may be recorded on AVO seismic networks at nearby volcanoes; however, there is no real-time seismic monitoring network on Mt. Cleveland.

Additional information on Cleveland Volcano and the current activity may be found at this link:
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Cleveland.php




CONTACT INFORMATION:

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

Steve McNutt, Coordinating Scientist, UAF
steve@giseis.alaska.edu (907) 474-7131

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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