Resuspended ash from Aniakchak: August 2, 2021 Information Statement

ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT
U.S. Geological Survey
Monday, August 2, 2021, 12:25 AM AKDT (Monday, August 2, 2021, 08:25 UTC)

ANIAKCHAK VOLCANO (VNUM #312090)
56°54'21" N 158°12'32" W, Summit Elevation 4400 ft (1341 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN

Strong winds blowing to the north in the region north of Aniakchak and east of Port Heiden have picked up loose volcanic ash and carried it to the north today. A dense cloud of possible resuspended volcanic ash was observed near ground levels in a web camera at Port Heiden. Satellite views confirm that this cloud has been drifting to the north approximately 200 km. The height of this cloud is not known, but resuspended ash clouds are typically from sea level up to 5 km in altitude.

This phenomenon is not the result of volcanic activity and usually occurs seasonally in the spring and fall during times of high winds and dry snow-free conditions in volcanic areas of Alaska. No eruption is in progress. Aniakchak remains at GREEN.

Resuspended volcanic ash should be considered hazardous and could be damaging to aircraft and health. For more information on volcanic ash and human health, visit the following website: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/ash. Official warnings about these ash resuspension events are issued by the National Weather Service: http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/ . Forecasts of airborne ash hazard to aircraft: http://aawu.arh.noaa.gov . Volcanic Ash Advisories: http://vaac.arh.noaa.gov/ . Forecasts of ash fall: http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/ . Air quality hazards and guidance from Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Air Quality: http://dec.alaska.gov/Applications/Air/airtoolsweb/Advisories/Index