Makushin bibliography: all known references that deal with Makushin.

"Volcanic eruption plumes and subsequent drifting ash clouds from North Pacific volcanoes have caused delays in flight operations nationwide and substantial damage to aircraft and equipment. Volcanic ash also has caused difficulties in Alaskan communities, ranging from property damage to health hazards. This operating plan provides an overview of multiple agency integrated operations in response to the threat of volcanic ash affecting Alaska, and an agency-by-agency description of roles and responsibilities in such events. A cohesive, well coordinated response will result in the flow of timely and consistent information to those at risk."

Madden, John, Murray, T.L., Carle, W.J., Cirillo, M.A., Furgione, L.K., Trimpert, M.T., and Hartig, Larry (signatories), 2008, Alaska interagency operating plan for volcanic ash episodes, 52 p.
full-text PDF : 907 KB

Since 1988, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has been monitoring volcanic activity across the state, conducting scientific research on volcanic processes, producing volcano-hazard assessments, and informing both the public and emergency managers of volcanic unrest. Below are some examples of the activity at Alaska's volcanoes that have held the attention of AVO staff.

Schaefer, J.R., and Nye, Chris, 2008, The Alaska Volcano Observatory - 20 years of volcano research, monitoring, and eruption response: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Alaska GeoSurvey News, NL 2008-001, v. 11, n. 1, p. 1-9, available at http://wwwdggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=16061 .
ADGGS website with link to PDF
full-text PDF on AVO's server : 5.68 MB

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (INSAR) is capable of measuring ground-surface deformationw ith centimeter-to-subcentimeter precision and spatial resolutions of tens-of-meters over a relatively large region.

Lu, Zhong, 2007, InSAR imaging of volcanic deformation over cloud-prone areas - Aleutian Islands: Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, v. 73, n. 3, p. 245-257.

A methodology to systematically rank volcanic threat was developed as the basis for prioritizing volcanoes for long-term hazards evaluations, monitoring, and mitigation activities.

Ewert, John, 2007, System for ranking relative threats of U.S. volcanoes: Natural Hazards Review, v. 8, n. 4, p. 112-124.

Singer, B.S., Jicha, B.R., Leeman, W.P., Rogers, N.W., Thirlwall, M.F., Ryan, Jeff, and Nicolaysen, K.E., 2007, Along-strike trace element and isotopic variation in Aleutian Island arc basalt: subduction melts sediments and dehydrates serpentine: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 112, n. B6, 26 p., doi: 10.1029/2006JB004897 .

Makushin is a 2036 m high stratovolcano located on Unalaska Island, Alaska. The volcano is located 28 km west of the largest population center of the Aleutians, Unalaska/Dutch Harbor. It is one of many active volcanic centers located along the extensive Aleutian Arc. Makushin's last confirmed eruption was a small explosive one in 1995 with the last significant eruption occurring in 1826. Makushin has had several small steam and ash emissions since it's discovery. Little is known about the magma distribution in the crust beneath Makushin. The purpose of the study is to provide constraints on the 3-D distribution of magma chamber(s) beneath the active volcano by mapping the seismic b-value. We use results from a recent InSAR study for the interpretation of the seismic observations.

Bridges, D.L., and Gao, S.S., 2006, Spatial variation of seismic b-values beneath Makushin Volcano, Unalaska Island, Alaska: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 245, p. 408-415.

The National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS) is a proposed national-scale effort by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Hazards Program and its affiliated partners in the Consortium of U.S. Volcano Observatories (CUSVO) (http://www.cusvo.org) to ensure that volcanoes are monitored at a level commensurate with the threats they pose. Roughly half of the Nation's 169 young volcanoes are dangerous because of the manner in which they erupt and the communities and infrastructure within their destructive reach. Most U.S. volcanoes are located on sparsely populated Federal lands, but it is the threat to communities and infrastructure downstream and downwind, including to military and commercial aviation, that drives the need to properly monitor volcanic activity and provide forecasts and notifications of expected hazards.

Ewert, John, Guffanti, Marianne, Cervelli, Peter, and Quick, James, 2006, The National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS): U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS 2006-3142, 2 p., available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3142 .
PDF on USGS server : 1 MB

Jicha, B.R., 2006, Geochronic and isotopic constraints on the magmatic evolution of Pleistocene-Recent Aleutian and Andean volcanic complexes: University of Wisconsin Madison Ph.D. dissertation, 195 p.

"NVEWS - a National Volcano Early Warning System - is being formulated by the Consortium of U.S. Volcano Observatories (CUSVO) to establish a proactive, fully integrated, national-scale monitoring effort that ensures the most threatening volcanoes in the United States are properly monitored in advance of the onset of unrest and at levels commensurate with the threats posed. Volcanic threat is the combination of hazards (the destructive natural phenomena produced by a volcano) and exposure (people and property at risk from the hazards)."

Ewert, J.W., Guffanti, Marianne, and Murray, T.L., 2005, An assessment of volcanic threat and monitoring capabilities in the United States: framework for a National Volcano Early Warning System NVEWS: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 2005-1164, 62 p.
full-text PDF : 2.90 MB

The primary objectives of the seismic program are the real-time seismic monitoring of active, potentially hazardous, Alaskan volcanoes and the investigation of seismic processes associated with active volcanism. This catalog presents the calculated earthquake hypocenter and phase arrival data, and changes in the seismic monitoring program for the period January 1 through December 31, 2004.

Dixon, J.P., Stihler, S.D., Power, J.A., Tytgat, Guy, Estes, Steve, Prejean, Stephanie, Sanchez, J.J., Sanches, Rebecca, McNutt, S.R., and Paskievitch, John, 2005, Catalog of earthquake hypocenters at Alaskan volcanoes: January 1 through December 31, 2004: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1312, 74 p., available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1312/.
website with links to PDF and data files

"The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, has maintained seismic monitoring networks at historically active volcanoes in Alaska since 1988 (Power and others, 1993; Jolly and others, 1996; Jolly and others, 2001; Dixon and others, 2002; Dixon and others, 2003). The primary objectives of this program are the near real time seismic monitoring of active, potentially hazardous, Alaskan volcanoes and the investigation of seismic processes associated with active volcanism. This catalog presents the calculated earthquake hypocenter and phase arrival data, and changes in the seismic monitoring program for the period January 1 through December 31, 2003."

Dixon, J. P., Stihler, S. D., Power, J. A., Tytgat, Guy, Moran, S. C., Sanchez, J. J., McNutt, S. R., Estes, Steve, and Paskievitch, John, 2004, Catalog of earthquake hypocenters at Alaskan volcanoes: January 1 through December 31, 2003: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 2004-1234, 69 p.
website with links to PDF and data tar file
full-text PDF : 12.3 MB

"Recent explosive eruptions at some of Alaska's 41 historically active volcanoes have significantly affected air traffic over the North Pacific, as well as Alaska's oil, power, and fishing industries and local communities. Since its founding in the late 1980s, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has installed new monitoring networks and used satellite data to track activity at Alaska's volcanoes, providing timely warnings and monitoring of frequent eruptions to the aviation industry and the general public. To minimize impacts from future eruptions, scientists at AVO continue to assess volcano hazards and to expand monitoring networks."

Brantley, S. R., McGimsey, R. G., and Neal, C. A., 2004, The Alaska Volcano Observatory - Expanded monitoring of volcanoes yields results: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS 2004-3084, 2 p.
full-text HTML
full-text PDF : 260 KB

"Between October 12, 1989 and December 31, 2002, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) located 162 deep long-period (DLP) events beneath 11 volcanic centers in the Aleutian arc. These events generally occur at mid- to lower-crustal depths (10-45 km) and are characterized by emergent phases, extended codas, and a strong spectral peak between 1.0 and 3.0 Hz. Observed wave velocities and particle motions indicate that the dominant phases are P- and S-waves. DLP epicenters often extend over broad areas (5-20 km) surrounding the active volcanoes. The average reduced displacement of Aleutian DLPs is 26.5 cm2 and the largest event has a reduced displacement of 589 cm2 (or ML 2.5). Aleutian DLP events occur both as solitary events and as sequences of events with several occurring over a period of 1-30 min."

Power, J.A, Stihler, S.D., White, R.A., and Moran, S.C., 2004, Observations of deep long-period (DLP) seismic events beneath Aleutian Arc volcanoes: 1989-2002: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 138, p. 243-266.

"The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) monitors the more than 40 historically active volcanoes of the Aleutian Arc. Of these, 22 are monitored with short-period seismic instrument networks as of the end of 2001. The AVO core monitoring program also includes daily analysis of satellite imagery, observation overflights, compilation of pilot reports and reports from local residents and mariners. In 2001, AVO responded to eruptive activity or suspected volcanic activity at or near 8 volcanic centers; Snowy and Kukak of the Kamai Group, Pavlof, Frosty, Shishaldin, Makushin, Okmok, Cleveland, and Great Sitkin volcanoes."

McGimsey, R.G., Neal, C.A., and Girina, Olga, 2004: 2001 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 2004-1453, 53 p.
website with link to PDF
full-text PDF on AVO's server : 2.67 MB

"The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, has maintained seismic monitoring networks at historically active volcanoes in Alaska since 1988 (Power and others, 1993; Jolly and others, 1996; Jolly and others, 2001; Dixon and others, 2002). The primary objectives of this program are the seismic monitoring of active, potentially hazardous, Alaskan volcanoes and the investigation of seismic processes associated with active volcanism. This catalog presents the basic seismic data and changes in the seismic monitoring program for the period January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002. Appendix G contains a list of publications pertaining to seismicity of Alaskan volcanoes based on these and previously recorded data."

Dixon, J. P., Stihler, S. D., Power, J. A., Tytgat, Guy, Moran, S. C., Sanchez, John, Estes, Steve, McNutt, S. R., and Paskievitch, John, 2003, Catalog of earthquake hypocenters at Alaskan volcanoes: January 1 through December 31, 2002: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 03-0267, 58 p.
website with links to PDFs, data tar file
full-text PDF : 7.3 MB

"Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) imaging is a recently developed geodetic technique capable of measuring ground-surface deformation with centimeter to subcentimeter vertical precision and spatial resolution of tens-of-meters over a relatively large region (~104 km2). This paper summarizes our recent InSAR studies of several Alaska volcanoes including New Trident, Okmok, Akutan, Kiska, Augustine, Westdahl, Peulik, Shishaldin, and Seguam. The spatial distribution of surface deformation data, derived from InSAR images, enables the construction of detailed mechanical models to enhance the study of magmatic and tectonic processes."

Lu, Zhong, Wicks, C. J., Dzurisin, Daniel, Power, John, Thatcher, Wayne, and Masterlark, Tim, 2003, Interferometric synthetic aperture radar studies of Alaska volcanoes: Earth Observation Magazine, v. 12, n. 3, p. 8-10.

"The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, has maintained seismic monitoring networks at potentially active volcanoes in Alaska since 1988 (Power and others, 1993; Jolly and others, 1996; Jolly and others, 2001). The primary objectives of this program are the seismic surveillance of active, potentially hazardous, Alaskan volcanoes and the investigation of seismic processes associated with active volcanism. This catalog reflects the status and evolution of the seismic monitoring program, and presents the basic seismic data for the time period January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2001."

Dixon, J. P., Stihler, S. D., Power, J. A., Tytgat, Guy, Estes, Steve, Moran, S. C., Paskievitch, John, and McNutt, S. R., 2002, Catalog of earthquake hypocenters at Alaskan volcanoes: January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 02-0342, 56 p.
webpage with links to PDFs, data tar file, ASCII text
full-text PDF : 5 MB

"Pilot reports in January 1995 and geologic field observations from the summer of 1996 indicate that a relatively small explosive eruption of Makushin, one of the more frequently active volcanoes in the Aleutian arc of Alaska, occurred on 30 January 1995. Several independent radar interferograms that each span the time period from October 1993 to September 1995 show evidence of 7 cm of uplift centered on the volcano's east flank, which we interpret as preeruptive inflation of a 7-km-deep magma source (V = 0.022 km3)"

Lu, Zhong, Power, J. A., McConnell, V. S., Wicks, C. J., and Dzurisin, Daniel, 2002, Preeruptive inflation and surface interferometric coherence characteristics revealed by satellite radar interferometry at Makushin Volcano, Alaska: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 107, n. B11, p. 1-13.

Schaefer, Janet, and Nye, C. J., 2002, Historically active volcanoes of the Aleutian Arc: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Miscellaneous Publication MP 0123, unpaged, 1 sheet, scale 1:3,000,000. Superceded by Miscellaneous Publication 133: http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=20181
link to PDF files on DGGS website of MP133, which updates MP123

"The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska - Fairbanks, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, has maintained a seismic monitoring program at potentially active volcanoes in Alaska since 1988 (Power and others, 1993; Jolly and others, 1996). The primary objectives of this program are the seismic surveillance of active, potentially hazardous, Alaskan volcanoes and the investigation of seismic processes associated with active volcanism."

Jolly, A. D., Stihler, S. D., Power, J. A., Lahr, J. C., Paskievitch, John, Tytgat, Guy, Estes, Steve, Lockheart, A. D., Moran, S. C., McNutt, S. R., and Hammond, W. R., 2001, Catalog of earthquake hypocenters at Alaskan volcanoes: January 1, 1994 through December 31, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 01-0189, 22 p.
website with links to PDFs, tar file
full-text PDF : 552 KB
appendix B PDF : 2 MB
phase arrival information (compressed tar file) : 14.5 MB

"More than 40 active volcanoes occur in Alaska. This report summarizes historical data on those volcanoes, using information drawn from the more thorough and comprehensive U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Open-File Report 98-582, Catalog of the Historically Active Volcanoes of Alaska."

Wallace, K. L., McGimsey, R. G., and Miller, T. P., 2000, Historically active volcanoes in Alaska, a quick reference: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS 0118-00, 2 p.
full-text PDF : 162 KB

"Makushin Volcano is a 2,036-meter-high stratovolcano on Unalaska Island. The volcano is located 28 kilometers west of the towns of Dutch Harbor and Unalaska, the largest population centers in the Aleutian Islands and the principal fishing, shipping, and air-transportation hub for westernmost Alaska. Explosive eruptions of Makushin Volcano have occurred at least 17 times since the late 1700s, when written records began. These historic eruptions have been relatively small, sending ash 3 to 10 kilometers above the volcano summit and depositing ash mainly on the flanks of the volcano. Geologic studies show that larger explosive eruptions occurred more than two dozen times during the last several thousand years, generating more widespread ash layers. In addition, a series of very large eruptions about 8,800 to 8,000 years ago produced a 4-kilometer-diameter crater at the summit of the volcano and generated not only numerous pyroclastic flows and surges that traveled down valleys to the sea on the east, west, and north flanks of the volcano, but a debris avalanche and lateral blast that entered the sea on the north flank of Makushin Volcano."

Beget, J. E., Nye, C. J., and Bean, K. W., 2000, Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Makushin Volcano, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigations RI 2000-4, 22 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:100,000.
full-text PDF : .87 MB
map sheet plate : 7.68 MB

Seismology is an important and effective tool for monitoring volcanoes and forecasting eruptions. In the past 2 decades there have been over 25 successful forecasts.

Sigurdsson, Haraldur, (ed.), 2000, Encyclopedia of volcanoes: San Diego, CA, Academic Press, 1417 p.

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 2000, January-February 2000: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 12, n. 1, 28 p.
Part 1 PDF : 239 KB
Part 2 PDF : 916 KB
Part 3 PDF : 469 KB

"A chronostratigraphic framework of Holocene volcanic deposits has been developed for Makushin Volcano. Four major correlative stratigraphic units have been described texturally and geochemically and form a base for reference. Two early Holocene "caldera forming" eruptive events, dated at 8050 yr B.P. and ca. 8790 yr B.P. respectively, generated the vast bulk of pyroclastic debris which fill valleys proximal to the volcano. Total erupted volume for early Holocene unconsolidated deposits approaches 10 km3. The eruptions produced very mobile pyroclastic flows that traveled as far as Dutch Harbor (25 km away) where they buried an ancient Native American culture in more than 30 cm of hot ash and rock fragments."

Bean, K. W., 1999, The Holocene eruptive history of Makushin Volcano, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks unpublished M.S. thesis, Fairbanks, AK, 130 p.
full-text PDF : 6.1 MB

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1999, January-April 1999: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 11, n. 1 and 2, 30 p.
Part 1 PDF : 385 KB
Part 2 PDF : 870 KB
Part 3 PDF : 1 MB

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1999, May-August 1999: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 11, n. 3 and 4, 39 p.
Part 1 PDF : 399 KB
Part 2 PDF : 831 KB
Part 3 PDF : 736 KB
Part 4 PDF : 41 KB
Part 5 PDF : 91 KB

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1999, September-December 1999: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 11, n. 5 and 6, 51 p.
Part 1 PDF : 425 KB
Part 2 PDF : 1.7 MB
Part 3 PDF : 549 KB

Nye, C. J., Queen, Katherine, and McCarthy, A. M., 1998, Volcanoes of Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular IC 0038, unpaged, 1 sheet, scale 1:4,000,000, available at http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=7043 .
website with links to sheets in MrSID format

Alaska hosts within its borders over 80 major volcanic centers that have erupted during Holocene time (<10,000 years). At least 29 of these volcanic centers (table 1) had historical eruptions and 12 additional volcanic centers may have had historical eruptions. Historical in Alaska generally means the period since 1760 when explorers, travelers, and inhabitants kept written records. These 41 volcanic centers have been the source for >265 eruptions reported from Alaska volcanoes.

Miller, T. P., McGimsey, R. G., Richter, D. H., Riehle, J. R., Nye, C. J., Yount, M. E., and Dumoulin, J. A., 1998, Catalog of the historically active volcanoes of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 98-0582, 104 p.
website with PDF links
title page PDF : 52
intro and TOC PDF : 268 KB
eastern part - Wrangell to Ukinrek Maars PDF : 972 KB
central part - Chiginagak to Cleveland PDF : 2,463 KB
western part - Carlisle to Kiska PDF : 956 KB
references PDF : 43 KB

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1998, January-April 1998: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 10, n. 1 and 2, 35 p.
Part 1 PDF : 147 KB
Part 2 : 382 KB
Part 3 PDF : 375 KB

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1998, May-August 1998: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 10, n. 3 and 4, 43 p.
Part 1PDF : 847 KB
Part 2 PDF : 630 KB
Part 3 PDF : 2.2 MB

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1998, September-December 1998: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 10, n. 5 and 6, 51 p.
Part 1 PDF : 330 KB
Part 2 PDF : 919 KB
Part 3 PDF : 780 KB
Part 4 PDF : 276 KB
Part 5 PDF : 1.5 MB

Makushin volcano is one of forty active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc. The predominantly andesitic Makushin volcano is surrounded by several smaller, mafic flank vents.

Roach, A. L., 1997, Crystal clots in the flank vents and lavas of the Makushin volcanic field: implications for cumulate entrainment: University of Alaska Fairbanks unpublished M.S. thesis, 126 p.

"Alaska is home to more than 40 active volcanoes, many of which have erupted violently and repeatedly in the last 200 years. This compact disc (CD-ROM) contains 97 digital images created from 35-mm slides scanned by a Kodak PIW film scanner. These pictures are but a small fraction of thousands taken by Alaska Volcano Observatory scientists, other researchers, and private citizens. Photographs were selected for inclusion in this collection to portray Alaska's volcanoes, to document recent eruptive activity, and to illustrate the range of volcanic phenomena observed in Alaska."

Neal, Christina, and McGimsey, R. G., 1997, Volcanoes of the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands selected photographs: U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS 0040, 1 CD-ROM.
website with links to HTML album, PDF, and individual images in a variety of formats
directory of high-resolution images (PCD format)
web browser photo album
PDF : 27 MB
directory of PDF slideshow files
directory of small screen images (JPG)
directory of large screen images (JPG)
captions file : 44 KB

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1997, January-April 1997: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 9, n. 1 and 2, 51 p.
Part 1 PDF : 252 KB
Part 2 PDF : 2.8 MB
Part 3 PDF : 649 KB

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1997, May-June 1997: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 9, n. 3, 23 p.
full-text PDF : 2.2 MB

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1997, September-December 1997: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 9, n. 5 and 6, 17 p.
Part 1 PDF : 399 KB
Part 2 PDF : 531 KB

During 1993, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) responded to episodes of eruptive activity or false alarms at nine volcanic centers in the state of Alaska. Additionally, as part of a formal role in KVERT (the Kamchatkan Volcano Eruption Response Team), AVO staff also responded to eruptions on the Kamchatka Peninsula, details of which are summarized in Miller and Kirianov (1993). In 1993, AVO maintained seismic instrumentation networks on four volcanoes of the Cook Inlet region--Spurr, Redoubt, Iliamna, and Augustine--and two stations at Dutton Volcano near King Cove on the Alaska Peninsula. Other routine elements of AVO's volcano monitoring program in Alaska include periodic airborne measurement of volcanic SO2 and CO2 at Cook Inlet volcanoes (Doukas, 1995) and maintenance of a lightning detection system in Cook Inlet (Paskievitch and others, 1995).

Neal, C. A., McGimsey, R. G., and Doukas, M. P., 1996, 1993 volcanic activity in Alaska: summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 96-0024, 21 p.
website with PDF and HTML links
full-text PDF : 1149 KB
HTML full-text

"The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) responded to eruptive activity or suspected volcanic activity (SVA) at 6 volcanic centers in 1995 (tables 1, 2): Mount Martin (Katmai Group), Mount Veniaminof, Shishaldin, Makushin, Kliuchef/Korovin, and Kanaga. Of these, AVO has a realtime, continuously recording seismic network only at the Katmai Group. The remaining unmonitored volcanoes are located in sparsely populated and uninhabited areas of the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands. For these volcanoes, the AVO monitoring program relies mainly on pilot reports, observations of local residents and ship crews, and analysis of satellite images. The phrase "suspected volcanic activity", used to characterize several responses, is an eruption report or report of unusual activity that is subsequently determined to be normal or enhanced fumarolic activity, weather-related phenomena, or a non-volcanic event."

McGimsey, R. G., and Neal, Christina, 1996, 1995 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 96-0738, 22 p.
website with PDF and HTML links
full-text PDF : 1036 KB
full-text HTML

"During 1994, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) responded to eruptions, possible eruptions, or false alarms at nine volcanic centers--Mount Sanford, Iliamna, the Katmai group, Kupreanof, Mount Veniaminof, Shishaldin, Makushin, Mount Cleveland and Kanaga. Of these volcanoes, AVO has a real time, continuously recording seismic network only at Iliamna, which is located in the Cook Inlet area of south-central Alaska. AVO has dialup access to seismic data from a 5-station network in the general region of the Katmai group of volcanoes. The remaining unmonitored volcanoes are located in sparsely populated areas of the Wrangell Mountains, the Alaska Peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands. For these volcanoes, the AVO monitoring program relies chiefly on receipt of pilot reports, observations of local residents and analysis of satellite imagery."

Neal, C. A., Doukas, M. P., and McGimsey, R. G., 1995, 1994 volcanic activity in Alaska: summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 95-0271, 18 p.
website with PDF link
full-text PDF : 3 MB

The Aleutian Islands and northern Pacific were among the last regions on earth visited by Europeans. Most early explorations were by officials of the Russian government, independent fur traders, and officials of the Russian American Company. Consequently, reports of these early expeditions are in obscure Russian (or German) publications. After the United States purchased Alaska in 1867, exploration and surveying was conducted by various government agencies, chiefly the U.S. Coast Survey and the Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Myers, J. D., 1994, The geology, geochemistry and petrology of the recent magmatic phase of the central and western Aleutian Arc: unpublished manuscript unpaged.
full-text PDF : 263.9 MB

"Quaternary Aleutian volcanism extends for over 2,500 km, from Buldir Island on the west to Mount Hayes on the east (fig. 1). This belt of volcanic activity lies immediately north of the Aleutian trench, a convergent boundary between the North American and Pacific lithospheric plates."

Motyka, R. J., Liss, S. A., Nye, C. J., and Moorman, M. A., 1993, Geothermal resources of the Aleutian Arc: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Professional Report PR 0114, 17 p., 4 sheets, scale 1:1,000,000.
website with links to PDF and MrSID files

"Makushin Volcano and its satellitic vents are the erupted products of the magmatic system which is the ultimate heat source for the Makushin geothermal system. A detailed study of the chemistry and petrology of these lavas and tuffs was undertaken in order to further the understanding of the geothermal system. The chemistry of erupted lavas provides direct information about the physio-chemical processes involved in magma production, and can be used to infer the existence of such things as long lived shallow magma chambers or regional geotherms which are sufficiently elevated to induce partial melting of the crust. If sufficient detail of chemistry and stratigraphy is known, then mass and heat flux through the crust as a function of time can also be inferred. In this study we report on chemical data from over 160 samples, and mineral composition data from 25 of these. These data support the following conclusions."

Nye, C. J., Swanson, S. E., and Reeder, J. W., 1986, Petrology and geochemistry of Quaternary volcanic rocks from Makushin volcano, central Aleutian Arc: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Public-Data File PDF 86-80, 123 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:50 000.
link to DGGS website, with report and map in PDF format

"This report presents and summarizes seismic and volcanic data collected by Lamont-Doherty in the eastern Aleutian arc and adjacent Bering sea between 1973 and 1982. The data were collected with support by the NOAA-OCSEA Program during the period 1975-1982."

Jacob, K. H., and Hauksson, Egill, 1983, A seismotectonic analysis of the seismic and volcanic hazards in the Pribilof Islands - Eastern Aleutian Islands Region of the Bering Sea: Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University Annual Report NOAA 03--5-022-70, New York, 224 p.

"Extensive sills of andesite and dacite intrude a thick sequence of argillites of Miocene age in the eastern Aleutians. The sills contain large volumes of pillowed lavas that grade into massive lava, layered lava, and breccia. Pillows range in diameter from 1 to 40 feet but are generally 5 to 10 feet; peperite, a mixed intrusive breccia of sedimentary and primary igneous debris, commonly fills pillow interstices and locally constitutes the entire thickness of a sill. Concentrically layered lava forms roughly equidimensional pods, as much as 600 feet thick, and extensive tubular and tabular sills; these layered lava pods are larger than any reported previously. Concentric layers in the lava pods are 1 foot or more thick ; alternate layers differ in appearance and composition and generally weather differentially. Most of the rocks are completely albitized, but some glass is unaltered."

Snyder, G. L., and Fraser, G. D., 1963, Pillowed lavas, 1: Intrusive layered lava pods and pillowed lavas, Unalaska Island, Alaska and Pillowed lavas, 2: A review of selected recent literature: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper PP 0454-B,-C, p. B1-23, C1-7.
full-text PDF : 1.9 MB

Drewes, Harald, Fraser, G. D., Snyder, G. L., and Barnett, H. F. Jr., 1961, Geology of Unalaska Island and adjacent insular shelf, Aleutian Islands, Alaska: in Investigations of Alaskan volcanoes, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin B 1028-S, p. 583-676, 3 sheets, scale 2 at 1:250,000 and 1 unknown.
full-text PDF : 3.3 MB
plate 75 PDF : 6.7 MB
plate 76 PDF : 113 KB
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"In October 1945, the War Department (now Department of the Army) requested the Geological Survey to undertake a program of volcano investigations in the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula area. The first field studies were made during the years 1946-48. The results of the first year's field, laboratory, and library work were hastily assembled as two administrative reports, and most of these data have been revised for publication in Geological Survey Bulletin 1028. Part of the early work was published in 1950 in Bulletin 974-B, "Volcanic Activity in the Aleutian Arc," and in 1951 in Bulletin 989-A, "Geology of Buldir Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska," both by Robert R. Coats. Additionl fieldwork was done during the years 1949-54. Unpublished results of the early work and all the later studies are being incoporated as parts of Bulletin 1028. The investigations of 1946 were supported almost entirely by the Office, Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army. From 1947-55 the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force joined to furnish financial and logistic assistance. The Geological Survey is indebted to the Office, Chief of Engineers, for its early recognition of the value of geologic studies in the Aleutian region, and to the several military departments for their support."

Wilcox, R. E., 1959, Some effects of recent volcanic ash falls with special reference to Alaska: in Investigations of Alaskan volcanoes, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin B 1028-N, p. 409-476, 5 sheets, scale unknown.
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"The Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands form one of the conspicuously arcuate lines of volcanoes that border the Pacific Ocean. The name Aleutian Range is applied to this 1,600 mile long, narrow belt of peaks reaching from Mount Spurr opposite Anchorage to the island of Attu, close to the continent of Asia."

Powers, H. A., 1958, Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian Islands: in Williams, H., (ed.), Landscapes of Alaska, Los Angeles, CA, University of California Press, p. 61-75.

"There has been but slight activity at most Aleutian volcanoes during the fall of 1953. Observations are being made by members of the Armed Forces and by Austin Jones, Seismologist of the Geophysics Branch, U.S. Geological Survey."

Powers, H. A., 1953, Current activity of Aleutian volcanoes: The Volcano Letter, v. 522, p. 6.
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"Austin E. Jones, seismologist in charge of the Geological Survey's Aleutian volcano observatory on Adak Island, has supplied the following notes obtained during January from Capt. V. Seidelhuber of a U.S. Navy tanker operating in Aleutian waters."

Jones, A. E., 1952, Alaskan volcanoes: The Volcano Letter, v. 515, p. 7.
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Coats, R. R., 1950, Volcanic activity in the Aleutian Arc: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin B 0974-B, p. 35-49, 1 sheet, scale unknown.
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"It was a pleasant surprise to find myself on duty in a virtually unexplored corner of the world. Friends had ribbed me about the cold, the fog, and the williwaws when they heard that I was going to the Aleutians back in 1942."

Freiday, Dean, 1945, The Aleutians, island necklace of the North: Natural History, v. 54, n. 10, p. 444-455.

"For the purposes of the volcanologist, every bit of information concerning craters or heat on mountains known to be volcanoes is of value. In Volcano Letter No. 353 there was published a review with maps concerning some of our northwestern volcanoes other than Lassen Peak."

Jaggar, T. A., 1932, Notes on volcanoes of the Cascade Range: The Volcano Letter, v. 376, p. 1-2.
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"Notes on activities in the Aleutian Islands and in the Volcanoes on the Alaskan Peninsula were published in Volcano Letters Nos. 246 and 357. The year 1931 appears to have brought to a focus the unrest which appeared in several volcanoes in 1929 and 1930 by producing a considerable explosive eruption from Aniakchak Crater on the Peninsual 45 miles NNE from Chignik."

Jaggar, T. A., 1932, Aleutian eruptions 1930-1932: The Volcano Letter, v. 375, p. 1-4.
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"...(2) A dispatch from Dutch Harbor of December 31, 1926, states that Mount Makushin, on Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands, erupted the evening of December 30 with "fountains of fire and masses of vapor," making a spectacular display. A slight earthquake accompanied the eruption and there was fear for the safety of Makushin village."

Jaggar, T. A., 1927, Three press reports: The Volcano Letter, v. 108, p. 1.
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"The region in Alaska which contains the largest number of volcanoes extends in a continuous curved belt from the Aleutian Range of mountains west of Cook Inlet, through the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands, to Attu, the westernmost possession of the United States, where there are warm springs."

Jaggar, T. A., 1927, The Aleutian Islands: The Volcano Letter, v. 116, p. 1.
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"In the course of two seasons of field work in the Katmai region, in 1919 and 1923, a considerable collection was made of the various igneous rocks occurring there. The principal object in visiting the region was a study of the phenomena of the great eruption if 1912, and it was not possible, in the limited time available, to make a thorough investigation of former igneous activity."

Fenner, C. N., 1926, The Katmai magmatic province: Journal of Geology, v. 34, n. 7, p. 673-772.

Smith, W. R., and Baker, A. A., 1924, The Cold Bay-Chignik District, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin B 0755-D, p. 151-222, 5 plates, scale 4 at 1:250,000 and 1 unknown.
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"Sulphur claims have been recorded at three localities in southwestern Alaska--in the crater of Makushin Volcano on Unalaska Island, on Akun Island, and near Stepovak Bay on the Alaska Peninsula. (See P1. VII.) The deposits covered by these claims have not yet been mined, but during the last year they have received considerable attention with a view to production."

Maddren, A. G., 1919, Sulphur on Unalaska and Akun islands and near Stepovak Bay, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin B 0692-E, p. 283-298, 1 plate, scale unknown.
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"This volume is the fourteenth of a series of annual bulletins* treating of the mining industry of Alaska and summarizing the results achieved during the year in the investigation of the mineral resources of the Territory. These reports, are intended to give prompt publication of the more valuable economic results of the year. The time available for their preparation does not permit full office study of the field notes and specimens, and some of the statements made here may be subject to modification when the study has been completed. Those interested in any particular district should therefore procure a copy of the complete report on that district as soon as it is available."

Martin, G. C., 1919, Mineral resources of Alaska, report on progress of investigations in 1917: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin B 0692, 408 p.
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The first author to take up the subject of Alaskan volcanos systematically was Constantine Grewingk in 1850. He gathered from all previous accessible sources such as data existed on record, and his work is the classical source of such information.

Dall, W. H., 1918, Reminiscences of Alaskan volcanoes: Scientific Monthly, v. 7, n. 1, p. 80-90.

Sapper, Karl, 1917, Katalog der geschichtlichen vulkanausbruche: Strassburg, Germany, Karl J. Trubner, 358 p.

"The majority of the active volcanoes of the present time are situated on the borders of the Pacific Ocean. They form a mighty chain, which extends from the Tierra del Fuego along the Andes to the Coast and Fairweather ranges of North America; thence crossing over, by means of the Aleutian Islands, to the peninsula of Kamschatka, and going through the Japan and Philippine Islands, it ends in Borneo and Java."

Cordeiro, F. J. B., 1910, The volcanoes of Alaska: Appalachia, v. 12, p. 130-135.

"In Alaska, and especially on the Aleutian islands, active and recently extinct volcanoes are so numerous that an attempt to give a detailed record of the various reports concerning them that have been made would lead to confusion."

Russell, I. C., 1910, Volcanoes of North America: London, The Macmillan Company, 346 p.

"April 13, 1907--On this date the writer left Boston for San Franciso, arriving Thursday morning, April 18. On the 20th of April he left for Seattle by the Shasta route, arriving there April 22. During the following month the various members of the scientific party convened in Seattle at the Hotel Lincoln, where headquarters were established."

Jaggar, T. A., 1908, Journal of the technology expedition to the Aleutian Islands, 1907: The Technology Review, v. 10, n. 1, p. 1-37.

"A report comes to us from Nome, Alaska, that a shower of ashes fell in that vicinity on the 26th and 27th of last November, which covered the snow with a layer of black dust, one-fourth of an inch thick, near Nome, and the layer was said to increase in thickness toward the north."

Eakle, A. S., 1908, Recent volcanic eruptions in the Bering Sea: Mining and Scientific Press, v. 96, p. 353.

"During the excursion season of 1892 many thousand tourists visited Alaska. All were delighted--charmed; and all make the same report and tell the same story of the matchless grandeur of the trip, of the midnight sun, of the placid waters, of the aurora borealis, of the majestic mountains, of the inland seas, of the mighty glaciers, of the thundering iceberg plunging into the sea and floating off in its glory of inimitable splendor, of the wealth of fish, timber, and minerals, of the queer customs of the natives, of the novelty and startling incidents that may well make the trip the object of a lifetime. There is nothing like it."

Scidmore, E. R., 1899, Appleton's guide-book to Alaska and the northwest coast, including the shores of Washington, British Columbia, southeastern Alaska, the Aleutian and Seal Islands, the Bering and the Arctic coasts: New York, D. Appleton and Co., 167 p.
website, first page of document, with links to successive pages

"The list of shocokcs printed in 1887, and those compiled during succeeding years, contained many reported "eruptions" of mountains in the Puget Sound region. For a number of years I made it my business to apply by letter to intelligent observers in that neighborhood to determine whether MOunt Baker and the other mountains had ever certainly been known to be in eruption."

Plummer, F. G., 1898, Reported volcanic eruptions in Alaska, Puget Sound, etc., 1690-1896: in Holden, E. S., (ed.), A Catalogue of Earthquakes on the Pacific Coast 1769-1897, Smithsonian Institution Miscellaneous Collections 1087, City of Washington D.C., Smithsonian Institution, p. 24-27.

"It is very certain that volcanic activity has existed at numerous points along the northwestern coast of America from the Golden Gate northward in comparatively recent times. Less certainty exists in this newly settled region as to historical outbursts."

Becker, G. F., 1898, Reconnaissance of the gold fields of southern Alaska with some notes on general geology: U.S. Geological Survey Annual Report 0018, p. 1-86, 6 sheets, scale unknown.
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"Recently the newspapers have contained references to the rise of a new volcanic island near Bogosloff Island in the Aleutian chain. Bogosloff itself is believed to be a recent development."

Dall, W. H., 1884, A new volcano island in Alaska: Science, v. 3, n. 51, p. 89-93.

"In 1867 I was placed in charge of the Coast Survey party for the geographical reconnoissance of the coast of Alaska, with special reference to making a report on the geography of its seaboard, and its resources, characteristics, and value as an addition to the territory of the United States."

Davidson, G., 1884, The first ascent of the Volcano Makushin: Appalachia, v. 4, n. 1, p. 1-11.

"The largest of this group is the island of Atkha. It resembles Oonalashka in shape, but its indentations are less deep and not so easily accessible. Near the north point of the island there is a volcano called the Korovinsky, nearly 5,000 feet in height, and a few miles to the south another rises to almost the same elevation."

Petroff, Ivan, 1884, The volcanic region of Alaska: in Population, Industries, and Resources of Alaska, Washington DC, Government Printing Office, p. 93-96.
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Dall, W. H., 1870, Alaska and its resources: Boston, Lee and Shepard, 627 p.

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Perrey, Alexis, 1866, Documents sur les tremblements de terre et les phenomenes volcaniques des iles Aleutiennes, de la peninsule d'Aljaska et de la cote no. d'Amerique, Extrait des memoires de l'Academie des sciences, arts et belles-lettres de Dijon, 1865: Dijon, J.E. Rabutut, 131 p.

"The borders of the Pacific Ocean are studded with volcanoes and the products of volcanic activity. The volcanoes are arranged in crudely arc-shaped groups, and most of the arcs are conves toward the ocean. In addition to the bordering arcs, the Pacific contains many individual volcanic islands and a few non-arcuate groups of volcanic islands, like the Hawaiian Islands. The curving chain of volcanoes from Kiska Island near the western end of the Aleutian Islands to Mt. Spurr on the mainland constitutes one of the Pacific volcanic arcs. This report is concerned with the past activity of the volcanoes of this arc, herein called the Aleutian arc."

Coats, R. R., Past volcanic activity in the Aleutian arc: U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Investigations Report 1, 18 p.
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Kienle, Juergen (comp.), Volcano observations: Notes about volcanoes and volcanic eruptions collected, made, and stored by Juergen Kienle, on file at University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute, unpublished, unpaged.