Spurr non-eruptive activity 2018

Start: June 6, 2018 [1]

Stop: June 9, 2018 [1]

Event Type: Not an eruption

Event Characteristics:
  • Seismicity with no confirmed eruption [1]

Description: From Cameron and others, 2018: "From June 6 to 9, 2018, AVO noted a sequence of seismic events on seismograph station STLK, located about 31 km [20 miles] east of Mount Spurr near Strandline Lake. This sequence was interpreted as glacial movement in the Strandline Lake area, but its precise source could not be located because only one station recorded the seismicity. The activity began on June 6 at 17:07 UTC (09:07 AKDT) with a series of weak, low-frequency earthquakes that increased in rate for an hour, at which point a 9-minute tremor-like signal was recorded (fig. 2). Earthquakes resumed after the tremor, and although they took place at a lower event rate, they also produced the highest amplitudes of the sequence. Earthquakes decreased in amplitude considerably over the next 9 hours, but weak earthquakes continued until 15:35 UTC (07:35 AKDT) on June 9. About 950 earthquakes were detected in the entire sequence, with 90 taking place prior to the tremor. This sequence was similar to previously described seismicity produced by weather-related glacial movements (for example, Thelen and others, 2013; Allstadt and Malone, 2014), and the earthquakes likely reflected stick-slip movement of the glacier, with the tremor burst produced by a period of continuous motion. Changes in the character of the earthquakes, including increasing durations, through the sequence indicate the seismicity source was changing over time - either in location or source conditions."

References Cited

[1] 2018 Volcanic activity in Alaska—Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 2023

Cameron, C.E., Orr, T.R., Dixon, J.P., Dietterich, H.R., Waythomas, C.F., Iezzi, A.M., Power, J.A., Searcy, C., Grapenthin, R., Tepp, G., Wallace, K.L., Lopez, T.M., Degrandpre, K., and Perreault, J.M., 2023, 2018 Volcanic activity in Alaska - Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5029, 68 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20235029.
Full-text PDF 35.5 MB

Complete Eruption References

2018 Volcanic activity in Alaska—Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 2023

Cameron, C.E., Orr, T.R., Dixon, J.P., Dietterich, H.R., Waythomas, C.F., Iezzi, A.M., Power, J.A., Searcy, C., Grapenthin, R., Tepp, G., Wallace, K.L., Lopez, T.M., Degrandpre, K., and Perreault, J.M., 2023, 2018 Volcanic activity in Alaska - Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5029, 68 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20235029.
Full-text PDF 35.5 MB