USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-AVO-2023-02-28T20:20:13-09:00

AVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Takawangha (VNUM #311090)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Previous Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Previous Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Issued: Thursday, March 9, 2023, 5:22 PM AKST
Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2023/A225
Location: N 51 deg 52 min W 178 deg 1 min
Elevation: 4754 ft (1449 m)
Area: Aleutians

Volcanic Activity Summary:

Over the past 48 hours, earthquake activity near Takawangha volcano has been elevated and continues. This sustained activity indicates an increased potential for eruption at the volcano. Therefore AVO is raising the Aviation Color Code to ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level to WATCH.

Seismic activity is also elevated at Tanaga Volcano, which is about 8 km (5 miles) west of Takawangha on Tanaga Island. If an eruption were to occur, it is uncertain at this stage if it would come from Takawangha or Tanaga.

AVO analysts continue to monitor the situation closely, and locate events as time permits. Earthquakes are occurring under Tanaga Island at a rate of up to several per minute. The largest event over the past 24 hours was a M3.9 located under Tanaga Volcano.

No eruptive activity or signs of unrest have been detected in satellite or other monitoring data.

Takawangha is monitored with a local seismic network, a single local infrasound sensor, regional infrasound and lightning sensors, and satellite imagery.

For current monitoring data: https://avo.alaska.edu/activity/Takawangha.php

Recent Observations:
[Volcanic cloud height] None observed
[Other volcanic cloud information] None observed
[Lava flow/dome] Not applicable
[Lava flow] Not applicable

Remarks:

Takawangha is a remote, 1,449 m (4,754 ft)-high stratovolcano located on the northeast portion of Tanaga Island, roughly 95 km (59 miles) west of Adak in the Andreanof Islands. Takawangha's summit is mostly ice-covered, except for four young craters that have erupted ash and lava flows in the last few thousand years. Parts of Takawangha's edifice are hydrothermally altered and may be unstable, possibly leading to localized debris avalanches from its flanks. Takawangha lies across a saddle from historically active Tanaga volcano to the west. No historical eruptions are known from Takawangha; however, field work shows that recent eruptions have occurred, and it is possible that historic eruptions attributed to Tanaga may instead have come from Takawangha.

Contacts:

Michelle Coombs, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS mcoombs@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497

David Fee, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI dfee1@alaska.edu (907) 322-4085

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.

(1) VOLCANO OBSERVATORY NOTICE FOR AVIATION (VONA)
(2) Issued:	(20230310/0222Z)
(3) Volcano:	Takawangha (VNUM #311090)
(4) Current Color Code:	ORANGE
(5) Previous Color Code:	YELLOW
(6) Source:	Alaska Volcano Observatory
(7) Notice Number:	2023/A225
(8) Volcano Location:	N 51 deg 52 min W 178 deg 1 min
(9) Area:	Aleutians
(10) Summit Elevation:	4754 ft (1449 m)
(11) Volcanic Activity Summary:	Over the past 48 hours, earthquake activity near Takawangha volcano has been elevated and continues. This sustained activity indicates an increased potential for eruption at the volcano. Therefore AVO is raising the Aviation Color Code to ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level to WATCH. Seismic activity is also elevated at Tanaga Volcano, which is about 8 km (5 miles) west of Takawangha on Tanaga Island. If an eruption were to occur, it is uncertain at this stage if it would come from Takawangha or Tanaga. AVO analysts continue to monitor the situation closely, and locate events as time permits. Earthquakes are occurring under Tanaga Island at a rate of up to several per minute. The largest event over the past 24 hours was a M3.9 located under Tanaga Volcano. No eruptive activity or signs of unrest have been detected in satellite or other monitoring data. Takawangha is monitored with a local seismic network, a single local infrasound sensor, regional infrasound and lightning sensors, and satellite imagery. For current monitoring data: https://avo.alaska.edu/activity/Takawangha.php
(12) Volcanic cloud height:	None observed
(13) Other volcanic cloud information:	None observed
(14) Remarks:	Takawangha is a remote, 1,449 m (4,754 ft)-high stratovolcano located on the northeast portion of Tanaga Island, roughly 95 km (59 miles) west of Adak in the Andreanof Islands. Takawangha's summit is mostly ice-covered, except for four young craters that have erupted ash and lava flows in the last few thousand years. Parts of Takawangha's edifice are hydrothermally altered and may be unstable, possibly leading to localized debris avalanches from its flanks. Takawangha lies across a saddle from historically active Tanaga volcano to the west. No historical eruptions are known from Takawangha; however, field work shows that recent eruptions have occurred, and it is possible that historic eruptions attributed to Tanaga may instead have come from Takawangha.
(15) Contacts:	Michelle Coombs, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS mcoombs@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497 David Fee, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI dfee1@alaska.edu (907) 322-4085
(16) Next Notice: