Significant explosive eruption at Bogoslof volcano, Alaska

A significant explosive eruption began at Bogoslof volcano at about 16:24 UTC on February 13, 2017. The eruption is indicated in seismic data, the Alaska Volcano Observatory said.

Although at this time there has been no lightning detected, nor satellite images received to confirm eruptive activity, the intensity of seismicity strongly suggests that significant ash emissions have occurred.

Thus, AVO is raising the Aviation Color Code to Red and Alert level to Warning, they said at 16:54 UTC today.

The image below shows the changes in the configuration of Bogoslof Island resulting from the ongoing 2016-17 eruption. The January 30-31, 2017 eruptive activity generated roughly 0.4 km² (0.15 mi²) of new land and as of January 31, 2017, the island area was 1.02 km² (0.39 mi²), roughly three times the size of the pre-eruption island.

Nearly all of this new material consists of unconsolidated pyroclastic fall and flow (surge) deposits that are highly susceptible to wave erosion and thus additional changes in the configuration of the island are likely.

Credit: Chris Waythomas, AVO/USGS

On the right, a COSMO SkyMed Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite image from 8 February showing that the vent location at Bogoslof is still underwater. A Sentinel-2 visible image from 2 February is shown on the left for reference. Please note that SAR images have significant geometric distortion, so a direct comparison between features is not straightforward. Credit: Dave Schneider, AVO/USGS

Satellite image of Bogoslof volcano collected on January 31, 2017 showing the significant changes at Bogoslof Island following the eruption during the night of January 30 to 31. Freshly erupted volcanic rock and ash have formed a barrier that separates the vent from the sea. This is the first time this has been observed since the eruptive sequence began in mid-December 2016. The vent is below sea level, and erosion of the ash deposits by wave or eruptive processes would allow sea water to flow into the vent again. Credit: Dave Schneider, AVO/USGS

Update

February 13, 20:00 UTC

Satellite data through 18:30 UTC showed no volcanic cloud visible about the weather cloud tops of about 3 km (10 000 feet) above sea level. There were also no lightning strokes detected during this morning's activity.

"We therefore conclude that, despite the intensity of seismic activity, a significant volcanic cloud was not produced during this event and are thus lowering the Aviation Color Code to ORANGE and the Alert Level to WATCH," AVO said.

Ash emissions to lower altitudes, as well as other eruptive activity, likely did occur during this morning's event, and conditions at the volcano remain unstable. Additional explosive activity could occur at any time, with little or no advance warning, they concluded.

Bogoslof volcano remains at a heightened state of unrest and in an unpredictable condition. Additional explosions producing high-altitude volcanic clouds could occur at any time. Some previous explosions have been preceded by an increase in earthquake activity that allowed for short-term forecasts of imminent significant explosive activity.

Geological summary

Bogoslof is the emergent summit of a submarine volcano that lies 40 km north of the main Aleutian arc. It rises 1500 m above the Bering Sea floor. Repeated construction and destruction of lava domes at different locations during historical time has greatly modified the appearance of this "Jack-in-the-Box" volcano and has introduced a confusing nomenclature applied during frequent visits of exploring expeditions.

The present triangular-shaped, 0.75 x 2 km island consists of remnants of lava domes emplaced from 1796 to 1992. Castle Rock (Old Bogoslof) is a steep-sided pinnacle that is a remnant of a spine from the 1796 eruption. Fire Island (New Bogoslof), a small island located about 600 m NW of Bogoslof Island, is a remnant of a lava dome that was formed in 1883. (GVP)

Featured image credit: Dave Schneider, AVO/USGS