alaska volcano observatory

Following a series of flight-canceling explosions, activity at Shishaldin Volcano has decreased over the past three weeks.

Matt Haney, a geophysicist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), said this marks a pause for the eastern Aleutian volcano's eruptive phase, which has been underway since late last year.

A magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck Wednesday night about 50 miles from Adak.

"To give you an idea of how large that is, you get only about 100 magnitude-6 earthquakes on the globe annually," said seismologist Ken MacPherson of the Alaska Earthquake Center. "So that's a fairly significant earthquake."

Adak residents felt the shallow earthquake, which followed a series of smaller quakes in the same area.

MacPherson also said there have been dozens of aftershocks.

Updated 01/20/20 at 10:30 a.m.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has decreased the Aviation Color Code to "orange" and Alert Level to "watch" for Shishaldin Volcano. 

Ash emissions declined greatly Sunday night and seismicity is currently low. A SIGMET warning from the National Weather Service is still in effect for the detached volcanic cloud drifting east-southeast over the Pacific Ocean.

Seismic activity at Shishaldin Volcano is back down after an eruption yesterday caused flights to be cancelled out of Cold Bay – about 58 miles to the northeast.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) lowered the Aviation Color Code to "orange" and Alert Level to "watch." 

The volcano has been active since July, and has had two ash eruptions in the past week.

 Updated 4:15 p.m. 1/07/20

Ash eruption at Shishaldin Volcano continues and has intensified as shown in satellite and lightning data. The Aviation Color Code has increased to "red" and Alert Level has increased to "warning."

Hans Schwaiger, a geophysicist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, said the volcano - 58 miles southwest of Cold Bay – began erupting again this morning, and had sent an ash cloud 27,000 feet that is drifting to the east-northeast, as of 1 p.m.