Unrest continued at Veniaminof during 30 April to 7 May, characterized by small intermittent ash emissions, low-level volcanic tremor, and small volcanic earthquakes. Small ash emissions were observed during periods of clear weather during 1-3 May, rising to 2.4-2.8 km a.s.l. Seismicity was at levels similar to the previous week, suggesting that ash-burst activity continued. Satellite imagery showed ash deposits on the volcano's snow-covered flanks as far as ~8 km from the vent. A pilot reported seeing ash as far as 33 km from the cone. Veniaminof remained at Concern Color Code Yellow.

Geological Summary. Veniaminof, on the Alaska Peninsula, is truncated by a steep-walled, 8 x 11 km, glacier-filled caldera that formed around 3,700 years ago. The caldera rim is up to 520 m high on the north, is deeply notched on the west by Cone Glacier, and is covered by an ice sheet on the south. Post-caldera vents are located along a NW-SE zone bisecting the caldera that extends 55 km from near the Bering Sea coast, across the caldera, and down the Pacific flank. Historical eruptions probably all originated from the westernmost and most prominent of two intra-caldera cones, which rises about 300 m above the surrounding icefield. The other cone is larger, and has a summit crater or caldera that may reach 2.5 km in diameter, but is more subdued and barely rises above the glacier surface.

Sources: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)