USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-AVO-2023-03-16T10:11:29-08:00

AVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Takawangha (VNUM #311090)

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

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


Issued: Thursday, March 16, 2023, 10:39 AM AKDT
Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2023/A315
Location: N 51 deg 52 min W 178 deg 1 min
Elevation: 4754 ft (1449 m)
Area: Aleutians

Volcanic Activity Summary:

Earthquake activity near Takawangha volcano has decreased in both rate and magnitude from the peak of the swarm on March 9 – 11. The significant decline in earthquake activity decreases the potential for an eruption at the volcano. No other signs of unrest have been detected in other monitoring data. AVO is therefore lower the Aviation Color Code to YELLOW and the Volcano Alert Level to ADVISORY. 

Seismic activity has also declined at Tanaga Volcano, which is about 8 km (5 miles) west of Takawangha on Tanaga Island. The Aviation Color Code/Alert Level has also been lowered to YELLOW/ADVISORY for Tanaga Volcano. 

AVO continues to monitor the activity closely and seismic analysts are locating 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 M3.1 located between Takawangha volcano and Tanaga Volcano. 

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) 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.

(1) VOLCANO OBSERVATORY NOTICE FOR AVIATION (VONA)
(2) Issued:	(20230316/1839Z)
(3) Volcano:	Takawangha (VNUM #311090)
(4) Current Color Code:	YELLOW
(5) Previous Color Code:	ORANGE
(6) Source:	Alaska Volcano Observatory
(7) Notice Number:	2023/A315
(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:	Earthquake activity near Takawangha volcano has decreased in both rate and magnitude from the peak of the swarm on March 9 – 11. The significant decline in earthquake activity decreases the potential for an eruption at the volcano. No other signs of unrest have been detected in other monitoring data. AVO is therefore lower the Aviation Color Code to YELLOW and the Volcano Alert Level to ADVISORY.  Seismic activity has also declined at Tanaga Volcano, which is about 8 km (5 miles) west of Takawangha on Tanaga Island. The Aviation Color Code/Alert Level has also been lowered to YELLOW/ADVISORY for Tanaga Volcano.  AVO continues to monitor the activity closely and seismic analysts are locating 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 M3.1 located between Takawangha volcano and Tanaga Volcano.  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) 378-5460
(16) Next Notice: