A volcano in Alaska could be prepared to erupt, which would probably send hot ashes avalanches and cascade mud down the slopes of the mountain.
Mount Spurr, a snow -covered stratovolcano that is 77 miles (124 kilometers) through the entrance of Cook from Anchorage, has been shaking with small earthquakes since April 2024, according to the Volcano de Alaska Observatory (Avo). This activity is likely to be linked to a new magma that moves under the mountain. It is possible that this movement can cease without an eruption, but the volcano can also be ready to blow, the avo warned in a notice.
“It has had a higher number of earthquakes than normal for many months.” Matt HaneyThe scientist in charge of the AVO in the United States Geological Service said Live Science. “But during the past month, that in itself increased, and also changed the location of the earthquakes.”
The earthquakes emigrated closely to the mountain peak to a new area about 2 miles (3 km) by the slope, near a lateral ventilation called Crater Peak. This ventilation exploded in 1992 and also produced an eruption in 1953. In both cases, the volcano showed 65,000 -feet ash columns (20,000 meters) in the atmosphere. There is a 50-50 possibility that this may happen again, said Haney.
Related: Scientists discover huge cascades hidden reservoirs, more than double the amount of water in Lake Mead
The other probable scenario is that the magma movement ends without any volcanic activity occurring. Monte Spurr has worried before without exploding. For example, in 2004 and 2005, the volcano saw an increase in earthquakes, but had calmed down in 2006, said Haney.
The least likely scenario is an eruption in the crater of the mountain summit, which has not happened in Mount Spurr in the last 5,000 years. Haney is not only less frequent the rashes of Summit Crater, the movement of the earthquakes to Crater Peak suggests that the mountain will probably not blow its upper part, only its flank.
If an eruption occurs, the mountain could emit explosive explosions of ashes and pyroclastic flows: hot gas avalanches, ash and rock that move more than 200 mph (320 km/h). In addition, snow and ice merits can cause mud flows called Lahars. An eruption of the summit would potentially involve crater lava flows.
Fortunately, there are no communities on the potential path of lahars or pyroclastic flows, said Haney. For humans, the main impact of the eruption of Monte Spurr would probably be ash. In 1992, the eruption in Crater Peak closed the Anchorage airport and dusted the city with 0.1 inches (3 millimeters) of ashes.
“Today there are even more flights entering and leaving the Anchorage airport, so if something like this happened, that would be very harmful, said Haney.” A large ash cloud can also affect flights that are going through Alaska on their way between North America and Asia.
Approximately three weeks before the 1992 eruption, the frequent earthquakes of the volcano became a consistent seismic signal called tremor, said Haney. That is what he and his team are watching for now.
“If we saw this longest agitation of the volcano in our seismic data, that would be a clearer indication that disturbances are progressing towards a safer eruption,” he said.
US Volcano Question. Uu.: How many can you name in 10 minutes?
#earthquakes #massive #volcano #Alaska #Mount #Spur
