Mt. Wrangell, Alaska; photograph by R.J. Motyka

Alaska hosts within its borders over 80 major volcanic centers that have erupted during the past 10,000 years. At least 29 of these volcanic centers had historical eruptions and 12 additional volcanic centers may have had historical eruptions. Historical in Alaska generally means the period since 1760 when explorers, travelers, and inhabitants kept written records. These 41 volcanic centers have been the source for more than 256 eruptions reported from Alaska volcanoes.

For each of these 41 volcano centers, the report provides a wealth of summary information, including location and elevation, volcano type, descriptions of volcanic structures and historical activity, and compostion of erupted products. Also included are small maps of each volcano center, a reference to the USGS 1:250,000 scale quadrangle map on which a center can be found, and the volcano number listed in the Catalogue of Active Volcanoes of the World.

This catalog is an important reference because knowledge of the type and scale of activity that has occurred in the recent past serves as a rough guide as to the type and scale of eruption that might be expected in the future. For example, when there are indications that a particular volcano is becoming restless or more active, scientists want to know what type and size of eruptions the volcano has generated, in historical time as well as in the past few thousand years. This has become particularly important in recent years because of the danger to jet aircraft from volcanic ash and the heavy use of international air routes located above and alongside the Aleutian volcanic chain.

The report USGS Open-File Report 98-582 is available online in from the Alaska Volcano Observatory in PDF format or, if you would like a copy, it can be ordered from the U.S. Geological Survey.

URL of this document: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/About/Highlights/AlaskaCatalog/highlight.html
Last modified: December 11, 1998