Logo link to homepage

Amukta

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 52.5°N
  • 171.252°W

  • 1066 m
    3497 ft

  • 311190
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: September 1997 (BGVN 22:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Ash puff on 2 March rises to just above the summit

On 2 March a pilot reported a small eruption at Amukta volcano in the central Aleutian Islands. Ash barely clearing the top of the volcano was reported.

Information Contacts: Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a cooperative program of a) U.S. Geological Survey, 4200 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508-4667, USA (URL: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/), b) Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, PO Box 757320, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320, USA, and c) Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, 794 University Ave., Suite 200, Fairbanks, AK 99709, USA.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Amukta.

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

08/1987 (SEAN 12:08) Possible source of 10.6-km cloud

09/1996 (BGVN 21:09) Small ash plumes observed in mid-September

09/1997 (BGVN 22:09) Ash puff on 2 March rises to just above the summit




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


August 1987 (SEAN 12:08) Citation IconCite this Report

Possible source of 10.6-km cloud

At about 1000 on 28 August pilots Charles Kozler, Wayne Russell, and George Wooliver (Reeve Aleutian Airways) reported an eruption plume reaching 10.5 km altitude in the vicinity of Amukta, drifting WNW. The FAA issued a NOTAM warning pilots to stay 25 miles [40 km] from Amukta Island. Heavy weather clouds covered Amukta Island so its activity could not be directly observed. Mt. Cleveland, 100 km ENE, was apparently active that same morning and winds were blowing in the direction of Amukta (see Mt. Cleveland 12:08). The origin of the large cloud remains both uncertain and controversial at the time of this report.

On 4 September Wooliver observed a small dark ash plume rising at least 300 m above the summit of Amukta then drifting as much as 1 km NW. Only the NW flank was visible because of cloud cover. His observations were made from 9,750 m altitude from nearly 120 km N. Wooliver has flown in the Aleutian Islands since the 1950's and is experienced at observing eruptions.

Amukta's last known eruptive activity was on 12 July 1984 (BVE, no. 24). Harold Wilson (Peninsula Airways) notes that normal activity . . . is continuous minor steam emission from several small vents just inside the summit crater rim.

Information Contacts: T. Miller, USGS Anchorage; J. Reeder, ADGGS.


September 1996 (BGVN 21:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Small ash plumes observed in mid-September

On 18 September AVO received a pilot report of a small ash plume above Amukta. An Alaska Airlines pilot noted black and gray ash clouds rising ~300 m above the summit crater during overflights on 17 and 18 September. The ash plumes extended ~16 km S over the Pacific Ocean before dissipating. No plume was visible on satellite imagery.

Information Contacts: Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO); NOAA/NESDIS Satellite Analysis Branch, Room 401, 5200 Auth Road, Camp Springs, MD 20746, USA.


September 1997 (BGVN 22:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Ash puff on 2 March rises to just above the summit

On 2 March a pilot reported a small eruption at Amukta volcano in the central Aleutian Islands. Ash barely clearing the top of the volcano was reported.

Information Contacts: Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a cooperative program of a) U.S. Geological Survey, 4200 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508-4667, USA (URL: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/), b) Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, PO Box 757320, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320, USA, and c) Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, 794 University Ave., Suite 200, Fairbanks, AK 99709, USA.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 6 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1997 Mar 3 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1997 Mar 3 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion weak or small
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
1997 Mar 3    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1996 Sep 17 - 1996 Sep 18 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1996 Sep 17 - 1996 Sep 18 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
1996 Sep 17    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1987 Sep 4 (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1987 Sep 4 (?) - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
1987 Sep 4
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1963 Feb 13 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1963 Feb 13 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion moderate
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow moderate
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Entered water.
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
1963 Feb 13    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1878 Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1878 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

[ 1876 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1876 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Volcanic "smoke"

1786 Jun - 1791 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1786 Jun - 1791 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
1786 Jun    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1770 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1770 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown
Deformation History

There is data available for 2 deformation periods. Expand each entry for additional details.


Deformation during 1993 - 2009 [Subsidence; Observed by InSAR]

Start Date: 1993 Stop Date: 2009 Direction: Subsidence Method: InSAR
Magnitude: Unknown Spatial Extent: Unknown Latitude: Unknown Longitude: Unknown

Remarks: Subsidence on the SE flank of the volcano due to contraction of magma or depressurization of the hydrothermal system.

Figure (see Caption)

a Average deformation image of Amukta Island produced by stacking interferograms from track 430 (also shown in Fig. 6.62a). b Best-fit source model of the upper southeast flank deformation field shown in (a) using a Mogi source located 1 km beneath the surface at the white dot. A full cycle of colors (i.e., one interferometric fringe) in (a) and (b) represents 10 mm/ year of surface displacement along the LOS. c High-resolution airborne SAR image of Amukta acquired by UAVSAR (illumination from the north). Areas of subsidence on the lower western flank and upper southeastern flank that are identified in Figs. 6.61 and 6.62 are outlined by solid and dashed lines, respectively

From: Lu and Dzurisin 2014.


Reference List: Lu and Dzurisin 2014.

Full References:

Lu Z, Dzurisin D, 2014. InSAR imaging of Aleutian volcanoes: monitoring a volcanic arc from space. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00348-6

Deformation during 1993 - 2009 [Subsidence; Observed by InSAR]

Start Date: 1993 Stop Date: 2009 Direction: Subsidence Method: InSAR
Magnitude: Unknown Spatial Extent: Unknown Latitude: Unknown Longitude: Unknown

Remarks: Subisdence on SW flank of volcano due to contraction of the 1963 lava flow.

Figure (see Caption)

a Average deformation image of Amukta Island produced by stacking interferograms from track 430 (also shown in Fig. 6.62a). b Best-fit source model of the upper southeast flank deformation field shown in (a) using a Mogi source located 1 km beneath the surface at the white dot. A full cycle of colors (i.e., one interferometric fringe) in (a) and (b) represents 10 mm/ year of surface displacement along the LOS. c High-resolution airborne SAR image of Amukta acquired by UAVSAR (illumination from the north). Areas of subsidence on the lower western flank and upper southeastern flank that are identified in Figs. 6.61 and 6.62 are outlined by solid and dashed lines, respectively

From: Lu and Dzurisin 2014.


Reference List: Lu and Dzurisin 2014.

Full References:

Lu Z, Dzurisin D, 2014. InSAR imaging of Aleutian volcanoes: monitoring a volcanic arc from space. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00348-6

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Amukta.

GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Amukta in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites