Report on Augustine (United States) — 5 April-11 April 2006
Smithsonian / US Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report,
5 April-11 April 2006
Managing Editor: Sally Kuhn Sennert
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2006. Report on Augustine (United States). In: Sennert, S K (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 5 April-11 April 2006. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
59.363°N, 153.43°W; summit elev. 1252 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
Low-level eruptive activity continued at Augustine during 31 March to 4 April, although it was at lower levels than in previous weeks. The seismic network continued to record signals that were associated with occasional hot block-and-ash flows, rock avalanches, rockfalls, and lava flows. Small and dilute ash clouds resulting from these processes were likely confined to the immediate vicinity of the volcano. Satellite imagery continued to show a thermal anomaly at the volcano's summit. Airborne sulfur-dioxide gas measurements revealed continued magmatic gas emissions. Low-light camera observations indicated that activity was restricted mainly to the summit lava dome. Augustine remained at Concern Color Code Orange.
Geological Summary. Augustine volcano, rising above Kamishak Bay in the southern Cook Inlet about 290 km SW of Anchorage, is the most active volcano of the eastern Aleutian arc. It consists of a complex of overlapping summit lava domes surrounded by an apron of volcaniclastic debris that descends to the sea on all sides. Few lava flows are exposed; the flanks consist mainly of debris-avalanche and pyroclastic-flow deposits formed by repeated collapse and regrowth of the summit. The latest episode of edifice collapse occurred during Augustine's largest historical eruption in 1883; subsequent dome growth has restored the volcano to a height comparable to that prior to 1883. The oldest dated volcanic rocks on Augustine are more than 40,000 years old. At least 11 large debris avalanches have reached the sea during the past 1,800-2,000 years, and five major pumiceous tephras have been erupted during this interval. Historical eruptions have typically consisted of explosive activity with emplacement of pumiceous pyroclastic-flow deposits followed by lava dome extrusion with associated block-and-ash flows.