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Report on Cleveland (United States) — 4 May-10 May 2016


Cleveland

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 4 May-10 May 2016
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2016. Report on Cleveland (United States) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 4 May-10 May 2016. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (4 May-10 May 2016)

Cleveland

United States

52.825°N, 169.944°W; summit elev. 1730 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


AVO reported that an explosion at Cleveland was detected at 1844 on 5 May by both infrasound (air pressure) sensors and seismic data. AVO raised the Level of Concern Color Code to Orange and the Volcano Alert Level to Watch. Satellite views the next day were obscured by clouds; no signs of ash was detected above the cloud deck. AVO noted that the event likely modified the new, small lava dome that had been growing in the summit crater since the previous explosion on 16 April. No activity was observed in satellite images nor detected by the seismic and infrasound networks during 6-8 May. A small explosion was detected at 0732 on 10 May by infrasound sensors. A minor amount of ash was possibly generated by the explosion, but nothing was detected in satellite data and AVO received no reports of ash emissions from local observers or passing pilots.

Geological Summary. The beautifully symmetrical Mount Cleveland stratovolcano is situated at the western end of the uninhabited Chuginadak Island. It lies SE across Carlisle Pass strait from Carlisle volcano and NE across Chuginadak Pass strait from Herbert volcano. Joined to the rest of Chuginadak Island by a low isthmus, Cleveland is the highest of the Islands of the Four Mountains group and is one of the most active of the Aleutian Islands. The native name, Chuginadak, refers to the Aleut goddess of fire, who was thought to reside on the volcano. Numerous large lava flows descend the steep-sided flanks. It is possible that some 18th-to-19th century eruptions attributed to Carlisle should be ascribed to Cleveland (Miller et al., 1998). In 1944 it produced the only known fatality from an Aleutian eruption. Recent eruptions have been characterized by short-lived explosive ash emissions, at times accompanied by lava fountaining and lava flows down the flanks.

Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)