Global Volcanism Program

Most Recent Bulletin Report: November 1987 (SEAN 12:11) Cite this Report

Ash emission observed but site uncertain

At 1359 on 16 November, pilots Dave Holman and Jay Brown (U.S. Coast Guard) noted steam with some ash being emitted from the summit vent of a volcano that they believed to be Carlisle. The plume rose to 2,500 m altitude . . . and trailed 30 km ENE. Of the five islands in the immediate area, the pilots were able to see the three closest to the Bering Sea (Kagamil, Uliaga, and Carlisle), but could not see the islands closer to the Pacific Ocean (Herbert or Chuginadak). Although their report strongly suggested that Carlisle was the source of the activity, the possibility that it was from Mt. Cleveland (10 km SE on Chuginadak Island), site of recent ash emission (SEAN 12:6-8), could not be eliminated. Steam (but no ash) was emerging from Carlisle's summit when it was observed on 28 August.

Information Contacts: J. Reeder, ADGGS.

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

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.

11/1987 (SEAN 12:11) Ash emission observed but site uncertain

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

November 1987 (SEAN 12:11) Cite this Report

Ash emission observed but site uncertain

At 1359 on 16 November, pilots Dave Holman and Jay Brown (U.S. Coast Guard) noted steam with some ash being emitted from the summit vent of a volcano that they believed to be Carlisle. The plume rose to 2,500 m altitude . . . and trailed 30 km ENE. Of the five islands in the immediate area, the pilots were able to see the three closest to the Bering Sea (Kagamil, Uliaga, and Carlisle), but could not see the islands closer to the Pacific Ocean (Herbert or Chuginadak). Although their report strongly suggested that Carlisle was the source of the activity, the possibility that it was from Mt. Cleveland (10 km SE on Chuginadak Island), site of recent ash emission (SEAN 12:6-8), could not be eliminated. Steam (but no ash) was emerging from Carlisle's summit when it was observed on 28 August.

Information Contacts: J. Reeder, ADGGS.

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

311230

1828 CE

1,620 m / 5,315 ft

52.894°N
170.054°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano

Rock Types

Major
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Intermediate crust (15-25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

0
0
0
30

Geological Summary

Carlisle Island is a steep-sided, conical stratovolcano across the Carlisle Pass strait from Mount Cleveland. Radar images suggest that this uninhabited, 7-km-wide island may contain two closely spaced volcanic cones (Myers, in Wood and Kienle 1990). Like nearby Herbert volcano, no geologic studies have been conducted on the volcano. Eruptions have been reported since the 18th century, but are very poorly documented. A variety of names was attached to Carlisle on early hydrographic maps, and Miller et al. (1998) noted that some 18th and 19th century eruptions reported at the closely spaced volcanoes of the "Islands of the Four Mountains" area could refer to Carlisle as well as Cleveland, Uliaga, or Kagamil volcanoes.

This volcano is located within the Aleutian Islands, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve property.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Coats R R, 1950. Volcanic activity in the Aleutian Arc. U S Geol Surv Bull, 974-B: 35-47.

Henning R A, Rosenthal C H, Olds B, Reading E (eds), 1976. Alaska's volcanoes, northern link in the ring of fire. Alaska Geog, 4: 1-88.

IAVCEI, 1973-80. Post-Miocene Volcanoes of the World. IAVCEI Data Sheets, Rome: Internatl Assoc Volc Chemistry Earth's Interior.

Miller T P, McGimsey R G, Richter D H, Riehle J R, Nye C J, Yount M E, Dumoulin J A, 1998. Catalogue of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska. U S Geol Surv Open-File Rpt, 98-582: 1-104.

Motyka R J, Liss S A, Nye C J, Moorman M A, 1993. Geothermal resources of the Aleutian arc. Alaska Div Geol Geophys Surv, Prof Rpt, no 114, 17 p and 4 map sheets.

Smith R L, Shaw H R, Luedke R G, Russell S L, 1978. Comprehensive tables giving physical data and thermal energy estimates for young igneous systems of the United States. U S Geol Surv Open-File Rpt, 78-925: 1-25.

Wood C A, Kienle J (eds), 1990. Volcanoes of North America. Cambridge, England: Cambridge Univ Press, 354 p.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 2 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

[ 1987 Nov 16 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

1987 Nov 16 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity	Uncertain

[ 1838 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

1838 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

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

1828 Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 \| Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)
1828 - Unknown				Evidence from Observations: Reported

1774 Jul 2 ± 182 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 \| Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)
1774 Jul 2 ± 182 days - Unknown				Evidence from Observations: Reported

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.

Synonyms

Kigalgin | Uliaga | Tanak-Angunak

Photo Gallery

Carlisle rises above the Carlisle Pass strait across from Mount Cleveland. Several poorly documented eruptions have been recorded since the 18th century. Carlisle is one of group of volcanoes in the "Islands of Four Mountains" area of the central Aleutians.

Photo by Michelle Harbin, 1994 (courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Volcano Observatory).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

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

External Sites

Alaska Volcano Observatory (Link to Carlisle)

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is a joint program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAFGI), and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (ADGGS). AVO was formed in 1988, and uses federal, state, and university resources to monitor and study Alaska's hazardous volcanoes, to predict and record eruptive activity, and to mitigate volcanic hazards to life and property.

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Carlisle. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Carlisle. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Carlisle

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).