By Emily Cassidy, NASA Earth Observatory
July 24, 2023
In the early hours of July 14, a significant surge sent out an ash cloud 6 to 7.5 miles (9 to 12 kilometers) into the air which drifted south over the Pacific Ocean. 2 smaller sized surges occurred on July 14 and 15, releasing ash plumes about 3 miles (5 kilometers) above sea level.
After-effects of the Eruption
Ash fallout from the eruptions can be seen on the southern flanks of Shishaldin in this image, acquired by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 on July 17. A series of lahars (dark streaks of volcanic mud) are likewise noticeable on the volcanos northern and southern flanks.
Further Eruptions and Hazards
2 other durations of elevated volcanic activity resulted in substantial ash plumes between July 17 and July 23. An eruption on July 18 created another big ash cloud that led the National Weather Service to issue a warning to pilots to prevent the area. Plumes of ashes can contain sharp objects that can damage jet engines.
Historical Perspective
According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, Shishaldin has actually had 24 validated eruptions since 1775. Many eruptions have been relatively small, although a 1999 occasion created an ash column that reached 8.5 miles (14 kilometers) above water level. The most current events to produce lava streams outside the crater area, as this eruption has, were in 2019-2020 and 1976.
Existing Activity and Future Predictions
Seismic and eruptive activity was still ongoing as of July 23, according to the observatory, which kept in mind that it is not clear the length of time the eruptive activity will last. Previous eruptions have actually lasted weeks to months, with duplicated cycles of activity similar to what has been seen so far in July.
Credit: Wanmei Liang, utilizing Landsat information from the U.S. Geological Survey
Ash from current eruptions blackened the snow-covered flanks of the Alaskan volcano.
After 3 years of calm, the Shishaldin volcano in Alaskas Aleutian Islands erupted in mid-July 2023. Explosions from the volcano lofted ash a number of miles into the air, triggering aviation informs.
A Significant Explosion
Mount Shishaldin is a cone-shaped stratovolcano situated on Unimak Island and is among the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian arc. On July 11, the Alaska Volcano Observatory observed raised surface temperatures and seismic activity. In the early hours of July 14, a substantial explosion sent an ash cloud 6 to 7.5 miles (9 to 12 kilometers) into the air which wandered south over the Pacific Ocean. Two smaller sized explosions happened on July 14 and 15, launching ash plumes about 3 miles (5 kilometers) above sea level.
2 other periods of raised volcanic activity resulted in significant ash plumes between July 17 and July 23. An eruption on July 18 created another large ash cloud that led the National Weather Service to issue a cautioning to pilots to prevent the location.