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Report on Veniaminof (United States) — 26 May-1 June 2004


Veniaminof

Smithsonian / US Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report,
26 May-1 June 2004
Managing Editor: Gari Mayberry

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2004. Report on Veniaminof (United States). In: Mayberry, G (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 26 May-1 June 2004. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (26 May-1 June 2004)

Veniaminof

United States

56.17°N, 159.38°W; summit elev. 2507 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


During 21-28 May, the level of volcanic activity at Veniaminof was generally lower than during the previous week. Sequences of tremor accompanying ash bursts continued. On video, weak steaming and low ash bursts were seen emanating from the intracaldera cone. Most of the ash bursts did not rise above the active cone (2,156 m). Satellite imagery on 26 May showed ash deposits on the N and SE portions of the caldera. Veniaminof remained at Concern Color Code Yellow.

Geological Summary. Veniaminof, on the Alaska Peninsula, is truncated by a steep-walled, 8 x 11 km, glacier-filled caldera that formed around 3,700 years ago. The caldera rim is up to 520 m high on the north, is deeply notched on the west by Cone Glacier, and is covered by an ice sheet on the south. Post-caldera vents are located along a NW-SE zone bisecting the caldera that extends 55 km from near the Bering Sea coast, across the caldera, and down the Pacific flank. Historical eruptions probably all originated from the westernmost and most prominent of two intra-caldera cones, which rises about 300 m above the surrounding icefield. The other cone is larger, and has a summit crater or caldera that may reach 2.5 km in diameter, but is more subdued and barely rises above the glacier surface.

Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)