Gas emissions, earthquakes and ground deformations at Mount Spurr, an Alaskan volcano roughly 80 miles northwest of Anchorage, indicate that it is “progressing toward an eruption,” scientists said this week.
"This time period of unrest will eventually most likely end in an explosive eruption like the ones that happened in 1953 and 1992," Matt Haney, the scientist in charge of the Alaska Volcano Observatory told Live Science.
The 11,070-foot, ice- and snow-covered volcano has been showing signs that an eruption could happen in the coming weeks or months.
“Unrest continues at Mount Spurr volcano,” a statement posted Tuesday by the observatory and the United States Geological Survey said. “Seismicity remains elevated with numerous small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano over the past day.”
The statement added that “the volcano is moving closer to an eruption.”
The latest seismic activity, as well as "significantly elevated" gas emissions have led scientists to conclude that Mount Spurr could erupt soon.
"We expect to see further increases in seismic activity, gas emissions and surface heating prior to an eruption, if one were to occur," the observatory said in a statement last week. "Such stronger unrest may provide days to weeks of additional warning."
Officials with the observatory say that one of the biggest potential hazards to Alaska residents would be caused by diminished air quality due to falling ash, ABC News reported.
No comments:
Post a Comment