Westdahl 1979/2

Start: February 8, 1979 [1]

Stop: February 9, 1979 [1]

Event Type: Other

Max VEI: 3 [2]

Event Characteristics:
  • Active; type of activity not specified [1] [3]

Description: From Pamenter and Kienle (1981): "Ash cloud about 8 km high. "A cloud apparently erupted from Westdahl was present on NOAA weather satellite imagery for more than 30 hours on 8 and 9 February. The cloud was first observed on an infrared image taken at 03:52 on 8 February, about 17 hours after the previous image, on which no eruption cloud could be seen. It occurred on 08:42 and 10:37 (infrared) but was not present at 19:58 on the 9th of 09:52 on the 10th. The cloud was no more than 50 km in longest dimension on any of the images, nor was it elongated into a typical volcanic plume. The height of the cloud was calculated separately from infrared and visual images taken at 09:26 on 8 February. Analysis of the infrared image gives a temperature of -53 degrees C at the top of the cloud, corresponding to an altitude of slightly more than 8 km. On the visual image, measurements of the shadow cast on the weather cloud deck by the volcanic cloud results in an estimated altitude of 7.7 +/- 1 km (Data from SEAN Bulletin, vol. 4, p. 2-3, 1979)."

References Cited

[1] Westdahl, 1979

Smithsonian Institution, 1979, Westdahl: Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin v. 04, n. 02, unpaged.

[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] Westdahl, 1981

Pamenter, F., and Kienle, J., 1981, Westdahl: in Annual report of the world volcanic eruptions in 1979, Bulletin of Volcanic Eruptions, v. 19, p. 61-62.

[4] Volcanic activity in Alaska: September 1991-September 1992, 1993

McGimsey, Game, 1993, Volcanic activity in Alaska: September 1991-September 1992: Earthquakes and Volcanoes, v. 24, n. 2, p. 60-73.

[5] Remote Alaska volcano blows its top, 1980

Associated Press, 1980, Remote Alaska volcano blows its top: Anchorage Times, v. August 16, p. A3.

Complete Eruption References

Summary of 1979 volcanic activity, 1980

McClelland, Lindsay, 1980, Summary of 1979 volcanic activity [abs.]: Eos, v. 61, n. 6, p. 65.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet

Westdahl, 1981

Pamenter, F., and Kienle, J., 1981, Westdahl: in Annual report of the world volcanic eruptions in 1979, Bulletin of Volcanic Eruptions, v. 19, p. 61-62.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet

Westdahl, 1979

Smithsonian Institution, 1979, Westdahl: Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin v. 04, n. 02, unpaged.

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

Remote Alaska volcano blows its top, 1980

Associated Press, 1980, Remote Alaska volcano blows its top: Anchorage Times, v. August 16, p. A3.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet