USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-AVO-2024-02-16T17:08:02+00:00

ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY WEEKLY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Friday, February 16, 2024, 11:46 AM AKST (Friday, February 16, 2024, 20:46 UTC)

GREAT SITKIN (VNUM #311120)
52°4'35" N 176°6'39" W, Summit Elevation 5709 ft (1740 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

The eruption of lava within the summit crater of Great Sitkin Volcano continues. Cloud cover inhibited views of the volcano most of the week; however, steaming was observed in satellite and webcam views on February 14 and 15. New satellite radar images from February 15 showed continued inflation near the summit crater vent and a new lobe of lava flowing to the northwest of the vent. Seismic activity remains relatively low with occasional small volcanic earthquakes.

The current prolonged period of lava eruption at Great Sitkin Volcano began in July 2021. No explosive events have occurred since a single event in May 2021.

The volcano is monitored by local seismic, geodetic, and infrasound sensors and web cameras, as well as regional infrasound and lightning networks and satellite data.

Great Sitkin Volcano is a basaltic andesite volcano that occupies most of the northern half of Great Sitkin Island, a member of the Andreanof Islands group in the central Aleutian Islands. It is located 26 miles (43 km) east of the community of Adak. The volcano is a composite structure consisting of an older dissected volcano and a younger parasitic cone with a ~1 mile (1.5 km)-diameter summit crater. A steep-sided lava dome, emplaced during the 1974 eruption, occupies the center of the crater. That eruption produced at least one ash cloud that likely exceeded an altitude of 25,000 ft (7.6 km) above sea level. A poorly documented eruption occurred in 1945, also producing a lava dome that was partially destroyed in the 1974 eruption. Within the past 280 years a large explosive eruption produced pyroclastic flows that partially filled the Glacier Creek valley on the southwest flank.

SHISHALDIN (VNUM #311360)
54°45'19" N 163°58'16" W, Summit Elevation 9373 ft (2857 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

No significant eruptive activity occurred over the past week. A minor ash plume was observed in a webcam image on February 11, which prompted AVO to raise the Aviation Color Code to ORANGE and Volcano Alert Level to WATCH. The low-level plume extended from the crater down the north flank and did not reach significant altitudes above the volcano summit. Additional analysis of various data streams shows no evidence of explosive activity associated with this event, and the low-level plume is likely the result of a small rock fall or debris flow mobilizing ash above the surface.

Seismicity remains elevated but unchanged throughout the week with ongoing volcanic earthquakes. Steaming, which is not uncommon for Shishaldin Volcano, was observed in satellite and webcam views on February 14 and 15. AVO detected no sulfur dioxide emissions, and no elevated surface temperatures were evident in satellite imagery.

No significant eruptive activity has been observed since November 2023.

Local seismic and infrasound sensors, web cameras, and a geodetic network are used to monitor Shishaldin Volcano. In addition to the local monitoring network, AVO uses nearby geophysical networks, regional infrasound and lighting data, and satellite images to monitor the volcano.

Shishaldin volcano, located near the center of Unimak Island in the eastern Aleutian Islands, is a spectacular symmetric cone with a base diameter of approximately 10 miles (16 km). It is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc, with at least 54 episodes of unrest including over 28 confirmed eruptions since 1824. Most eruptions are relatively small, although the April-May 1999 event generated an ash column that reached 45,000 ft. (14 km) above sea level.

KANAGA (VNUM #311110)
51°55'27" N 177°9'44" W, Summit Elevation 4288 ft (1307 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Cloud cover inhibited views of the volcano most of the week; however, steaming was observed in satellite and webcam views on February 14 and 15. A few volcanic earthquakes were recorded, but the volcano has been mostly quiet throughout the week.

The unrest of December 18, 2023 indicates sudden explosions could occur without warning. These explosions may produce ash clouds exceeding 20,000 feet above sea level. Before the current activity, the last unrest at Kanaga Volcano was in February 2012 when a steam-driven explosion occurred together with a fissure opening on the southern crater rim.

Kanaga Volcano is monitored by local seismic and infrasound sensors and web cameras, regional infrasound and lightning networks, and satellite data.

Kanaga Volcano occupies the northern corner of Kanaga Island, one of the most southerly members of the central Aleutian chain. It is a symmetric composite cone 4288 ft (1307 m) high and 3 miles (4.8 km) in diameter at sea level, built of interbedded basaltic and andesitic lava flows, scoria layers, and pyroclastic rocks. Kanaga Volcano’s last significant eruption was in 1994–1995. At least two significant ash plumes were recorded over the course of this eruption: the first, to ~25,000 ft (7.5 km), occurred on February 21, 1995 and the second on August 18, 1995, when an eruption cloud reached ~15,000 ft. (4.5 km). A light dusting of ash fell on the community of Adak and air traffic was disrupted due to continuing low-level activity and cloudy conditions which prevented visual approaches to the Adak air field.

GARELOI (VNUM #311070)
51°47'21" N 178°47'46" W, Summit Elevation 5161 ft (1573 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

An increase in seismicity at Mount Gareloi beginning February 12 prompted AVO to raise the Aviation Color Code to YELLOW and Volcano Alert Level to ADVISORY. Since that time, seismic activity has remained elevated, mostly in the form of volcanic earthquakes and semi-continuous tremor. No eruptive activity or other changes have been detected at the volcano. Minor steaming was observed in satellite and webcam images February 14, which is not uncommon.

Mount Gareloi persistently emits magmatic gases from a fumarole field on the south crater and commonly exhibits low-level seismic activity. These observations suggest the presence of shallow magma and potential interaction with a hydrothermal system. The current increase in seismicity likely reflects a change to the magmatic-hydrothermal system, but it is not clear that the likelihood of a volcanic eruption has increased. AVO will continue to monitor activity to determine if the recent changes are related to influx of new magma or other changes to the magma system.

Gareloi is monitored by local seismic and infrasound sensors, satellite data, a web camera, and distant infrasound and lightning networks.

Mount Gareloi, which makes up all of Gareloi Island, is a stratovolcano located in the Delarof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands, about 2,000 km (1,242 mi) west-southwest of Anchorage and about 150 km (93 mi) west of Adak, the westernmost community in Alaska. This small volcano is 10 × 8 km (6.2 × 5.0 mi) in diameter at its base with two summits, separated by a narrow saddle. The northern, slightly higher peak contains crater about 300 m (1,000 ft) across. The southern summit has a crater open to the south and a persistent degassing vent (fumarole) on its western rim. Gareloi has been one of the most active in the Aleutians since the 1740s, with 16 reports of eruptive activity at Gareloi since 1760. In 1929, its largest historical eruption produced sixteen small south- to southeast-trending craters that extend from the southern summit to the coast, as well as lava flows and pyroclastic deposits on the southeastern flank of the volcano. Eruptions of Gareloi commonly produce ash clouds and lava flows, and the primary hazard is airborne clouds of ash that could affect aircraft. Since seismic instruments were installed in 2003, they have detected small but consistent seismic signals from beneath Mount Gareloi’s edifice.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Matt Haney, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS mhaney@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497

Ronni Grapenthin, Acting Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI, rgrapenthin@alaska.edu (907) 378-5460

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.