ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Sunday, January 15, 2017, 1:18 PM AKST (Sunday, January 15, 2017, 22:18 UTC)

BOGOSLOF VOLCANO (VNUM #311300)
53°55'38" N 168°2'4" W, Summit Elevation 492 ft (150 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Volcanic unrest continues at Bogoslof volcano. Last night beginning about 06:26 UTC (21:26 AKST, Jan. 14) the level of seismicity began increasing and remained at high levels resulting in as many as six explosive eruptive events between 07:16 and 12:50 UTC (22:16 AKST, Jan. 14 and 03:50 AKST, Jan. 15). No volcanic clouds were detected in satellite data, although one lightning strike was recorded at 07:32 UTC (22:32 AKST, Jan. 14) and lightning is commonly associated with robust volcanic clouds. Infrasound sensors located on Umnak Island south of Bogoslof, and in Dillingham, northeast of the volcano, also detected air pressure changes during the eruptive period that were associated with the strongest eruptive pulses. Since the last episode of elevated seismicity from 12:34-12:50 UTC (03:34-03:50 AKST, Jan. 15), seismic unrest has returned to low levels and no additional eruptive events have occurred, and nothing noteworthy has been observed in satellite data. Although the eruptive activity of last evening was relatively energetic, large, high rising volcanic clouds were apparently not generated, and may not have reached much above the height of the local cloud deck, which at the time was about 10,000 feet above sea level.

For the time being, Bogoslof volcano is quiet but given the pattern of eruptive activity over the past month, the volcano likely remains in a restless and unpredictable condition and additional eruptive bursts accompanied by volcanic clouds could occur at any time.

AVO has no ground-based volcano monitoring equipment on Bogoslof volcano. We continue to monitor satellite images, information from the Worldwide Lightning Location Network pertaining to volcanic-cloud lightning, and data from seismic and infrasound instruments on nearby islands for indications of volcanic activity.

PAVLOF VOLCANO (VNUM #312030)
55°25'2" N 161°53'37" W, Summit Elevation 8261 ft (2518 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Nothing significant was detected in seismic or pressure sensor data during the past 24 hours. Clear to partly cloudy satellite and web camera views of the volcano over the past day showed nothing noteworthy.

The degree of unrest at Pavlof can change quickly. A return to eruptive activity can occur with with little or no warning.

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

Nothing of note has been observed in satellite views of Cleveland volcano over the past day. A few clear views of the summit in local web camera images showed a robust low-level steam plume rising a few thousand feet above the summit before trailing off to the south. No significant activity was observed in seismic or pressure sensor data during the past 24 hours.

OTHER ALASKA VOLCANOES

Other Alaska volcanoes show no signs of significant unrest: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/

AVO scientists conduct daily checks of earthquake activity at all seismically-monitored volcanoes, examine web camera and satellite images for evidence of airborne ash and elevated surface temperatures, and consult other monitoring data as needed.

For definitions of Aviation Color Codes and Volcano Alert Levels, see: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/color_codes.php

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALASKA VOLCANOES: http://www.avo.alaska.edu

SUBSCRIBE TO VOLCANO ALERT MESSAGES by email: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

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

Janet Schaefer, Acting Coordinating Scientist, DGGS
janet.schaefer@alaska.gov (907) 322-4085

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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