Latest news with #MountSpurr
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Huge volcano shows signs of imminent eruption after earthquake spike
Officials have detected a surge in earthquake activity at Alaska's Mount Spurr, sparking fears of a potential eruption. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) reported that seismic activity has returned to March levels of about 100 events per week, the same month officials warned the volcano could erupt within weeks. Recent detections of deep earthquakes suggested that magma remains active beneath the volcano. These earthquakes are caused by magma rising toward the surface, putting pressure on the surrounding rock and causing it to crack. While the AVO said that the likelihood of an eruption is gradually declining, it cautioned that 'the volcano remains at an elevated state of unrest.' 'We're not out of the woods yet, by any means,' Matt Haney, a researcher with the AVO, told Alaska Public Media on Wednesday. 'There's still earthquakes happening at Mount Spurr.' Mount Spurr lies about 78 miles from Anchorage, home to nearly 300,000 people who have begun stocking up on food and protective gear, preparing for the possibility of a sudden eruption. Dave Schneider, a US Geological Survey geophysicist in Anchorage, told Your Alaska Link: 'This sort of frustrating phase for probably a lot of people in the community that that it's either ramping up or ramping down. We're just kind of holding steady.' The volcano's summit crater has not erupted for 5,000 years, experts estimate. But its side vent, called Crater Peak, last erupted just 30 years ago. If Mount Spurr blows again, the eruption will most likely be from this side vent, Haney previously told Officials have been monitoring Mount Spurr since April 2024 when seismic activity kicked off. By October, the rate of quakes increased from an average of 30 per week to 125 per week. While the number of earthquakes have dwindled throughout this year, the activity appears to have ramped up in the last month. 'Earthquake activity beneath Mount Spurr remains elevated. Following a steady decline from late March through April, shallow has increased,' the AVO said. Scientists recently measured gas emissions from Mount Spurr and found that while the levels are a little lower than last month, they are still higher than normal. Both carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide are being released from the volcano at rates above background levels, signs that magma remains active beneath the surface. The AVO noted that similar levels were observed back in 2004 to 2006, a period of unrest when Mount Spurr did not erupt. Carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide are natural components of magma, released when molten rock rises toward the surface. The agency added that most magma intrusions, like those observed at Mount Spurr during the 2004 to 2006 unrest, do not lead to eruptions. However, it cautioned that a similar pause in deformation occurred in fall 2024, and magma movement could resume at any time. If the eruption does happen, Mount Spurr would spew multiple plumes of ash rising as high as 50,000 feet into the air, Haney said. Each ash-producing explosive episode would last three to four hours, and the resulting cloud could blanket the city of Anchorage and other nearby communities in a thick layer of dust. The eruption would also produce destructive mudslides and avalanches of volcanic debris racing down the volcano's side at over 200 miles per hour, 'but fortunately, there are not any communities in that radius that would be affected,' Haney said. The AVO said on Wednesday that the eruption would likely be similar to those that occurred in 1953 and 1992 is still possible.' Those past eruptions involved explosive events lasting several hours, generating ash clouds that traveled hundreds of miles and caused minor ashfall, up to about a quarter-inch across southcentral Alaska, according to the agency.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Fears huge volcano is set to ERUPT amid spike in earthquakes... leaving major US city on edge
Officials have detected a surge in earthquake activity at Alaska 's Mount Spurr, sparking renewed fears of a potential eruption. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) reported that seismic activity has returned to March levels of about 100 events per week, the same month officials warned the volcano could erupt within weeks. Recent detections of deep earthquakes suggested that magma remains active beneath the volcano. These earthquakes are caused by magma rising toward the surface, putting pressure on the surrounding rock and causing it to crack. While the likelihood of an eruption is gradually declining, the AVO cautioned that 'the volcano remains at an elevated state of unrest.' 'We're not out of the woods yet, by any means,' Matt Haney, a researcher with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, told Alaska Public Media on Wednesday. 'There's still earthquakes happening at Mount Spurr.' Mount Spurr lies about 78 miles from Anchorage, home to nearly 300,000 people who have begun stocking up on food and protective gear, preparing for the possibility of a sudden eruption. Dave Schneider, a US Geological Survey geophysicist in Anchorage, told Your Alaska Link: 'This sort of frustrating phase for probably a lot of people in the community that that it's either ramping up or ramping down. We're just kind of holding steady.' The volcano's summit crater hasn't erupted for 5,000 years, experts estimate. But its side vent, called Crater Peak, last erupted just 30 years ago. If Mount Spurr blows again, the eruption will most likely be from this side vent, Haney previously told Officials have been monitoring Mount Spurr since April 2024 when seismic activity kicked off. By October, the rate of quakes increased from an average of 30 per week to 125 per week. While the number of earthquakes have dwindled through this year, the activity appears to have ramped up in the last month. 'Earthquake activity beneath Mount Spurr remains elevated. Following a steady decline from late March through April, shallow has increased,' the AVO said. Scientists recently measured gas emissions from Mount Spurr and found that while the levels are a little lower than last month, they are still higher than normal. Both carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide are being released from the volcano at rates above background levels, signs that magma remains active beneath the surface. Mount Spurr lies about 78 miles from Anchorage, home to nearly 300,000 people who have begun stocking up on food and protective gear, preparing for the possibility of a sudden eruption The AVO noted that similar levels were observed back in 2004 to 2006, a period of unrest when Mount Spurr did not erupt. Carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide are natural components of magma, released when molten rock rises toward the surface. However, the AVO has recently detected a pause in ground deformation, suggesting that the shallow magma intrusion has temporarily stalled. 'The pause in deformation suggests that the ascent of magma to shallow levels beneath the volcano over the past 17 months has stalled,' the agency shared. 'This intrusion of magma could still lead to an eruption, but gas and earthquake activity do not clearly indicate an unstable or pressurizing system.' The agency added that most magma intrusions, like those observed at Mount Spurr during the 2004 to 2006 unrest, do not lead to eruptions. However, it cautioned that a similar pause in deformation occurred in fall 2024, and magma movement could resume at any time. If the eruption does happen, Mount Spurr would spew multiple plumes of ash rising as high as 50,000 feet into the air, Haney said. Each ash-producing explosive episode would last three to four hours, and the resulting cloud could blanket the city of Anchorage and other nearby communities in a thick layer of dust. The eruption would also produce destructive mudslides and avalanches of volcanic debris racing down the volcano's side at over 200 miles per hour, 'but fortunately, there are not any communities in that radius that would be affected,' Haney said. The AVO said on Wednesday that the eruption would likely be similar to those that occurred in 1953 and 1992 is still possible.' Those past eruptions involved explosive events lasting several hours, generating ash clouds that traveled hundreds of miles and caused minor ashfall, up to about a quarter-inch across southcentral Alaska, according to the agency.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Violent earthquake swarm strikes just miles from major volcano on brink of exploding... sparking eruption fears
Multiple earthquakes have hit near Alaska's Mount Spurr that scientists warn is gearing up for an eruption. The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected at least a dozen tremors within 30 miles of the volcano. The seismic activity is caused by magma rising toward the surface, building pressure and causing fractures in the surrounding rock. One of the strongest quakes —a magnitude 3.1—was recorded on Wednesday evening, about 30 miles from Mount Spurr, followed by several smaller tremors closer to the summit on Thursday. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) posted an update regarding the status of Mount Spurr, saying: 'Unrest continues at Mount Spurr volcano. 'Small volcanic earthquakes were detected beneath the volcano over the past day.' A recent image taken this month shows the 11,000-foot-tall volcano emitting a large plume of steam, likely caused by magma heating underground water. Scientists have been closely monitoring this volcano for signs of an eruption, which they say could happen in a matter of weeks or months. The AVO has warned that when Mount Spurr erupts, it could unleash powerful explosions sending multiple plumes of ash up to 50,000 feet into the atmosphere. Each ash-producing event is expected to last three to four hours, with the resulting clouds capable of blanketing Anchorage and nearby areas in thick volcanic dust. The eruption could also trigger destructive mudflows and fast-moving avalanches of volcanic debris racing down the slopes at over 200 miles per hour. 'Fortunately, there are no communities within that immediate danger zone,' Matt Haney, scientist-in-charge at the AVO, told Anchorage, which is home to nearly 300,000 people and located about 78 miles from Mount Spur, has been preparing for the possibility of an eruption by stockpiling food, water and protective gear. In March, the AVO issued an alert that Mount Spurr could erupt within weeks. However, activity has since slowed. Ground deformation has decreased, and the ice along the crater's shoreline remains intact, something that would typically melt if magma were nearing the surface. 'Although low-level unrest continues, no changes have been observed in the monitoring data to indicate that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption,' the AVO stated on Wednesday. While the likelihood of an eruption has decreased since March, seismic activity remains elevated, the Wednesday update noted. Magma pushing upward creates stress on surrounding rock, fracturing it and triggering earthquakes. This movement is a key indicator of potential volcanic activity. In the past 24 hours alone, a dozen shallow earthquakes have been recorded near Mount Spurr—another sign that magma may still be shifting beneath the surface. Haney and his colleagues at the AVO have been closely tracking shallow earthquakes, ground deformation, and gas and steam emissions at Mount Spurr. If Mount Spurr's activity continues to ramp up, the next sign of an eruption will be a volcanic tremor, Haney said. This would be different from the brief, shallow earthquakes this volcano has already been experiencing. A volcanic tremor is a longer stretch of ongoing shaking that can persist for minutes to days. Scientists predicted that the eruption will be similar to those in 1953 and 1992. These events saw, 'one or more explosive events, each lasting as long as a few hours, would produce ash clouds carried downwind for hundreds of miles and minor (up to about ¼ inch) ashfall over southcentral Alaska,' according to the AVO. The Municipality of Anchorage reported nearly $2 million in damages, office closures and cleanup costs from the August eruption. The ash clouds would not just coat Anchorage, but would spark airline chaos. International hubs such as Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and potentially Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) would be shut down. Halting all incoming and departing flights at these airports could have a ripple effect across the country, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations and even disrupting the global supply chain. Hundreds of planes fly over Anchorage and Fairbanks per day, and it's not just passenger flights that would be impacted. ANC is the fourth-busiest cargo airport in the world, with more than 8,000 cargo flights passing through each month. During the 1992 eruption, ANC shut down for 20 hours while the ash cloud hung over Anchorage.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
More earthquakes rattle Alaska volcano as eruption fears rise
More than two dozen earthquakes have rattled a massive Alaska volcano over the last two days, potentially signaling an imminent eruption. Mount Spurr, which is 11,000 feet tall and located 81 miles from Anchorage, has been showing signs of unrest for more than a year. Scientists have been closely monitoring this volcano for signs of an eruption, which they say could happen in a matter of weeks or months. Over the past 48 hours, 28 small, shallow earthquakes have been detected beneath the volcano. This is a continuation of heightened seismic activity that has been ongoing since April 2024, which experts believe could be a sign that new magma is rising closer to the surface. Mount Spurr has also been emitting gas and steam from its summit crater, which an Anchorage resident recently caught on camera. A local in Anchorage shared a clip Wednesday showing gray vapor rising from the volcano's peak, caused by magma heating underground water. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), which has been tracking Mount Spurr's activity, said 'clear web camera views showed an occasional vapor plume at the summit' in a Wednesday update. 'Although low-level unrest continues, no changes have been observed in the monitoring data to indicate that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption,' the update states. But Anchorage, home to nearly 300,000 people, is bracing for Mount Spurr to blow and have stockpiled everything from groceries to water and protective gear. If the volcano does, 'it would be explosive,' Matt Haney, scientist-in-charge at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) at US Geological Survey (USGS) told This event would spew multiple plumes of ash rising as high as 50,000 feet into the air, Haney added. Each ash-producing explosive episode would last three to four hours, and the resulting cloud could blanket the city of Anchorage and other nearby communities in a thick layer of dust. This would force international hubs such as Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and potentially Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) to shut down. Halting all incoming and departing flights at these airports could have a ripple effect across the country, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations and even disrupting the global supply chain. Hundreds of planes fly over Anchorage and Fairbanks per day, and it's not just passenger flights that would be impacted. ANC is the fourth-busiest cargo airport in the world, with more than 8,000 cargo flights passing through each month. The eruption would also produce destructive mudslides and avalanches volcanic debris racing down the volcano's side at over 200 miles per hour, 'but fortunately, there are not any communities in that radius that would be affected,' Haney said. The event would most likely occur at the volcano's Crater Peak side vent, which last erupted in 1992 (pictured). During that eruption, ANC shut down for 20 hours while the ash cloud hung over Anchorage. It darkened skies in the middle of the day, and ultimately settled an eighth of an inch thick across the city. The Municipality of Anchorage reported nearly $2 million in damages, office closures and cleanup costs from the August eruption. No one was killed by these events directly. But two heart attacks, one fatal, from shoveling ashfall were reported in Anchorage. Since last April, Haney and his colleagues at the AVO have been tracking shallow earthquakes, ground deformation, and gas and steam emissions at Mount Spurr. All of these are signs that a volcano is getting ready to erupt. If Mount Spurr's activity continues to ramp up, the next sign of an eruption will be a volcanic tremor, Haney said. This would be different from the brief, shallow earthquakes this volcano has already been experiencing. A volcanic tremor is a longer stretch of ongoing shaking that can persist for minutes to days. It occurs when magma beneath the volcano begins rising toward the surface as the eruption grows imminent. The last time Mount Spurr erupted — volcanic tremors began about three weeks before it finally blew.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Major US city on fresh volcano eruption watch after swarm of earthquakes leave locals terrified
More than two dozen earthquakes have rattled a massive Alaska volcano over the last two days, potentially signaling an imminent eruption. Mount Spurr, which is 11,000-foot-tall and located 81 miles from Anchorage, has been showing signs of unrest for more than a year. Scientists have been closely monitoring this volcano for signs of an eruption, which they say could happen in a matter of weeks or months. Over the past 48 hours, 28 small, shallow earthquakes have been detected beneath the volcano. This is a continuation of heightened seismic activity that has been ongoing since April 2024, which experts believe could be a sign that new magma is rising closer to the surface. Mount Spurr has also been emitting gas and steam from its summit crater, which an Anchorage resident recently caught on camera. A local in Anchorage shared a video Wednesday showing gray vapor rising from the volcano's peak, caused by magma heating underground water. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), which has been tracking Mount Spurr's activity, said 'clear web camera views showed an occasional vapor plume at the summit' in a Wednesday update. 'Although low-level unrest continues, no changes have been observed in the monitoring data to indicate that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption,' the update states. But Anchorage, home to nearly 300,000 people, is bracing for Mount Spurr to blow and have stockpiled everything from groceries to water and protective gear. If the volcano does, 'it would be explosive,' Matt Haney, scientist-in-charge at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) at US Geological Survey (USGS) told This event would spew multiple plumes of ash rising as high as 50,000 feet into the air, Haney added. Each ash-producing explosive episode would last three to four hours, and the resulting cloud could blanket the city of Anchorage and other nearby communities in a thick layer of dust. This would force international hubs such as Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and potentially Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) to shut down. Halting all incoming and departing flights at these airports could have a ripple effect across the country, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations and even disrupting the global supply chain. Hundreds of planes fly over Anchorage and Fairbanks per day, and it's not just passenger flights that would be impacted. ANC is the fourth-busiest cargo airport in the world, with more than 8,000 cargo flights passing through each month. The eruption would also produce destructive mudslides and avalanches volcanic debris racing down the volcano's side at over 200 miles per hour, 'but fortunately, there are not any communities in that radius that would be affected,' Haney said. The event would most likely occur at the volcano's Crater Peak side vent, which last erupted in 1992. During that eruption, ANC shut down for 20 hours while the ash cloud hung over Anchorage. It darkened skies in the middle of the day, and ultimately settled an eighth of an inch thick across the city. The Municipality of Anchorage reported nearly $2million in damages, office closures and cleanup costs from the August eruption. No one was killed by these events directly. But two heart attacks, one fatal, from shoveling ashfall were reported in Anchorage. Since last April, Haney and his colleagues at the AVO have been tracking shallow earthquakes, ground deformation, and gas and steam emissions at Mount Spurr. All of these are signs that a volcano is getting ready to erupt. If Mount Spurr's activity continues to ramp up, the next sign of an eruption will be a volcanic tremor, Haney said. This would be different from the brief, shallow earthquakes this volcano has already been experiencing. A volcanic tremor is a longer stretch of ongoing shaking that can persist for minutes to days. It occurs when magma beneath the volcano begins rising toward the surface as the eruption grows imminent. The last time Mount Spurr erupted — volcanic tremors began about three weeks before it finally blew.
