ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY WEEKLY UPDATE U.S. Geological Survey Friday, February 8, 2013, 3:20 PM AKST (Saturday, February 9, 2013, 00:20 UTC)
ILIAMNA VOLCANO
(VNUM #313020)
60°1'55" N 153°5'30" W,
Summit Elevation 10016 ft (3053 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
On Saturday, February 2, 2013, AVO detected a series of small earthquakes associated with an avalanche on the flank of Iliamna Volcano. Avalanche events are somewhat common at this volcano, and are easily discerned in seismic data. Poor weather has obscured views of the volcano this week, so we are uncertain which flank of the volcano the avalanche affected. These types of avalanches are not considered to be indicative of volcanic unrest.
Iliamna volcano is located on the western side of lower Cook Inlet in the Lake Clark National Park. Iliamna is a snow-covered stratovolcano which rises 10,020 feet above sea level. Although steam plumes occur on its eastern flanks, there has been no historic volcanic activity at Iliamna. Iliamna is located 225 km (140 miles) southwest of Anchorage and 113 km (70 miles) northwest of Homer.
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
Elevated surface temperatures and a lava dome in the summit crater were detected in satellite images this week. Analysis of satellite data obtained on January 30 shows a lava dome, about 100 m (330 ft.) in diameter, within the 200 m (650 ft.) diameter summit crater. Persistent elevated surface temperatures since about January 24 and satellite observations of a lava dome warranted the change in aviation color code and volcano alert level to ORANGE/WATCH on February 6. A clear satellite view of the summit crater on February 2 showed no change in the size and shape of the lava dome. Since then the summit has been obscured by clouds and AVO has received no additional information about unrest at the volcano.
The development of a lava dome in the summit crater indicates that sudden explosions of blocks and ash are possible with little or no warning. Ash clouds, if produced, could exceed 20,000 feet above sea level. If a large ash-producing event occurs, nearby seismic, infrasound, or volcanic lightning networks should alert AVO staff quickly. However, for some events, a delay of several hours is possible. There is no real-time seismic monitoring network on Mount Cleveland and AVO is unable to track activity in real time.
Cleveland volcano forms the western half of Chuginadak Island, a remote and uninhabited island in the east central Aleutians. It is located about 75 km (45 mi.) west of the community of Nikolski, and 1500 km (940 mi.) southwest of Anchorage. The volcano's most recent significant eruption began in February, 2001 and it produced 3 explosive events that produced ash clouds as high as 12 km (39,000 ft) above sea level. The 2001 eruption also produced a rubbly lava flow and hot avalanche that reached the sea. The most recent minor ash emissions were observed in November 2012.
OTHER ALASKA VOLCANOES
Seismic activity is monitored in real time at 29 volcanoes in Alaska. Satellite images of all Alaskan volcanoes are analyzed daily for evidence of ash plumes and elevated surface temperatures. Some volcanoes may currently display anomalous behavior but are not considered to be at a dangerous level of unrest. Akutan, Aniakchak, Augustine, Dutton, Fisher, Fourpeaked, Gareloi, Great Sitkin, Griggs, Iliamna, Isanotski, Kanaga, Katmai, Mageik, Makushin, Martin, Novarupta, Okmok, Pavlof, Redoubt, Shishaldin, Snowy, Spurr, Tanaga, Trident, Ugashik-Peulik, Ukinrek Maars, Veniaminof, and Westdahl volcanoes are in color code GREEN and volcano alert level Normal. All are at or near normal levels of background seismicity. AVO did not detect ash plumes or significant elevated surface temperatures in the vicinity of any of these volcanoes.
Please see http://www.avo.alaska.edu/color_codes.php for complete definitions of Aviation color codes and Volcano alert levels.
VOLCANO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET: http://www.avo.alaska.edu
RECORDING ON THE STATUS OF ALASKA'S VOLCANOES (907) 786-7478
CONTACT INFORMATION:
John Power Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
jpower@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497
Jeff Freymueller, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
jeff.freymueller@gi.alaska.edu (907) 378-7556
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.