Crater Peak 1953/7
Start: 05:05:00 July 9, 1953 [1]
Stop: July 16, 1953 [2]
Event Type: Explosive
Max VEI: 4 [3]
- Pyroclastic flow, surge, or nuee ardente [2]
Description: Initial newspaper accounts of this eruption exclaim "City blacked out by 3 volcanoes!" in large bold type, but in reality, only one volcano, Mt. Spurr, was actually erupting. "Mt. Torbert," as well as the third "unnamed volcano" are not volcanic, and were not erupting. Precursory activity to this eruption may have been observed in mid-May, 1953, when Northern Consolidated Airline pilots reported increased steaming from the summit of Spurr (Unknown, 1953; Fairbanks News-Miner, May 21, 1953).
From Waythomas and Nye (2002): "The first known historical eruption of Crater Peak occurred at about 5 a.m. on July 9, 1953 (Juhle and Coulter, 1955; Miller and others, 1998). For at least 30 years prior to the 1953 eruption, plumes of whitish steam commonly were observed rising from the summit of Crater Peak;" [Note: Although Waythomas and Nye report steaming from Crater Peak, newspaper accounts and pilot observations of the area state that the steaming came from the summit of Spurr.] Waythomas and Nye continue: "pilots reported an increase in the vigor of steaming in late spring 1953 (Juhle and Coulter, 1955). At the time of the 1953 eruption, instruments to monitor the seismic activity were not available. The 1953 eruption was a single explosive burst lasting about one hour, and it generated an ash cloud that rose more than 10,000 meters above sea level (Juhle and Coulter, 1955). Ash fall occurred east of the volcano [see fig. 6 in original text] and approximately 6 millimeters of ash accumulated in Anchorage. A light dusting of ash was reported as far away as Valdez and as close as 48 km to Cordova (Juhle and Coulter, 1955). Pyroclastic flows mixed with snow and ice high on the crater rim and combined with heavy rainfall to produce lahars that inundated tributaries to the Chakachatna River on the south flank of Crater Peak. The lahars flowed into the Chakachatna River and formed a substantial debris dam across the river (Juhle and Coulter, 1955; Meyer and Trabant, 1995)."
Wilcox (1959) gives detailed eruption descriptions: "On July 10 at 5:00 am the vent was only steaming. At 3:30 pm an especially strong surge of ash-laden steam rose to 20,000 feet." Juhle and Coulter (1955) state that the eruption continued with steam and small bursts of ash from July 11 to July 16, 1953.
Ash began to fall in Anchorage at about noon on July 9, 1953, and darkened the sky from 1 p.m. until about 3 p.m. (Wilcox, 1953; Juhle and Coulter, 1955; Wilcox, 1959). This ashfall was disruptive to traffic at Elmendorf Air Force Base and Anchorage International Airport. Three jet aircraft that were sent to investigate the ash plume returned with sandblasted wing leading edges, windshields, side panels, and front portions of their canopies. Elmendorf Air Force Base was closed to air traffic from July 9 -17 due to the eruption (Kienle, 1994). See Wilcox (1959) for detailed pilot descriptions of the ash cloud.
From Waythomas and Nye (2002): "The first known historical eruption of Crater Peak occurred at about 5 a.m. on July 9, 1953 (Juhle and Coulter, 1955; Miller and others, 1998). For at least 30 years prior to the 1953 eruption, plumes of whitish steam commonly were observed rising from the summit of Crater Peak;" [Note: Although Waythomas and Nye report steaming from Crater Peak, newspaper accounts and pilot observations of the area state that the steaming came from the summit of Spurr.] Waythomas and Nye continue: "pilots reported an increase in the vigor of steaming in late spring 1953 (Juhle and Coulter, 1955). At the time of the 1953 eruption, instruments to monitor the seismic activity were not available. The 1953 eruption was a single explosive burst lasting about one hour, and it generated an ash cloud that rose more than 10,000 meters above sea level (Juhle and Coulter, 1955). Ash fall occurred east of the volcano [see fig. 6 in original text] and approximately 6 millimeters of ash accumulated in Anchorage. A light dusting of ash was reported as far away as Valdez and as close as 48 km to Cordova (Juhle and Coulter, 1955). Pyroclastic flows mixed with snow and ice high on the crater rim and combined with heavy rainfall to produce lahars that inundated tributaries to the Chakachatna River on the south flank of Crater Peak. The lahars flowed into the Chakachatna River and formed a substantial debris dam across the river (Juhle and Coulter, 1955; Meyer and Trabant, 1995)."
Wilcox (1959) gives detailed eruption descriptions: "On July 10 at 5:00 am the vent was only steaming. At 3:30 pm an especially strong surge of ash-laden steam rose to 20,000 feet." Juhle and Coulter (1955) state that the eruption continued with steam and small bursts of ash from July 11 to July 16, 1953.
Ash began to fall in Anchorage at about noon on July 9, 1953, and darkened the sky from 1 p.m. until about 3 p.m. (Wilcox, 1953; Juhle and Coulter, 1955; Wilcox, 1959). This ashfall was disruptive to traffic at Elmendorf Air Force Base and Anchorage International Airport. Three jet aircraft that were sent to investigate the ash plume returned with sandblasted wing leading edges, windshields, side panels, and front portions of their canopies. Elmendorf Air Force Base was closed to air traffic from July 9 -17 due to the eruption (Kienle, 1994). See Wilcox (1959) for detailed pilot descriptions of the ash cloud.
Impact: Ash began to fall in Anchorage at about noon on July 9, 1953, and darkened the sky from 1 p.m. until about 3 p.m. (Wilcox, 1953; Juhle and Coulter, 1955; Wilcox, 1959). This ashfall was disruptive to traffic at Elmendorf Air Force Base and Anchorage International Airport. Three jet aircraft that were sent to investigate the ash plume returned with sandblasted wing leading edges, windshields, side panels, and front portions of their canopies. Elmendorf Air Force Base was closed to air traffic from July 9 -17 due to the eruption (Kienle, 1994). Wilcox (1953) reports that ashfall caused traffic difficulties in Anchorage, and a high electrical powerload occurred due to increased electricity usage during the dark day. Switchboards became overloaded. He also reports that the pH of the water supply fell drastically during the ashfall but returned to normal within a few hours. [13] [6] [7] [1] [2] [4] [15] [9] [14] [16] [17] [18] [11] [10] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]
Aircraft Impact: This ashfall was disruptive to traffic at Elmendorf Air Force Base and Anchorage International Airport. Three jet aircraft that were sent to investigate the ash plume returned with sandblasted wing leading edges, windshields, side panels, and front portions of their canopies. Elmendorf Air Force Base was closed to air traffic from July 9 -17 due to the eruption (Kienle, 1994). [13] [1] [15] [9] [14] [11] [10] [20]
Other Impacts: Wilcox (1953) reports that ashfall caused traffic difficulties in Anchorage, and a high electrical powerload occurred due to increased electricity usage during the dark day. Switchboards became overloaded. He also reports that the pH of the water supply fell drastically during the ashfall but returned to normal within a few hours. [7] [9] [14] [16] [17] [18] [11] [10] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]
Images
References Cited
[1] Eruption of Mount Spurr, Alaska, 1953
Wilcox, R. E., 1953, Eruption of Mount Spurr, Alaska: The Volcano Letter, v. 521, p. 8.
full-text PDF 355 KB [2] The Mt. Spurr eruption, July 9, 1953, 1955
Juhle, R. W., and Coulter, H. W., 1955, The Mt. Spurr eruption, July 9, 1953: Eos, v. 36, n. 2, p. 199-202.[3] Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition], 1994
Simkin, Tom, and Siebert, Lee, 1994, Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition]: Tucson, Arizona, Geoscience Press, 349 p.[4] Some effects of recent volcanic ash falls with special reference to Alaska, 1959
Wilcox, R. E., 1959, Some effects of recent volcanic ash falls with special reference to Alaska: in Investigations of Alaskan volcanoes, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1028-N, p. 409-476, 5 sheets, scale unknown.
full-text PDF 1.5 MB
plate 54 PDF 76 KB
plate 55 PDF 194 KB
plate 56 PDF 234 KB
plate 57 PDF 177 KB
plate 58 PDF 140 KB [5] Activity of Alaskan volcanoes, 1949-1953, 1954
Powers, H. A., 1954, Activity of Alaskan volcanoes, 1949-1953 [abs.]: in Pacific Science Congress, 8, Proceedings, Philippines, 1953, p. 12-14.[6] Mt. Spurr eruption, July 9, 1953, 1953
Juhle, R. W., and Coulter, H. W., 1953, Mt. Spurr eruption, July 9, 1953: in Alaska Science Conference, Proceedings, 1953, p. 235.[7] Preliminary report of the eruption of Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska, July 9, 1953, and the ashfall in the Anchorage area, 1953
Wilcox, R. E., 1953, Preliminary report of the eruption of Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska, July 9, 1953, and the ashfall in the Anchorage area: Denver, CO, U.S. Geological Survey, 22 p.[8] Current activity of Aleutian volcanoes, 1953
Powers, H. A., 1953, Current activity of Aleutian volcanoes: The Volcano Letter, v. 522, p. 6.
full-text PDF 397 KB [9] City blacked out by 3 volcanoes!, 1953
Unknown, 1953, City blacked out by three volcanoes!: Anchorage Daily News, v. VI, n. 57, front page, July 9, 1953.[10] City survives eruption but Spurr acts up again, 1953
Unknown, 1953, City survives eruption but Spurr acts up again: Anchorage Daily Times, p. 1, 13, 20, July 10, 1953.[11] 3 volcanoes blow tops, city blanketed with ash, 1953
Unknown, 1953, 3 volcanoes blow tops, city blanketed with ash: Anchorage Daily Times, p. 1, 4, July 9, 1953.[12] Anchorage may have volcano eruption in own back yard, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Anchorage may have volcano eruption in own back yard: Fairbanks News-Miner, May 21, 1953, p. 9.[13] Volcanic ash-aircraft incidents in Alaska prior to the Redoubt eruption on 15 December 1989, 1994
Kienle, Juergen, 1994, Volcanic ash-aircraft incidents in Alaska prior to the Redoubt eruption on 15 December 1989: in Casadevall, T. J., (ed.), Volcanic ash and aviation safety: proceedings of the first international symposium on volcanic ash and aviation safety, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2047, p. 119-123.
full-text PDF 182 KB [14] City digging out, 1953
Unknown, 1953, City digging out: Anchorage Daily News, v. VI, n. 58, July 10, 1953.[15] The 1976 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska, 1976
Wrenn, S. C., 1976, The 1976 eruption of Augustine Volcano, Alaska: Polar Record, v. 18, n. 114, p. 301-03.[16] Alaska eruptions causing entire earth to cool off, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Alaska eruptions causing entire earth to cool off: Anchorage Daily News v. VI, n. 59, front page, p. 12, July 11, 1953.[17] City still digs out of dust blanket, 1953
Unknown, 1953, City still digs out of dust blanket; Scientists explore Spurr: Anchorage Daily News, v. VI, n. 60, front page, p. 12, July 14, 1953.[18] Spurr eruption creates lake, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Spurr eruption creates lake: Anchorage Daily News, v. VI, n. 61, July 14, 1953.[19] Mount Trident stirring, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Mount Trident stirring: Anchorage Daily Times v. July 11, 1953, p. 1, 12.[20] Mount Spurr erupts again, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Mount Spurr erupts again: Anchorage Daily Times, July 13, 1953, p. 1.[21] Eruptions blanket area, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Eruptions blanket area: Anchorage Daily Times, July 14, 1953, p. 1, 4.[22] Volcanoes take rest; ashes seen in states, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Volcanoes take rest; ashes seen in states: Anchorage Daily Times, July 15, 1953, p. 1, 8.[23] Anchorage is darkened by ash of 3 volcanoes, 1953
Associated Press, 1953, Anchorage is darkened by ash of 3 volcanoes: The New York Times, July 10, 1953, section L, p. 21.Complete Eruption References
Mt. Spurr eruption, July 9, 1953, 1953
Juhle, R. W., and Coulter, H. W., 1953, Mt. Spurr eruption, July 9, 1953: in Alaska Science Conference, Proceedings, 1953, p. 235.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf
The Mt. Spurr eruption, July 9, 1953, 1955
Juhle, R. W., and Coulter, H. W., 1955, The Mt. Spurr eruption, July 9, 1953: Eos, v. 36, n. 2, p. 199-202.
Volcanic ash-aircraft incidents in Alaska prior to the Redoubt eruption on 15 December 1989, 1994
Kienle, Juergen, 1994, Volcanic ash-aircraft incidents in Alaska prior to the Redoubt eruption on 15 December 1989: in Casadevall, T. J., (ed.), Volcanic ash and aviation safety: proceedings of the first international symposium on volcanic ash and aviation safety, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2047, p. 119-123.
full-text PDF 182 KB 
Current activity of Aleutian volcanoes, 1953
Powers, H. A., 1953, Current activity of Aleutian volcanoes: The Volcano Letter, v. 522, p. 6.
full-text PDF 397 KB 
Activity of Alaskan volcanoes, 1949-1953, 1954
Powers, H. A., 1954, Activity of Alaskan volcanoes, 1949-1953 [abs.]: in Pacific Science Congress, 8, Proceedings, Philippines, 1953, p. 12-14.
Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian Islands, 1958
Powers, H. A., 1958, Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian Islands: in Williams, H., (ed.), Landscapes of Alaska, Los Angeles, CA, University of California Press, p. 61-75.
Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition], 1994
Simkin, Tom, and Siebert, Lee, 1994, Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition]: Tucson, Arizona, Geoscience Press, 349 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf
Eruption of Mount Spurr, Alaska, 1953
Wilcox, R. E., 1953, Eruption of Mount Spurr, Alaska: The Volcano Letter, v. 521, p. 8.
full-text PDF 355 KB 
Some effects of recent volcanic ash falls with special reference to Alaska, 1959
Wilcox, R. E., 1959, Some effects of recent volcanic ash falls with special reference to Alaska: in Investigations of Alaskan volcanoes, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1028-N, p. 409-476, 5 sheets, scale unknown.
full-text PDF 1.5 MB
plate 54 PDF 76 KB
plate 55 PDF 194 KB
plate 56 PDF 234 KB
plate 57 PDF 177 KB
plate 58 PDF 140 KB 
Whole-rock major- and trace-element chemistry of 1992 ejecta from Crater Peak, Mount Spurr volcano, Alaska, 1995
Nye, C. J., Harbin, M. L., Miller, T. P., Swanson, S. E., and Neal, C. A., 1995, Whole-rock major- and trace-element chemistry of 1992 ejecta from Crater Peak, Mount Spurr volcano, Alaska: in Keith, T. E. C., (ed.), The 1992 eruptions of Crater Peak Vent, Mount Spurr volcano, Alaska, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2139, p. 119-128.
full-text PDF 503 KB 
Preliminary report of the eruption of Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska, July 9, 1953, and the ashfall in the Anchorage area, 1953
Wilcox, R. E., 1953, Preliminary report of the eruption of Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska, July 9, 1953, and the ashfall in the Anchorage area: Denver, CO, U.S. Geological Survey, 22 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet
Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska, 2002
Waythomas, C. F., and Nye, C. J., 2002, Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Mount Spurr Volcano, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-0482, 46 p.
full-text PDF 11.25 MB 
City blacked out by 3 volcanoes!, 1953
Unknown, 1953, City blacked out by three volcanoes!: Anchorage Daily News, v. VI, n. 57, front page, July 9, 1953.
City digging out, 1953
Unknown, 1953, City digging out: Anchorage Daily News, v. VI, n. 58, July 10, 1953.
Alaska eruptions causing entire earth to cool off, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Alaska eruptions causing entire earth to cool off: Anchorage Daily News v. VI, n. 59, front page, p. 12, July 11, 1953.
City still digs out of dust blanket, 1953
Unknown, 1953, City still digs out of dust blanket; Scientists explore Spurr: Anchorage Daily News, v. VI, n. 60, front page, p. 12, July 14, 1953.
Spurr eruption creates lake, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Spurr eruption creates lake: Anchorage Daily News, v. VI, n. 61, July 14, 1953.
3 volcanoes blow tops, city blanketed with ash, 1953
Unknown, 1953, 3 volcanoes blow tops, city blanketed with ash: Anchorage Daily Times, p. 1, 4, July 9, 1953.
City survives eruption but Spurr acts up again, 1953
Unknown, 1953, City survives eruption but Spurr acts up again: Anchorage Daily Times, p. 1, 13, 20, July 10, 1953.
Mount Trident stirring, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Mount Trident stirring: Anchorage Daily Times v. July 11, 1953, p. 1, 12.
Mount Spurr erupts again, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Mount Spurr erupts again: Anchorage Daily Times, July 13, 1953, p. 1.
Eruptions blanket area, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Eruptions blanket area: Anchorage Daily Times, July 14, 1953, p. 1, 4.
Volcanoes take rest; ashes seen in states, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Volcanoes take rest; ashes seen in states: Anchorage Daily Times, July 15, 1953, p. 1, 8.
Anchorage is darkened by ash of 3 volcanoes, 1953
Associated Press, 1953, Anchorage is darkened by ash of 3 volcanoes: The New York Times, July 10, 1953, section L, p. 21.
Anchorage may have volcano eruption in own back yard, 1953
Unknown, 1953, Anchorage may have volcano eruption in own back yard: Fairbanks News-Miner, May 21, 1953, p. 9.
