Report on Pagan (United States) — 17 October-23 October 2012
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 17 October-23 October 2012
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2012. Report on Pagan (United States) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 17 October-23 October 2012. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Pagan
United States
18.13°N, 145.8°E; summit elev. 570 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
Continuous steam-and-gas plumes from Pagan were observed in clear satellite images during 12-19 October. According to NASA's Earth Observatory, a satellite image acquired on 16 October showed a steam-and-gas plume drifting WNW. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Advisory.
Geological Summary. Pagan Island, the largest and one of the most active of the Mariana Islands volcanoes, consists of two stratovolcanoes connected by a narrow isthmus. Both North and South Pagan stratovolcanoes were constructed within calderas, 7 and 4 km in diameter, respectively. North Pagan at the NE end of the island rises above the flat floor of the northern caldera, which may have formed less than 1,000 years ago. South Pagan is a stratovolcano with an elongated summit containing four distinct craters. Almost all of the recorded eruptions, which date back to the 17th century, have originated from North Pagan. The largest eruption during historical time took place in 1981 and prompted the evacuation of the sparsely populated island.
Sources: Emergency Management Office of the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands and United States Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program, NASA Earth Observatory