ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Monday, June 22, 2020, 1:10 PM AKDT (Monday, June 22, 2020, 21:10 UTC)
MAKUSHIN VOLCANO
(VNUM #311310)
53°53'24" N 166°55'30" W,
Summit Elevation 5906 ft (1800 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code:
YELLOW
Numerous small earthquakes continue at Makushin from an earthquake swarm that started last week, but the the rate and size of earthquakes is declining. Satellite and web camera images over the past 24 hours did not detect any unusual activity at the surface.
This earthquake swarm may be associated with volcanic unrest, but there have been no signs of deformation or surface activity noted in other monitoring data. It is likely that we would see additional signs of unrest prior to an eruption, should it occur. The volcano is monitored with a network of seismic and GPS instruments, a web camera, satellite data, and regional infrasound and lightning detection instruments.
If an eruption were to occur, the main hazard would likely be from airborne ash and ash fall. Wind trajectory plots and hypothetical ash fall model information is available at https://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Makushin.php These models are updated twice per day in a hypothetical mode and will be updated immediately if there is an eruption. Seismic data, web camera images, and information products are also available at this site.
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
Unrest continues at Great Sitkin with a few small earthquakes detected over the past day. No explosive activity was detected by regional infrasound sensors. No surface activity was detected in clear web camera or satellite images.
Great Sitkin volcano is monitored by local seismic and infrasound sensors, satellite data, web cameras, and remote infrasound and lightning networks.
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
No activity was seen in clear satellite images or detected on regional geophysical networks over the past day. The local geophysical stations and web camera at Cleveland are currently unavailable due to an ongoing network outage.
Episodes of lava effusion and explosions can occur without advance warning. Explosions from Cleveland are normally short duration and only present a hazard to aviation in the immediate vicinity of the volcano. Larger explosions that present a more widespread hazard to aviation are possible, but are less likely and occur less frequently.
When the network is operational, 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.
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
Low-level unrest continues at Semisopochnoi, with sulfur dioxide emissions indicated in satellite images and detection of several small low-frequency earthquakes over the past day. Clear high resolution satellite images showed evidence for very minor deposits near North Cerebus crater likely from elevated activity that occured last week.
Semisopochnoi is monitored by local seismic sensors, satellite data, and regional infrasound and lightning detection instruments. An infrasound array on Adak Island may detect explosive emissions from Semisopochnoi with a slight delay (approximately 13 minutes) if atmospheric conditions permit.
SHISHALDIN VOLCANO
(VNUM #311360)
54°45'19" N 163°58'16" W,
Summit Elevation 9373 ft (2857 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code:
YELLOW
Very minor seismic unrest continues at Shishaldin with a few low-frequency earthquakes detected. Satellite data and web camera observations were mostly obscured by clouds. No explosive activity was detected by regional infrasound sensors.
Although unrest is currently at very low levels, conditions could change rapidly with minimal warning, and eruptive activity in the summit crater could resume. If eruptive activity does resume, lava flows, lahars, and ash-producing events could occur.
Shishaldin is monitored by local seismic and infrasound sensors, satellite data, web cameras, a telemetered geodetic network, and regional infrasound and lightning networks.
VENIAMINOF VOLCANO
(VNUM #312070)
56°11'52" N 159°23'35" W,
Summit Elevation 8225 ft (2507 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code:
YELLOW
Very minor seismic unrest continues at Veniaminof with several small low-frequency earthquakes detected. No surface activity was noted in mostly cloudy satellite and web camera images.
This seismic activity that was observed last week typically precedes eruptions at Veniaminof but does not mean that an eruption will occur. Eruptions usually result in minor ash emissions, lava fountaining, and lava flows from the small cone in the summit caldera. Ash emissions are typically confined to the summit crater, but larger events can result in ash fall in nearby communities and drifting airborne ash.
Veniaminof volcano is monitored with a local real-time seismic network, which will typically allows 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.
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/
FOLLOW AVO ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/alaska.avo
FOLLOW AVO ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/alaska_avo
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.