ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT U.S. Geological Survey Sunday, May 22, 2016, 1:47 PM AKDT (Sunday, May 22, 2016, 21:47 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
AVO detected seismic and pressure sensor signals associated with a large avalanche on the flank of Iliamna Volcano around midnight Alaska Daylight Time (07:58 UTC). Avalanche events are somewhat common at this volcano. The most recent prior to last night's occurred in November 2013. The seismic signals from the avalanche were observed on volcano monitoring networks throughout Cook Inlet and as distant as the Katmai region 250 km (155 miles) away. We have not received any visual observations of the slide location or extent, but the seismic data suggest that it is somewhat larger than recent avalanches. In the 12 hours since the event, there have been repetitive small glacial ice quakes. The avalanche and repetitive ice quakes 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.
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
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Mike West, Acting Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI
mewest@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.