Volcano Located in Alaska Expected to Erupt Soon According to Experts' Predictions
Alright, buckle up, buddy! Let's dive into the impending fire and brimstone of Alaska's Mount Spurr! This snow-capped beast, a mere stone's throw away from Anchorage (mostly if you're a really strong lumberjack), is sending some clear warning signs to our volcanology pals at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO).
Now, I'm not here to lecture you, but the AVO said in a statement posted to the fancy-pants U.S. Geological Survey's website, that this volcano-the one with the unpleasant nickname "Spurr the burner"-could be primed for a bloody good eruption in the near future! Yes, you heard me right, we're talking weeks to months here, but remember, Mother Nature has a habit of taking her sweet time.
Despite their best attempts to predict impending doom, these scientists expect to see a spike in gas, seismic, and heat activity leading up to the big event. But it's important to note that the ol' Spurr could blow its lid without giving us any advance warning.
The scientists first caught wind of this volcanic unrest in April of last year with the discovery of a surprising number of earthquakes beneath the volcano. From April to early October, the volcano averaged around 30 earthquakes a week, but from early October to early February, bingo! The count increased tenfold to a whopping 125 per week. In the past month, the weekly rate has dipped slightly, but still, it's hanging around the 100 mark.
In April, the scientists also noticed some ground deformation along Mount Spurr's flanks. Though it's only shifted the ground by 2.6 inches (6.5 centimeters) so far, it might just indicate the accumulation of magma, fluids, or gases beneath the surface. Furthermore, a lovely little lake formed at the top Mount Spurr's summit over the summer, signaling increased heat within the crater.
This month, the scientists discovered higher emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the summit and carbon dioxide (CO2) from both the summit and Crater Peak-which we all know is a troublemaker with its active gas vents.
"The current unrest at Mount Spurr suggests that new magma has made its way into the Earth's crust beneath the volcano, and the likelihood of an eruption has seen a significant boost. It seems that magma has been building up beneath Mount Spurr's summit for a while now. The recent gas data indicate that a new pathway has opened towards the Crater Peak vent, and fresh magma might be on the rise," the Wednesday AVO statement noted.
They went on to say that the most probable scenario would be an explosive eruption, or a series of explosions, from the Crater Peak vent-much like the good old days of 1953 and 1992. Mount Spurr last went off thousands of years ago, from its summit, if you can believe it.
"We use our knowledge from past eruptions to get a rough idea of what might happen in the future," David Fee, a coordinating scientist from the University of Alaska Fairbanks's Geophysical Institute, told CNN.
If this eruption mirrors those of '53 and '92, "expect one or more explosive events, each lasting a few hours, producing ash clouds carried hundreds of miles downwind, accompanied by minor ashfall (roughly 0.25 inches) across south central Alaska," the statement explains. "The slopes of Mount Spurr will likely be graced by pyroclastic flows (hot avalanches) and pelted by ballistic showers (flying rocks). Mudflows, known as lahars, may inundate the upper Chakachatna River valley."
For now, the scientists aren't anticipating any imminent eruptions, but they'll be keeping a close eye for strong, sustained volcanic tremors, which they believe would be a clear sign that an eruption is near.
"If we were to witness strong, sustained volcanic tremors, that would be a pretty good indication that an eruption is right around the corner. We haven't seen that yet, but we're keeping our peepers peeled for any signs of it," Fee told Alaska Beacon.
Finally, the AVO statement reveals their intentions for routine overflights to measure gas emissions, assess surface changes, and take temperatures to help them keep a watchful eye on this temperamental beast. Yee haw, I hope you've got your parkas on tight, folks!
- Future eruptions from Mount Spurr, nicknamed "Spurr the burner," could potentially be monitored and predicted using technology and earth-science, as scientists from the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) closely study the increased rate of earthquakes, ground deformation, and gas emissions.
- Despite routine monitoring, the earth-shaking unrest at Mount Spurr suggests that the future might hold both gas and seismic spikes, indicating a significant possibility of an eruption at the Crater Peak vent, though no clear warning signs have been observed yet.
- In the event of an eruption, Anchorage and surrounding areas could be at risk for a variety of potential hazards, including ash clouds, pyroclastic flows, ballistic showers, and lahars, highlighting the importance of ongoing earthquake and gas research to warn the local populace.
- Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory plan to employ a series of routine overflights to measure gas emissions, assess surface changes, and gather temperature readings in an effort to better understand and predict the future behavior of this temperamental volcano, so citizens should remain cautious and prepared for future warning signs.
