The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. The Alaska Volcano Observatory is funded by the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program and the State of Alaska. 2008 Volcanic Activity in Alaska, Kamchatka, and the Kurile Islands: Summary of Events and Response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5243 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Photograph showing Okmok eruption plume as seen from Fort Glenn (ranch building in foreground) on August 3, 2008. Ash from this phase of the eruption ultimately reached the community of Nikolski on the west end of Umnak Island. Photograph by J. Larsen, AVO/UAFGI. 2008 Volcanic Activity in Alaska, Kamchatka, and the Kurile Islands: Summary of Events and Response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory By Christina A. Neal, Robert G. McGimsey, James P. Dixon, U.S. Geological Survey, Cheryl E. Cameron, Alaska Department of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Anton A. Nuzhdaev, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, and Marina Chibisova, Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. The Alaska Volcano Observatory is funded by the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program and the State of Alaska. Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5243 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2011 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Neal, C.A., McGimsey, R.G., Dixon, J.P., Cameron, C.E., Nuzhdaev, A.A., and Chibisova, Marina, 2011, 2008 Volcanic activity in Alaska, Kamchatka, and the Kurile Islands: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5243, 94 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Volcanic Activity in Alaska, Northeast to Southwest along Aleutian Arc ..........................................17 Redoubt Volcano .................................................................................................................................17 Aniakchak Volcano .............................................................................................................................22 Mount Veniaminof Volcano ...............................................................................................................24 Shishaldin Volcano .............................................................................................................................27 Unalaska Bay, near Makushin Volcano ..........................................................................................32 Okmok Volcano ....................................................................................................................................33 Cleveland Volcano ..............................................................................................................................52 Kasatochi Volcano ..............................................................................................................................57 Volcanic Activity, Kamchatka Peninsula, and the Northern Kurile Islands, Russia .........................64 Sheveluch Volcano .............................................................................................................................68 Klyuchevskoy Volcano .......................................................................................................................70 Bezymianny Volcano ..........................................................................................................................73 Karmsky Volcano ................................................................................................................................75 Koryaksky Volcano .............................................................................................................................77 Gorely Volcano ...................................................................................................................................79 Mutnovsky Volcano ............................................................................................................................79 Chikurachki Volcano ...........................................................................................................................80 Volcanic Activity, Central and Southern Kurile Islands .........................................................................81 Tyatya Volcano ....................................................................................................................................81 Summary........................................................................................................................................................83 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................83 References Cited .........................................................................................................................................84 Glossary of Selected Terms and Acronyms ............................................................................................89 Appendix 1. Volcano Alert Levels and Revised Aviation Color Codes Used by United States Volcano Observatories .........................................................................................93 Appendix 2. Level of Concern Color Code for Volcanic Activity Used in Kamchatka and the Kurile Islands in 2008 .......................................................................................................94 iv Figures Figure 1. Map showing historically active volcanoes in Alaska along with place names used in this report ………………………………………………………… 2 Figure 2. Graph showing number of earthquakes located per year in the AVO annual catalogs of seismicity and number of seismically monitored volcanoes per year ……………………………………………………………… 15 Figure 3. Photograph showing fumarolic activity through glacial ice that covered the 1990 lava dome in the summit crater of Redoubt, August 7, 2008 …………… 18 Figure 4. Map showing location of Redoubt Volcano in south-central Alaska, other volcanoes, and place names in this section ……………………………………… 19 Figure 5. Photograph showing summit area and upper north flank of Redoubt Volcano …… 20 Figure 6. Photograph showing an active cascade of water – about 40 m (130 ft) in height – and debris from atop the Drift glacier at the north base of Redoubt Volcano, November 7, 2008 ……………………………………………… 21 Figure 7. Photograph showing aerial view of the western portion of 10-km-diameter (6.2 mi) Aniakchak caldera on the Alaska Peninsula ……………………………… 23 Figure 8. Photograph showing small ash emission event at Veniaminof Volcano ………… 25 Figure 9. Seismicity related to the small 09:03 AKDT ash emission event at Veniaminof Volcano on February 22, 2008 ………………………………………… 26 Figure 10. Photograph showing summit area of Shishaldin Volcano on August 1, 2008 ……… 28 Figure 11. Photograph showing summit crater of Shishaldin Volcano on August 1, 2008 …… 29 Figure 12. Photograph showing a particularly spectacular vapor plume from the summit of Shishaldin Volcano on August 15, 2008 ………………………………… 30 Figure 13. Photograph showing summit crater of Shishaldin Volcano on October 12, 2008 … 31 Figure 14. Photograph showing aerial view of Okmok Caldera, June 7, 2007 ………………… 33 Figure 15. Thermal infrared channel from the July 12, 2008, 22:12 UTC GOES satellite image showing the eastward drifting Okmok eruption cloud …………………… 35 Figure 16. Photograph showing Okmok Caldera in eruption on July 20, 2008 ………………… 39 Figure 17. Photograph showing 2008 Crater Creek lahar deposit delta and sediment plume into the Bering Sea ………………………………………………………… 40 Figure 18. Photograph showing active vents within Okmok Caldera on August 1, 2008 ……… 41 Figure 19. Photograph showing Okmok Volcano in eruption on August 2, 2008 ……………… 42 Figure 20. Photograph showing Okmok eruption plume as seen from Fort Glenn on August 3, 2008 …………………………………………………………………… 43 Figure 21. Photograph showing eruption cloud at Okmok on August 13, 2008 ……………… 44 Figure 22. Photograph