Mount Spurr's imminent eruption signals Alaska's fiery threat
New gas vents have opened on the slopes of Mount Spurr volcano in Alaska. According to volcanologists from the Alaska Volcano Observatory, increased gas emissions, seismic activity, and ground deformation indicate that an eruption is highly likely.
Geologists have been observing increased seismic activity in the Mount Spurr area in Alaska for almost a year. Recent events are prompting authorities to prepare for a possible eruption soon.
The volcano in Alaska awakens again
Mount Spurr (3,375 m) is an ice-covered, active volcano located in Alaska, near Cook Inlet, about 130 km west of Anchorage. It is part of the so-called island arc, a chain of volcanic islands and islets shaped like an arc, which is one of the most volcanically active areas in the world. Spurr is also known for its irregular activity.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a scientific institution that monitors volcanic activity in Alaska, reported that during flights on 7th and 11th March, volcanologists recorded elevated levels of sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide emanating from the summit of Mount Spurr, according to a statement. Newly activated fumaroles, or gas vents, were also visible near the Crater Peak vent. Increased seismic activity and ground deformation have also been observed.
Scientists fear a similar eruption to 1992
They believe we will see further increases in seismic activity, gas emissions, and surface heating before an explosion, if such an explosion occurs. Scientists' predictions become even more likely when looking at the data – hundreds of small, shallow earthquakes have been detected beneath Mount Spurr each week over the past year, with a number exceeding 3,400 earthquakes since April 2024.
Researchers from the Alaska Volcano Observatory explained that they cannot precisely determine when an eruption will occur, if at all, but increased gas emissions recorded in recent days suggest that an eruption could happen in the coming weeks or months.
Both eruptions that occurred in the 20th century originated from the Crater Peak vent, and the last known eruption from the summit of Spurr happened several thousand years ago. According to volcanologists from AVO, the most likely scenario is an eruption similar to that of 1992, which began on 27th September and lasted for several months. The volcano then ejected huge amounts of volcanic ash, which reached over 19 km into the sky, affecting aviation in Alaska and other parts of North America.
The area around the volcano in Alaska is uninhabited
If a similar eruption were to occur, researchers indicate that one or more explosive events, each lasting several hours, could produce ash clouds carried by the wind for hundreds of kilometres and slight ash fall over south-central Alaska. The slopes of Mount Spurr would likely be scoured by pyroclastic flows and affected by fallout. Mudflows might inundate the upper Chakachatna River valley.
Fortunately, the area around Mount Spurr, located about 120 km west of Anchorage, is uninhabited. Moreover, AVO claims that "if an eruption occurred, it would be preceded by additional signals allowing warning," which means there is little risk of anyone being caught off guard by the volcano.
