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Report on Semisopochnoi (United States) — 25 May-31 May 2022


Semisopochnoi

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 25 May-31 May 2022
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2022. Report on Semisopochnoi (United States) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 25 May-31 May 2022. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (25 May-31 May 2022)

Semisopochnoi

United States

51.93°N, 179.58°E; summit elev. 1221 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


AVO reported that low-level eruptive activity at Semisopochnoi's North Cerberus cone continued during 24-31 May. Seismicity continued to be elevated with intermittent tremor and several daily explosions recorded by infrasound and seismic instruments. Weather clouds often prevented satellite and webcam views; sporadic ash emissions were visible during 27-28 May and likely occurred on other days as well. Sulfur dioxide emissions were detected during 27-29 May, and elevated surface temperatures were identified during 28-29 May. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.

Geological Summary. Semisopochnoi, the largest subaerial volcano of the western Aleutians, is 20 km wide at sea level and contains an 8-km-wide caldera. It formed as a result of collapse of a low-angle, dominantly basaltic volcano following the eruption of a large volume of dacitic pumice. The high point of the island is Anvil Peak, a double-peaked late-Pleistocene cone that forms much of the island's northern part. The three-peaked Mount Cerberus (renamed Mount Young in 2023) was constructed within the caldera during the Holocene. Each of the peaks contains a summit crater; lava flows on the N flank appear younger than those on the south side. Other post-caldera volcanoes include the symmetrical Sugarloaf Peak SSE of the caldera and Lakeshore Cone, a small cinder cone at the edge of Fenner Lake in the NE part of the caldera. Most documented eruptions have originated from Young, although Coats (1950) considered that both Sugarloaf and Lakeshore Cone could have been recently active.

Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)