Okmok 1878
Start: 1878 [1]
Event Type: Explosive
Max VEI: 2 [2]
- Tsunami [1]
- Eruption re-assigned to another volcano [3]
Description: From Grey (2003): "A new crater is reported to have formed within the caldera in 1878 (Hantke, 1951), accompanied by earthquakes and a tsunami (location unknown). This could refer to the birth of Cone A, but since Hantke offers no additional information or references to support this notion, the report is apocryphal at best. It is intriguing to note that eruptions are also reported at Vsevidof, on the southwestern end of Umnak Island, in 1817, 1830, and 1878 (Miller and others, 1998). Of particular interest is the suggestion by Miller and others that the 1878 activity of Vsevidof 'may have been from a radial fissure eruption on the west flank; this event may have produced the youngest dacite flow, which extends west-southwest to Cape Kigushimkada.' Such a fissure eruption would probably produce earthquakes and could account for Hantke's 'new crater,' though not located inside a caldera. It is thus possible that Hantke misinterpreted the location of the 1878 activity, and there may not have been an eruption at Okmok in that year at all."
Sapper (1917), compiling information from Petroff (1884) and Fuchs, reports "a brief flame and ash eruption and a new crater developed from which came steam and hot cooking mud. This new crater appeared between Vsevidof and the settlement." This statement seems to support Miller and others's (1998) assertion that there was a radial fissure eruption at Vsevidof in 1878.
Sapper (1917), compiling information from Petroff (1884) and Fuchs, reports "a brief flame and ash eruption and a new crater developed from which came steam and hot cooking mud. This new crater appeared between Vsevidof and the settlement." This statement seems to support Miller and others's (1998) assertion that there was a radial fissure eruption at Vsevidof in 1878.
Impact: Hantke (1951) asserts that this eruption caused "flood waves" - perhaps he is referring to a tsunami event. [1]
References Cited
[1] Uebersicht ueber die vulkanische Taetigkeit 1941-1947, 1951
Hantke, Gustav, 1951, Uebersicht ueber die vulkanische Taetigkeit 1941-1947: Bulletin Volcanologique, v. 11, p. 161-208.[2] 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.[3] 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.Complete Eruption References
Post-caldera eruptions at Okmok volcano, Umnak Island, Alaska, with emphasis on recent eruptions from Cone A, 2003
Grey, D. M., 2003, Post-caldera eruptions at Okmok volcano, Umnak Island, Alaska, with emphasis on recent eruptions from Cone A: University of Alaska Fairbanks unpublished M.S. thesis, 135 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet
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.
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
Uebersicht ueber die vulkanische Taetigkeit 1941-1947, 1951
Hantke, Gustav, 1951, Uebersicht ueber die vulkanische Taetigkeit 1941-1947: Bulletin Volcanologique, v. 11, p. 161-208.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet
Katalog der geschichtlichen vulkanausbruche, 1917
Sapper, Karl, 1917, Katalog der geschichtlichen vulkanausbruche: Strassburg, Germany, Karl J. Trubner, 358 p.
The volcanic region of Alaska, 1884
Petroff, Ivan, 1884, The volcanic region of Alaska: in Population, Industries, and Resources of Alaska, Washington DC, Government Printing Office, p. 93-96.