Akutan - Historic eruptions

Reported Activity

start date	end date	title	description	icon	date limit	importance	link
1765-00-00		Akutan: 1765	Coxe (1787) reports "The flames of sulfur are occasionally seen at night upon the mountains of Unalaska and Akutan." Jacob and Hauksson (1983) interpret this statement to mean eruptions at Akutan during the 1760's.	asterisk_yellow.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=226&page=basic
1790-06-18		Akutan: 1790	Grewingk (1850, translated 2003 by Fritz Jaensch) writes that Sauer and Sarychev reported Akutan smoking on June 7, 1790 [Julian calendar date]. The English translation of Sarychev states that on June 17, 1791 "At midnight a thick mist arose, which lasted till seven in the morning, when the island Atrutan, with its smoking crater, and the circumjacent islets, gradually opened to view." Sauer states that they saw the island of Akutan on June 18th, 1791 [Gregorian calendar date], and makes no ... More information	asterisk_yellow.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=227&page=basic
1828-00-00		Akutan: 1828	Grewingk (1850, translated 2003 by Fritz Jaensch) writes that Postels [Russian naturalist aboard the Seniavin] reported Akutan smoking and having hot springs in 1828. Dall (1870) writes: "Little Sitkin, Akun, Akutan, Tanak-Angunakh, Atka, Koniushi, Goreloi, and Shishaldin smoked. The same disturbances continued for two years." This sentence appears to say that all of these volcanoes smoked for two years, which was probably not the case, according to the earlier statements found in Grewingk, ... More information	asterisk_yellow.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=228&page=basic
1838-00-00		Akutan: 1838	Dall (1870) reports Akutan smoking in 1838.	asterisk_yellow.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=229&page=basic
1845-00-00		Akutan: 1845	Kisslinger (1983), translating Doroshin (1870): "In the same year [1845] volcanoes on Akutan smoked, as did Makushin Volcano on Unalaska Island."	asterisk_yellow.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=230&page=basic
1848-03-05		Akutan: 1848	Kisslinger (1983), translating Doroshin (1870): "In 1848, in the first few days of March, a volcano on Akutan began to eject flames, ash, and stones, with a rumble and a shaking of the ground."	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=231&page=basic
1852-09-01		Akutan: 1852	Davidson (1884), speaking of two peaks on Akutan: "I made a sketch of them in 1867, when the eastern one was smoking, and I was then informed by one of the Russian-American navigators that on the night of Sept. 1, 1852, he saw one or two eruptions form the northwest side of these two cones. Frequently fire and great noises issue from the eastern peak."	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=232&page=basic
1862-00-00		Akutan: 1862	Byers and Barth (1953) report Akutan smoking in 1862. Dall (1870) does not mention this event in his compilation.	asterisk_yellow.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=233&page=basic
1865-00-00		Akutan: 1865	Dall (1870) reports that in 1865, "light was observed at night in the direction of Akhun and Akutan."	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=234&page=basic
1867-00-00		Akutan: 1867	Davidson (1884): speaking of two peaks on Akutan: "I made a sketch of them in 1867, when the eastern one was smoking * * *." Byers and Barth (1953) report that Akutan in 1867 produced "smoke, fire, and 'great noises.'"	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=235&page=basic
1883-00-00		Akutan: 1883	Becker (1898) reported a steam and ash eruption at Akutan in 1883.	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=236&page=basic
1887-00-00		Akutan: 1887	Becker (1898) reported a lava eruption at Akutan in 1887.	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=237&page=basic
1892-08-00	1892-9-23	Akutan: 1892	From Stanley-Brown (1899): "One unusually favorable day in August, 1892, Mr. Charles H. Townsend, of the United States Fish Commission, and I climbed one of the peaks of Unalaska bay, which brought Akutan in full view. To our great surprise, we saw gigantic rings of smoke, such as sometimes come in miniature from the smokestacks of locomotives, issuing from the crater at regular intervals of about twenty minutes. As each succeeding ring appeared, its predecessor was slowly breaking up and fading ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=238&page=basic
1896-00-00		Akutan: 1896	Byers and Barth (1953) write that Akutan was "glowing" in 1896.	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=239&page=basic
1907-00-00		Akutan: 1907	A March 15, 1907, Washington Post newspaper article describes the eruption observed in March, 1907: "Word has been received from Valdez, Alaska, that the volcano on the Island of Akutan, off the Peninsula of Alaska, and not far from Unalaska, was in active eruption when the steamer Dora passed the island at 2 a.m. on February 28. All the passengers were aroused to witness the sight, which is said to have been magnificent. "At about the same hour, a severe earthquake occurred occurred at Unalaska, ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=240&page=basic
1908-02-22		Akutan: 1908	Sapper (1917) reports Akutan in eruption on February 22, 1908. Coats (1950) says this eruption also had a lava flow.	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=241&page=basic
1909-09-08		Akutan: 1909	A newspaper account of a possible eruption at Akutan in 1909 is as follows: From the Nevada State Journal, September 8, 1909: "Captain M. Webber, of the Alaska pack steamer Lehua, which arrived [to San Francisco] today from the Aleutian Islands, reports that when his vessel left the island the volcano Akutan was in violent eruption. Lava was issuing in great volume." The article then continues to state erroneously that this is the first "disturbance" reported since 1887.	asterisk_yellow.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=564&page=basic
1911-00-00		Akutan: 1911	Finch (1935) writes that Hugh McGlashan said that the 1911 eruption of Akutan threw an "appreciable" amount of ash over Akutan Village.	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=242&page=basic
1912-00-00		Akutan: 1912	Sapper (1917) reports that during 1912, Akutan was "smoking or steaming" whenever the mountain was visible.	asterisk_yellow.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=243&page=basic
1927-00-00	1928-00-00	Akutan: 1927 - 1928	From Jaggar (1945): Akutan was "smoking and flaming more in 1928 than 1927." Finch (1935) also reported slight earthquakes with rumbles in 1927. Newspaper accounts are more detailed. From the Warren Tribune, June 6, 1928: "The largest volcanic mountain on Akutan Island was believed to be in eruption today. The motorship Patterson, some distance away, reported to Dutch Harbor that dense clouds of black smoke could be seen rolling from the island." From the Fairbanks Daily News Miner, ... More information	asterisk_yellow.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=244&page=basic
1929-06-01	1929-12-00	Akutan: 1929	A June 1, 1929 Associated Press article provides the first news of this eruption: "Intermittenly lighting the sky with flames and darkening it with ashes a new volcano today was pouring molten lava down the sides of an unnamed mountain and threatning to cover all of Akutan Island, residents of the upper Aleutian Islands reported here. "The island, 1,000 miles southwest of Cordova, normally would have about a dozen residents at this time of year. * * * Heavy ash from the volcano was gradually ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=245&page=basic
1931-05-00	1931-8-11	Akutan: 1931	Finch (1935) reports that on August 11, 1931: "One vent in the cone emitted dark smoke or ash along with a rumble." He also reports that smoke was observed in May 1931. Jaggar (1931) reports that on August 11, 1931 a rumbling was heard, and on July 24, 1931, an ascent of Akutan showed the crater was hot, with steam.	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=246&page=basic
1946-12-00	1947-1-00	Akutan: 1946 - 1947	From Byers and Barth (1953): "The most recent lava eruption of Akutan volcano was first seen on January 4, 1947, at 4 pm. An Associated Press article dated January 8 quoted a Navy report that the lava had flowed down the sides of the volcano threatening Akutan village. * * * Actually, inasmuch as the lava of the January, 1947, eruption did not flow out of the crater, the village was never threatened by flowing lava. The small lava tongue that extends through the crater gap and down the crater ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=247&page=basic
1948-08-00		Akutan: 1948	From Unknown (Earth Science Digest, 1949): "During August 1948 the crater area of Akutan volcano was examined by geologists of the U.S. Geological Survey, who mapped the limits of the 1947 lava flow and of earlier lava flows. During the geologists' visit large boulders and ash were noisily ejected from the cinder cone inside the crater at irregular intervals ranging from a few minutes to several hours. The boulders fell over a limited area around the base of the cone, but some of the lighter ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=570&page=basic
1949-04-29	1949-6-00	Akutan: 1949	Unknown (Earth Science Digest, 1949) reports: "* * * According to Hugh McGlashan, postmaster at Akutan, a village 8 miles east of the volcano, 1/8 inch of ash fell on the village during the night of April 29. Ash mixed with sleet continued to fall all during the following day because of a steady west wind from the direction of the volcano. Now snow on the higher slopes of the volcano is covered by a heavy black layer of ash. The eruption continued full scale until May 10 and then decreased ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=248&page=basic
1951-10-00		Akutan: 1951	Jones (1951) reported minor ash showers and fume emissions from Akutan in 1951, and he also (Jones, 1952) reported that during October 1951, the lower slopes of Akutan showed fresh black ash on top of the snow, but the summit of the volcano was concealed in cloud.	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=249&page=basic
1953-00-00		Akutan: 1953	Powers (1958) reports an ash eruption at Akutan from 1948-1953. Other compilers state only an eruption or possible eruption at Akutan in 1953.	asterisk_yellow.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=250&page=basic
1962-11-07		Akutan: 1962	From Reeder (1988): "Some evening during the first part of November 1962, Nick Borenin of Akutan village observed from his boat that was just outside of Akutan Harbor lava "fire" that was being emitted from the summit caldera of Akutan volcano. Larry Mensoff of Akutan village said that at the time one could hear a rumbling sound from the volcano at the village, which is 12 km east of Akutan volcano. In the next morning, the village awoke to find snow and window ledges covered with a very noticeable ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=251&page=basic
1972-02-11		Akutan: 1972	From Shackelford (1976): "The crew of the S.S. Summit observed Akutan in eruption at 0900 GMT on 11 February 1974. Ejecta was thrown to heights exceeding 100 meters, while a lava flow poured down the west flank of the volcano toward the Lava Bight. The lava flow was several hundred meters in length. The eruption was of a pulsating, intermittent nature (Information from Smithsonian Institution, 1974). "Since the original report said that the lava was flowing down the side of the 634 m ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=253&page=basic
1972-09-00	1973-5-00	Akutan: 1972 - 1973	From Stone (1975): "Pilots from Reeve-Aleutian Airways reported on 22 May 1973 that the Akutan volcano apparently had been erupting ash and steam for several months. "A survey of ERTS satellite data from past months revealed that Image No. 1056-21331 of 17 September 1972 showed the mountain to be essentially snow-free as contrasted with other nearby peaks at similar altitudes."	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=252&page=basic
1976-10-00	1977-5-9	Akutan: 1976 - 1977	From Shackelford (1979): "Sporadic ash eruptions, which began in fall 1976, were still continuing as of May 1977. Observations of the activity during May 1977 showed explosive ejection of light brown ash clouds (every 1/4 hour between 17:00 and 20:00 on 5 May) with the ash cloud drifting N. During the inter-eruption periods, white fume emission occurred. Incandescent tephra was noted on 6 May at 17:30, and further eruptions were noted the following day. Similar activity was noted on 9 May. ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=254&page=basic
1978-09-21	1978-10-00	Akutan: 1978	From Compton and others (1980), describing activity at Akutan beginning in late September, 1978 and ending in October, 1978: "Akutan began to erupt in late September, 1978. Airline pilots reported incandescent fragments, some 'as big as a car' rising about 100 m above the crater. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau passed N of Akutan during the evening of 6 October. Crew members observed incandescent tephra ejection from the summit and glow reflecting upward onto an eruption column. A deep ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=255&page=basic
1980-07-08		Akutan: 1980	... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=256&page=basic
1982-10-07	1983-5-00	Akutan: 1982 - 1983	From Reeder (1986): "Steam has been emitted continuously from the large cinder cone within the Akutan summit caldera since its last July, 1980 eruption * * *. Then, sometime during the first part of October 1982 very light ash falls from this cone occurred in Akutan village, which is located about 12 kms to the east. For example, Charles McGlashan of Akutan noticed during the first part of October 1982 ash on his white canvas tent, which he had originally erected at the village in August. By ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=257&page=basic
1986-02-03	1986-6-14	Akutan: 1986	From Reeder (1989): "Intermittent steam-blast eruptions with or without ash occurred from the tephra cone inside the summit caldera of Akutan volcano during 3 February through 8 May 1986. Intermittent tephra eruptions occurred from this cone during 1 June through 14 June 1986." See original text for chart and details of observed activity. Miller (1987) gives this summary of the activity: "The eruption was characterized by sporadic ejection of ash to heights of 15,000 feet from a 4,275-foot-high ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=258&page=basic
1987-01-31	1987-6-24	Akutan: 1987	From Reeder (1990): "During 1987, nearly continuous minor steam emissions occurred from the tephra cone in the Akutan summit caldera. Between 31 January and 24 June, numerous tephra emissions occurred from the caldera cone, causing it to increase in height by about an estimated 100 m." The highest tephra plume went to 4,900 m on February 10, 1987. Ash plumes were often observed by pilots and by residents of Akutan. Incandescence was observed on the evening of April 22 (+/- 1 day). See Reeder ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=259&page=basic
1988-03-26	1988-7-20	Akutan: 1988	From Reeder (1991), concerning eruptive activity at Akutan during 1988: "Only minor but nearly continuous steam emissions from the summit cone were reported up until 26 March 1988 when another series of tephra explosions, principally without steam, occurred from the cone up through 20 July 1988. One of the largest tephra plumes reached 2.7 km above the summit of the volcano at 0919 LT (=GMT - 8 hours) on June 2. Minor ash dustings also occurred three times during this 1988 eruptive period at ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=260&page=basic
1989-02-27	1989-3-31	Akutan: 1989	From Reeder (1992): "During 1989, nearly continuous minor steam emissions occurred from the tephra cone in the Akutan summit caldera. Between February 27 and March 28, several tephra explosions occurred from the caldera tephra cone. "On February 27, 1989, at about 1200, Lawrence Prokopioff, a resident of Akutan village, observed a small vertical blast of ash with steam from the summit tephra cone of Akutan volcano from his small boat just north of Akutan Island. The plume was large enough ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=261&page=basic
1990-01-22		Akutan: 1990	From Reeder (1993): "Mark Owen of Trident Seafood Corporation in Akutan village reported several short lived and small tephra plumes rising from the summit tephra cone in the Akutan Volcano summit caldera for several days during the latter part of January 1990. The exact date of this activity is unknown."	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=262&page=basic
1990-09-06	1990-10-1	Akutan: 1990	From Smithsonian Institution (1990): "A series of small, short-lived tephra clouds from Akutan were observed in September. No ashfall was noted at Akutan village. Tephra ejection had last been reported in January. Observer's initials, in brackets, follow their information in the chronology below. "6 September: An ash plume was rising 200 m above the tephra cone in the summit caldera at 0910. By 1022, only a thin atmospheric ash layer remained, extending at least 24 km at 1200 m altitude [RL]. ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=263&page=basic
1991-09-15	1991-11-28	Akutan: 1991	From Reeder (1994): "Tephra emissions from the summit tephra cone of Akutan volcano began September 15, 1991, and have occurred up through November, 1991. "* * * A fisherman from the Seattle based fishing boat Richards reported at Dutch Harbor that he observed from his fishing boat at about 0800 LT September 15, 1991, lots of black material being emitted from the summit tephra cone of the Akutan volcano that rose about 300 meters above the volcano and that drifted sharply to the NE. The black ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=264&page=basic
1992-03-08	1992-5-31	Akutan: 1992	From McGimsey and others (1995): "On March 8 at 1645, a pilot reported a small steam plume, possibly containing ash, rising about 2 km above the summit of Akutan (summit elevation 1303 m). Localized ashfall at the summit accompanied the eruption. Minor steam and ash plumes (<100 m high) were reported on March 11-12. On March 22 a pilot reported at 4.3-km-high ash plume at 1637 and fishing vessels off Akutan Island reported ashfall. A resident of Akutan Village, located 16 km east of the volcano, ... More information	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=265&page=basic
1992-12-18		Akutan: 1992	From Smithsonian Institution (1992): "A small ash cloud * * * rose to a maximum altitude of 1.8 km (several hundred meters above the summit) shortly after 1445 on 18 December. The plume was carried ~20 km N, then rapidly dissipated."	exclamation.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=266&page=basic
1996-03-10	1996-3-18	Akutan: 1996	This seismic swarm is not considered to be an eruption of Akutan. From Neal and McGimsey (1997): "On March 10 [1996], a seismic swarm severe enough to seriously alarm residents began beneath the island of Akutan in the eastern Aleutians. Nearly continuous ground shaking punctuated by occasional large shocks continued for 24 hours. After a lull, a second swarm occurred on March 13 and lasted for about 18 hours. During both episodes, felt earthquakes occurred at rates of up to one per minute; ... More information	information.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=267&page=basic
1998-03-26		Akutan: 1998	From McGimsey and others (2003): "On March 26, 1998, AVO received phone calls from the Trident seafood processing plant in Akutan reporting lighting and a possible steam cloud over the summit of the volcano [Akutan]. At the same time, an increase in high-frequency seismicity was detected. The tremor-like seismic signal was confined to a single station. A strong storm with high winds was passing through the region and AVO ultimately concluded that the seismic signals were weather-related."	information.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=584&page=basic
2003-10-15		Akutan: 2003	From McGimsey and others (2005): "AVO received reports on October 15, 2003 from several sources - both on land and at sea - of increased steaming from the northeast flank of the volcano. All reports indicate that the steaming was located at about the 1,500 to 2,000 ft. elevation (~500 to 600 m), and not from the summit crater or cone. A review of seismic data indicated nothing unusual. Hot Springs Bay Valley, which contains a string of thermal springs, heads on the northeast flank of Akutan, and ... More information	information.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=545&page=basic
2007-1-13	2007-10-00	Akutan: 2007	From McGimsey and others (2011): Akutan is one of several Alaska volcanoes at which seismicity was triggered by the M8.2 earthquake generated in the Kurile Islands on January 13, 2007, 0423 UTC. Four of the seven largest triggered Akutan events, ranging in magnitude from 0.0 to 0.5 and depths from 0.86 to -2.17 km, were located (see fig. 36 in original text; John Power, AVO/USGS, written commun., 2010). The earthquake locations fall along the trend of intense seismicity and ground breakage that ... More information	information.png	ye	50	http://www.avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/activity.php?volcname=Akutan&eruptionid=642&page=basic