USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-AVO-2023-07-15T22:58:38-08:00

AVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Shishaldin (VNUM #311360)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: RED
Previous Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Issued: Saturday, July 15, 2023, 11:57 PM AKDT
Source: Alaska Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2023/A1066
Location: N 54 deg 45 min W 163 deg 58 min
Elevation: 9373 ft (2857 m)
Area: Aleutians

Volcanic Activity Summary:

The explosive eruption of Shishaldin Volcano is continuing. A continuous ash plume now extends over 80 mi (125 km) to the SSE from the volcano with an altitude of about 16,000 ft (4.9 km) above sea level. Seismicity has remained elevated for over 6 hours and frequent explosion signals are being detected at regional infrasound (pressure sensor) networks. Some explosions are sending ash plumes as high as 20,000 ft (6 km) above sea level. Due to the duration of this current activity and the extent of the distributing ash cloud the Aviation Color Code is being raised to RED and the Volcano Alert Level is being raised to WARNING.

The recent magnitude 7.3 earthquake located 55 mi (89 km) SW of Sand Point is not related to volcanic activity.

Eruptions from Shishaldin have produced minor and on occasion significant ash clouds in the past. These can occur with little warning. Shishaldin is monitored by local seismic and infrasound sensors, web cameras, and a telemetered geodetic network. The local monitoring network is partially impaired, therefore AVO is also using nearby geophysical networks, satellite data and regional infrasound and lighting data to detect activity. AVO will continue to closely monitor unrest at Shishaldin Volcano.

Recent Observations:
[Volcanic cloud height] up to 20,000 feet above sea level
[Other volcanic cloud information] Drifting more than 80 mi (125 km) to the SSE

Hazard Analysis:
[Ash cloud] drifting ash clouds up to 16,000 feet above sea level
[Ashfall] trace ashfall possible downwind of the volcano.
[Mud flow] on all flanks of the volcano

Remarks:

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 16 km (10 mi). A 200-m-wide (660 ft) funnel-shaped summit crater typically emits a steam plume and occasional small amounts of ash. Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc, with at least 54 episodes of unrest including over 26 confirmed eruptions since 1824. Most eruptions are relatively small, although the April-May 1999 event generated an ash column that reached 45,000 ft above sea level.

Contacts:

Kristi Wallace, Acting Scientist-in-Charge, USGS kwallace@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497

Pavel Izbekov, Acting Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI peizbekov@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:	(20230716/0757Z)
(3) Volcano:	Shishaldin (VNUM #311360)
(4) Current Color Code:	RED
(5) Previous Color Code:	ORANGE
(6) Source:	Alaska Volcano Observatory
(7) Notice Number:	2023/A1066
(8) Volcano Location:	N 54 deg 45 min W 163 deg 58 min
(9) Area:	Aleutians
(10) Summit Elevation:	9373 ft (2857 m)
(11) Volcanic Activity Summary:	The explosive eruption of Shishaldin Volcano is continuing. A continuous ash plume now extends over 80 mi (125 km) to the SSE from the volcano with an altitude of about 16,000 ft (4.9 km) above sea level. Seismicity has remained elevated for over 6 hours and frequent explosion signals are being detected at regional infrasound (pressure sensor) networks. Some explosions are sending ash plumes as high as 20,000 ft (6 km) above sea level. Due to the duration of this current activity and the extent of the distributing ash cloud the Aviation Color Code is being raised to RED and the Volcano Alert Level is being raised to WARNING. The recent magnitude 7.3 earthquake located 55 mi (89 km) SW of Sand Point is not related to volcanic activity. Eruptions from Shishaldin have produced minor and on occasion significant ash clouds in the past. These can occur with little warning. Shishaldin is monitored by local seismic and infrasound sensors, web cameras, and a telemetered geodetic network. The local monitoring network is partially impaired, therefore AVO is also using nearby geophysical networks, satellite data and regional infrasound and lighting data to detect activity. AVO will continue to closely monitor unrest at Shishaldin Volcano.
(12) Volcanic cloud height:	up to 20,000 feet above sea level
(13) Other volcanic cloud information:	Drifting more than 80 mi (125 km) to the SSE
(14) Remarks:	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 16 km (10 mi). A 200-m-wide (660 ft) funnel-shaped summit crater typically emits a steam plume and occasional small amounts of ash. Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc, with at least 54 episodes of unrest including over 26 confirmed eruptions since 1824. Most eruptions are relatively small, although the April-May 1999 event generated an ash column that reached 45,000 ft above sea level.
(15) Contacts:	Kristi Wallace, Acting Scientist-in-Charge, USGS kwallace@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497 Pavel Izbekov, Acting Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI peizbekov@alaska.edu (907) 378-5460
(16) Next Notice: