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USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-NMI-2022-06-02T15:44:40-08:00

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NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS VOLCANO OBSERVATORY WEEKLY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Friday, June 3, 2022, 9:57 AM ChST (Thursday, June 2, 2022, 23:57 UTC)


Report prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey.

PAGAN VOLCANO (VNUM #284170)
18°7'48" N 145°48' E, Summit Elevation 1870 ft (570 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: UNASSIGNED
Current Aviation Color Code: UNASSIGNED

A possible sulfur dioxide signature was detected in satellite data at Pagan volcano on May 31. Similar small gas detections are common at other recently active volcanoes, and this does not necessarily represent a departure from background activity and thus Pagan remains at UNASSIGNED status due to the lack of ground-based monitoring instruments. Satellite data will continue to be carefully monitored for other signs of unrest.

Pagan is monitored remotely with satellite data, an intermittently operational seismo-acoustic network on Saipan, distant seismic stations in Guam and Chichijima, Japan, and hydroacoustic data from Wake Island. These observations might detect significant explosive activity from Pagan or other volcanoes in the CNMI, but because the volcano is not monitored with ground-based instruments, we cannot provide advanced warning of activity.

Access to Pagan may be restricted by the CNMI government. Contact the EMO for the latest information.



No eruptive activity or significant unrest was detected at any other Northern Mariana Island volcanoes during the past week.

Monitoring of Northern Mariana Islands Volcanoes

Northern Mariana Island volcanoes are monitored remotely with satellite data, an intermittently operational seismo-acoustic network on Saipan, distant seismic stations in Guam and Chichijima, Japan, and hydroacoustic data from Wake Island. These observations might detect significant explosive activity in the CNMI, but because of the absence of functional local ground-based monitoring stations at the volcanoes, we cannot provide advanced warning of activity.

Ground-based geophysical monitoring data from stations on Anatahan and Sarigan islands have been unavailable since storm damage in August, 2017. Current logistical challenges in the CNMI prevent visiting these sites to make repairs. A timeline for returning these stations to operation is uncertain. Due to a lack of direct geophysical monitoring on the islands, Anatahan and Sarigan volcano alert levels are designated UNASSIGNED.

Other volcanoes in the CNMI including Farallon de Pajaros, Supply Reef, Maug, Asuncion, Agrigan, Pagan, Almagan, and Guguan are not seismically monitored and are normally designated UNASSIGNED, absent other observations of activity.



For definitions of Aviation Color Codes and Volcano Alert Levels, see: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php

SUBSCRIBE TO VOLCANO ALERT MESSAGES by email: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/


CONTACT INFORMATION:

CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management
http://www.cnmihsem.gov.mp/

USGS Northern Mariana Duty Scientist (808) 967-8815
http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/cnmistatus.php

Satellite information, Washington VAAC
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/washington.html