Akutan Volcano, Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Update 003

Alaska Volcano Observatory Update
Wednesday, March 13, 1996 5 pm AST (0200 UTC)

Seismic activity at Akutan Volcano declined considerably yesterday relative to the activity reported on Sunday and Monday. As of this afternoon, Akutan residents report that earthquakes are being felt at a rate of about 1 per hour. An AVO seismologist arrived in the city of Akutan last night, installed one seismometer, and has begun recording the seismicity. Poor weather conditions persist and continue to prevent visual observation of the volcano.

Akutan volcano is located on west central Akutan Island in the eastern Aleutian Islands 185 km southwest of the tip of the Alaska Peninsula. The communities of Unalaska and Dutch Harbor, lie 50 km to the southwest. Akutan is a stratovolcano with a 2-km-wide summit crater with an active cinder cone. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian arc with at least 27 separate eruptive episodes documented since 1790. The volcano frequently produces low-level eruptive activity including steam and ash emission.

AVO is closely monitoring the situation and will issue further updates as information becomes available.

PLEASE CONTACT AVO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:
Terry E.C. Keith                         Chris Nye
AVO Scientist-in-Charge                  (Acting) AVO Coordinating Scientist
U.S. Geological Survey                   Geophysical Institute
4200 University Drive                    University of Alaska
Anchorage, AK  99508-4667                Fairbanks, AK  99775
OFF= (907) 786-7443                      OFF=(907) 474-7430
FAX= (907) 786-7425                      FAX=(907) 474-5618
EMAIL=TKEITH@TARDADDY.WR.USGS.GOV        CNYE@GI.ALASKA.EDU