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Report on Shishaldin (United States) — 21 August-27 August 2019


Shishaldin

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 21 August-27 August 2019
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2019. Report on Shishaldin (United States) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 21 August-27 August 2019. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (21 August-27 August 2019)

Shishaldin

United States

54.756°N, 163.97°W; summit elev. 2857 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


AVO reported that during 21-28 August continuous, low-level tremor at Shishaldin was recorded by the seismic network and elevated surface temperatures were often visible in satellite images. The spatter cone in the crater had grown and partially filled the summit crater. NOAA scientists took video of the eruption during an overflight on 17 August and noted repetitive minor explosive activity within the summit crater. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.

Geological Summary. The symmetrical glacier-covered Shishaldin is the highest and one of the most active volcanoes of the Aleutian Islands. It is the westernmost of three large stratovolcanoes in the eastern half of Unimak Island. The Aleuts named the volcano Sisquk, meaning "mountain which points the way when I am lost." Constructed atop an older glacially dissected edifice, it is largely basaltic in composition. Remnants of an older ancestral volcano are exposed on the W and NE sides at 1,500-1,800 m elevation. There are over two dozen pyroclastic cones on its NW flank, which is blanketed by massive aa lava flows. Frequent explosive activity, primarily consisting of Strombolian ash eruptions from the small summit crater, but sometimes producing lava flows, has been recorded since the 18th century. A steam plume often rises from the summit crater.

Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)