ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 12:28 PM AKST (Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 21:28 UTC)
Lava continues to erupt slowly at Great Sitkin Volcano. Small earthquakes associated with the ongoing lava eruption continue at a low rate. Web camera views were obscured by clouds over the past day, but satellite views showed elevated surface temperatures at the volcano's summit.
The current eruption of Great Sitkin Volcano began with a single explosive event in May 2021. The ongoing eruption of lava at the summit began shortly afterward, in July 2021. The volcano is monitored using local seismic and infrasound sensors, satellite data and web cameras, and regional infrasound and lightning networks.
Unrest continues at Mount Spurr. Small, shallow earthquakes underneath the summit region continue at a low rate. No activity was observed in satellite and web camera images over the past day. AVO continues to closely monitor activity at Mount Spurr for signals that would indicate that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption. Based on previous eruptions, changes from current activity in the earthquakes, ground deformation, summit lake, and fumaroles would be expected if magma began to move closer to the surface. Therefore, it is very likely that if an eruption were to occur it would be preceded by additional signals that would allow advance warning.
Local seismic, infrasound, web cameras, and GNSS stations are used to monitor Mount Spurr along with regional infrasound, lightning networks and satellite data.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.