Nature & Environment
Scientists At AVO Raises Alert Level For Pavlof Volcano Due To Level Of Seismic Unrest
Brooke James
First Posted: Jul 06, 2016 06:10 AM EDT
The Alaska Volcano Observatory had been keeping a close eye on Pavlof Volcano, one of the most active ones in the state. Increased seismic activity and steam emissions have been observed over the past week, leading observatory officials to raise the alert level.
According to the observatory, there have been over 40 recorded eruptions of the Pavlof - the last one was recorded just may of this year. Two months before that, ash plumes rose over 40,000 feet above sea level, cancelling thousands of flights as safety precaution.
There are high chances that the eruptive volcano will blow its top again with little to no warning, however, according to the Northern California News, geophysicist David Schneider noted that its current activity is still considered normal late last week.
Circumstances changed since then and scientists believe that an alert level is necessary. Schneider said, "Pavlof can erupt without very much in the way of precursory activities. It's very easy for the magma to arise in the volcano and make it out. So even subtle signs of unrest we think it is prudent to increase our alert level."
Thus, the Observatory increased the alert level from "normal" to "advisory" as of Friday. This early precaution is also in part of the fact that only about 600 miles southwest, lies the city of Anchorage on the Alaska Peninsula. The AVO also raised the alert level from green to yellow.
Research geologist Robert McGimsey explained the alert, saying, "What that means is the volcano has moved from its normal non-eruptive activity to a level unrest, where it could erupt." According to News Max, the volcano already sent ash 6,500 yards above sea level, endangering tens and thousands of passengers who fly by the area every day.
Then again, the volcano could be at a standstill and do nothing, either. Still, people living around the area should be careful - the volcano is "highly likely" to erupt by the end of the year.
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First Posted: Jul 06, 2016 06:10 AM EDT
The Alaska Volcano Observatory had been keeping a close eye on Pavlof Volcano, one of the most active ones in the state. Increased seismic activity and steam emissions have been observed over the past week, leading observatory officials to raise the alert level.
According to the observatory, there have been over 40 recorded eruptions of the Pavlof - the last one was recorded just may of this year. Two months before that, ash plumes rose over 40,000 feet above sea level, cancelling thousands of flights as safety precaution.
There are high chances that the eruptive volcano will blow its top again with little to no warning, however, according to the Northern California News, geophysicist David Schneider noted that its current activity is still considered normal late last week.
Circumstances changed since then and scientists believe that an alert level is necessary. Schneider said, "Pavlof can erupt without very much in the way of precursory activities. It's very easy for the magma to arise in the volcano and make it out. So even subtle signs of unrest we think it is prudent to increase our alert level."
Thus, the Observatory increased the alert level from "normal" to "advisory" as of Friday. This early precaution is also in part of the fact that only about 600 miles southwest, lies the city of Anchorage on the Alaska Peninsula. The AVO also raised the alert level from green to yellow.
Research geologist Robert McGimsey explained the alert, saying, "What that means is the volcano has moved from its normal non-eruptive activity to a level unrest, where it could erupt." According to News Max, the volcano already sent ash 6,500 yards above sea level, endangering tens and thousands of passengers who fly by the area every day.
Then again, the volcano could be at a standstill and do nothing, either. Still, people living around the area should be careful - the volcano is "highly likely" to erupt by the end of the year.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone