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Report on Cleveland (United States) — 25 October-31 October 2017


Cleveland

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 25 October-31 October 2017
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2017. Report on Cleveland (United States) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 25 October-31 October 2017. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (25 October-31 October 2017)

Cleveland

United States

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Based on satellite observations, AVO reported that the lava dome in Cleveland's summit crater continued to grow, and by 23 October it had dimensions of 140 x 110 m. A small, 30-second-long explosion was recorded at 1045 on 28 October in seismic and infrasound data. Weather conditions were overcast with clouds at approximately 4.6 km (15,000 ft) a.s.l.; no volcanic plumes associated with the explosion were identified in satellite images emerging above the cloud level. A small explosion was recorded at 0320 on 30 October, though no ash plume was observed rising above the weather clouds at 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. in satellite data. Slightly elevated surface temperatures were detected the next day. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.

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)