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Report on Pavlof (United States) — 13 July-19 July 2016


Pavlof

Smithsonian / US Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report,
13 July-19 July 2016
Managing Editor: Sally Kuhn Sennert

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2016. Report on Pavlof (United States). In: Sennert, S K (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 13 July-19 July 2016. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (13 July-19 July 2016)

Pavlof

United States

55.417°N, 161.894°W; summit elev. 2493 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


AVO reported that seismic activity at Pavlof remained elevated during 13-19 July. A steam plume was visible in satellite images and reported by observers in Sand Point (90 km E) on 18 July. The next day persistent steam plumes with occasional minor ash-producing explosions were observed in satellite views. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow and Volcano Alert Level remained at Advisory.

Geological Summary. The most active volcano of the Aleutian arc, Pavlof is a 2519-m-high Holocene stratovolcano that was constructed along a line of vents extending NE from the Emmons Lake caldera. Pavlof and its twin volcano to the NE, 2142-m-high Pavlof Sister, form a dramatic pair of symmetrical, glacier-covered stratovolcanoes that tower above Pavlof and Volcano bays. A third cone, Little Pavlof, is a smaller volcano on the SW flank of Pavlof volcano, near the rim of Emmons Lake caldera. Unlike Pavlof Sister, Pavlof has been frequently active in historical time, typically producing Strombolian to Vulcanian explosive eruptions from the summit vents and occasional lava flows. The active vents lie near the summit on the north and east sides. The largest historical eruption took place in 1911, at the end of a 5-year-long eruptive episode, when a fissure opened on the N flank, ejecting large blocks and issuing lava flows.

Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)