Short-lived explosion at Atka volcanic complex, Aviation Color Code raised to Yellow, Alaska
A small, short-lived explosion was detected at the Atka volcanic complex in Alaska at 03:36 UTC on March 28, 2024 (19:36 AKDT on March 27).
As a result, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has raised 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 a few minutes of elevated seismic tremor. Processing of the local infrasound data indicates the explosion originated from the summit crater of Korovin, one of several volcanoes within the Atka volcanic complex. No ash emissions have been observed in satellite images, AVO added.
The last eruptive period at this volcano lasted from November 2006 to March 2007 (VEI 1). The volcano has a history of VEI 1 to 3 eruptions since 1812.
The Atka Volcanic Complex consists of a central shield and Pleistocene caldera with several post-caldera volcanoes. A major dacitic explosive eruption accompanied the formation of the caldera about 500 000 to 300 000 years ago. The most prominent of the post-caldera stratovolcanoes are Kliuchef and Sarichef, both of which may have been active in historical times.
This is the largest (approximately 200 km3 / 48.2 mi3) volcanic center in the central Aleutians. The closest town is Atka (16 km / 10 miles) SW of the volcano, with a population of 71.
Hot springs and fumaroles are located on the flanks of Mount Kliuchef and in a glacial valley SW of Kliuchef.
Korovin, at the NE tip of Atka Island, is the most frequently active volcano of the complex, and contains a double summit with two craters. The NW summit has a small crater, but the 1-km-wide (0.6 miles) crater of the SE cone has an open cylindrical vent of widely variable depth that sometimes contains a crater lake or a high magma column.
A fresh-looking cinder cone lies on the flank of the partially dissected Konia volcano, located on the SE flank of the dominantly basaltic Korovin. Some late-stage dacitic lava flows are present on both Korovin and Konia.
References:
1 AVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice for Atka Volcanic Complex – March 28, 2024 at 05:06 UTC
2 Atka Volcanic Complex – Geological Summary – GVP
Featured image credit: Copernicus EU/Sentinel-2, EO Browser, The Watchers. Acquired on January 18, 2024
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