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Report on Shishaldin (United States) — 10 July-16 July 2019


Shishaldin

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 10 July-16 July 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, 10 July-16 July 2019. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (10 July-16 July 2019)

Shishaldin

United States

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


AVO increased the Aviation Color Code for Shishaldin to Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level to Advisory on 12 July following several weeks of increasing seismicity and elevated temperatures in the summit crater identified in satellite images. In addition incandescence in the crater was visible during an overflight. Seismic tremor continued to be elevated at least through 16 July.

Geological Summary. The symmetrical glacier-covered Shishaldin in the Aleutian Islands 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 edifice 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 covered 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)