ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Thursday, November 22, 2018, 12:12 PM AKST (Thursday, November 22, 2018, 21:12 UTC)

SEMISOPOCHNOI VOLCANO (VNUM #311060)
51°55'44" N 179°35'52" E, Summit Elevation 2625 ft (800 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

No eruptive activity was observed in cloudy satellite imagery or regional infrasound over the past day. Additional explosions are still possible and will likely occur without warning.

Semisopochnoi is monitored with an on-island seismic network, though this is currently off-line, and remotely by satellite and lightning sensors. As noted above, an infrasound array on Adak Island may detect explosive emissions from Semisopochnoi with a 13 minute delay if atmospheric conditions permit.

VENIAMINOF VOLCANO (VNUM #312070)
56°11'52" N 159°23'35" W, Summit Elevation 8225 ft (2507 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Continuous ash emissions occurred yesterday until 14:45 AKST (23:45 UTC). Satellite data indicated emissions resulted in a plume below 15,000 ft asl extended over 250 miles (400 km) to the southeast. A shorter emission pulse occurred between 00:46 and 02:26 UTC on 11/22 (15:26 and 17:26). Overnight and into this morning, lower ash emissions occurred with a diffuse plume below 10,000 ft asl extending 60 miles (100 km) to the south. Elevated thermal anomalies were noted in satellite imagery overnight, and incandescence was visible from a Perryville web camera, suggesting continued lava effusion. Seismic tremor decreased from a peak yesterday before the start of major ash emissions, but tremor continues.

Due to the decrease in ash emissions since yesterday, AVO lowered the color code and alert level to Orange/Watch. Ash fall remains possible in nearby communities from current activity, and emissions could increase at anytime.

Veniaminof volcano is monitored with a local real-time seismic network, which will typically allow AVO to detect changes in unrest that may lead to a more significant explosive eruption. Rapid detection of such an event would be accomplished using a combination of seismic, infrasound, lightning, and satellite data.

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

Low-level unrest continues at Cleveland volcano. Nothing significant has been detected in seismic or regional infrasound data over the past day. Nothing seen in partly cloudy satellite images.

Cleveland volcano is monitored by only two seismic stations, which restricts AVO's ability to detect precursory unrest that may lead to an explosive eruption. Rapid detection of an ash-producing eruption may be possible using a combination of seismic, infrasound, lightning, and satellite data. The web camera, one seismic station, and the local infrasound array are offline due to a equipment failure on September 23rd. This hampers efforts to rapidly detect explosive activity; however, Cleveland remains monitored with a single seismic station and regional instruments.

GREAT SITKIN VOLCANO (VNUM #311120)
52°4'35" N 176°6'39" W, Summit Elevation 5709 ft (1740 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Low-level unrest continues at Great Sitkin volcano. Numerous small earthquakes associated with the ongoing unrest continue to be recorded on the local seismic network. No activity was observed in cloudy satellite images. No explosive activity was detected on a regional infrasound array on Adak Island.

Great Sitkin volcano is monitored with a local real-time seismic network, which will typically allow AVO to detect changes in unrest that may lead to an explosive eruption. Rapid detection of an ash-producing eruption would be accomplished using a combination of seismic, infrasound, lightning, and satellite data.

OTHER ALASKA VOLCANOES

Information on all Alaska volcanoes is available at : http://www.avo.alaska.edu.

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

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

David Fee, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
dfee1@alaska.edu (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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