Small explosion at Kanaga volcano, Aviation Color Code raised to Yellow, Alaska
A small explosion was detected at Kanaga Volcano, Alaska at 07:31 UTC on December 19, 2023.
As a result, the Alaska Volcano Observatory increased the Aviation Color Code to Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level to Advisory.
The event was detected in local infrasound and seismic data and was followed by elevated earthquake seismicity that is ongoing. No ash emissions have been observed in partly cloudy satellite images.
The last eruption of this volcano took place on February 18, 2012 (VEI 2).
Kanaga stratovolcano, located in the Kanaton caldera at the northern tip of Kanaga Island, features a 760-meter-high (2 493 feet) ridge forming part of the caldera’s south and east rim. A lake partially occupies the caldera’s southeast floor. The volcano’s subaerial dacitic tuff volume is smaller than typical for caldera collapse, and it’s linked to a massive submarine debris avalanche extending 30 km (18.6 miles) NNW.
Historical eruptions date back to 1763, with fresh lava flows reaching the sea. Notably, the volcano has ultramafic inclusions in alkaline basalt southwest of it. Fumarolic activity is present in a 200-meter-wide (656 feet), 60-meter-deep (197 feet) summit crater, sometimes visible from Adak, 50 km (31 miles) east.
References:
1 AVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice – Kanaga – December 19, 2023
2 Kanaga – Geological summary – GVP
Featured image: Kanaga island, Alaska on December 19, 2023. Credit: Copernicus EU/Sentinel-2, EO Browser, The Watchers
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