Alaska's Pavlov volcano erupts

August 16, 2007

Anchorage, Alaska - The Pavlof Volcano on the Alaska Peninsula erupted Wednesday sending lava down its flanks and an ash plume up 8,400 feet.

The most active volcano in the Aleutian rim of fire, scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory say the small eruption could be a precursor to an even larger one.

From the Alaska Volcano Observatory Wednesday 8/15/2007: Pavlof Volcano is in eruption at this time. Eye witnesses aboard a ship report incandescent blocks down the east-southeast flank of the volcano beginning at midnight last night. Satellite data confirm the presence of lava. Pilot reports indicate that a weak ash plume is extending 5 miles southwest of the summit at an elevation of roughly 8400 ft. Seismic activity continues at a high level. The eruption could become more significant at any time.

Immediate hazards in the vicinity of the volcano include light ash fall on nearby communities, mudflows in drainages from the flanks of the volcano, and lava flows and avalanching of hot debris on the upper reaches of the volcano. We expect this eruption to follow the pattern of previous eruptions in 1996, 1986, 1981, and 1983. The last eruption of Pavlof began in September, 1996 and consisted of a several-month-long series of ash explosions, lava-fountaining, and lava-flow production. Ash clouds reached as high as 30,000 ft ASL on one occasion. However, most ash clouds were below 20,000 ft ASL. Prior to 1996, Pavlof erupted in 1986 sending ash as high as 49,000 ft ASL on at least one occasion. A hazard assessment for Pavlof and the Emmons Lake volcanic center is available on the web at http://www.avo.alaska.edu/pdfs/SIR2006-5248.pdf

AVO continues to monitor the activity closely.

Pavlof volcano is located on the southwestern end of the Alaska Peninsula about 590 miles southwest of Anchorage. The community of Cold Bay is located 37 miles to the southwest of Pavlof. Pavlof is a steep-sided, symmetrical, 8261-ft-high stratovolcano. With almost 40 historic eruptions, it is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian arc. Eruptive activity is generally characterized by sporadic lava fountaining continuing for a several-month period. Additional hazards in the vicinity of the volcano included light ash fall on nearby communities, mudflows, lava flows and avalanching of hot debris on the flanks of the volcano. For more information on Pavlof and potential volcano hazards, please see our web site: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/volcinfo.php?volcname=Pavlof