Mount Spurr, located approximately 75 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska’s most populous city, is displaying signs of potential volcanic activity. Over the past ten months, experts have detected increasing unrest beneath this volcano, raising concerns about a possible eruption.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory has reported hundreds of small earthquakes occurring beneath Mount Spurr, which is situated within the volcanically active Aleutian Arc. David Fee, a coordinating scientist at the observatory, noted that this seismic activity is accompanied by ground deformations. “Basically, as we think magma and fluids rise within the earth, it causes the ground to swell or deform,” Fee explained. Additionally, scientists have observed the formation of a small lake within the crater, alongside warmer water and gas emissions, indicating further unrest.
Despite these observations, experts emphasize that predicting the exact timing of an eruption remains challenging. Fee highlighted that while there might be increased signals leading up to an eruption, such as raised water temperatures and melting glaciers, the specific timeline for such an event remains uncertain.
The potential hazards posed by a Mount Spurr eruption include ash clouds that could disrupt air travel and impact regional communities, including Anchorage. According to Fee, “One or more explosive events lasting one or a few hours would produce ash clouds carried downwind for hundreds of miles, and the uninhabited area around Mount Spurr would be inundated by pyroclastic flows, mudflows, and ballistic showers.” Currently, the volcano’s alert level is set at advisory, one step above normal.
Historically, Mount Spurr last erupted in 1992 at its Crater Peak vent, located two miles south of the summit. The eruptions, although relatively small, were explosive and dispersed volcanic ash over various parts of Alaska. A present-day eruption is anticipated to occur at Crater Peak once again, as the summit of Spurr has not erupted for thousands of years.
With no local communities in close proximity to the volcano, the immediate human threat is minimal. However, the potential for significant disruption to air travel remains a primary concern. Fee mentioned that scientists are closely monitoring data to detect any changes that might suggest an increased likelihood of an eruption.
While the precise timing of a potential eruption at Mount Spurr remains uncertain, the ongoing seismic activity and environmental changes indicate a heightened state of volcanic unrest. The Alaska Volcano Observatory continues to observe the situation closely to provide timely warnings should further signs of an impending eruption emerge.
