ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Sunday, December 16, 2018, 1:32 PM AKST (Sunday, December 16, 2018, 22:32 UTC)

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

A lava flow is erupting from the cone within Veniaminof volcano's ice-filled summit caldera. A strong thermal anomaly and eruption cloud was observed in satellite and webcam imagery over the past day. Relatively steady tremor has been slowly replaced by numerous discrete low frequency seismic events. No acoustic signals have been recorded by regional infrasound sensors.

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. AVO combines seismic, infrasound, lightning, and satellite data for rapid detection of such events.



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

A small explosion, detected seismically, occurred this morning at 7:37 AM AKST (16:37 UTC). A small ash cloud was observed drifting northeast in cloudy satellite views. Elevated surface temperatures were observed in a few satellite images yesterday. No other activity was observed over the past day.

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 eruptive activity was observed in cloudy satellite views of the volcano over the past day. 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.

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

Unrest continues at Semisopochnoi volcano. No eruptive activity was detected over the past day in regional infrasound data or partly cloudy satellite views of the volcano. Local seismic data remains offline.

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

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

Pavel Izbekov, Acting Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
peizbekov@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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