Martin non-eruptive activity 2019
Start: March 14, 2019 [1]
Stop: December 15, 2019 ± 15 Days [1]
Event Type: Not an eruption
- Steam [1]
- Seismicity with no confirmed eruption [1]
Description: From Orr and others, 2023: "Although no historical eruptions of Mount Martin are known, its fumarolic field frequently produces towering vapor plumes that can reach as high as 1,000 m above the summit when environmental conditions are right. Such a plume was observed on March 14, as described in two PIREPs released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The reports, which described steaming to 10,000 ft (3,000 m) from 'a mountain,' were linked to Mount Martin and quickly verified as typical activity for this volcano.
"Mount Martin showed an increase in seismicity during 2019, although the cause was undetermined. Earthquakes at the volcano are common - AVO typically locates as many as one dozen weekly - but approximately 400 located earthquakes took place in September 2019, a swarm that was the largest at Mount Martin since 2006 (O’Brien and others, 2012). The activity declined to about 100 earthquakes per month in October and November, then returned to background levels in December. Background-level earthquakes at Mount Martin typically cluster at a shallow depth in a diffuse pattern north of the summit. In contrast, the 2019 swarm was located predominantly in the west half of this background cluster zone and at a slightly greater depth. AVO closely monitored Mount Martin’s temporary increase in seismicity but kept the Aviation Color Code and Volcano Alert Level at GREEN and NORMAL throughout the year."
"Mount Martin showed an increase in seismicity during 2019, although the cause was undetermined. Earthquakes at the volcano are common - AVO typically locates as many as one dozen weekly - but approximately 400 located earthquakes took place in September 2019, a swarm that was the largest at Mount Martin since 2006 (O’Brien and others, 2012). The activity declined to about 100 earthquakes per month in October and November, then returned to background levels in December. Background-level earthquakes at Mount Martin typically cluster at a shallow depth in a diffuse pattern north of the summit. In contrast, the 2019 swarm was located predominantly in the west half of this background cluster zone and at a slightly greater depth. AVO closely monitored Mount Martin’s temporary increase in seismicity but kept the Aviation Color Code and Volcano Alert Level at GREEN and NORMAL throughout the year."
References Cited
[1] 2019 Volcanic activity in Alaska—Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 2023
Orr, T.R., Cameron, C.E., Dietterich, H.R., Dixon, J.P., Enders, M.L., Grapenthin, R., Iezzi, A.M., Loewen, M.W., Power, J.A., Searcy, C., Tepp, G., Toney, L., Waythomas, C.F., and Wech, A.G., 2023, 2019 Volcanic activity in Alaska - Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5039, 64 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20235039.
Full-text PDF 14.3 MB Complete Eruption References
2019 Volcanic activity in Alaska—Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 2023
Orr, T.R., Cameron, C.E., Dietterich, H.R., Dixon, J.P., Enders, M.L., Grapenthin, R., Iezzi, A.M., Loewen, M.W., Power, J.A., Searcy, C., Tepp, G., Toney, L., Waythomas, C.F., and Wech, A.G., 2023, 2019 Volcanic activity in Alaska - Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5039, 64 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20235039.
Full-text PDF 14.3 MB