Martin 1997/12
Start: December 11, 1997 [1]
Stop: December 11, 1997 [1]
Event Type: Not an eruption
Description: From McGimsey and Wallace (1999): "On Thursday, February 19, 1997, AVO received multiple pilot reports (PIREPs) of ash and steam rising to 5,000 ft (~1,500 m) above either Martin or Mageik volcanoes. No anomalous seismic activity was recorded on the Katmai seismic network, and no indication of eruptive activity was detected on satellite imagery."
"* * * Another observation of unusual steaming at Martin and Mageik was reported to AVO on December 11, 1997, via the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, who received the report from a resident of Karluk Village on Kodiak Island. Using a spotting scope, the village resident had observed the peaks for the previous three weeks - noting no unusual activity - when on the morning of the 11th he witnessed a sudden increase in steam activity and watched as white, towering steam clouds billowed from Martin, subsided, and then rose again to about 600-700 ft (~200 m) above the vent, forming a large mushroomed top before dissipating. A second white, billowing steam plume then rose from adjacent Mageik. Local pilots also noticed the unusually vigorous activity."
Miller and others (1998) state that these events do not constitute a volcanic eruption.
"* * * Another observation of unusual steaming at Martin and Mageik was reported to AVO on December 11, 1997, via the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, who received the report from a resident of Karluk Village on Kodiak Island. Using a spotting scope, the village resident had observed the peaks for the previous three weeks - noting no unusual activity - when on the morning of the 11th he witnessed a sudden increase in steam activity and watched as white, towering steam clouds billowed from Martin, subsided, and then rose again to about 600-700 ft (~200 m) above the vent, forming a large mushroomed top before dissipating. A second white, billowing steam plume then rose from adjacent Mageik. Local pilots also noticed the unusually vigorous activity."
Miller and others (1998) state that these events do not constitute a volcanic eruption.
References Cited
[1] 1997 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1999
McGimsey, R. G., and Wallace, K. L., 1999, 1997 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-0448, 42 p.
full-text PDF 17 MB [2] Catalog of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska, 1998
Miller, T. P., McGimsey, R. G., Richter, D. H., Riehle, J. R., Nye, C. J., Yount, M. E., and Dumoulin, J. A., 1998, Catalog of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-0582, 104 p.
intro and TOC PDF 268 KB
references PDF 43 KB Complete Eruption References
1997 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1999
McGimsey, R. G., and Wallace, K. L., 1999, 1997 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-0448, 42 p.
full-text PDF 17 MB 
Catalog of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska, 1998
Miller, T. P., McGimsey, R. G., Richter, D. H., Riehle, J. R., Nye, C. J., Yount, M. E., and Dumoulin, J. A., 1998, Catalog of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-0582, 104 p.
intro and TOC PDF 268 KB
references PDF 43 KB 